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L  *>> (_17  2( 4 <DL223  Ԁ2( 4 <DL2  *DD (_16   ," <DL,23  Ԁ," <DL,   *55 (_15  ) <DL)23  Ԁ) <DL)  *22 (_14 ` &<<DL&23  Ԁ&<<DL& ` *// (_13  #DL#23  Ԁ#DL#  *,, (_12   DL 23  Ԁ DL  *)) (_11 h DDL23  ԀDDL h *&& (_10  L23  ԀL  (## &_9   L23  Ԁ L  (>> &_8  2( 4 <DL223  2( 4 <DL2  (DD &_7   ," <DL,23  ," <DL,   (55 &_6  ) <DL)23  ) <DL)  (22 &_5 ` &<<DL&23  &<<DL& ` (// &_4  #DL#23  #DL#  (,, &_3   DL 23   DL  ()) &_2 h DDL23  DDL h (&& &_1  L23  L  &## $_   L23   L  <:Default Para- -:kn8Body Text 2  X X /%4 4 <DL/XXX  2( 4 <DL2  X \  `&Times New RomanHP LaserJet 4 Plus,,,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular(|G2K$ !..8dd8         0  XX d(|3y2$ !..8dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3y2$ !..8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _8XXdd8  @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL , @@ATJACKSON## X April25,2002Session 4 XX #XX#JERRYWAYNE_MATLOCK_v._LTV_ԀSTEEL,INC.ANDINSURANCE <  COMPANYOFTHESTATEOFPENNSYLVANIAXX  T  @@ DirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtfor_Hardin_ԀCounty \  @@No.3012HonorableC.Creed_McGinley_,Judge L  @@*AV) ` dE<` A l  No.W200102512SCWCMCVMailedAugust8,2002;FiledDecember4,2002 k  #XX#XXAV) ` dE<` A ;        Thisworker'scompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorker'sCompensation : AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)fora * hearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Inthis  appeal,theemployerquestionsthetrialcourt'sfindingofpermanentpartialdisabilityforinjuryto   theback,neckandhand.Theemployeralsoquestionstheawardofbenefitstoclaimant'srighthand  forcarpeltunnelsyndrome,duetothelackofnoticeoftheinjurytoemployer.Asdiscussedbelow,  thepanelhasconcludedtheevidencesupportsthefindingsofthetrialcourt.     Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2001Supp.)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuit j CourtAffirmed.  Z     HamiltonV._Gayden_,Jr.,Sp.J.#X4#XX.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder, :  J.andJoeC.Loser,Jr.,joined. *!z LoriKeen,Memphis,Tennessee,forAppellant.  #Z! ArtD.Wells,Jackson,Tennessee,forAppellee. $: #    `     h      p    MEMORANDUMOPINION #XX, #XX ' #& #XX& #XX    <( 4 <DLX<0XXXX  TheemployeeforPlaintiffinitiatedthiscivilactiononSeptember4,1998inthe_Hardin_ )$( CountyCircuitCourtseekinganawardofworkerscompensationbenefitsforinjurytohisback, *%) neck,andrightarm.AfteratrialonthemeritsthetrialcourtawardedPlaintiffpermanentpartial z+&* disabilitytothebodyasawholeintheamountof45%,medicalexpensesassociatedwiththe j,'+ injuries,futuremedicalexpenses,anddiscretionarycosts. Z-(,  X X X9%4 4 <DLX9! ` X44X!Thetwoissuesraisedinthisappealare:1)whetherthetrialcourterredinawarding  permanentpartialdisabilitybenefitstothebodyasawhole,and2)whetherthetrialcourterred  infindingthatthePlaintiffgavesufficientnoticeoftheinjurytotherightarmandhand.  % 44X` X% X|0X0X#0 # X/  XX X9%4 4 <DL44X9XX  X/  #XXXXo#0XXXXForinjuriesoccurringonorafterJuly1,1985,appellatereviewisdenovouponthe  recordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact, p unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2).The `  reviewingcourtisrequiredtoconductanindependentexaminationoftherecordtodetermine P  wherethepreponderanceoftheevidencelies._Wingert_Ԁv.GovernmentofSumnerCounty,908 @  _S.W._Ԁ2d921,922(Tenn.1995).Conclusionsoflawaresubjecttodenovoreviewonappeal 0  withoutanypresumptionofcorrectness._Nutt_Ԁv.Champion.Corp.,980S.W.2d365,367(Tenn.  p  1998)./h݌ `  Ќ0X0X  44X44X  XX    /  XX X9%4 4 <DL44X90XX0  X/  ThePlaintiffhasbeenanemployeeoftheDefendantsince1983.Hepreviouslyworked P  fortheDefendantinthe1970sbutleftduetolayoffs.Hestartedacareerintheairconditioning @  business,buteventuallyleftthatenterprisetorejoinemploymentwiththeDefendant.Duringthe 0  lastperiodofemploymentwiththeDefendant,thePlaintiffworkedfortwelveyearsonan   apparatusknownasa flysaw.Hewasthenpromotedtoaqualitycontrolinspector,andatthe  timeoftheinjury,waslearninganewjoboperatinga cropsaw.Allofthesejobsrequired  varyingusageofPlaintiffshands./݌  Ќ0X0X  44X44X  XX    #0#00XX0Thejobinvolvingthe#0X0X囉#0XX0 cropsaw#0X0X#0XX0entailedthePlaintiffcuttingpiecesoutofpipes,and  sendingthesamplepiecestothelabfortesting.OnJune23,1998,thePlaintifffellbehindinhis  work,causingthepipestobacklogandstackupontheline.Inanattempttocleartheline,the p Plaintiffhurriedlypushedoneofthepipes.A#0X0X/#0XX0 burr#0X0X#0XX0neartheendofthepipecausedthemachine ` tostall,whichinjuredthePlaintiff.ThePlaintiffwasunabletogetupaftertheaccident,andwas P takenfromtheshoponaflatboardtotheambulance,whichtransferredhimtothe_Hardin_ @ CountyGeneralHospital.HewaslatertransferredtoNashvillewhereheremainedhospitalized 0 foranadditionalfourdays.  p   #0X0X*#0XX0ԀWhenthePlaintiffarrivedattheemergencyroom,hisinitialcomplaintwasonlyofback ` pain.Helatercomplainedofpaininhisneck,andfurthercomplainedofpaininhisback,neck, P andarmattheNashvillehospital. @ #0X0Xj #0XX0ԀDuringthecourseofPlaintiff#0X0X!#0XX0smedicaltreatment,multiplephysiciansdiagnosed 0 injuriestohisback,neck,arm,andrighthand.However,itwasaftertheinjuryonJune23,1998,   thatPlaintiffunderwentsurgeryonhisrighthandforcarpeltunnelsyndrome.Thecarpeltunnel ! syndromeintherightarmwasfirstdiagnosedfollowingtheJune23,1998,incidentbythe "  companyphysician,Dr.Jerry_Engleberg_.Plaintiffwasunawarethathewassufferingfromthe #! refineddiagnosisofcarpeltunnelsyndromepriortotheJune23,1998incident. $" #0X0X+"#0XX0Thedaybeforesurgeryforcarpeltunnelsyndrome,thePlaintiffinformedtheplantnurse % # ofhisimpendingoperationandthattheinjurytohisrightarmwasaworkrelatedinjury.The p&!$ employercontendsthatthisstatementwasthefirstnotificationoftheinjurytohisrightarm. `'"% TennesseeWorker#0X0X %#0XX0sCompensationlawrequiresthataninjuredemployeegivenoticeofawork P(#& relatedinjurywithin30daysoftheinjury.Tenn.CodeAnn.#0X0X図&#0XX050#0X0X囕'#0XX06#0X0X'#0XX0201.Therewasdisputed @)$' testimonyastowhenthePlaintifffirstnotifiedtheemployerofhisinjurytotherightarmthat 0*%( requiredsurgery.  +p&) #0X0X#(#0XX0ThetestimonyattrialofDr._Engleberk_ԀandDr._Boals_Ԁwasbywayoftheirrespective ,`'* depositions.Dr._Engelbrook_,thecompanyphysician,testifiedthatthePlaintiffwasnot  permanentlypartiallyimpaired,andhedidnotawardanypercentageofimpairment.Onthe  otherhand,Dr._Boals_ԀawardedthePlaintiffacombinedimpairmentof18%tothebodyasa  wholeinclusiveofinjuriestohisback,neck,andrightarm.  #0X0X/)#0XX0Atthehearing,Plaintifftestifiedtopreviousboutswithbackandneckproblems p includingsubstantialtimethathemissedfromworkduetotheseproblems.Heoffered `  contradictingtestimonyastotheexistenceofpreviousepisodesofbackandneckcomplaints,as P  hisdeposedtestimonystatedthathedidnothaveanypriorproblemswithhisbackandneck. @  Nevertheless,theproofreflectsthatthePlaintiffdidinfacthavemultipleepisodesofpriorneck 0  andbackproblemsandhadpreviouslysoughtmedicalandchiropracticassistanceforhisneck  p  andback. `    #0X0X+#0XX0Thiscasehingesoncredibilityissuesofbothexpertandlaywitnesses.Thetrialjudge P  chosetoacceptthetestimonyofDr._Boals_,theevaluatingphysicianchosenbyPlaintiff,overthat @  ofDr._Englebrook_,atreatingphysicianandthecompanydoctor.Dr._Boals_ԀawardedPlaintiffa 0  combinedimpairmentratingof18%tothebodyasawhole.Inareviewoftherecordweagree   withthetrialjudgethatthePlaintiffdidincurpartialimpairmenttohisbodyasaresultofthe  injuryofJune23,1998.Whenmedicaltestimonyisconflicting,thetrialcourtmustchoose  whichexpertorexpertstobelieve.Indoingso,thecourtmayconsiderthequalificationsofthe  experts,thecircumstancesoftheirexaminationandtreatment,theinformationavailabletothem,  andtheevaluationoftheimportanceofthatinformationbyotherexperts.#0X0X/#0XX0Ormanv.Williams  _Sonoma_ԀInc#0X0X囔3#0XX0.,803S.W.2d672,676(Tenn.1991). p TheCourthasalsoreviewedthetrialcourt'sfindingsthatPlaintiffisentitledto45% ` permanentpartialdisability.AtthetimeofthetrialthePlaintiffwasfiftyone(51)yearsofage. P Heisahighschoolgraduate;later,healsoobtainedavocationalcertificationintheair @ conditioningandrefrigerationbusiness.HeisaVietnamveteranwhowashonorablydischarged 0 duetoaninjury.Inthepast,inadditiontoworkingmostofhisadultlifefortheDefendant,he  p ranhisownairconditioningbusinessforfive(5)yearspriortorejoiningDefendantscompany. ` Plaintiffwasalsoformerlyagreenskeeperforastatepark.Allofhispastemploymentskills P requiremoderatetoheavyphysicalexertion.BasedonPlaintiff'sage,occupation,experience @ andavailabilityofsuitableemploymentbasedonhisskills,thecourtfindsthatthetrialcourtdid 0 notabuseitsdiscretioninawarding45%permanentpartialdisability.     #0X0X)4#0XX0ԀOntheissueofwhetherthePlaintiffgavesufficientnoticetotheemployerofacarpel ! tunnelsyndromeinjurytohisrightarm,welikewiseconcurwiththetrialjudgeinhisfindings "  thatthePlaintiffdidgivenotice,oralternatively,wasexcusedfromgivingnoticeunderthefacts #! andcircumstancesofthiscase.Fromtherecorditisevidentthattheinjurytotherightarmwas $" onlyknowntoPlaintiffduringatimeframesubsequenttotheinjurytohisbackandneck. % #   #0X0X-9#0XX0ԀThereasonsforthenoticerequirementare:1)togivetheemployeranopportunityto p&!$ makeaninvestigationwhilethefactsareaccessibleand2)toenabletheemployertoprovide `'"% timelyandpropertreatmenttotheinjuredemployee.#0X0X;#0XX0_McCaleb_Ԁ_v.Saturn_ԀCorporation#0X0X=#0XX0,910 P(#& S.W.2d(Tenn.1995).Thecourtin#0X0X囸=#0XX0_McCaleb_Ԁ#0X0X9>#0XX0furtherstatedthatindecidingwhetherthereexista @)$' reasonableexcusefornotprovidingnoticeofaninjurycourtsshouldconsider:1)theemployer#0X0X囦>#0XX0s 0*%( actualknowledgeoftheemployee#0X0X囑?#0XX0sinjury;2)thelackofprejudicetotheemployerand;3)the  +p&) excuseorinabilityoftheemployeetotimelynotifytheemployer.