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Q MarkA._Baugh_,Bruce,Weathers,_Corley_Ԁ&Lyle,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellant,_Shoney_s, #!s  Inc.  "\! JosephK._Dughman_,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellee,ThomasE.Moore #.#    MEMORANDUMOPINION #ƩXXh #XXƩ %!%   #ƩXX! #XXƩ  Theemployeeorclaimant,Mr.Moore,initiatedthiscivilactiontorecoverworkers '"' compensationbenefitsforaworkrelatedinjury.Theemployer,_Shoney_s,Inc.,deniedliability. l(#( Afteratrialonthemerits,thetrialcourtawarded,amongotherthings,temporarytotaldisability U)$) benefitsforanadditionalthreemonths,mileagereimbursementformedicalcare,andpermanent >*%* partialdisabilitybenefitsbasedon80percenttothearm.Theemployerhasappealed. '+w&+   Appellatereviewisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumption ,I(-  -2).% _ofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.  CodeAnn.506225(e)(2).Thistribunalisnotboundbythetrialcourt'sfindingsbutinstead  conductsanindependentexaminationoftherecordtodeterminewherethepreponderancelies.  Gallowayv.MemphisDrumServ.,822S.W.2d584,586(Tenn.1991).XwvXXXWherethetrialjudgehas k seenandheardthewitnesses,especiallyifissuesofcredibilityandweighttobegivenoraltestimony T areinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccordedthosecircumstancesonreview,becauseit =  isthetrialcourtwhichhadtheopportunitytoobservethewitnessesdemeanorandtohearthein & v courttestimony.#XXXXwvd#Longv.TriConInd.,Ltd.,996S.W.2d173,178(Tenn.1999).XwvXXXԀTheappellate  _ tribunal,however,isaswellsituatedtogaugetheweight,worthandsignificanceofdeposition  H testimonyasthetrialjudge.#XXXXwv#Walkerv.SaturnCorp.,986S.W.2d204,207(Tenn.1998).  1  XwvXXXConclusionsoflawaresubjecttodenovoreviewonappealwithoutanypresumptionofcorrectness.#XXXXwv#Ԁ    Nuttv.ChampionIntern.Corp.,980S.W.2d365,367(Tenn.1998).#ƩXXDž #XXƩ     TheclaimantworkedforShoneysbetween1990and2001.Hehasmilitaryexperienceand   hasworkedasanassistantinaheatingandairconditioningcompany,anightshiftoperatorfora n  watertreatmentplantandasamoldinginjectorforLibertyPlastics.Hehasanassociatesdegree W  inbusinesscomputerprogrammingandhasworkedforWestPointPepperellenteringdataina @ computer.HereceivedamedicaldischargefromtheUnitedStatesMarineCorpsin1981following )y anaccidentwhichnearlyseveredhisrightarmattheelbow. b   HisworkatShoneysinvolvedcomputeroperationandsupervisionofcomputeroperations 4 andshippingandreceiving.HeinjuredhisleftwristandhandonNovember10,1999while  handlingacomputerbox.Hevisitedanemployerapprovedphysicianfivedayslaterbutcontinued  workingagainstthatdoctorsadvice.OnNovember14,1999,Dr.JosephChengerprescribed  physicaltherapy,awristimmobilizer,medicationandlightduty.Theclaimantwasinstructedto  returninthreeweeksbutfailedtodoso.Healsodidnotpursuetheprescribedphysicaltherapy q program.During2000,theclaimantencounterednonworkrelatedinjuries,includingleftshoulder Z surgeryandanemergencyappendectomy. C   HehasnotworkedfortheemployersinceSeptember20,2000.Hereceivedunemployment e benefitsfromSeptember20,2000untilMarch2,2001.HereturnedtoDr.ChengerinOctober2000 N complainingofaknotonhiswrist.Dr.Chengerdiagnosedadegenerativecystandreferredhimto  7 Dr.MichaelMilek,ahandsurgeon. !     Dr.Milekdiagnosedaganglioncystrelatedtocarpaltunnelsyndromeandatornligament, #" bothofwhichhesurgicallyrepaired.Thesurgeonexpectedmaximummedicalrecoveryinthree $# weeks.Dr.Milekdidnotassessanimpairmentratingbuttestifiedthattherewouldprobablybe t% $ somepermanentlimitationofmotionintheinjuredwrist. ]&!%   TheclaimantwasreferredtoDr.DavidGawforexaminationandevaluation.Dr.Gaw /(#' assessedapermanentimpairmentratingof15percenttotheinjuredarmbasedonlossofmotionand )h$( lossofnervesensation.Hisopinionwasbasedonappropriateguidelines. *Q%)  +#'+   Theappellantcontendsthetrialcourtsawardofpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitsis  excessive.XwvXXXOncethecausationandpermanencyofaninjuryhavebeenestablishedbyexpert  testimony,thetrialjudgemayconsidermanypertinentfactors,includingage,jobskills,education,  training,durationofdisability,andjobopportunitiesforthedisabled,inadditiontoanatomic k impairment,forthepurposeofevaluatingtheextentofaclaimantspermanentdisability.#XXXXwv"#McCaleb T v.SaturnCorp.,910S.W.2d412,416(Tenn.1995).XwvXXXԀTheopinionofaqualifiedexpertwithrespect =  toaclaimantsclinicalorphysicalimpairmentisafactorwhichthecourtwillconsideralongwith & v allotherrelevantfactsandcircumstances,butitisforthecourttodeterminethepercentageofthe  _ claimantsindustrialdisability.#XXXXwv$#ԀHinsonv.WalMartStores,Inc.,654S.W.2d675,677(Tenn.  H 1983).  