WPC Tj{-6g1Y.r$3z':k{@pjF lB9f. :B2Ci&cʀؐ`.vWpMJ/z{HI͛2htrs4m R&oT~H =Rľ yHx;iFRJ=K² 2D][trL_WVA|Zqpk bBK}h|^=] <@v?iȪtb3RPF[U/ޙ(LgrPdMWԩx$Ǎ) ϯxPrA'p"V~1iΚ4M̬$k ~Tb0KamfԒTeϽ'ɉUFddK׫]sXq 9x*A٘ޭ@✝Dp XU7(b %\^ b 0nUNwD4H\ zk m #   _ %  NNU@Eb 0 B  0 D3 D- 0K   ASV 0o 0D AW}E) (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular e+)\Pld3|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.wptUHP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 60 Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(9 Z(Times New Roman - -(|G2B$ !..8 dd8         0  X{X d(|3d$ !..8 dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3d$ !..8 dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8 dd8     _ 8{XXdd8  @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  @@ATNASHVILLE  (June2000Session) * X{X  # XX{#DONALD_McCORMICK_,ETC.v._AABAKUS_ԀINCORPORATED,ETALX{X     # XX{̛#X{X @@ DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtfor_Cheatham_ԀCounty   @@No.9765LeonardMartin,Chancellor   @@*AV) ` dE<Y` A Z  No.M199901234_WC_ԄR3CVMailedAugust1,2000 O  FiledOctober5,2000 5  AV) ` dE<` A Q      Theplaintiffcontendsthatthetrialcourterredingrantingadirectedverdictforthe F defendant/employerattheconclusionoftheplaintiff'scase.Thepanelhasconcludedthatadirected , verdictwasinappropriate.  M   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourt  ReversedandcaseRemanded.  t     loser,sp.j.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhich_turnbull_,sp.j.,and_drowota_,j.,joined. @ J.Mitchell_Grissim_,WilliamG.CalhounandRonald_McNutt_,Nashville,Tennessee,forthe  \ appellant,DonaldMcCormick. B J.MichaelMorgan,_Ortale_,Kelley,Herbert&Crawford,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellees,  _Aabakus_ԀIncorporatedandNationalFireInsuranceCompanyofHartford.  B  MEMORANDUMOPINION  p!!     ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersCompensation <## AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)for "$r$ hearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Asdiscussed %X % below,thepanelhasconcludedthejudgmentshouldbereversedandthecauseremandedforfurther %>!& proceedings. &$"'  XTheclaimant,DonaldMcCormick,isthesurvivingspouseofDeborahElaineMcCormick. (#) ThecouplelivedtogetheruntilDeborah'sdeathonSeptember10,1998.Atthetimeofherdeath, )$* Deborah,theemployee,wasemployedby_Aabakus_ԀIncorporatedasashampootechnicianatIllusions l*%+ SalonandSpa. R+&,  8,'-  -n(. OnSeptember9,1998,Deborahclockedoutforlunchat11:31a.m.Shewalkedtoanearby  sandwichshop,whereshepurchasedhermealandanicedteaforacoworker.At11:45a.m.,she  returnedtoIllusionsandwenttotheemployeebreakroomtoeatherlunch.Shedidnotclockback | in.Shortlythereafter,shechokedonaportionofhersandwich.RespondingtoDeborahsdistress, b acoworkercalledforparamedicswhilethesalonmanagerperformedthe_Heimlich_Ԁmaneuver. H Initialattemptstodislodgetheblockagewereunsuccessful.Deborahlostconsciousnessbefore . ~ paramedicsarrived,incurringirreversiblebraininjury.AnambulancetransportedhertoSt.Thomas  d Hospital,whereshewaspronounceddeadthefollowingmorning.  