WPCJ l&EDs*n˰啊͋x!"\ϥa+45MiAϱdWSE/SM*"K/N߿;_fDo,A.6Re@qq*zC4Nj}fH)az(Xos/C%wAU$0ztuI8$ H=!  HTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'TXXXX8]XXdd8   d H=!  HTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'TXXXX8]XXdd8  IIIIIIX     I_III   II .  @@  INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @@B B SPECIALWORKERS'COMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANELIr*<,(j 8` `@E0` ttx&h rI@@ATKNOXVILLE   SHIRLEYJ.MYERS, h     )    `     h     ) p     ` Plaintiff/Appellee h     ) p BRADLEYCHANCERY  (#     `     h     ) p  l  v. `     h     ) p NO.03S019710CH00126 R   `     h     ) p  8x  CLASSICEXPRESS h     ) p HON.EARLH.HENLEY, ^ INCORPORATEDandGUARANTEE  ) p CHANCELLOR D ANDLIABILITYINS.CO. h     ) *  `     h     ) p    ` Defendants/Appellants    )   FortheAppellants: h     FortheAppellee: 2  RobertJ.Uhorchuk   h     CharlesC.Guinn,Jr.   Suite407JamesBuilding h     #4WashingtonAvenue    735BroadStreet   h     P.O.Box946 !! Chattanooga,TN37402 h     Athens,TN373710946  |""    MEMORANDUMOPINION  )&*  MembersofPanel: +',  SpecialJudgeCharlesD.Susano,Jr. n-). SeniorJudgeJohnK.ByersSpecialJudgeJoeC.Loser,Jr. %  AFFIRMED    h      p   BYERS,SeniorJudge =9@ Ї   OPINION      ` Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw. ` Reviewofthefindingsoffactmadebythetrialcourtisdenovouponthe    recordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefindings,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2);Stonev.CityofMcMinnville,896S.W.2d548,550(Tenn.1995). 0p TheapplicationofthisstandardrequiresthisCourttoweighinmoredepththefactualfindingsandconclusionsofthetrialcourtinaworkerscompensationcase.See   Corcoranv.FosterAutoGMC,Inc.,746S.W.2d452,456(Tenn.1988).   ` Thetrialcourtawardedtheplaintiffdeathbenefitsforherhusbandsdeath,whichhefoundaroseoutofandinthecourseofhisemploymentwiththedefendant. ` Thedefendantappealsandraisesthefollowingissue:`  Whetherthetrialcourterredinitsfindingofcompensabilityandawardingemployeeswifedeathbenefitsforaheartattacksustainedbyemployee?` 5C ` Wefindthetrialcourtdidnoterrinawardingtheplaintiffdeathbenefitsandaffirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt.  FACTS  %Z!%    ` CecilPrestonMyers,husbandoftheplaintiff,droveatractortrailertruckforthedefendant.HisnormalroutewasbetweenClevelandandKnoxville.Hisjobdidnotrequirehimtobegoneovernightanddidnotrequirehimtoloadorunloadthetruck. ` OnDecember4,1995,Mr.MyershauledproductsfromClevelandtoMorrow,Georgia,whichisjustsouthofAtlanta,andthenhedrovebackhome.ThiswasthefirsttimehehadeverdriventotheAtlantaareaforthedefendant.HedrovethisrouteonDecember5,1995aswell. ` OnDecember6,1995,thethirddayIIoIInIIthisroute,Mr.MyerswasinMorrowwhenanothertruckhithistrucksfueltankandrupturedit.Hecalledhissupervisor,EddieSmith,tonotifyhimabouttheaccident.TheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency cleanedupthespilledgasandmadeareport.Thefueltankwaspatched. :6=  ` Meanwhile,Mr.SmithdrovedowntoMorrowwithanewtruck.Mr.Smith