ÿWPCã …# VU:a %› 0û¡w@œ 4Ü ð ÿ 0? 0DF Š 0J 0TÚ 0^. 0hŒ 0rô 0|f 0†â 0h 1uø 0dmU*ÑB)ûDC$ AMg©´v~] BÛvÓø D3Ë 0@þ AO>Æ 0DS D/— BƘHP LaserJet 4HPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ,c½¬AZ‹"Arial RegularX(Ó~Ð$¡¡Ñ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ LegalLˆhÐ (Avery 4167 Post Card AØ'ÿ LegalhÐ (Avery 4167 Post CardTÑÔ€Xm¢XXXÔÑ7€¥3XXdìXXdæ7Ñ õVöî÷•øDùDúDûDüýDþÓ€Úƒç"x3|x (ï(3œ‚$¤¤Ý ƒ~Ð!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€XÚ¾XXXÔÑ7€Ú¾XXdædæ7ÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóH2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d!!!!7Border 1dd€-"Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ŸÝ ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€d#ÑÝ  ÝÔ€ ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€ XÔÌÌò òSeptemberÏ30,Ï1997ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€ ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'h dStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò&&&&'ÿÿdxd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ#€Xd#ÑÑ#€Xd#ÑÝ  Ý›Ñ  ÑÓ  ÓÞ ÞÌà@ àò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEE̜ـ€ÙßR€#$"A1-j|` à. `€€@ÿRß›à@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌà@ àAT€KNOXVILLEó óÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÌJOHN€R.€KREIS,€INC.,€and€NATIONALà à)à àKNOX€CHANCERYÌAMERICAN€INS.€COMPANY,à àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àà àà àà àà àà àÌà àPlaintiffs/Appelleesà àà àà à)à àNO.€€03S01„9701„CH„00005Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àœHON.€€SHARON€J.€BELL›Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àCHANCELLORÌJANET€ELIZABETH€ARONS,€survivingà à)Ìwidow€of€LARRY€MELVIN€ARONS€andà à)ÌNICHOLE€LEE€ARONS,€a€dependentà à)Ìminor€child€of€Larry€Melvin€Arons€b/n/fà à)Ìand€mother,€Janet€Elizabeth€Arons,à à)à àà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendants/Appellantsà àà à)ÌÌÌÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellantsóó:à àà àà àà àòòFor€the€Appelleesóó:ó óÌÌÌHarry€Wiersemaà àà àà àà àà àRockforde€D.€KingÌ616€W.€Hill€Avenueà àà àà àà àà àWesley€L.€HatmakerÌKnoxville,€TN€€37902à àà àà àà àEgerton,€McAfee,€ArmisteadÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à&€Davis,€P.C.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à500€First€American€CenterÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àP.O.€Box€2047Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àKnoxville,€TN€€37901ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òòòÓ  ÓM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NÌóóó óÌò òòòÌÌMembers€of€Panel:Ìóóó óÌE.€Riley€Anderson,€JusticeÌDon€T.€McMurray,€JudgeÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òAFFIRMEDà àà àà àà àà àà àà àINMAN,€Senior€Judgeó óÌÌòòò òÓ  ÓO€P€I€N€I€O€NÌÓ  ÓÌó óóóÌÓÓà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€withÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€CourtÏof€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ìà àBoth€parties€filed€motions€for€summary€judgment€in€this€case€wherein€theÏdeceased€was€found€dead€in€his€truck,€having€died,€according€to€the€Certificate€ofÏDeath,€of€ð ðnatural€causes,ðð€not€otherwise€defined.€€The€appellants€conceded€that€theÏcause€of€death€of€their€decedent,€Mr.€Arons,€was€unknown,€and€it€was€essentiallyÏupon€this€basis€that€the€claim€for€benefits€was€denied.€€The€surviving€dependents€ofÏMr.€Arons€appeal€and€present€for€review€the€propriety€of€summary€judgment€ð ðwhenÏa€worker€is€found€dead€at€his€post€with€no€proof€of€the€cause€of€death.ððÌà àMr.€Arons€was€44€years€old€when€he€died€on€November€19,€1993.€€TheÏappellant€is€his€second€wife,€to€whom€he€was€married€in€1973.€€They€had€one€child,ÏœNichole,›€who€was€born€in€1980.Ìà àMr.