ÿWPC  OTÐö0<ãH–ûctìJRëeè³üªÚ¾ˆèS–¶v5'³C¯m,·ßŽå-Ë6\<£m&@Í» –"ý7Dæ?‹YÜkào¤™®5 ‘ì£á{[¸©&’BOÄHJUž†ý8œvÏôVo¥žn…DX ¾M¨éìW*G–ÕZU‡WÏÀTÒr=èAÉ;¶½¬°¯±ä6—•3:ù­ìPp6´zï-TšÓú£×&Ž2t-¯¸"¦Pš¶Î4Ãl„?éPP'‹ß‡[½¡GmQmh?0Ãtñ±X;.RîF›žúk«–\DNfK]çJaxùš¶4~’™ˆ—c’¡:@ò`ÿx4mSÍ.pLí©aj-6wA\ àœˆr®óg;>e1 éhðb¨¥( ¾÷IŸ­V~b_np8²ÝǤ߀ t×LÝð9/ä&êhp·~HŒa` pI¦üÔÚ î«»U9%*1úÀr‹U°«RѵŸ×å'hUvBé/d±ÚÞTðxØåÆ5TRféÀUã{…é`Þ1ñzâ}«×‰–Ü£¤†›+:ûVÌ%’s©£ñÔùXƒÌoT—$ƒî©|².¼õŽn44Wgš ÷Éb %\^ b 0ˆnU/NöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ U NÐ Ò Æð ƶ Æ| ÆB #ÉNÑNÓ 1uÕEJ 72L 0c~NáUNã 0D1 zuÒïU@ÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁb 0ë     B ôô 0¤ D3µ D-è 0K AS`Ƴ 0¤y 0D A«a»3“‚/Ï (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regularlk.¢Ø+00|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular LOWRYHARDEMANWhitentonKopetGaydenMartindaleGaylonavascularHibnerWerthanLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5˜\\IB01S02\CLERKJACÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ03#37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)i)(;3£$´´Ô2#ÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0  à(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó˜C:\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(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman - ù-(|G2í$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€À»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X‡X»»Ô d(|37$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€À»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|37$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€À»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€ÑI»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼ÑI»»»ÔÑ8€…—XXdé»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡î6ÑIÔà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Ó# Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€JACKSONÔ#†¼ÑI»îî6î#ÔÐ öF ÐSeptember€11,€2003€SessionÐ i ÐÔ‡X…—X»¼ÑIÔÌò òÔ#†¼ÑI»XX…—#ÔGAYLON€LOWRYòòóó€v.€HARDEMAN€COUNTY€BOARD€OF€EDUCATIONòòóóÔ‡X…—X»¼ÑIÔó óÐ  b ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Hardeman€CountyÐ  \ Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€13056€€€€€€Dewey€C.€Whitenton,€ChancellorÐ ö F ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<³` AßÐ ´  ÐÌNo.€W2002„02822„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Mailed€October€31,€2003;€Filed€December€2,€2003Ð ­ý  ÐÔ#†¼ÑI»XX…—Ÿ#ÔÔ‡X…—X»¼ÑIÔÌÌßA€V) °°` dE<j` AßÐ k» Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€AppealsÐ c³ ÐPanel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÐ Lœ Ðreporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€In€this€appeal,Ô#†¼ÑI»XX…—œ#ÔÔ‡X…—X»¼ÑIÔ€theÔ#†¼ÑI»XX…—˜#ÔÔ‡X…—X»¼ÑIÔÐ 5… ÐemployerÔ#†¼ÑI»XX…—Þ#ÔÔ‡X…—X»¼ÑIÔ€questions€the€trial€courtððsÔ#†¼ÑI»XX…—=#ÔÔ‡X…—X»¼ÑIÔ€findings€as€to€notice,€statute€of€limitations€and€causation.€€AsÐ n Ðdiscussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€evidence€fails€to€preponderate€against€the€findings.Ð W ÐÓ#ÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(2002€Supp.)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€ChanceryÐ Ù) ÐCourt€Affirmedó óÐ Ã ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Sp.€J.Ô#†¼ÑI»àX…—ž#ÔÔ‡X…—X.¼ÑIÔóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJanice€M.