J   0 IllusionsSalonandSpaallowsitsemployeestotakeathirtyminutelunchbreakduringthe    workday.Employeesclockoutduringlunchandarenotcompensatedforthebreaktime.The    salonsbreakroomcontainsarefrigerator,microwaveandsink.Employeesarefreetotake   advantageofthebreakroomduringlunchortoeatsomewhereoffthepremises.Attrial,Deborahs x  coworkerstestifiedthatmanagementdidnotrequirethemtobe oncallduringlunch:however, ^  twoofthethreeshampootechniciansadmittedtoworkingoccasionallythoughinfrequentlyduring D  thesebreaks. *z   ` Upontheaboveevidence,attheconclusionoftheplaintiffscase,thedefendantsmovedfor F adirectedverdictonthegroundthatreasonablemindscouldnotdisagreethatDeborahsdeathdid , notariseoutoftheemploymentbecauseshewas offtheclockatthetimeofthefatalinjury.The  trialjudgefoundthattheclaimanthad failedtomakeoutaprimafaciecaseanddismissedthe  complaint.Appellatereviewisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbya  presumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceis t otherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2).Conclusionsoflawarerevieweddenovowithout Z anypresumptionofcorrectness.Presleyv.Bennett,860S.W.2d857(Tenn.1993). @  &v Amotionforadirectedverdictisneithernecessarynorproperinacasewhichisbeingtried  \ withoutajury.SeeCityofColumbiav._C.F.W._ԀConstructionCo.,557S.W.2d734(Tenn.1977). B Sincethepresentclaimisoneforworkerscompensationbenefits,thecasewastriedtothecourt ( withoutajury.    ForanaccidentalinjurytoordeathofanemployeetobecompensableundertheWorkers   CompensationAct,itmustbeonearisingoutofandinthecourseofemployment.SeeTenn.Code p!  Ann.506102(12). Arisingoutofreferstotheoriginoftheinjuryintermsofcausationand in V"! thecourseofrelatestotime,placeandcircumstance._McCurry_Ԁv.ContainerCorp.ofAmerica,982 <#" S.W.2d841,843(Tenn.1998).Noteveryinjurybyaccidentwhichoccursinthecourseof "$r# employmentiscompensable;itisonlycompensableifitalsoarisesoutofemployment,butany %X $ reasonabledoubtastowhethersuchaninjuryarisesoutoftheemploymentshouldberesolvedin %>!% favoroftheemployee.TheActexpresslydeclaresitselftobearemedialoneandshouldbe &$"& construedliberallytoeffectuateitspurposeofjustlycompensatinginjuredemployeesandtheir ' #' families.Tenn.CodeAnn506116;WilliamsvPreferredDevelopmentCorp.,224Tenn.174, (#( 452S.W.2d344(1970);seealsoStoryv.LegionIns.Co.,3S.W.3d450(Tenn.1999).Acts )$) necessarytothelife,comfortandconvenienceofanemployeewhileatworkareincidentaltothe l*%* employmentandcontributetothefurtheranceofservice;andinjuriesthatoccurintheperformance R+&+ thereofaredeemedtohavearisenoutoftheemployment.SeeCarterv.Hodges,175Tenn.96,132 8,', S.W.2d211(1939)anditsprogeny,particularlyMcCannv._Hatchett_,_____S.W.3d_____(Tenn.  2000).   | Althoughemployeelunchesarefrequently offtheclockandunpaid,thenationaltrendof b workerscompensationjurisprudencehasbeentowardrecognizinglunchbreaksaspartofan H employeesworkday.See1ALarson,WorkmensCompensationLaw,21.02(1)(a)(1990). . ~ Injuriessufferedbyemployeesontheemploymentpremisesduringlunchbreaksgenerallyareheld  d tobecompensable.Seeid.Arulebarringrecoveryforworkrelatedinjuriesthatoccur offthe  J clockwouldyieldunjust,arbitraryresultsinsuchcases.Theemployeewhoeatsonthepremises  0 alsoremainsavailabletotheemployerandsubjecttotheemployerscontrol.Seeid.Employers    oftenprovidebreakroomsfortheirownconvenienceaswellasforthebenefitofemployees.       Tennesseecourtshavelongheldthatinjuriessufferedontheemployerspremisesduring x  lunchbreaksariseoutofandinthecourseofemployment.SeeJohnsonCoffeeCompanyv. ^  McDonald,226_S.W._.215,216(Tenn.1920);Drewv.TappanCo.,630S.W.2d624,625(Tenn. D  1982).Intheseminal lunchbreakcase,JohnsonCoffeeCompanyv.McDonald,theTennessee *z  SupremeCourtheldcompensablethedeathofanemployeewhofelldownanelevatorshaftduring ` herlunchbreak.JohnsonCoffeeCo.,226_S.W._Ԁat217.AswithDeborahMcCormick,thedeceased F employeeinJohnsonhadleftthecompanypremisestopurchaseherlunchandwaskilledfollowing , herreturntothebuilding.Idat216.TheCourtadoptedthegeneralruleespousedbyworkers  compensationtreatises.Seeidat217.    