ÿWPCþ 1U:¾ %øþn­ 04»ïïw:ï4) 0J= 0T‡ 0^Û 0h9 0r¡ 0| 0† 0 1u¥ 0dU6~B)´ AQÝÆ. 0Pô 0@D 0D„ DCÈ D/ B: BW D3t AM§ U*ô  f! &‡ v~­vÓ+<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiX#|x«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXÂxþ6X@É“8õ X@( ¤U$¡¡Ó  Ó Ó€   VîDDD]tÁ$(2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5((3Þ¸$¢¢Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó7Border 1dd(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd!#%Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ùÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€+ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌJune€5,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€+ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€+XÔÌÌJune€5,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHØ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ellan Geneva ÒÒ  ellan Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ Ð ÒÙ€!ÙÑ\R AØ'\ÑßR€*,%A1-j|Õ$` ç `€€@ÿRßÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌÌÌRANDALL€WAYNE€MYERS,€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellee€€€€)€€No.€01S01„9710„CH„00227€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï)€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€SMITH€COUNTY€CHANCERY€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï)€€ÌROYAL€INSURANCE€COMPANY,€€€€€€)€€CHARLES€K.€SMITH,€CHANCELLOR€Ì€€€€€€€€Defendant/Appellant€€€)€€Ìòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óó)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLANTóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFOR€THE€APPELLEEóó:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌJAMES€W.€WHITE€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€DEBBIE€C.€HOLLIMAN€€€€ÌMARK€W.€PETERS€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€WILLIAM€JOSEPH€BUTLER€€€€ÌWALLER,€LANSDEN,€DORTCH€&€DAVIS€€€€€FARRAR€&€HOLLIMAN€€€€€€€€€€€€ÏNashville€City€Center€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€P.€O.€Box€488Ì511€Union€Street,€Suite€2100€€€€€€€€Carthage,€Tennessee€37030€ÌNashville,€Tennessee€37219€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àMEMBERS€OF€PANELÌÌà@ àJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€ASSOCIATE€JUSTICE,€SUPREME€COURTÌà@ à€WILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGEÌà@ àWILLIAM€S.€RUSSELL,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMED,€AS€MODIFIED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€RUSSELL,€SP.€J.ÌÌÓÓÑ7€",XXdÈXXdÈ7Ñà àThis€appeal€in€a€workers'€compensation€case€has€beenÏreferred€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€ofÏthe€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÏSection€50„6„225€(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€SupremeÏCourt€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ìà@ àÌà àRandall€Wayne€Myers€worked€for€Nissan€for€seven€years€doingÏrepetitive,€hand„intensive€assembly€with€power€tools.€€As€aÏresult€he€developed€bilateral€hand€neuropathy.€Surgical€releaseÏof€the€right€carpal€tunnel€was€performed,€but€the€employee€choseÏnot€to€have€surgery€on€the€left.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌà àThe€employee€has€returned€to€his€original€assembly€line€job.€ÏHe€acknowledges€that€he€can€do€the€work.€€He€experiences€someÏnumbness€and€tingling,€and€has€changed€some€of€his€performanceÏtechniques.€€His€supervisor€verifies€that€he€does€his€job€well.€€€Ìà àDr.€David€Schmidt,€the€attending€surgeon,€testified€that€Mr.ÏMyers€retained€an€11%€anatomical€impairment€to€his€right€upperÏextremity.€€The€employee€sought€treatment€for€his€left€hand€andÏarm€from€Dr.€James€Lanter,€a€factory€approved€physician.€€Dr.ÏLanter€assessed€no€permanent€impairment€to€the€left€upperÏextremity,€but€said€that€the€moderate€left€carpal€tunnel€syndromeÏcould€be€adversely€affected€by€continued€long€term€factoryÏproduction€work.€€He€admitted€on€cross„examination€that€the€AMAÏGuides€would€permit€the€prescription€of€a€20%€permanent€partialÏimpairment€to€the€left€upper€extremity.ÌÌà àDr.€Robert€P.€Landsberg€did€an€independent€medicalÏexamination€at€the€commission€of€the€employee,€and€assigned€a€16%Ïanatomical€impairment€to€the€right€arm€and€20%€to€the€left.