€Holder,€J.,óó€and€òòJoeÐ –æ ÐH.€Walker,€III,€Sp.€J.óó,€joined.Ð Ï ÐÌB.€Duane€Willis,€Allen,€Kopet€&€Associates,€Jackson,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€HardemanÐ Q¡ ÐCounty€Board€of€EducationÐ : Š ÐÌGayden€Drew€IV,€Drew€&€Martindale,€Jackson,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Gaylon€LowryÐ  "\! ÐÌÓN ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼ÑI»XX…—– #ÔÔ‡X…—X»¼ÑIÔÐ Þ#.# ÐÌÓ  ÓÔ#†¼ÑI»XX…—» #ÔÔ€X…—X»¼ÑIÔà  àThe€employee€or€claimant,€Ms.€Lowry,€initiated€this€civil€action€to€recover€workersððÐ ±%!% Ðcompensation€benefits€for€a€work€related€injury.€€The€employer€denied€liability€and€asserted€theÐ š&ê!& Ðclaim€was€barred€by€failure€of€the€claimant€to€give€timely€notice€and€by€the€statute€of€limitations.€Ð ƒ'Ó"' ÐAfter€a€trial€on€the€merits,€the€trial€court€resolved€the€issues€in€favor€of€the€claimant.€€The€employer,Ð l(¼#( ÐHardeman€County€Board€of€Education,€has€appealed.Ð U)¥$) ÐÌà  àAppellate€review€is€de€novo€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumptionÐ '+w&+ Ðof€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.Ð ,`', ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2).€€This€tribunal€is€not€bound€by€the€trial€court's€findings€but€insteadÐ ù,I(- Ðconducts€an€independent€examination€of€the€record€to€determine€where€the€preponderance€lies.€Ð â-2).ý ÐòòÔ_ÔGallowayÔ_Ô€v.€Memphis€Drum€Serv.óó,€822€S.W.2d€584,€586€(Tenn.€1991).€Ô‡ Xò¥XXX…—Ô€€The€appellate€tribunal,Ð ° Ðhowever,€is€as€well€situated€to€gauge€the€weight,€worth€and€significance€of€deposition€testimony€asÐ ™é Ðthe€trial€judge.€€òòÔ#†X…—XX Xò¥¸#ÔWalker€v.€Saturn€Corp.óó,€986€S.W.2d€204,€207€(Tenn.€1998).€€€Ô‡ Xò¥XXX…—ÔConclusions€of€lawÐ ‚Ò Ðare€subject€to€de€novo€review€on€appeal€without€any€presumption€of€correctness.Ô#†X…—XX Xò¥ô#Ô€€òòÔ_ÔNuttÔ_Ô€v.€ChampionÐ k» ÐIntern.€Corp.óó,€980€S.W.2d€365,€367€(Tenn.€1998).Ð T¤ ÐÌà  àThe€claimant€is€fifty„four€years€old€with€a€high€school€education€and€a€real€estate€license.€Ð & v ÐShe€has€experience€as€a€real€estate€agent,€office€worker,€cashier€and€emergency€room€supervisor.€Ð  _ ÐShe€began€working€for€the€employer€as€a€secretary€and€bookkeeper€in€1992.€€She€had€no€prior€hipÐ ø H Ðproblems.Ð á 1  ÐÌà  àOn€November€29,€1999,€a€student€slammed€into€her,€knocking€her€some€four€feet€into€aÐ ³  Ðconcrete€wall.€€She€suffered€immediate€pain€in€her€pelvic€area.€€The€schoolððs€principal€becameÐ œì  Ðimmediately€aware€of€the€accident.€€Ms.€Lowry€testified€that€the€principal€may€have€seen€theÐ …Õ  Ðaccident.€€On€May€18,€2000,€she€learned€from€her€treating€physician,€Dr.€Lee€Hunter,€an€orthopedicÐ n¾  Ðsurgeon,€that€she€had€suffered€from€avascular€necrosis€and€would€need€hip€replacement€surgery.€€SheÐ W§  Ðalso€saw€Dr.€Michael€Lynch,€another€orthopedic€surgeon,€and€other€doctors.€€Drs.€Hunter€and€Lynch,Ð @ Ðtestified€by€deposition.Ð )y ÐÌà  àDr.€Lynch€diagnosed€necrosis€in€both€hips,€but€was€equivocal€as€to€the€cause.€€He€concededÐ ûK Ðthe€condition€could€be€caused€by€trauma,€but€said€it€could€also€occur€without€trauma.€€Dr.€HunterÐ ä4 Ðtestified€that€the€claimantððs€injury€was€probably€related€to€the€accident€at€work.€€He€operated€on€theÐ Í Ðright€hip€on€June€21,€2000€and€on€the€left€hip€on€June€20,€2001.