0 ` Whereanemployerprovidesaplaceforhisemployeestoeat,ordirectsorpermits t themtogotoaplaceforthatpurpose,heowestothemthesamedutyofprotection Z fromdangerthathedoesattheplacewheresuchemployeeswork.@` (#` (# Ѐ &v Seeid.(quotingBradburysWorkmensCompensation(3Ed.).  \  B Whileconcedingattrialthatinjuriesoccurringduringlunchbreaksmayfallwithinthe ( courseofemployment,theemployerarguesthatDeborahsaccidentdidnotariseoutofthe  employment.TheemployerassertsthatDeborahsdeathwascausedbyherpersonaleatinghabits  ratherthanaworkrelatedhazard.Attrial,Deborahscoworkerstestifiedthatshe couldeatalot   offoodveryquicklyandthatshetalkedwhileeating.HerhusbandtestifiedthatDeborahate p!  slowlyathome.ThisdebateregardingthestandardofcareDeborahexercisedwhileeatingseems V"! tosuggestthatherclaimshouldbebarredbecauseofherownnegligence.TheWorkers <#" CompensationActexpresslybarsemployersfrominvokingemployeenegligenceasadefenseto "$r# claims.TennCodeAnn.506111.IndulginginadebateoverDeborahseatinghabitswould %X $ subvertthestatutoryrulebyallowingnegligencestandardstocloudthetestsfordetermining %>!% compensability. &$"&  ' #' TheemployerattemptstocontrastthecasesofDrewv.TappanCo.,630S.W.2d624(Tenn. (#( 1982),andPacificEmployersIns.Co.v.Booker,553S.W.2d586(Tenn.1977),tosupportthe )$) propositionthatinjuriesoccurringduringlunchbreaksarecompensableonlyiftheinjuryisdirectly l*%* relatedtoahazardoftheemploymentitself.Thereasoningofthosecases,asweunderstandthem, R+&+ doesnotsupporttheemployersposition.InDrew,asimilarargumentwasexpresslyrejected.The 8,', ruleapplicabletothepresentcaseisthatwhereanemployeeisinjuredontheemployerspremises  duringabreakperiodprovidedbytheemployer,suchinjuryisgenerallycompensable.SeeCarter  v.VolunteerApparel,Inc.,833S.W.2d492(Tenn.1992)andauthoritiescitedtherein. |  b Fortheabovereasons,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisreversedandthecauseremandedfor H furtherproceedings.Costsonappealaretaxedtotheappellees.# XX{#  . ~   Ԁ#  5#@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @$ATNASHVILLE  X{X    # XX{S6#  DONALD_McCORMICK_,ETAL.v._AABAKUS_ԀINCORPORATED,  ETAL.X{X    6   @q q  ChanceryCourtfor_Cheatham_ԀCounty   @xx&No.9765       f   @*AV) ` dE<K` A߈ L   [  @a a No.M199901234SCWCMCVFiledOctober5,2000 A   'w  AV) ` dE< ` A  ]    l   R  @..# JUDGMENTORDER  8   X{XXX{ `  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponmotionforreviewfiledbytheappellant,  _Aabakus_ԀIncorporated,pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B)theentirerecord,including  theorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel's  MemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichare f incorporatedhereinbyreference; L  2  `  Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwell h takenandshouldbedenied;and N  4  `  Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw  areadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.The  Panelsopinionshallbepublished.   |  `  Costsaretaxedtotheappellees. b    H!!  `  ItissoORDERED. ."~"  #d#  #J$  $0 %  `     h      p PER_CURIAM_ %!&  &!' _Drowota_,J.,notparticipating@*#X{XXX{7:## XX{L7#