€€€€ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€rendered€judgment€based€upon€a€50%Ïvocational€disability€to€each€upper€extremity.€€The€sole€issueÏbefore€this€court€is€the€appropriateness€of€this€numericalÏdisability€assessment.€€The€appellant€views€it€as€too€high€andÏseeks€a€reduction.ÌÌà àOur€review€is€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,Ïaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€findingsÏbelow,€unless€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€ÏT.C.A.€Section€50„6„225€(e)(2)(1991).€€This€standard€of€reviewÏrequires€this€court€to€weigh€in€depth€the€factual€findings€andÍconclusions€of€the€trial€court.€€òòHumphrey€v.€David€Witherspoon,ÏInc.óó,€734€S.W.€2d€315€(Tenn.€1987).ÌÌà àThe€extent€of€vocational€disability€is€a€question€of€fact€toÏbe€determined€from€all€of€the€evidence,€including€lay€and€expertÏtestimony.€€òòWorthington€v.€Modine€Mfg.€Co.óó,€798€S.W.€2d€232,€234Ï(Tenn.€1990).€ÌÌà àA€medical€expert's€rating€of€anatomical€disability€is€one€ofÏthe€relevant€factors,€but€the€vocational€disability€is€notÏrestricted€to€the€precise€estimate€of€anatomical€disability€madeÏby€a€medical€witness.€€òòCorcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€GMC,€Inc.óó,€746ÏS.W.€2d€452,€458€(Tenn.€1988).ÌÌà àWhen€the€medical€testimony€is€presented€by€deposition,€as€itÏwas€in€this€case,€this€court€is€able€to€make€its€own€independentÏassessment€of€the€medical€proof€to€determine€where€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.€€òòLanders€v.€Fireman's€FundÏIns.€Co.óó,€775€S.W.€2d€355,€356€(Tenn.€1989);€òòHenson€v.€City€ofÏLawrenceburgóó,€851€S.W.€2d.€809,€812€(Tenn.€1993).ÌÌà àThe€medical€proof€is€that€Mr.€Myers€could€abate€his€symtomsÏof€numbness€and€occasional€pain€by€taking€a€different€job.€ÏObviously,€he€is€not€vocationally€disabled€from€performing€hisÏpresent€job,€which€he€does€well€and€desires€to€retain€as€a€matterÏof€choice.€€There€is€no€evidence€that€he€intends€to€give€up€theÍjob€or€that€his€work€is€anyting€but€completely€satisfactory€toÏthe€employer.€€There€is€no€proof€that€he€is€permanently€disabledÏto€function€in€the€general€employee€market.€€In€this€context,€itÏis€difficult€to€quantify€his€vocational€disability.€€The€evidenceÏpreponderates€against€50%€to€each€arm.€€Our€judgment€is€that€theÏnumbness€and€occasional€bearable€pain€generated€by€his€repetitiveÏjob€functions€can€be€evaluated€at€30%€permanent€vocationalÏdisability€to€each€arm.€€The€judgment€is€affirmed€as€so€modified.ÌÌà àCosts€on€appeal€are€assessed€one„half€to€each€party.òòÌóóà àÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÓÓóó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÏWILLIAM€S.€RUSSELL,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€ASSOCIATE€JUSTICE€Ì€ÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóWILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGE€€Ì€Ìà àÌÑ€-ÑÇÒ  ÒÒ £ ÒòòÔ€¼ÔßJ€*.;+'b|…K` ç `€@ÿJßà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌRANDALL€WAYNE€MYERS,à àà à}à àSMITH€CHANCERYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àNo.€5926€&€5896€BelowÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àHon.€Charles€K.€Smith,Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à}à àChancellorÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}ÌROYAL€INSURANCE€COMPANY,à à}à àNo.€01S01„9710„CH„00227Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}Ìà àDefendant/Appellantà à}à àAFFIRMED,€AS€MODIFIED.ÌÌÌà@ àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌÌÌÓ€Óà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entireÏrecord,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€byÏreference.Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€theÏMemorandum€Opinion€of€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€andÏapproved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel'sÏfindings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adopted€andÏaffirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€theÏjudgment€of€the€Court.ÌÓ ` ` šXÓà àà àCosts€are€assessed€one„half€to€each€party,€whichÍexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€June€5,€1998.ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌóóÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÔ€Ôœ