ÿWPCÄ ûWÝ0•¯î¥m€¨*H9ŸãñRÞáY÷Ò¥b~€Ê"lU±uD›À%¹D§ÚcË( ;ßn®=R“U#ÿöÈ^ŽB•°E™ ]B­cÙ²L#*O£dé"WX£Ò øz®\z>l„;J™¤Ñ¤_ÐH”~';æ ª_©mʆ ‚Ë7‰,®ÆDB4©ƒFíÜ Ê„=“€%i˜½”,JÃÈpX ÐW¦¤ü AÐIõ©_‘‰œ`;ßBð&‘xýN<À‘ñ†S€]M¦[¯È®>ùÆ2Vv5š'¢•C?[ 2‹¶m{.a¾úÁ׋UjÏüÝØûlÿfQ>Ab­(h à O:‹Jdf=Ë‚‘Ùxµ6×ÙRCz9¾ì ¼!/àM\«†ùørÀ0¥MQ:æÖl8”ÐÓ­Ò6c¡æŽZêRìÉeŽÇÊ9ò9ù·b;Çléójií:U ¡@íšÄüa| ˜‡Y¨O Ì2]›¬*Ûd Ì„Ç-Ç΢OnnorW@&ˆhŽZ1{™”íòöVÞ ÷ŽŽú˜•®É†g¨K:ø§lÏ7žæbA ËÐÐðYÉ5bBîi­(âM€WD‰\§˜˜D¼ÆÌþëMëM19ï5ôA$æA ôý*Ž |Db#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ U&N· w 4 z Ò— i x mz †‘ ÆÆÝÆ£Æi/N77N9E; z=Ò·· ‰‰‰‰‰  — Ÿ § ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯b···································· 0ë¿¿¿¿ B ªª 0¤Ç D5k D-  0KÍÍ ASÆk 0¤1 0DÕ A«˜\\IB27S11T\stats1ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»[„ˆ/s (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular8AÅ.ê:i¢×+00 ˜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.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ Ó  )& ' ib016d40ib016d4 .   Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 ˜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.wptH45678- ù-(|G2ç_$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€TÍ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X™X»»Ô d(|3ÇŽ$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€TÍ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV)ÿÿ!dxdx)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÇŽ$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€TÍ»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€Yù»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼Yù»»»ÔÑ8€9XXdì»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡îNdYùÔÌà@@™ ™ ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ Ö& ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ üL Ðà@@WW$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼Yù»îîNdî#ÔÐ "r ÐSeptember€19,€2003€SessionÐ H ˜ ÐÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔÌò òÔ#†¼Yù»XX9#ÔLINDA€MEADOWSòòóó€v.€WAUSAU€INSURANCE€COMPANYòòóóÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔó óÐ F – ÐÌà@@? ? ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Rhea€CountyÐ F – Ðà@@Ø Ø ìàNo.€9318€€€€€€Jeffrey€F.€Stewart,€ChancellorÐ 2‚  ÐÌFiled€December€8,€2003Ð  Z  ÐÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<á` AßÐ â2  ÐÌNo.€E2002„02828„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€Ð Ý- ÐÔ#†¼Yù»XX9™#ÔÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔÌÌßA€V) °°` dE< ` AßÐ ¡ñ Ðó óÌÓ  ÓThis€workersðð€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workersðð€CompensationÐ œì ÐAppeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(óóeòò)(3)óó€forÐ ˆØ Ðhearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€In€thisÐ tÄ Ðappeal,€the€defendant,€Wausau€Insurance€Company,€insists€that€the€trial€court€erred€inÐ `° Ðdetermining€Wausau€was€liable€for€the€plaintiffððs€compensation,€and€that€the€trial€court€erred€inÐ Lœ Ðallowing€the€plaintiff€to€voluntarily€dismiss€co„defendant,€Legion€Insurance€Company.