1    Theclaimantisfortyfouryearsold.Heperformedwellincollege,makingthedeanslist   forthreeconsecutivequartersandreceivingthreescholarships.Theemployercontendshehas   transferableskills,butofferednoexpertvocationalproofofthatortheavailabilityofjobsinthe   claimantsdisabledcondition.Ontheotherhand,theclaimanttestifiedthathehasbeenunableto n  findcomparableemploymentandthattheskillshelearnedincollegearenowobsolete.Hefurther W  testifiedthathisphysicalinjurieshampermuchoftheworkhecouldotherwisedoonacomputer @ andthatthepresentinjurywassuperimposedonhispreexistingdisabilitytohisrightarm. )y   TheXwvXXXextentofaninjuredworkersvocationaldisabilityisaquestionoffact.#XXXXwvA*#ԀSealsv. K England/CorsairUpholsteryMfg.,984S.W.2d912,915(Tenn.1999).Fromaconsiderationofthe 4 relevantfactors,totheextenttheywereestablishedbytheproofinthiscase,andgivingdue  deferencetothefindingsofthetrialcourt,wecannotsaytheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrial  courtsawardofpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefits.    Theemployernextcontendstheawardofmorethanthreeweeksoftemporarytotaldisability q benefitsexceedstheoperatingsurgeonsestimateofthetimeinwhichtheclaimantshouldhave Z reachedmaximummedicalimprovement.TheargumentoverlooksDr.Gawstestimony,accepted C bythetrialcourt,thattheclaimantdidnotreachmaximummedicalimprovementuntilsixmonths ,| afterhissurgery.XwvXXXWhenthemedicaltestimonydiffers,thetrialcourtmustchoosewhichviewto e believe.Indoingso,thecourtisallowed,amongotherthings,toconsiderthequalificationsofthe N experts,thecircumstancesoftheirexamination,theinformationavailabletothem,andthe  7 evaluationoftheimportanceofthatinformationbyotherexperts.#XXXXwv.#ԀOrmanv.WilliamsSonoma,Inc., !   803S.W.2d672,676(Tenn.1991).XwvXXXԀMoreover,itiswithinthediscretionofthetrialcourtto " ! concludethattheopinionofcertainexpertsshouldbeacceptedoverthatofotherexpertsandthat #" itcontainsthemoreprobableexplanation.#XXXXwv0#Hinsonat6767(Tenn.1983).Fromourindependent $# examinationandconsiderationofthemedicalproof,itdoesnotappeartousthatthetrialcourt t% $ abuseditsdiscretionbyacceptingDr.Gawsopinion. ]&!%   TheappellantarguesthetrialcourtshouldhaveexcludedthedepositiontestimonyofDr. /(#' Gawbecausetheclaimantfailedtosupplementthefilingofhiswrittenreport,inviolationofTenn. )h$( R.Civ.P.26.02(A)(i).Althoughtheclaimanterredinfailingtosupplementthereport,theerrorwas *Q%) harmlessfortworeasons.First,theemployerhadampleopportunitytohavetheclaimantexamined *:&* byadoctorofitschoice;and,second,theoperatingsurgeon,Dr.Milek,testifiedthe_employee +#'+ wouldprobablybeleftwithsomepermanentlossofmotion.Afinaljudgmentfromwhichreliefis  availableandotherwiseappropriateshallnotbesetasideunless,consideringthewholerecord,error  involvingasubstantialrightmoreprobablythannotaffectedthejudgmentorwouldresultin  prejudicetothejudicialprocess.TRAP36(b).Wearenotpersuadedtheerroraffectedthe k judgmentorresultedinprejudicetothejudicialprocess.Theissueisthereforeresolvedinfavorof T theclaimant. =    Theemployerfinallycontendsthetrialcourterredinreimbursingtheemployeeforhis  _ medicaltravelexpenses.XwvXXXTravelexpensesaretobepaidwhentheinjuredemployeeisrequiredto  H travelfartherthanfifteenmilesfromhisorherresidenceorworkplacetoreceivemedicaltreatment.#XXXXwv8#Ԁ  1  Tenn.CodeAnn.506204(a)(6)(A)and(B).Theemployerarguesthattheclaimantstestimony    shouldnotbeacceptedbecauseofconflictingstatementsbyhim.Wedefertothetrialcourts   relianceontheclaimantstestimonybecausethetrialcourtwasinthebestpositiontopassonhis   credibility.     Fortheabovereasons,thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costsaretaxedtothe W  appellant. @      `     h     ___________________________________     `     h     JOEC.LOSER,JR.     _XwvXXXԀ#XXXXwv=#X XXX#XX XXE=#ƩXX@9 9 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @$ATNASHVILLE  #XXƩ=# ƩXX  THOMASMOOREv._SHONEY_S,INC.#XXƩJ>#    i>@   CircuitCourtforDavidsonCounty   @$No.01C3651   @*AV) ` dE<Z ` A߈ [   @ No.M200202635SCWCMCVFiledNovember20,_2003_Ԉ T  AV) ` dE<'` A (x   @//# JUDGMENTORDER   Y    XwvXXX  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponthemotionforreviewfiledby_Shoney_s,Inc.,pursuant , toTenn.CodeAnn.50-6-225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltothe  SpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsettingforth  itsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.    ItappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandisthereforedenied. i ThePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedbyreference,are R adoptedandaffirmed.ThedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. ;   Costsareassessedto_Shoney_s,Inc.,anditssurety,forwhichexecutionmayissueif  ] necessary. F _#XXXXwvA#XwvXXX_  ItissoORDERED.   A   `     h     PER_CURIAM_ !! _Drowota_,C.J.,notparticipating@*_#XXXXwvPE#XwvXXX_Ԉ U## #XXXXwvF#X XXXԀ#XX XXEG#