€€He€testified€that€she€reachedÐ ¶ Ðmaximum€medical€recovery€on€November€5,€2001,€estimated€her€permanent€medical€impairmentÐ Ÿï Ðto€be€28€percent€to€the€whole€body€and€prescribed€restrictions.Ð ˆØ ÐÌà  àThe€record€contains€conflicting€testimony€from€live€witnesses€as€to€when€the€injury€occurred.€Ð Zª ÐThere€is€also€a€conflict€between€the€claimantððs€testimony€that€she€was€knÔ_ÔockedÔ_Ô€against€the€concreteÐ C“ Ðwall€or€to€the€floor.€€Dr.€Hunter€attributed€the€injury€to€the€accident,€however,€whether€the€claimantÐ ,| Ðcollided€with€the€wall€or€the€floor.€€The€trial€court€accredited€the€claimantððs€testimony€in€all€respects.Ð e ÐÌà  àÔ‡ Xò¥XXX…—ÔWhere€the€trial€judge€has€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses,€especially€if€issues€of€credibility€andÐ ç 7 Ðweight€to€be€given€oral€testimony€are€involved,€considerable€deference€must€be€accorded€thoseÐ Ð!   Ðcircumstances€on€review,€because€it€is€the€trial€court€which€had€the€opportunity€to€observe€theÐ ¹" ! Ðwitnessesðð€demeanor€and€to€hear€the€in„court€testimony.€€òòÔ#†X…—XX Xò¥#ÔLong€v.€Tri„Con€Ind.,€Ltd.óó,€996€S.W.2dÐ ¢#ò" Ð173,€178€(Tenn.€1999).€€Ô‡ Xò¥XXX…—ÔThe€trial€courtððs€findings€with€respect€to€credibility€and€weight€of€theÐ ‹$Û# Ðevidence€may€generally€be€inferred€from€the€manner€in€which€the€court€resolves€conflicts€in€theÐ t%Ä $ Ðtestimony€and€decides€the€case.€€Ô#†X…—XX Xò¥°#ÔòòÔ_ÔTobittÔ_Ô€v.€Bridgestone/Firestone,€Inc.óó,€59€S.W.3d€57,€61€(Tenn.Ð ]&­!% Ð2001).€€We€therefore€defer€to€the€trial€courtððs€findings€on€the€credibility€issue.Ð F'–"& ÐÌà  àÔ‡ Xò¥XXX…—ÔImmediately€upon€the€occurrence€of€an€injury,€or€as€soon€thereafter€as€is€reasonable€andÐ )h$( Ðpracticable,€an€injured€employee€must,€unless€the€employer€has€actual€knowledge€of€the€accident,Ð *Q%) Ðgive€written€notice€of€the€injury€to€his€employer.Ô#†X…—XX Xò¥× #Ô€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„201.€€Ô‡ Xò¥XXX…—ÔIt€is€significant€thatÐ ê*:&* Ðwritten€notice€is€unnecessary€in€those€situations€where€the€employer€has€actual€knowledge€of€theÐ Ó+#'+ Ðinjury.Ô#†X…—XX Xò¥O"#Ô€€òòGeorge€v.€Building€Materials€Corp.óó,€44€S.W.3d€481,€485€at€n€1€(Tenn.€2001).€€The€trial€courtÐ ° Ðaccepted€the€claimantððs€testimony€that€the€employer€had€actual€notice€of€her€injury.€€Written€noticeÐ ™é Ðwas€thus€unnecessary.Ð ‚Ò ÐÌà  àÔ‡ Xò¥XXX…—ÔAn€action€by€an€employee€to€recover€benefits€for€an€accidental€injury,€other€than€anÐ T¤ Ðoccupational€disease,€must€be€commenced€within€one€year€after€the€occurrence€of€the€injury.Ô#†X…—XX Xò¥d$#Ô€€Tenn.Ð =  ÐCode€Ann.€ðð€50„6„224(1).€€Ô‡ Xò¥XXX…—ÔThe€running€of€the€statute€of€limitations€is€suspended,€however,€until€byÐ & v Ðreasonable€care€and€diligence€it€is€discoverable€and€apparent€that€a€compensable€injury€has€beenÐ  _ Ðsustained.€€òòÔ#†X…—XX Xò¥£%#ÔHibner€v.€St.€Paul€Mercury€Ins.€Co.óó,€619€S.W.2d€109€(Tenn.€1981).Ô‡ Xò¥XXX…—Ô€€It€is€the€date€onÐ ø H Ðwhich€the€employeeððs€disability€manifests€itself€to€a€person€of€reasonable€diligence€„€not€the€dateÐ á 1  Ðof€accident€„€which€triggers€the€running€of€the€statute€of€limitations€for€an€accidental€injury.Ô#†X…—XX Xò¥ '#Ô€€òòIdóó.€€Ms.Ð Ê   ÐLowry€commenced€this€action€within€one€year€after€the€occurrence€and€less€than€two€months€afterÐ ³  Ðshe€was€advised€she€had€a€serious€injury.