WPC^: pxFsQSm_xzb:dW~ \\Zxm1?ۅ ݓ;dF)4H faNK٘(qJFS53o8`{ ڲdj'3+ Kb?+zҀDZrBxTJ1']C_ +{h]fؼ\8Sp.Y"adJ,;f !rn!Hu)\-;D֮Eo?(P.q ,ܓB#N ܥ8ejDz t$m/vjbPpI0e mmD{TzR4Z5!"H):i%6Ӽ"?}6Mcz4:] pΛ9\U9g˿J&ٍ^e9c)SW9]7!K9@l3T>9ЍZOż_l Q/6?{7HyU|y5xE+̅deU$> 0f 0f 0c 0` 0Z 0T 0K 0B 06 0* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0j 0L 09 0# 0  0 0 0 0! 0" 0e# 0 o$ 0<$ 0$ 0jH% 0 % 0p4& 0& 0:/' i's' 0\)U>*UJO*  *  * *  *  *  * D+* A+@ +o+  >,@ H,oR,  ,  ,  ,  - V - B-c- B-- 0-#W.UN0 %f0Ml0(p0N000`1&22N3 z3.4^ 5w 5 05  6 6 6 %6E-6 0/6 D56 7 0K"7 m7 ASs77 08 0DB9 A941:E: mG:\  `&Times New Roman' Billie Jo Lenear v "Terryl James"0Terryl James .   2S+P 0_level1  , ;1` hp x (#;23  ..  8.` hp x (#8  2P+P 0_level2  X 8.` hp x (#823  ..  8.` hp x (#8  2P+P 0_level3   8.444` hp x (#823  ..  8.` hp x (#8  2M+P 0_level4   5+` ` ` hp x (#523  ..  8.` hp x (#8  2M+P 0_level5   5+ hp x (#523  ..  8.` hp x (#8  2J+P 0_level6   2( hp x (#223  ..  8.` hp x (#8  2J+P 0_level7  4 2( hp x (#223  ..  8.` hp x (#8  2G+P 0_level8  ` /% hp x (#/23  ..  8.` hp x (#8  2G+P 0_level9   /%< <<hp x (#/23  ..  8.` hp x (#8  2SP 0_levsl1  , ;1` hp x (#;23  Ԁ  8.` hp x (#8  2PP 0_levsl2  X 8.` hp x (#823  Ԁ  8.` hp x (#8  2PP 0_levsl3   8.444` hp x (#823  Ԁ  8.` hp x (#8  2MP 0_levsl4   5+` ` ` hp x (#523  Ԁ  8.` hp x (#8  2MP 0_levsl5   5+ hp x (#523  Ԁ  8.` hp x (#8  2JP 0_levsl6   2( hp x (#223  Ԁ  8.` hp x (#8  2JP 0_levsl7  4 2( hp x (#223  Ԁ  8.` hp x (#8  2GP 0_levsl8  ` /% hp x (#/23  Ԁ  8.` hp x (#8  2GP 0_levsl9   /%< <<hp x (#/23  Ԁ  8.` hp x (#8  2SP 0_levnl1  , ;1` hp x (#;23   8.` hp x (#8  2PP 0_levnl2  X 8.` hp x (#823   8.` hp x (#8  2PP 0_levnl3   8.444` hp x (#823   8.` hp x (#8  2MP 0_levnl4   5+` ` ` hp x (#523   8.` hp x (#8  2MP 0_levnl5   5+ hp x (#523   8.` hp x (#8  2JP 0_levnl6   2( hp x (#223   8.` hp x (#8  2JP 0_levnl7  4 2( hp x (#223   8.` hp x (#8  2GP 0_levnl8  ` /% hp x (#/23   8.` hp x (#8  2GP 0_levnl9   /%< <<hp x (#/23   8.` hp x (#8  6C 34Heading 1 X XXX       X XXX6 4Heading 2      <:Default Para.*' ,Title    XXX< :Body Text I1 X     X :$$ 8Body Text 2        < :Body Text In X  X 0A .Footer (#A7X` hp x (#A:8Page Number   )c)..      CX1KXXCXX1KXXCX1K  _$ (#X$&  hXX1KX1KXh*X1KXXX1K%* (# X*  %9  &)  X1KXX*X1K(2c$ A!..      CX9#XXCXX9#XXCX9#  \  `&Times New RomankIA`2WP TypographicSymbolsa1a3Text5a4a5a6'dxd2&Draw Object <<=8C HKKKK5 WPC i K513%)+-51d~ -a88 WPC i K513%)+-51d~ -a9a10a11a12a_Appellee_s_Attorney_Name___Appellee_s_)Hairline d  d#|x(r$..      CX7{XXCXX7{XXCX7{\\IB27S11T\stats1,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularCXLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5OC:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt-s (G2BI$ A!..      CX9#XXCXX9#XXCX9#      0  X9#XXX9#4567(3@$ A!..      CX9#XXCXX9#XXCX9#  ????)!dxdx8( $ Figure  1  H^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3@$ A!..      CX9#XXCXX9#XXCX9#  ($$   1  IX[2&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK$w%-2+00U A!..      CX1KXXCXX1KXXCX1K  _       'XX81KXXdd8(!HXX1K    !I   BHINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE!I݌  Ќ  X1KX B     BXX1KSPECIAL_WORKERS+  B _ B+ ԀCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL 2 ATKNOXVILLE f ЀOCTOBER9,2002 H X1KX BHXX1K % , %,BILLIEJO_LENEAR_ԀV._REHAB_ԀCAREGROUP,INC. `  X1KXH HXX1K % - %-% . -  Ԁ-  %.ԀDirectAppealfromthe% / C%/hanceryCourtfor% 0 %01UnionCounty R  No.