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B "" 0" D5# D-# 0K## AS;$$ 0T% 0D% A<&("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(`$.8dd8    \\IB01S02\CLERKJAC,,,,0C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\CUSTOM~1\OPINION3.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\Custom WP Templates\opinion3.wptG1  C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptULevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 56h0\PH\Opinion Summary3|x2[+[ 0_level1   , 8.` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  ?\Appellants Attorney Name & Appellant's Name.?\Appellees Attorney Name & Appellee's Name.2[+[ 0_level2   X 8.` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  1234567891011122[+[ 0_level3    8.4` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level4    8.` ` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level5    8. ` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level6    8. ` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level7   4 8. ` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  2[+[ 0_level8   ` 8.` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  - -2[+[ 0_level9    8.<` hp x (#823  ..   8.` hp x (#8  (#$  0  \  `&Times New Roman3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)3i) QuickMark()*+,- 35;AGMSY_1I.a.i.1.a.i.1.a. : ;:)   1#1'#XX1XV XXX({2:$ !..8dd8     3i)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  @C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(hH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular     (9 Z(Times New Roman (|G2"$ !..8dd8         0  XX d(|3$ !..8dd8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !..8dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8dd8     _8XXdd8    n57+@@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL # @@ATJACKSON#n# F April5,2004##ԀSession i #X#XX #XX#%  SHIRLEYMOORE%v.%  BESTMETALCABINETS%Q##XX   b @@ %  %DirectAppealfromthe%  ChanceryCourtforHaywoodCounty%-%  % m  \ @@No.% ! 12192%!Ԁ% " GeorgeR.Ellis,Chancellor%"  F @@*AV) ` dE<` A     No.% # W200300687WCR3CV%#ԀMailedAugust24,2004;FiledOctober7,2004   #XX#XXAV) ` dE<j` A k  %      Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppeals c PanelinaccordancewithTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection506225(e)(3)forhearingand L reportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Inthisappeal,the 5 EmployerarguesthatthetrialcourterredinawardingpermanentdisabilitybenefitstotheEmployee, n infailingtoapplythe2.5cappursuanttoTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection506241(a),andin W failingtomakespecificfindingsoffactpursuanttoTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection506241(c). @ Weconcludethattheevidencepreponderatesinfavorofthetrialcourt'sawardofpermanent ) disabilitybenefit;thattheevidencefailstopreponderateagainstthetrialcourt'sawardofbenefits  thatexceedthe2.5cap;andthattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourt'sawardofsix  timestheanatomicimpairmentrating.We,therefore,affirmthetrialcourt'sjudgment,asmodified.  % % $     Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight%$ ;Judgmentofthe% % TrialCourt O Affirmed,asModified%%8   9       RobertL.Childers,Sp.J.#XR#XX.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhich% & JaniceM.Holder,J.,%&_ and  "\! % ' WilliamB.Acree,Sp.J.%' ,joined. "E" %  JefferyG.FosterandZacharyC.Luttrell,Jackson,Tennessee,fortheappellant,BestMetal $ $ Cabinets.% %!% %  %L.L.Harrell,Jr.,Trenton,Tennessee,fortheappellee,ShirleyMoore. '"'    1XV XXXMEMORANDUMOPINION  =*%*  % 6 %6FactualBackground ,`',   0  Appellant,ShirleyMoore,("Employee")was47yearsofageatthetimeoftrial.Sheisa#-4).(#(#) #highschoolgraduateandislicensedasaprivateinvestigator.Herworkhistoryislongand  varied,includingstocking,bookkeeping,cleaning,anddaycareinadditiontoherworkasa  privateinvestigator.In1997,EmployeebeganworkingforBestMetalCabinets("Employer").  InJanuary2000,Employeefeltherback"catch"whilepushingatablewithmetalmaterialon k topofit.Employeereportedherinjuryinatimelymanner.Employeecontinuedtoworkafter T thisincidentuntilshewasfiredinAugust2000. =    EmployeesoughtmedicaltreatmentaftertheJanuary2000injuryatBellsMedical  _ Clinic.Employeecomplainedofpainintheleftlegandlowerback,buthertestresultswere  H normal.EmployeereturnedtotheclinicwhereshewastreatedinApril,MayandJuly,butshe  1  didnotcomplainfurtheraboutbackorlegpainduringthesevisits.However,inAugust2000,    Employeecametotheclinicwithcomplaintsofbackpain,legpain,andnumbness,which   Employeestatedshehadbeenexperiencingfortwoweeks.Shemadefurthervisitstotheclinic,   complainingofback/legpaininOctoberandNovember2000.     