testifiedthathewasnotmadatMr.Myersanddidnotblamehimforthedamagetothetruck.Mr.SmithsaidthathegaveMr.Myersthreeoptions:(1)hecoulddrivethetruckwiththepatchedfueltank;(2)hecouldswaptruckswithMr.SmithanddrivebacktoCleveland;or(3)hecouldstayinMorrowovernightuntilthenewtruckwasunloaded.Mr.MyersdecidedtostayovernightwiththenewtruckandMr.SmithdrovethetruckwiththepatchedfueltankbacktoCleveland. ` OnDecember7,1995,earlythenextmorning,Mr.MyerswasdrivingbacktoClevelandwhenhehitaguardrail.Hewasfounddeadinhistruckanditwasdeterminedthathediedofaheartattack. ` DavidE.ButeauandCecilL.Walker,twotruckdriversforthedefendant,testifiedthattheywereinMorrowonDecember6,1995andthattheytalkedtoMr.Myersabouthistruck.TheysaidthatMr.Myerswasworriedabouttheconditionofhistrucksfueltankandconcernedaboutthesafetyofdrivinghistruck.Theyalsotestifiedthathedidnotseemanxiousorupsetandthathewascuttingupwiththeotherdrivers.Theplaintifftestifiedthatherhusbandwasaneasygoingpersonandnothighstrungbutthathewasmeticulousabouthisjob. ` ArnoldL.Hamilton,atruckdriverforanothercompany,testifiedthatdrivinginAtlantaisverystressfulunderanycircumstancesandthatsafetyconcernsarepartoftheeverydaystressesofatruckdriversjob.Mr.Buteau,Mr.Walker,andMr.SmithtestifiedthattheymadethetripfromClevelandtoMorrowthedaybeforeMr.Myersdeathandthattherewerenounusualroad,traffic,orweatherconditions. ` Mr.Myers,age57atthetimeofhisdeath,wasthoughttobeingoodhealthwithtwoexceptions:(1)hehadexperiencedhighbloodpressuresince1992whichhecontrolledwithmedicationand(2)hehadsmokedcigarettessincehewasateenagerandwassmokingtwopacksperdayforafewyearspriortohisdeath.Mr.WalkeralsotestifiedthatMr.Myerscomplainedoflosinghisbreathandhavingstomachtroubleaweekbeforehisdeath.OnDecember1,1995,sixdayspriortohisdeath,Mr.Myerssawhisfamilydoctorwithcomplaintsofchestdiscomfortforthepastthreeweeks.Atthattime,thedoctorrecordedhisbloodpressureas160/90,diagnosedhimwithgastroesophagealrefluxdisease(commonlyknownasheartburn),andgavehimaprescriptionforZantac. t;7>   MEDICALEVIDENCE      ` Dr.FloydJames,apathologistandmedicalexaminer,testifiedbydeposition.  Dr.JamesperformedanautopsyonMr.MyersandwroteanautopsyreportinwhichheconcludedthatMr.Myersdiedofocclusionofhisleftanteriordescendingcoronaryartery(commonlyknownasaheartattack).Intheautopsyreport,Dr.JamesnotedthatscarringonMr.Myersheartindicatedthathehadsufferedfromtwopriorheartattacks.Further,Dr.Jamesnotedthattherewasnarrowingabove50percentinallthreemajorvesselsofMr.Myersheartandthattherewasnarrowingnear90percentinsomeofthesections. ` Dr.JamesB.Burgin,aninternist,alsotestifiedbydeposition.Attherequest 8 oftheplaintiffscounsel,Dr.BurginreviewedthemedicalrecordsofMr.Myersandassumedhisworkingconditionswithinthepast24hoursofhisdeath.Basedonthisinformation,Dr.Burginopinedthat ...thestressofhisjobduringtheprevioustwentyfour(24)hoursimmediatelyprecedinghisheartattackactuallytriggeredhisheartattack.Precipitatedityoumightsay.Dr.BurginacknowledgedtheinformationintheautopsyreportthatMr.Myersarteriesandbloodvesselswere90percentnarrowedinsomeplaces.Dr.BurgindidnotagreethatitwasfairtosaythatMr.Myerscouldhavesustainedafatalheartattackjustaseasilyatanyotherplaceortimeaswhilehewasdrivingthetruck. ` Dr.BarryD.Silverman,aboardcertifiedcardiologist,testifiedbydeposition %0"& afterhereviewedthemedicalrecordsandsummariesofevidencesurroundingthedeathofMr.Myers.Dr.SilvermanstatedthatMr.Myershadseverecoronaryarterydisease,asevidencedbyhishistoryofcigarettesmoking,hypertension,strongfamilyhistoryofhypertensionandatherosclerosis,andpersonalsymptomsofchestdiscomfortshortlybeforehisdeath.Dr.SilvermanopinedthatMr.MyersworkconditionsinMorrowdidnotcontributetohisheartattackandthathewasacandidateforaheartattackwhetherhewasonoroffthejob.  2.4   ANALYSIS  P406    ` Inordertobeeligibleforworkerscompensationbenefits,anemployeemustsuffer aninjurybyaccidentarisingoutofandinthecourseofemploymentwhichcauseseitherdisablementordeath.Tenn.CodeAnn.506102(a)(5).Thephrase arisingoutofreferstocausation.Thecausationrequirementissatisfiedif ;7> theinjuryhasarational,causalconnectiontothework.Reeserv.YellowFreight  Sys.,Inc.,938S.W.2d690,692(Tenn.1997)(citationsomitted).   ` Althoughcausationcannotbebaseduponmerelyspeculativeorconjecturalproof,absolutecertaintyisnotrequired.Anyreasonabledoubtinthisregardistobeconstruedinfavoroftheemployee.Wehavethusconsistentlyheldthatanawardmayproperlybebaseduponmedicaltestimonytotheeffectthatagivenincident couldbethecauseoftheemployeesinjury,whenthereisalsolaytestimonyfromwhichitreasonablymaybeinferredthattheincidentwasinfactthecauseoftheinjury.Id. (h  ` Tennesseelawcategorizesheartattackcasesintotwoprimarygroups: thosethatareprecipitatedbyphysicalexertionorstrainandthoseresultingfromstress,tension,orsometypeofemotionalupheaval.Baconv.SevierCounty,808  S.W.2d46,49(Tenn.1991).Ofcourse,wemustanalyzeMr.Myersheartattackunderthesecondcategory. ` Afterathoroughreviewofheartattackcaseswhichfitinthesecondcategory,theSupremeCourtinBaconsetforththerulesoflawthatwemustfollowinour  reviewofthisrecord:`  Viewingalloftheforegoingcasesasawhole,itisobviousthatinordertorecoverwhenthereisnophysicalexertion,butthereisemotionalstress,worry,shock,ortension,theheartattackmustbeimmediatelyprecipitatedbyaspecificacuteorsuddenstressfulevent,ratherthangeneralizedemploymentconditions.Sexton,785S.W.2dat81617;Helton,738S.W.2d %8"& at62829;Black,721S.W.2dat80203;Cabe,644S.W.2dat39899;Allied & #' Chemical,578S.W.2dat372.Wereiteratetheruleagaininthiscasethatif '$( thecauseorstimulusoftheheartattackismentaloremotionalinnature,suchasstress,fright,tension,shock,anxiety,orworry,theremustbeaspecific,climatic[sic]eventorseriesofincidentsofanunusualorabnormalnatureiftheclaimantistobepermittedarecovery.Apremiumshouldbeplaceduponspecificityandclarityinidentifyingthatwhichconstitutesthe accidentandupondemonstratingthatsuchaccidentisdirectlyattributabletotheemployment.