€€€Ð 8ˆ ÐÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ ` ÐAffirmedó óÐ üL ÐÌòòÓ  ÓJohn€K.€Byers,€Sr.€J.Ô#†¼Yù»àX9‹#ÔÔ‡X9X.¼YùÔóó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòE.€Riley€Anderson,€J.,óó€andÐ Ô$ ÐòòRoger€E.€Thayer,€Sp.€J.óó,€joined.Ð À  ÐÌDavid€C.€Nagle,€Chattanooga,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Wausau€Insurance€CompanyÐ ˜"è! ÐÌMichael€A.€Wagner,€Chattanooga,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Linda€MeadowsÐ p$À# ÐÓÓÌÓ9 ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼Yù»XX9¯#ÔÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔÐ H&˜!% ÐÌÔ#†¼Yù»XX9¡ #ÔÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔÓ  Óà  àReview€of€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€theÐ  (p#' Ðtrial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€finding,€unless€theÐ  )\$( Ðpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€òòTenn.€Code€Ann.€óóðð€50„6„225(e)(2).€òòStone€v.€City€ofÐ ø)H%) ÐÔ_ÔMcMinnvilleÔ_Ô,óó€896€S.W.2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).€€The€application€of€this€standard€requires€thisÐ ä*4&* ÐCourt€to€weigh€in€more€depth€the€factual€findings€and€conclusions€of€the€trial€courts€in€workersððÐ Ð+ '+ Ðcompensation€cases.€€òòSee€€Corcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€Ô_ÔGMCÔ_Ô,€Inc.,óó€746€S.W.2d€452,€456€(Tenn.Ð ¼, (, Ð1988).€€€Ð ¨-ø(-ý ÐÔ_Ô‡à  àThe€trial€court€in€this€case€found€the€plaintiff€to€be€permanently€and€totally€disabled€andÐ ° Ðthat€Wausau€was€liable€for€the€plaintiffððs€compensation.€€The€trial€court€also€allowed€the€plaintiffÐ œì Ðto€voluntarily€dismiss€the€co„defendant,€Legion€Insurance€Company.€€The€plaintiff€argues€that€theÐ ˆØ Ðtrial€court€was€correct€in€its€ruling,€and€we€agree.Ð tÄ ÐÌÓ  Óò òFactsó óÐ L œ ÐÌÓ  Óà  àThe€plaintiff,€Ms.€Meadows,€was€employed€by€Hobbs€Staffing,€a€temporary€employmentÐ $ t Ðagency,€when€she€was€working€for,€and€injured€on€the€job€at,€Suburban€Manufacturing€CompanyÐ  ` Ðin€March€of€1999.€€She€received€medical€attention€and€returned€to€work€for€Hobbs,€but€at€aÐ ü L  Ðdifferent€place€called€Save„A„Pet.€€In€August€1999,€she€was€involved€in€another€accident€againÐ è 8  Ðinjuring€her€back.€€She€again€received€medical€attention€and€returned€to€work.€€Ms.€MeadowsÐ Ô$  Ðinjured€her€back€two€more€times,€in€January€of€2000€and€May€of€2000,€for€which€bothÐ À  Ðoccurrences€she€received€medical€attention€and€returned€to€work.€€In€August€of€2000,€Ms.Ð ¬ü  ÐMeadows€felt€that€she€was€no€longer€able€to€work€because€of€the€pain€due€to€her€back.Ð ˜è  ÐÌà  àMs.€Meadows€also€began€suffering€psychological€problems€not€long€after€her€first€injuryÐ pÀ Ðin€March€of€1999.€€These€psychological€problems€seemed€to€worsen€between€March€of€1999€andÐ \¬ Ðthe€summer€of€2000.€€She€was€admitted€to€two€different€psychiatric€hospitals€at€least€five€times.€Ð H˜ ÐIn€addition,€Ms.€Meadows€has€sought€medical€attention€for€her€back€several€times€between€JuneÐ 4„ Ð1,€2000€and€September€22,€2001.