Ð œì  ÐÌà  àÔ‡ Xò¥XXX…—ÔIn€a€workersðð€compensation€case,€a€trial€judge€may€properly€predicate€an€award€on€medicalÐ n¾  Ðtestimony€to€the€effect€that€a€given€incident€ð ðcould€beðð€the€cause€of€a€claimantððs€injury,€when,€fromÐ W§  Ðother€evidence,€it€may€reasonably€be€inferred€that€the€incident€was€in€fact€the€cause€of€the€injury,€Ð @ ÐòòÔ#†X…—XX Xò¥4)#ÔÔ_ÔMcCalebÔ_Ô€v.€Saturn€Corp.óó,€910€S.W.2d€412,€415€(Tenn.€1995).Ô‡ Xò¥XXX…—Ô€€Where€equivocal€medical€evidenceÐ )y Ðcombined€with€other€evidence€supports€a€finding€of€causation,€such€an€inference€may€neverthelessÐ b Ðbe€drawn€under€the€case€law.€€òòÔ#†X…—XX Xò¥D+#ÔWhite€v.€Werthan€Industriesóó,€824€S.W.2d€158€(Tenn.€1992)Ô‡ Xò¥XXX…—Ô.€€AbsoluteÐ ûK Ðcertainty€on€the€part€of€a€medical€expert€is€not€necessary€to€support€a€workersðð€compensation€award,Ð ä4 Ðfor€expert€opinion€must€always€be€more€or€less€uncertain€and€speculative.Ô#†X…—XX Xò¥Ž,#Ô€€òòÔ_ÔMcCalebÔ_Ôóó€at€414„15.€Ð Í ÐÔ‡ Xò¥XXX…—ÔGenerally,€an€injury€arises€out€of€and€in€the€course€of€employment€if€it€has€a€rational€causalÐ ¶ Ðconnection€to€the€work€and€occurs€while€the€employee€is€engaged€in€the€duties€of€his€employment;Ð Ÿï Ðand€any€reasonable€doubt€as€to€whether€an€injury€arose€out€of€the€employment€or€not€is€to€beÐ ˆØ Ðresolved€in€favor€of€the€employee.Ô#†X…—XX Xò¥.#Ô€€òòWhite€v.€Werthan€Industriesóó,€824€S.W.2d€158€(Tenn.€1992).Ð qÁ ÐÌà  àGiving€due€deference€to€the€findings€of€the€trial€court,€we€cannot€say€the€preponderance€ofÐ C“ Ðthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€The€judgment€is€therefore€affirmed.€€Costs€are€taxed€to€the€appellant.Ð ,| ÐÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ç 7 Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJOE€C.€LOSER,€JR.Ð Ð!   ÐÌÐ  ¢#ò" Ðà@9 9 ìàÔ‡¼ÑI»XX…—ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@@@ìàSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELˆÐ À Ðà@((%ìàAT€JACKSONˆÐ Ð  Ðà@''!ìàSeptember€11,€2003€ˆÐ à0 ÐÌò òÓ  ÓGAYLON€LOWRY€v.€HARDEMAN€COUNTY€BOARD€OF€EDUCATIONó óÐ  P ÐÓZ3ÓÌà@H H ìàò òChancery€Court€for€Hardeman€CountyˆÐ ! q Ðà@ââ%ìàNo.€€13056ˆÐ 2 ‚ ÐÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<S` A߈Ð T¤  ÐÌà@  ìàNo.€W2002„02822„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€December€2,€2003ˆÐ tÄ  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<•` AßÐ –æ  Ðó óÌà@tt#ìàò òJUDGMENT€ORDERó ó€ˆÐ µ ÐÌòòóóÌÔ‡¼)¯ »»¼ÑIÔà  àà ` àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€orderÐ é9 Ðof€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÐ ùI ÐMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€whichÐ  Y Ðare€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð i ÐÌà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€theÐ 9‰ ÐPanel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ I™ ÐÌà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusionsÐ i¹ Ðof€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgmentÐ y É Ðof€the€Court.Ð ‰!Ù Ѐ€Ð ™"é Ðà  àà ` àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€Appellant,€Hardeman€County€Board€ofÐ ©#ù ÐEducation,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð ¹$  ÐÌà  àà ` àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED.Ð Ù&)"" ÐÌÔ#†¼ÑI» »¼)¯Ä5#ÔÔ‡¼ÑI»»¼ÑIÔÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÐ  *Y%% ÐÔ#†¼ÑI»»¼ÑIJ:#ÔÔ#†X…—X»¼ÑI=2#Ô