% 1 %1tԀ3521BillyJoeWhite,Chancellor ^  X1KXHFiledDecember20,2002 P  -  34k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE6 K K62 -  No.% 6 %6E200102935WCR3CV +{  -  37k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE K K2 -     " X    "0  % 9 ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers  CompensationAppealsPanelinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)forhearingand  reportingoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Theappellantclaimsthatthetrialcourt  erredinfindingthatshewasnotanemployeeand,thus,notentitledtoworkerscompensation j benefits.Weaffirm."0e݌ P Ќ  X  XӁ  Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight%9;Judgmentofthe% : %:8 ԀUnion l CountyChanceryCourtisAffirmed. R  X    HowellN.Peoples,Sp.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhich% ; %;$ WilliamM.Barker,  JUSTICE,and% < %<| JohnK.Byers,Sr.J.,joined.    #        #   MauriceS.Briere,Jr.,RalphBrown&Associates,Knoxville,Tennessee,fortheAppellant, f!  BillieJoLenear.# @ ݌ L"! Ќ          % = %=[RobertR.Davies,Stokes,Rutherford,Williams,Sharp&Davies,Knoxville,Tennessee,forthe $h# Appellee,RehabCareGroup,Inc. $N $     `    MEMORANDUMOPINION '#'       &    Facts  Ԍ |)$) Ќ   ݁'|)#        #]    Thiscasewastriedonjointstipulationsandtheoraltestimonyoftheclaimant,BillieJo H+&+ Lenear.OnMarch11,1998,Ms.Lenearappliedforemploymentasanursingassistantwith .,~', RehabCareGroup,Inc.Shefilledoutawrittenapplicationandwaspersonallyinterviewedby -d(- TerryWillis.Shetestifiedthatshe wastoldbyTerryWillisthatifIpassedallthephysical -J). ' ' '  examsthatIwouldbehiredandpaid$6anhour,37.5hoursperweek.Ms._Lenear_Ԁalso  testifiedthatshewastoldthatshehadthejobonthedaythatshesawMs.Willisforthe  interview.Ms._Lenear_ԀhadaphysicalexaminationatSt.MarysEastTownRehabilitation | ServiceonMarch13,1998.Asarequirementoftheexamination,shewasattemptinga100 b poundliftwhenshefeltsuddenpaininherback.OnMarch26,1998,shewasseenbyDr. H SidneyL.Wallace,whonotedthefollowinghistory:#]݌ . ~ Ќ      XB.` hp x (#XBӁ X   B( ` hp xX(#B Sheinjuredherbackon31398.Shewasperformingapreemployment  J testtoworkasaphysicaltherapytechnician.Shestatesthatshewas  0 requiredtolifta100poundobject.Assheliftedit,sheheardaloudaudible    popinherbackandhadanimmediateonsetofpain....(emphasis    supplied)    X   H.` hp x (#` XHӁ#      X  #  Dr.WallacesubsequentlydiagnosedaminimalcompressionfractureofL3thatheattributedto ^  theattempttolift100pounds,andheopinedthatMs._Lenear_Ԁsustainedapermanentimpairment D  of5percenttothebodyaccordingtotheAMAGuidetotheEvaluationofPermanent *z  Impairment,FourthEdition.#/݌ ` Ќ      #        #:    Oncrossexamination,Ms._Lenear_Ԁtestifiedthatshedidnotexpecttobe,andwasnot, , paid:(1)forhavingawalkthroughtoseewhatthejobdutieswere,(2)forfillingoutthejob  application,(3)forhavingTBtest,bloodtestanddrugtest,nor(4)forthephysicaltestwhere  sheinjuredherback.Shetestifiedsheunderstoodthatbeforeshecouldwork_Rehab_ԀCareGroup  hadtosendherthroughtestingtomakesureshecouldperformthephysicalrequirementsofthe t job.#:݌ Z Ќ      ݁̀ XX1KXXX1K     &    StandardofReview#  Ԍ  \ Ќ   XX1KXXX1K  ݁'  B     Reviewofthefindingsoffactmadebythetrialcourtisdenovoupontherecordofthe ( trialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefindings,unlessthe  preponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2)._Mannery_Ԁv.  _Walmart_Ԁ_Distrib_.Center,69S.W.3d193,196(Tenn.2002).Theapplicationofthisstandard   requiresthisCourttoweighinmoredepththefactualfindingsandconclusionsofthetrialcourts p!  inworkerscompensationcases.Corcoranv.FosterAuto_GMC_,Inc.,746S.W.2d452,456 V"! (Tenn.1988).Conclusionsoflawaresubjecttodenovoreviewwithnopresumptionof <#" correctness._Ganzevoort_Ԁv.Russell,949S.W.2d293(Tenn.1997).Wherethetrialjudgehas "$r# madeadeterminationbaseduponthetestimonyofwitnesseswhomhehasseenandheard,great %X $ deferencemustbegiventothatfindingindeterminingwhethertheevidencepreponderates %>!% againstthetrialjudgesdetermination.Humphreyv.David_Witherspoon_,Inc.,734S.W.2d315 &$"& (Tenn.1987). ' #'   Ӂ  8,', _     &   9&  Issue9&&  X&Ԍ  Ќ    ݁'p&    $ X  $;'  TheissueiswhetherthetrialcourterredinfindingthatMs.Lenearwasnotanemployee b ofRehabCareGroup,Inc.,andtherefore,thatherinjurydidnotariseoutofandwasnotinthe H courseofemployment.$;''݌ . ~ Ќ X  XӁ XXX1KXXX1K     &   )  Discussion )y)  U)Ԍ  J Ќ   XXX1KXXX1K  ' m)  0  `     h      X    Anactionforanawardofworkerscompensationbenefitsisasuituponacontract,and     noobligationcanarise,andnoactionwilllie,unlessthepartiesareboundbycontract,express   orimplied.Cornettv.CityofChattanooga,165Tenn.563,56S.W.2d742(1933).Inorderfor x  Ms.Leneartorecover,shemustestablishthatthecontractualrelationshipofemployerand ^  employeeexistswithRehabCareGroup,Inc.Acontractofemploymentrequiresconsideration, D  i.e.theright,expressorimplied,tobepaidforservicesperformedbytheemployeeforthe *z  employer. Theordinaryandusualmeaningofthewordemploye(sic)isonewhoisemployed ` byanotherandworksforwagesorsalarywithoutregardtowhethertheemploymentbelegalor F illegal.AmericanSuretyCo.ofN.Y.v.CityofClarksville,204Tenn.67,315S.W.2d509,513 , (1958).InBlackv.Dance,643S.W.2d654(Tenn.1982),theSupremeCourtheld: Inorderfor  onetobeanemployeeofanotherforpurposesofourWorkersCompensationLaw,itis,  therefore,requiredthattherebeanexpressorimpliedagreementfortheallegedemployerto  remuneratetheallegedemployeeforhisservicesinbehalfoftheformer.Id.at657.Inlightof t thetestimonyofMs.LenearthatshedidnotexpecttobepaidbyRehabCareGroup,Inc.forthe Z physicalexaminationwhereshesustainedherinjury,andthatshewastoldthatshewouldbe @ hiredifshepassedallthephysicalexams,wemustconclude,asdidthetrialcourt,thatno &v contractofemploymentexistedatthetimeMs.Lenearsustainedherbackinjury.  \   Ӂ       &  2  Disposition22  2Ԍ  Ќ    ݁'2    Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costsoftheappealaretaxedagainstthe   Appellant. p!   V"!   ́   `     h   ______________________________ %X $ ЀHowellN.Peoples,SpecialJudge %>!% HXX1KX1KXH  '0#' HXX1K@9 9 #X1KXH5#HXX1KINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @ ATKNOXVILLE,TENNESSEE#X1KXH6#Ԉ    HXX1K  BILLIEJOLENEARV.REHABCAREGROUP#X1KXH6#HXX1K z  UnionCountyChanceryCourt#X1KXH97#    6@xx& % S %S7% T %T8% U %U$8% V %VB8No.3521   @"December20,2002 ^   A?W) ` dE<) ` A *z  @No.% Z E200102935WCR3CV%Z&9Ԉ k  A?W) ` dE< ` A 7   @& JUDGMENT  ( 󀀀ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderof  referraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'smemorandum  Opinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedherein p byreference; V    ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthememorandumOpinionofthePanel "r shouldbeacceptedandapproved;and X    ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactsandconclusionsoflaw $ areadoptedandaffirmedandthedecisionofthePanelismadetheJudgmentoftheCourt.      ` Thecostsonappealaretaxedtotheappellant,BillieJoLenear,anditssurety,for  whichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. l ̀% \    `