Ð  p ÐÌà  àWausau€was€the€workersðð€compensation€insurance€carrier€for€Hobbs€between€August€1,Ð øH Ð1998€and€August€1,€1999.€€Legion€was€the€workersðð€compensation€carrier€for€Hobbs€betweenÐ ä4 ÐAugust€1,€1999€and€August€1,€2000.€€Fireman€Fund€was€the€insurance€carrier€for€Hobbs€betweenÐ Ð  ÐAugust€1,€2000€and€August€1,€2002.€€Wausau€filed€a€motion€for€summary€judgment€on€March€18,Ð ¼  Ð2002,€and€while€that€motion€was€pending,€the€plaintiff€sought€to€voluntarily€dismiss€co„defendantÐ ¨ø ÐLegion€which€the€trial€court€allowed€the€plaintiff€to€do.Ð ”ä ÐÌÓ  Óò òMedical€EvidenceÐ l¼ ÐÌó óÓ  Óà  àMs.€Meadows€was€seen€by€a€number€of€doctors€for€both€her€back€injuries€and€herÐ D!” Ðpsychological€injuries.€€Dr.€Michael€Gallagher,€a€neurosurgeon,€treated€Ms.€Meadows€after€herÐ 0"€  Ðinjury€in€March€of€1999,€and€also€several€times€later€after€Ms.€Meadows€had€said€she€had€re„Ð #l! Ðinjured€her€back.€€Dr.€Gallagher€felt€that€Ms.€Meadows€had€a€compression€fracture,€but€allowedÐ $X" Ðher€to€return€to€work€with€some€limitations€and€restrictions.€€Dr.€Gallagher€testified€that€he€foundÐ ô$D # Ðno€new€associated€symptoms€after€each€incident€of€re„injury€to€the€back,€and€also€that€each€ofÐ à%0!$ Ðthese€new€incidents€were€related€to€the€March€of€1999€incident.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àMs.€Meadows€also€saw€Dr.€Scott€Hodges,€an€orthopaedic€surgeon.€€Dr.€Hodges€diagnosedÐ ¤(ô#' ÐMs.€Meadows€as€having€a€preexisting€condition€of€hyperthoracic€hyperkyphosis,€which€heÐ )à$( Ðconcluded€would€cause€her€chronic€back€pain.€€Dr.€Hodges€also€felt€that€all€of€her€subsequentÐ |*Ì%) Ðsymptoms€and€problems€with€Ms.€Meadowsðð€back€were€related€to€the€injury€in€March€of€1999.Ð h+¸&* Ðà  àMs.€Meadows€also€saw€two€psychiatrists,€Dr.€Sydney€Alexander€and€Dr.€Terry€Holmes.€Ð ° ÐDr.€Alexander€testified€that€there€must€be€a€nidus,€or€precipitating€event€for€Ms.€MeadowsððÐ œì Ðcondition,€and€agrees€that€this€would€be€the€March€1999€injury.€€However,€Dr.€Alexander€alsoÐ ˆØ Ðtestified€that€her€chronic€pain€increased€with€each€subsequent€injury€or€incident€related€to€herÐ tÄ Ðback,€and€did€not€attribute€it€all€back€to€her€March€1999€incident.Ð `° ÐÌà  àDr.€Holmes€testified€that€Ms.€Meadows€suffers€from€a€bipolar€disorder,€and€that€there€is€aÐ 8 ˆ Ðconnection€between€this€and€her€back€injury.€€Dr.€Holmes€also€testified€that€Ms.€Meadows€hasÐ $ t Ðhad€chronic€pain€since€the€March€of€1999€injury,€and€that€all€of€the€subsequent€incidents€wereÐ  ` Ðjust€incidents€of€the€chronic€pain€manifesting€itself€in€different€ways.€€Dr.€Holmes€believes€thatÐ ü L  Ðthe€nature€of€this€mental€disorder€is€irreversible€and€that€Ms.€Meadows€will€need€medication€andÐ è 8  Ðtreatment€for€the€rest€of€her€life.Ô#†¼Yù»XX9ù #ÔÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔò òÐ Ô$  ÐÌà  àó óDr.€Robert€Bradley,€a€rehabilitation€counselor,€testified€as€to€Ms.€Meadowsðð€vocationalÐ ¬ü  Ðabilities.€€Dr.€Bradley€felt€that€Ms.