#0X0X @#0XX0_McCaleb_#0X0X@#0XX0,at415. ,`'*   #0X0XXA#0XX0In#0X0XA#0XX0QuakerOatsv.Smith#0X0XB#0XX0,thecourtstated,#0X0XjB#0XX0 weknowofnorequirementthatanemployee  givenoticeofeachandeveryinjuryhereceivedinanon#0X0XB#0XX0the#0X0XC#0XX0jobaccident.Heisincompliance  withthestatutoryrequirementofnoticeifhenotifieshisemployeroftheaccidentandthefact  thathehassufferedaninjury.Thenatureandextentoftheemployee#0X0XC#0XX0sinjuries,andtheissueof  medicalcausation,usuallycomeinlightinthecourseoftreatmentoftheemployee#0X0XD#0XX0sinjuries.#0X0XE#0XX0 p 574S.W.2d45,48(Tenn.1978). `  #0X0XF#0XX0ThecourtacceptedthetestimonyofthePlaintiffastothetimelinessofthenoticeof P  injurytohisrightarm.Plaintifftestifiedhetoldthenurseofhisinjurytohisrighthandjust @  beforesurgery,aswellashavingpreviouslytoldaforemanofpaininhisarmdaysinadvanceof 0  hisdiagnosisofcarpeltunnelsyndromebyDr._Englebrook_.Theemployercounteredthis  p  statementwiththetestimonyofaforemanwhotestifiedthattherehadneverbeenanyother `  employeewhohadincurredcarpeltunnelsyndromeinthesamelineofworkthatPlaintiffwas P  engagedin.#0X0X团F#0XX0 Wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthewitnesses,especiallyifissuesof @  credibilityandweighttobegivenoraltestimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemust 0  accordedtothosecircumstancesonreview,becauseitisthetrialcourtwhichhadtheopportunity   toobservethewitnessesdemeanorandtohearthein#0X0X囶I#0XX0courttestimony.#0X0X|K#0XX0ԀLongv.Tri#0X0XK#0XX0ConInd.,Ltd#0X0X L#0XX0.,  996S.W.2d173,178(Tenn.1999).Similarly,thecourtruledthattheJune23,1998injurywasa  newinjurydespitepreviouscontradictoryevidencethatthePlaintiffhadpriorproblemswithhis  backandneck.  #0X0XrL##0j#/  XX X9%4 4 <DL44X9XX  X/M  0XXXXAfterconsideringtheabovelegalprinciplesandareviewoftherecord,givingdue  deferencetothefindingsoftrialcourt,wecannotsaytheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrial p courtsfindingthattheevidencefailedtosupportthejudgmentthatPlaintiffwas45% ` permanentlypartiallydisabled,andthattheplaintiffeithergavetimelynoticeofhisinjurytohis P rightarmorwasreasonablyexcusedunderthecircumstancesfromgivingnoticepriortosurgery. @ Coststobetaxedtotheappellant./MN݌ 0 Ќ0X0X  44X44X  XX  #0N#  p  `     h      p        x 0 ` 0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#___________________________________@(#(#  `     h     HAMILTONV._GAYDEN_,JR.  X      !  @7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @''%ATJACKSON   0 @  JERRYWAYNE_MATLOCK_Ԁv._LTV_ԀSTEEL,INC.,AndINSURANCECO.@@#@ @  H @#OFPENNSYLVANIA  ` #!T#XX@*@ddCircuitCourtfor_Hardin_ԀCounty  h @xx&No.3012  X   H @*@*AV) ` dE<` A߈ (   7  @* * 3X XXXNo.W200102512SCWCMCV#XX X3X\W#ԀFiledDecember4.2002 '   +  AV) ` dE<` A   3X XXX@*@(ORDER  @*      ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponthemotionforreviewfiledbyJerryWayne  _Matlock_ ,pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.50-6-225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorder v ofreferraltotheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandum b Opinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw. N  :  ` ItappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandistherefore &v denied.ThePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedbyreference, b areadoptedandaffirmed.ThedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. N  :  ` Costsareassessedtotheappellant,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. &        0 `  *(#` (#` (#PER_CURIAM_Ԁ !   r"!  ^#" Holder,J.Notparticipating.#XX X3XRX##XXU# J$#  6% $