€Arons€and€his€first€wife€had€four€children.€€The€family€was€dysfunctional,Ïwith€the€father€being€completely€estranged€from€these€children€for€a€variety€ofÏcauses,€apparently€attributable€to€drug€and€alcohol€abuse.€€His€second€marriageÏwas€not€idyllic;€he€abused€alcohol€to€the€extent€he€required€hospitalization€and,€onÏoccasion,€his€wife€sought€an€order€of€protection.€€He€was€an€inveterate€cigaretteÏsmoker€„„€forty€to€sixty€per€day€for€15€years€„„€and€his€eating€habits€were€unusual€inÏthat€he€ate€only€one€meal„„breakfast„„each€day,€snacking€on€junk€food€thereafter.Ìà àHis€daughter,€œNichole,›€was€injured€in€a€serious€traffic€accident€on€October€10,Ï1993€and€his€request€for€time„off€from€work€was€granted.€€He€returned€to€work€onÏNovember€3,€1993€and€was€found€dead€in€his€truck€on€November€œ19,›€1993.Ìà àAfter€he€returned€to€work,€the€decedent€performed€his€duties€without€incident.€ÏHe€was€not€required€to€load,€unload,€supervise€or€do€anything€except€drive.€€He€hadÏnot€engaged€in€any€strenuous€activity€and€had€no€altercations.€€He€had€made€noÏcomplaints€about€illness€and€had€never€been€treated€for€cardiovascular€disease.Ìà àÌà àThe€appellants€initially€alleged€that€the€death€of€Mr.€Arons€was€caused€by€aÏcardiovascular€incident€arising€out€of€his€employment€while€performing€strenuousÏand€stressful€work€during€his€òòsix€weeksóó€employment.€€They€later€conceded€that€theÏcause€of€death€was€unknown,€but€insisted€that€in€light€of€the€circumstances,€aÏpresumption€arose€that€Mr.€Aronsððs€death€was€causally€related€to€his€employmentÍwith€the€burden€cast€upon€the€employer€to€move€otherwise.€€The€appellee€deniedÏthat€Mr.€Aronsððs€death€was€causally€related€to€his€truck„driving€job€and€filed€aÏmotion€for€summary€judgment,€supported€by€the€affidavit€of€Dr.€George€M.€Krisle,€III,Ïa€cardiology€specialist,€that€it€was€medically€impossible€to€determine€whether€Mr.€ÏœAronsðð›€death€was€causally€related€to€his€work.Ìà àThe€appellee€also€filed€the€deposition€of€the€plaintiff,€Janet€Arons,€and€theÏaffidavit€of€Dr.€Robert€O.€Martin€in€support€of€the€motion€for€summary€judgment.Ìà àòòJanet€Aronsóó€testified€concerning€the€dysfunction€of€her€husband,€his€smokingÏand€drinking€habits€and€other€tribulations€of€his€life.€€òòDr.€Martinóó€testified€that€he€wasÏa€cardiologist,€that€he€had€reviewed€all€available€records€pertaining€to€the€death€ofÏMr.€Arons€and€the€circumstances€of€his€lifestyle,€and€that€it€was€medicallyÏimpossible€to€determine€whether€or€not€the€death€of€Mr.€Arons€was€causally€relatedÏto€his€work.Ìà àòòJohn€R.€Kreis,€II,€óótestified€that€he€employed€Mr.€Arons€on€September€27,Ï1993,€his€duties€being€limited€to€driving€a€truck€in€the€Knoxville€area.€€He€was€offÏfrom€work€from€October€17€through€October€30,€1993€owing€to€his€daughterððsÏaccident€but€returned€to€work€without€incident.€€On€November€19,€1993,€he€was€inÏradio€contact€with€Mr.€Arons€most€of€the€morning,€who€gave€no€indication€whateverÏof€any€distress€or€problem.Ìà àThe€appellants€tendered€the€affidavit€of€Dr.€Francis€Jones,€a€pathologist,€inÏopposition€to€the€appelleeððs€motion€and€in€support€of€their€own€motion€for€summaryÏjudgment.€€Dr.€Jones€testified€that€he€had€reviewed€the€pertinent€records€and€wasÏasked€to€assume€that€Mr.€Arons€made€no€complaints€about€illness€and€that€he€wasÍmerely€sitting€around€drinking€coffee€and€smoking€cigarettes€the€morning€of€hisÏdeath.€€He€further€assumed€that€Mr.€Arons€was€a€socially€isolated€man€ð ðwho€wouldÏcome€home€from€work€wound€up€tighter€than€a€springðð€and€whose€personality€typeÏmade€him€prone€to€stress„induced€cardiovascular€events€ð ðòòarising€from€incidentsóóÏwhich€persons€with€a€different€personality€would€handle€without€exaggeratedÏpsychological€reactions.