€Meadows€would€not€be€able€to€keep€any€job€in€light€of€herÐ ˜è  Ðphysical€limitations€and€psychological€problems.€€Dr.€Bradley€felt€that€Ms.€Meadows€had€no€jobÐ „Ô  Ðopportunities€in€the€job€market.ò òÐ pÀ ÐÌÓ  ÓDiscussionÐ H˜ ÐÌó óÓ  Óà  àThe€defendant/appellant€argues€that€the€trial€court€erred€in€allowing€the€plaintiff€toÐ  p Ðvoluntarily€dismiss€Legion€Insurance€Company€while€the€defendantððs€motion€for€summaryÐ  \ Ðjudgment€was€pending.€€Under€Rule€41.01(1)€of€the€òòTennessee€Rules€of€Civil€Procedureóó,€theÐ øH Ðplaintiff€has€the€right€to€take€a€voluntary€non„suit€to€dismiss€an€action,€except€when€a€motion€forÐ ä4 Ðsummary€judgment€made€by€an€adverse€party€is€pending.€€The€right€of€the€plaintiff€to€non„suit€isÐ Ð  Ðsubject€to€the€restriction€that€the€granting€of€the€non„suit€will€not€deprive€the€defendant€of€a€rightÐ ¼  Ðthat€has€become€vested€during€the€pendency€of€the€case.ò ò€ó óòòAnderson€v.€Smith,óó€521€S.W.2d€787Ð ¨ø Ð(Tenn.€1975).€€In€the€present€case,€Wausau€had€taken€no€action€whatsoever€against€LegionÐ ˜è ÐInsurance€Company,€therefore€Legion€was€not€an€adverse€party€to€Wausau.€€The€dismissal€ofÐ „Ô ÐLegion€also€did€not€deprive€Wausau€of€any€right,€Wausau€could€still€offer€evidence€that€Ms.Ð pÀ ÐMeadowsðð€injury€occurred€while€Legion€was€the€insurance€carrier.€€ò òó óTherefore€we€agree€with€theÐ \ ¬ Ðtrial€court€allowing€the€plaintiff€to€voluntarily€dismiss€Legion€Insurance€Company€whileÐ H!˜ ÐWausauððs€motion€for€summary€judgment€was€pending.Ð 4"„  ÐÌà  àThe€trial€judge€in€this€case€found€the€testimony€of€Drs.€Gallagher€and€Hodges€significantÐ  $\" Ðin€that€they€both€testified€that€they€believed€Ms.€Meadowsðð€subsequent€incidents€and€problemsÐ ø$H # Ðwith€her€back€were€related€to€her€March€1999€injury.€€Specifically,€Dr.€Gallagher€found€no€newÐ ä%4!$ Ðassociated€symptoms€after€each€of€the€subsequent€injuries€that€he€saw€her€for.€€Dr.€HodgesÐ Ð& "% Ðtestified€that€she€did€not€experience€any€advancement€of€her€anatomical€condition.Ð ¼' #& ÐÌà  àThe€trial€judge€also€found€the€testimony€of€the€two€psychiatrists,€Drs.€Alexander€andÐ ”)ä$( ÐHolmes,€important€in€deciding€the€issue€of€whether€or€not,€and€how,€Ms.€MeadowsððÐ €*Ð%) Ðpsychological€problems€relate€back€to€her€injury€in€March€1999.€€Although€the€two€psychiatrists,Ð l+¼&* ÐDrs.€Alexander€and€Holmes,€agreed€with€the€opinions€given€by€Drs.€Gallagher€and€Hodges€thatÐ ° ÐMs.€Meadowsðð€chronic€pain€from€her€back€is€one€of€the€factors€that€causes€her€to€have€theÐ œì Ðpsychological€difficulties€that€she€has,€Dr.€Alexander€is€of€the€opinion€that€her€chronic€painÐ ˆØ Ðincreased€with€each€subsequent€injury€or€incident€that€occurred.€€Dr.€Holmes€is€of€the€opinionÐ tÄ Ðthat€all€of€the€subsequent€incidents€relate€back€to€the€injury€from€March€1999.€€The€trial€court€hasÐ `° Ðthe€discretion€to€accept€the€opinion€of€one€medical€expert€over€another€medical€expert,Ð L œ ÐòòKellerman€v.€Food€Lion,€Inc.,óó€929€S.W.2d€333€(Tenn.€1996);€òòJohnson€v.