InDecember2000,Dr.JosephRowlanddiagnosedaruptureddiscatL3ontheleftside. W  Hethenperformedahemilaminectomy.Dr.RowlandopinedthatasaresultofEmployee'sdisc @ herniationandsurgery,Employeewouldhavea10%disability.Heindicatedthattherewas )y causationbetweentheJanuary2000injuryandthedischerniationandthatthisopinionwas b basedonEmployee'sreportstohimofcontinuallyworseningbackandlegpain. K   Dr.JosephBoals,anevaluatingphysician,assignedEmployeea13%impairmentrating.  Dr.BoalsopinedthattheJanuary2000accidentcausedEmployee'sinjury.However,hedidnot  reviewthemedicalrecordsfromtheclinicwhereEmployeeinitiallysoughttreatment,andhe  admittedthathisopinionregardingcausationwasbaseduponEmployee'sveracityconcerning  hercontinuallyprogressingsymptoms. q   AcoworkertestifiedthathewitnessedEmployee'sJanuary2000injuryandthathe C overheardhercomplainnumeroustimestoEmployeraboutbackandlegpain,upuntilthedate ,| ofhertermination. e    0  ThetrialcourtfoundthatEmployeesustained78%permanentpartialdisabilitytothe 7(#(# bodyasawhole;thatthe2.5cappursuanttoTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection506241(a)did !   notapply;andthetrialcourtsetforthnospecificfindingsoffactpursuanttoTennesseeCode " ! Annotatedsection506241(c)whenapplyingandawardingthesixtimestheanatomic #" impairmentrating. $#   StandardofReview ^&!%     Thestandardofreviewofissuesoffactisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt 1(#' accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindings,unlessthepreponderanceof )j$( evidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2);Lollarv.WalMartStores,Inc.,767 *S%) S.W.2d143,149(Tenn.1989).Wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthewitnesses *<&* especiallyifissuesofcredibilityandweighttobegivenoraltestimonyareinvolved, +%'+ 57+ 5 5  considerabledeferencemustbeaffordedthosecircumstancesonreviewbecauseitisthetrial  courtwhichhadtheopportunitytoobservethewitness'demeanorandtoheartheincourt  testimony.Longv.TriConIndustries,Ltd.,995S.W.2d173,178(Tenn.1999).Wherethe  issuesinvolveexpertmedicaltestimonywhichiscontainedintherecordbydeposition,thenall k impressionsofweightandcredibilitymustbedrawnfromthecontentsofthedepositionsandthe T reviewingcourtmaydrawitsownimpressionastoweightandcredibilityfromthecontentsof =  thedepositions.Ormanv.WilliamsSonoma,Inc.,803S.W.2d67677(Tenn.1991).  & v      B.` hp x (#XBAnalysis  H     Employeearguesthatshehassatisfiedtherequirementthatherinjury"ariseoutof"her    employment.Insupport,EmployeedeniesthattherewasanyincidentafterherJanuary2000   injuryatworkthatwouldhavehurtherbackorleg.Employeeinsiststhatshehadconstantback   andlegpainfollowingherinjuryatwork.Acoworkertestifiedthathewitnessedherinjuryand   heardhercomplainmanytimestoEmployeraboutbackandlegpainpriortohertermination. n  EmployerarguesthattheweightoftheevidencesuggeststhatEmployee'sinjurywasnotwork W  related,andsoherclaimisnotcompensable.EmployercontendsthatbecauseEmployeedidnot @ reportanybackorlegpainonthreesubsequentvisitstotheclinicwhereshewasinitiallytreated )y forherJanuary2000injury,shehasnotprovencausation. b   E.` hp x (#X(#E  Employeetestifiedattrialthatherbackandhipjustkepthurtingandthatshecalled 4 EmployerinJuly2000,relatingthatshewas"inbadpain."EmployeewenttotheBellsMedical  Clinicforroutinebloodworkandwastreatedtherefordigestiveproblems.Ms.CarolHaynes,a  nursepractitionerattheclinic,testifiedherfileshowednonotationsofEmployeereportingher  workrelatedbackandlegpainduringthesevisits.ItwasnotuntilAugust8,2000,when  Employeeadvisedherthat"twoweeksagoshe[Employee]hadbackpain."However,oncross q examination,Ms.Haynestestifiedthattherewas"anawfullotIdon'tremember"becauseher Z husbandhadcancerduringthistime.Fromthisadmission,coupledwiththetestimonyoftheco C workerofEmployee,weconcludethattheEmployeemetthestatutoryrequirementfornoticeof ,| herworkrelatedinjurytoEmployer. e   Employeecontendsthatshewasfiredbecauseshewasclaimingaworkrelatedinjury  7 andthatshewasnotgivenareasonableoffertoreturntowork,sothe2.5capisinapplicable. !   