ððÌà àHe€further€testified€that€coronary€artery€disease€was€ð ðmore€likelyðð€a€factor€inÏMr.€Aronsðð€death€and€that€the€stress€involved€in€driving€a€truck€ð ðcould€œhave›Ïprecipitated€the€medical€events€causing€his€death.ðð€€He€opined€that€it€is€medicallyÏimpossible€to€determine€that€Mr.€Aronsðð€death€was€not€related€to€any€type€of€traumaÏor€work„related€incidents€which€could€have€caused€his€death.Ìà àIn€òòKing€v.€Jones€Truck€Linesóó,€814€S.W.2d€23€œ(Tenn.€1991),›€the€employeeÏbecame€ill€from€what€he€believed€was€food€poisoning.€€He€was€taken€to€a€hospital€òòinÏextremisóó,€with€an€admitting€diagnosis€of€atrial€fibrillation€and€hypertension.€€He€soonÏlost€consciousness€and€suffered€respiratory€arrest€with€extreme€low€blood€pressure.€ÏAfter€removal€to€another€hospital,€his€spleen,€which€was€about€five€times€the€normalÏsize,€was€removed.€€Mr.€King€never€recovered€and€he€died€shortly.€€A€deathÏsummary€revealed€splenic€rupture,€shock,€intervascular€coagulation,€rheumaticÏheart€disease€and€other€ailments.€€The€trial€judge€found€that€while€the€preciseÏinstrumentality€of€the€cause€of€death€was€unknown,€it€was€established€that€theÏdecedent€died€of€a€ruptured€spleen€ð ðwhich€could€not€have€resulted€without€someÏform€of€trauma.ðð€€This€finding€was€based€on€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Stern€who€said€thatÍa€ð ðheavy€bump€could€cause€ruptureðð€if€the€spleen€was€diseased.€€Since€there€wasÏno€evidence€of€a€ð ðheavy€bump,ðð€Dr.€Sternððs€opinion€was€merely€speculative.Ìà àThe€Court€then€took€up€the€alternative€theory€of€recovery€that€Kingððs€heartÏcondition€was€aggravated€by€events€arising€out€of€his€employment,€pointing€out€thatÏð ðthe€key€to€the€recovery€or€denial€of€benefits€is€whether€the€heart€attack€isÏprecipitated€by€physical€activity€and€exertion€of€the€employeeððs€work.ðð€€òòKing,€óóat€27.€ÏThe€Court€went€on€to€œstate:›ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àIn€earlier€workers€compensation€cases,€we€have€recognized€aÏpresumption,€or€an€inference,€œthatÌ›ÌÓ  Óà0 àà0 àà8 àð ðwhere€an€employee€is€found€dead€œat›€his€post€of€labor,Ïwithout€direct€evidence€as€to€the€€manner€of€his€death,€anÏinference€may€arise€of€an€accident€springing€out€of€andÏin€the€course€of€his€employment.ðð€€òòHome€Ice€Co.€v.ÏFranzinióó,€161€Tenn.€395,€32€S.W.2d€1032,€1033.€œÌ›€œÌà8 àà àIn›€other€words€a€òòprima€facieóó€case€for€the€claimant€is€thusÏsupported.€€When€such€a€œòòprima›€facieóó€case€is€thus€made€out€the€burdenÏshifts€to€the€employer€to€produce€evidence€to€overthrow€such€a€òòprimaÏfacieóó€case.€€òòShockley€v.€Morristown€Produce€&€Ice€Co.óó,€158€Tenn.€148,Ï11€S.W.2d€œ900.òò€€Milstead›€v.€Kayloróó,€186€Tenn.€642,€212€S.W.2d€610,Ï613€(1948).€€œÌà àÌà8 àà àHowever,›€in€later€cases,€we€refused€to€indulge€in€any€suchÏpresumption€in€the€absence€of€evidence€of€an€accident€or€exertion€onÏthe€job€and€medical€proof€of€causation.€€òòSee€Collins€v.€Liberty€Mutualóó,Ï561€S.W.2d€456€(Tenn.€1978)€(no€presumption€that€auto€accidentÏarose€out€of€employment,€where€no€corroborating€evidence€and€deathÏcertificate€reports€apparent€heart€attack€as€cause€of€death);€òòTravelersÏInsurance€Co.€v.€Evansóó,€221€Tenn.€199,€425€S.W.2d€611€(1968)€(mereÏpresence€of€employee€at€employerððs€convention€does€not€raiseÏpresumption€that€heart€attack€arose€out€of€employment.ÌÌœà8 àà àIn›€òòR.E.€Butts€Co.€v.€Powellóó,€225€Tenn.€119,€463€S.W.2d€707Ï(1971),€we€held€that€where€ð ðthere€is€ample€evidence€to€conclude€thatÏ[the€employee]€was€doing€the€work€that€he€was€employed€to€do€at€theÍtime€he€suffered€the€attack€which€resulted€in€his€disabling€injury,ðð€theÏinjury€is€compensable.€€Five€physicians€testified€that€the€normalÏexertion€of€the€deceasedððs€job,€which€consisted€of€securing€a€loadedÏtruck€by€throwing€fifteen„pound€chains€over€the€stacked€load,€ð ðcouldÏhaveðð€accelerated€or€aggravated€his€heart€condition.