€Midwesco,€Inc.,€óó801Ð 8 ˆ ÐS.W.2d€804,€806€(Tenn.€1990),€and€the€trial€judge€in€this€case€decided€to€accept€the€testimony€ofÐ $ t ÐDr.€Holmes€over€Dr.€Alexander€as€it€relates€to€Ms.€Meadowsðð€psychiatric€condition.€€Ð  ` ÐÌà  àAlthough€this€Court€is€able€to€make€its€own€independent€assessment€of€the€medical€proofÐ è 8  Ðpresented€by€deposition€to€determine€where€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€lies,€òòCooper€v.Ð Ô$  ÐINA,óó€884€S.W.2d€446,€451€(Tenn.€1994);€òòLanders€v.€Firemenððs€Fund€Ins.€Co.,óó€775€S.W.2d€355,Ð À  Ð356€(Tenn.€1989),€where€the€trial€judge€has€made€a€determination€based€upon€the€testimony€ofÐ ¬ü  Ðwitnesses€whom€he€has€seen€and€heard,€great€deference€must€be€given€to€that€finding€inÐ ˜è  Ðdetermining€whether€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€judgeððs€determination.€òòSeeÐ „Ô  ÐHumphrey€v.€David€Witherspoon,€Inc.,óó€734€S.W.2d€315€(Tenn.€1987).€€The€evidence€does€notÐ pÀ Ðpreponderate€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€court,€and€we€affirm€the€same.€€€€Ð \¬ ÐÌà  àCosts€are€taxed€to€the€appellant.Ð 4„ ÐÌÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àò ò____________________________________Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àó óJOHN€K.€BYERS€SENIOR€JUDGE€ò ò€ó óÐ ¼  ÐÌà  àò òÌÌó óà0  à€€ÐpÀ(#(# ÐÌò òó 󀀀Р H!˜ ÐÔ#†¼Yù»XX9"#Ôà@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@° ° ìàAT€KNOXVILLE,€TENNESSEE€Ô‡X9X»¼YùԈР ÐÌÌÌò òÔ#†¼Yù»XX9f7#ÔÓ  ÓLINDA€MEADOWS€V.€WAUSAU€INSURANCE€COMPANYÐ ˜ è ÐRhea€County€Chancery€CourtÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔó óÐ ¬ ü ÐÓÄ7Óà@xx&ìàò òÔ% ‡ ÔÔ%†„8ÔÔ% ‡ ÔÔ%† ¢8ÔÔ% ‡! ÔÔ%†!À8ÔÔ% ‡" ÔÔ%†"Þ8ÔNo.€9318ˆÐ À  ÐÌà@ùù"ìàDecember€8,€2003ˆÐ ˜ è  ÐÌßA€V) °°` d€÷E<o` AßÐ pÀ  ÐÌà@èèìàNo.€Ô% ‡# ÔE2002„€02828„WC„R3„CVÔ%†#Á9ԈРk»  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<B` AßÐ C“  Ðó óÌÔ#†¼Yù»XX9(8#ÔÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔà@±±&ìàò òJUDGMENTó óÔ#†¼Yù»XX9ˆ:#ÔÔ‡X9X»¼YùԈР>Ž ÐÌòòóóÔ#†¼Yù»XX9ê:#ÔÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€This€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€ofÐ f Ðreferral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€memorandumÐ R ÐOpinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€byÐ î> Ðreference;Ð Ú* ÐÌà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€memorandum€Opinion€of€the€PanelÐ ² Ðshould€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ žî ÐÌà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€facts€and€conclusions€of€lawÐ vÆ Ðare€adopted€and€affirmed€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€Judgment€of€the€Court.Ð b² ÐÌà  àà ` àThe€costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant,€Wausau€Insurance€Company,€forÐ :Š Ðwhich€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.€Ð & v Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àÌ€ÌÔ#†¼Yù»XX9I;#ÔÔ% € ÔÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔÌà  àà ` àÌÔ#†¼Yù»XX9¼?#ÔÔ‡X9X»¼YùÔ