EmployerarguesthatEmployeewasfiredduetohermisconduct(insubordination)and, " ! therefore,the2.5statutorycapshouldhavebeenappliedpursuanttoCarterv.FirstSource #" FurnitureGroup,92S.W.3d367(Tenn.2002).InCarter,theCourtstatedthatforthepurposes $# ofthe2.5cap,thefocusiswhethertheemployermadeareasonableofferofreemployment.Id. t% $ at371.TheCourtemphasizedthat"anemployershouldbepermittedtoenforceworkplacerules ]&!% withoutbeingpenalizedinaworkers'compensationcase."Id.E.` hp x (#X(#EInthiscase,however,Employee F'"& testifiedregardingthereasonsforherfiringthathersupervisor,Mr.Marshall,calledEmployee /(#' intohisofficeonanunrelatedinterofficedispute,becomingveryloud,cursingher,andfinally )h$( tellingEmployee,"You'refired."Apparentlythetrialcourtfoundthisasthereasonfor *Q%) Employee'stermination,notinsubordinationasallegedbyEmployer.Weconcludethatthe *:&* evidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthetrialcourt'sfinding. +#'+   E.` hp x (#X(#E 0  Tenn.CodeAnn.506241(c)setsforththefactorstobeconsideredinawarding(#(# maximumbenefitsunderthestatutebyusingamultiplierofuptosixtimesthemedical  impairmentrating.Iftheawardofbenefitsunderthestatuteisfivetimesthemedical  impairmentratingorgreater,thetrialcourtisrequiredtomakespecificfindingsoffactdetailing k thecourt'sreasonsforawardingamultipliergreaterthanfourtimesthemedicalimpairment T rating. =    Dr.RowlandopinedthatEmployeesustaineda10%anatomicalimpairmentrating,and  _ D.BoalsopinedthatEmployeesustaineda13%anatomicalimpairmentrating.Thetrialcourt  H awardedEmployeebenefitsbasedona78%vocationaldisabilityrating,apparentlyusinga  1  multiplierofsixtimesthemedicalimpairmentrating.Inmakingitsrulingthetrialcourtdidnot    setoutspecificfindingsoffactjustifyinganawardforsixtimesthemedicalimpairmentrating.   Employee'sattorneylaterfiledamotionforadditionalfindings.Employee'scounselsuggested   thatthetrialcourtmakefindingsconsistentwiththefactorssetforthinTenn.CodeAnn.506   241.Thetrialcourtrespondedbysaying,"Isn'ttherealsosomethingonthatsixtimesbasedon n  somekindofpreviousconductonthepartoftheemployer?"Laterthetrialcourtstated,"It's W  kindofhardforthisCourttorealize,butI'msuretherewassomethingthattheCourtisgoing @ withforthatsixtimes." )y   Employeearguesthatthetrialcourt'sfindingscomplywithTenn.CodeAnn.506 K 241(c).Employerstatesthatthetrialcourtmadenofactualfindingstosupportitsruling.We 4 havecarefullyreviewedtherecordinthiscase,andwefindthattherecorddoesnotsupportthe  trialcourt'sawardofsixtimesthemedicalimpairmentrating.Wethereforemodifythetrial  court'sawardandreduceitto52%permanentpartialdisabilitytothebodyasawhole,orfour  timesthemedicalimpairmentrating.    Conclusion Z   0  Weconcludethattheevidencepreponderatesinfavorofthetrialcourt'sawardofpermanent.~(#(# disabilitybenefits;thattheevidencefailstopreponderateagainstthetrialcourt'sawardofbenefits g thatexceedthe2.5cap;andthattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourt'sawardofsix  P timestheanatomicimpairmentrating.WemodifythevocationaldisabilityratingforEmployeeto  9 52%permanentpartialdisabilitytothebody.We,therefore,affirmthetrialcourt'sjudgment,as !"  modified.Costsaretaxedtotheappellant,BestMetalCabinets,forwhichexecutionmayissueif " ! necessa #" ry. $#  h9C____________________________________ H'"& ЀROBERTL.CHILDERS,SPECIALJUDGE 1(#'  h  *S%)  9C 9: C9 C  _@9 9 #1 X1XV #11INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @@@SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  @((%ATJACKSON   @]]#April5,2004 0    SHIRLEYMOOREv.BESTMETALCABINETS   P B@l l  ChanceryCourtforHaywoodCounty ! q @%No.12192 2  @*AV) ` dE<S` A߈ T  @x x No.W200300687WCR3CVFiledOctober7,2004 t  AV) ` dE<` A    @tt# JUDGMENTORDER   #1X#D   ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorder 9 ofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel's I MemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,which  Y areincorporatedhereinbyreference; i    ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthe 9 Panelshouldbeacceptedandapproved;and I    ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusions i oflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgment y  oftheCourt. ! Ѐ "    ` CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellant,BestMetalCabinets,for # whichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. $     ` ITISSOORDERED. &)"" #DCE#B   `     h     PERCURIAM  *Y%% #BI##A#   %  XX +i&& Ї   `