` 0Id.at52. / ,1  ` Ourreviewoftherecordpersuadesusthattheplaintiffestablishedcausationbyapreponderanceoftheevidence.TheevidenceshowsthatMr.Myersworkingconditionsduringthe24hoursbeforehisdeathwere considerablyoutofhisroutine,toborrowthelanguageofthetrialjudge. ` OnDecember4,5,and6,1995,Mr.MyersdroveanunfamiliarandstressfulroutetoMorrow,Georgia,whichisjustsouthofAtlanta.Onthethirddayofthisroute,thefueltankonhistruckwasrupturedwhenanothertruckhitit.Mr.Buteau x<8? andMr.Walker,truckdriversforthedefendant,bothtestifiedthatMr.Myerswasworriedabouttheconditionofhistrucksfueltankandconcernedaboutthesafetyofdrivinghistruck.Mr.MyersdecidedtostayinMorrowovernightuntilMr.Smithstruckwasunloaded.Onhisdrivehomeearlythenextmorning,Mr.Myersdiedofaheartattack. ` Inaddition,wenotethatDr.BurgintestifiedthatthestressofMr.Myersjobduringthe24hoursimmediatelyprecedinghisheartattackactuallytriggeredorprecipitatedhisfatalheartattack.Ofcourse,wealsorecognizethatDr.SilvermantestifiedthatMr.Myersworkdidnotcontributetohisheartattackandthathewasacandidateforaheartattackwhetherhewasonoroffthejob.However,thetrialcourthasthediscretiontoaccepttheopinionofonemedicalexpertoveranothermedicalexpert.Johnsonv.Midwesco,Inc.,801S.W.2d804,806(Tenn.1990).   ` Baseduponthelayandexperttestimony,wefindtheplaintiffprovedbyapreponderanceoftheevidencethatherhusbandsheartattackwasproducedby aspecific,climatic[sic]eventorseriesofincidentsofanunusualorabnormalnature.SeeBaconv.SevierCounty,808S.W.2d46,52(Tenn.1991).   ` Althoughtheevidenceofcausationisnotoverwhelminginthiscase,wecannotsaythattheevidencepreponderatesagainsttheconclusionsofthetrialcourtthatMr.Myersworkcausedorcontributedtohisdeathandthathisheartattackwascompensable.ThisisacasewherethereisreasonabledoubtregardingcausationandthusweconstrueitinfavorIIoftheIIplaintiff,whosehusbandwasemployedbythedefendant.SeeReeserv.YellowFreightSys.,Inc.,938S.W.2d690,69293(Tenn. )%* 1997). ` Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmedandthecostofthisappealistaxedtothedefendants.   .,+0 I񜛜III `     h     _____________________________ `     h     JohnK.Byers,SeniorJudgeCONCUR:IIIIII________________________________IICharlesD.Susano,Jr.,SpecialJudgeIIIIII_______________________________IIJoeC.Loser,Jr.,SpecialJudgeIII  ;7> IIIIIIH` TR[A'Legal Red[A' LegalA' LegalA' LegalT@ INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE `  IIIIIIr*<,(j 8` `@EG ` ttx&,F rIIIIII@  (ATIIIIIIKNOXVILLEIIIIIISHIRLEYJ.MYERS,@.)  BRADLEYCOUNTY v  @.)  NO.96146 \   APPELLEE@.) B  @.)  HON.EARLH.HENLEY, (  v.@.)  CHANCELLOR   @.)CLASSICEXPRESS,INC.AND@.)  S.CT.NO.03S019710CH00126 z  GUARANTEEANDLIABILITYINS.CO.,@.) ` @.) APPELLANTS@.)0  AFFIRMED,T$T$ @II* JUDGMENT T$T$MT$ $  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponmotionforreviewpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshouldbedenied;and Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. Costswillbepaidbytheappellant,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. Itissoordered.  0      8     PERCURIAM ;17   `  ` TRY@3'Letterhead[A'Legal Red3'LetterHeadA' LegalTX p@*IIIIIIIII    II