€€We€said:€€ð ðThereÏmust€still€be€an€unexpected€result,€and€there€must€still€be€an€exertion„„some€exertion„„capable€medically€of€causing€the€collapse,ðð€òòid.óó€at€709,Ïand€concluded€that€Powellððs€injury€arose€out€of€œemployment.€€òòId.óó›€at€œ28.Ì›ÌÓÓÓ  Óà àThe€standard€for€summary€judgment€is€œthat€where›€there€is€no€genuine€issueÏof€€material€fact,€the€movant€is€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,Ï847€œS.W.2d›€208€œ(Tenn.€1993).›€€Since€the€issue€at€bar€is€whether€Mr.€Aronsðð€deathÏarose€from€employment,€the€appellants€must€prove€a€causal€connection.€€òòBell€v.ÏKelso€Oilóó,€597€œS.W.2d›€œ731›€œ(Tenn.€1980).›€€It€is€conceded€that€the€cause€of€Mr.€AronsððÏdeath€is€unknown.Ìà àThe€burden€of€proof€of€every€element€of€the€cause€of€action,€includingÏœcausation,›€is€upon€the€œclaimant.›€€òòTindall€v.€Waring€Park€Assððnóó,€725€œS.W.2d›€œ935,€937›Ïœ(Tenn.€1987),›€and€expert€proof€is€required€except€in€obvious€cases.€€We€find€noÏproof€in€this€record€to€countervail€the€proof€adduced€by€the€employer€of€a€lack€ofÏcausation.€€The€affidavit€of€Dr.€Jones€is€not€œsufficient,€because›€he€inferenced€ð ðstress„induced€cardiovascular€events€arising€from€incidentsðð€without€describing€suchÏincidents,€and€we€find€no€proof€of€such€incidents€in€this€record.€€Neither€does€heÏrelate€Mr.€Aronsðð€death€to€his€employment€with€a€reasonable€degree€of€medicalÏcertainty.€€His€opinion€that€stress€was€a€factor€was€predicated€on€the€assumptionÏthat€Mr.€Arons€had€coronary€artery€disease,€concerning€which€there€is€no€proofÏwhatsoever.€€There€is€no€presumption€as€to€causation€merely€because€an€employeeÍis€found€dead€at€his€post.€€òòKing,€supraóó;€òòMilstead€v.€Kayloróó,€212€S.W.2d€610€œ(Tenn.Ï1948).›Ìà àThe€judgment€is€accordingly€affirmed€at€the€costs€of€the€appellant.ÌÌœ›ÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà à__________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌœE.€Riley€Anderson,€JusticeÔ% € Ô›ÌÌÌÌ_______________________________ÌœDon€T.€McMurray,€Special€Judge›ÌœÇÇÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ X Òà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌÓ  ÓAT€KNOXVILLEÌÓ  ÓÌÌJOHN€R.€KREIS,€INC.€andà àà à€€€€€)à àKnox€Countyà àà àÌNATIONAL€AMERICAN€INSURANCEà àà à)à àNo.ÌCOMPANYà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àPlaintiffs/Appelleesà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€)à àHon.€Sharon€J.€Bell,Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€)à àChancellorÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€)ÌJANET€ELIZABETH€ARONS,€€à àà àà à)Ìsurviving€widow€of€€€€€€€€€à à€€€€€)ÌLARRY€MELVIN€ARONS,€andà àà àà à)à àSupreme€CourtÌNICHOLE€LEE€ARONS,€a€dependentà à)€€€€No.€03„S„01„9701„CH„00058Ìminor€child€of€Larry€Melvin€Aronsà à)Ìb/n/f€and€mother€Janet€Elizabethà à)ÌAronsà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€)à àAffirmedÌà àDefendants/Appellantsà à€€€€€)Ìà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€ÌÌÓÓà@ àòòJUDGMENT€ORDERóóÌÓ€Óà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€review€pursuant€to€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€theÏSpecial€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€MemorandumÏOpinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporatedÏherein€by€reference;ÌÌà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€well„taken€and€should€be€denied;€andÌÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€ofÏthe€Court.ÌÌà àà àCost€will€be€paid€by€defendants„appellants€and€surety,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌà àà àIt€is€so€ordered€this€_____€day€of€_____________,€1997.ÌÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌANDERSON,€C.J.,€not€participating›