ÿWPC( Æ# ä UNï %= 0îC w@14q… ”ÆšÆ`Æ&ÆìƲ 0Jx 0  0TÌ 0^  0h~ 0ræ 0|X 0†Ô 0Z 1uê 0d_ BÃU >àU*U *H D3rB)¥DCÎ 0@ 0KQ AOœÇë¼²v~nvÓì D+¿% AOê% 0D9& D/}& B¬& AYÉ& 0F"' A©h'˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLhÎ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(Ævv$¡¡Ò°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€¼ô€¼XXÔÑ7€LXXdðXXdð7ÑÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑ V îD D  E P EÓ€Ó€œZ;$ø888zzz3|x%HLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5ƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 52 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô(â3Ö?$©©Ý ƒvv!ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€¼t¢¼XXÔÑ7€ÜØXXdðdð7ÑÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÝ  Ý2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Times< Œ 9p`(Arial%%%%'ÿÿdxd% Line 7 d++++7Border 1dd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó -.,Cþÿ << Gÿÿ ½Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€'ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€'¼ÔÑ#€d#ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÝ  ÝÔ€)ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€)XÔÌÌò òFebruaryÏ19,Ï1998ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€)ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó ó ²Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€'ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€'¼ÔÑ#€d#ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÝ  ÝÔ€)ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€)XÔÌÌò òFebruaryÏ19,Ï1998ÌÌCecilÏCrowson,ÏJr.ÌÔ€)ôÔAppellateÏCourtÏClerkó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿáùEG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva Ò'ÈÈÈÈdxd -‚ƒCþÿ<< Cÿÿ($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd-¸:Müÿ << deUU(n$––ò ò(Ú  Ú1Ú  Ú)ó ó -.:›&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€'ÔÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€'¼ÔÑ#€((Xd#ÑÑ#€((Xd#ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÔ€)ÔÔ€)XÔÞ ÞÌà@ àò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÙ€ ÙßR€/0,A1-j|` à. `€€@ÿRßà@ àAT€KNOXVILLEó óÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌFREIDA€PACK,à àà àà àà à)à àBLOUNT€CIRCUITÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àPlaintiff/Appellantà àà àà à)à àNO.€03S01„9706„CV„00066Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHON.€W.€DALE€YOUNG,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àJUDGEÌBTR€DUNLOP,€INC.,à àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€Ìà àDefendants/Appelleesà àà à)ÌÔ€'ÔÔ€'¼ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:à àà àà àFor€the€Appellee:Ìó óóóJohn€M.€Foleyà àà àà àà àF.€R.€EvansÌFoley,€Bowers€&€Bellà àà àà àMilligan,€Barry,€Hensley€&€EvansÌ712€Walnut€Streetà àà àà àà à800€First€Tennessee€BuildingÌKnoxville,€TN€37902à àà àà àChattanooga,€TN€37402ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  Óò òòòM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NÌÌóóó óà àò òòòMembers€of€Panel:ÌÌóóó óJustice€Frank€F.€Drowota,€IIIÌSenior€Judge€William€H.€InmanÌSpecial€Judge€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.ò òÌÓ  ÓÌó óÌÌÌÌÌò òÌÌà àà àà àà à€à àó óÌò òREVERSEDà àà àà àà àà àINMAN,€Senior€Judgeó óÌÓÓà àThisÔ€)Ô€Ô€'Ôworkers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordanceÏwith€T.C.A.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€CourtÏof€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ìà àBecause€arthritis€is€not€an€occupational€disease€and€is€normally€notÏcaused€by€trauma€but€is€part€of€the€aging€process€and€thus€not€within€the€ambitÏof€the€Workersðð€Compensation€Law,€this€case€is€not€without€its€difficulties€as€aÏmatter€of€law.Ìà àThe€plaintiff€is€54€years€old€and€at€the€time€of€trial€had€been€employedÏby€the€defendant€in€a€non„skilled€position€for€17€years.€€she€has€a€litany€ofÏhealth€problems€not€relevant€to€this€case,€which€arises€from€a€job„relatedÏaccident€on€October€24,€1991€and€a€second€job„related€accident€on€October€5,Ï1993,€involving€injuries€to€her€left€knee.Ìà àThe€first€accident€occurred€when€the€plaintiff€twisted€her€left€knee€in€aÏmisstep.€€She€was€treated€by€a€panel€physician€who€referred€her€to€anÍorthopedic€specialist,€Dr.€Bryan€Smalley,€who€diagnosed€an€internalÏderangement€of€hr€knee€and€performed€a€diagnostic€arthroscopy€on€ÌDecember€9,€1991.Ìà àBecause€her€rehabilitation€was€slow,€the€plaintiff€was€referred€to€Dr.ÏWilliam€Hovis,€who€also€performed€an€arthroscopy€which€diminished€pain€andÏsoreness.€€She€returned€to€work€with€limitations€on€climbing€or€kneeling.€€OnÏJuly€9,€1993,€Dr.€Hovis€opined€that€the€plaintiff€had€a€five€percentòò€disability€toÏher€left€leg€due€to€the€aggravation€of€an€arthritic€condition.òòóóÌà àóóAs€stated,€the€plaintiff€suffered€another€injury€to€her€left€leg€on€OctoberÏ5,€1993€when€she€slipped€while€pushing€a€heavy€buggy€causing€her€to€hyper„extend€her€left€knee€in€a€backward€manner.€€For€this€injury€she€was€treated€byÏDr.€William€K.€Bell,€an€orthopedic€surgeon€in€Maryville.€€He€found€that€theÏemployee€had€suffered€a€patellar€subluxation€or€dislocation€of€the€left€knee€forÏwhich€she€was€wearing€a€centralizing€brace€previously€prescribed€by€Dr.ÏHammett.€€Dr.€Bell€approved€her€continuing€to€work€provided€she€wore€theÏbrace.€€A€month€later€he€found€that€as€she€continued€working€she€wasÏexperiencing€swelling€and€pain€of€the€left€knee€by€the€end€of€her€workshift.€ÏHis€final€diagnosis€was€an€aggravation€of€pre„existing€arthritis.€€Dr.€BellÏcontinued€to€treat€her€until€March€26,€1996€at€which€time€he€released€her,Ïfixing€her€permanent€impairment€rating€at€thirty€percent€to€her€left€leg€withÏpermanent€work€restrictions.Ìà àWhen€asked€whether€there€was€any€advancÔ% € Ôement€of€the€arthritis€byÏreason€of€the€October€5,€1993€work€incident,€Dr.€Bell€stated,€ÌÓ  ÓÓÓà8 àð ðI€cannot€say€that€her€arthritis€advanced€specifically€on€the€basisÏof€those€episodes.€€òòItððs€impossible€for€me€to€say€that€her€arthritisÏwould€not€have€advanced€regardless€of€her€activities.óó€€You€know,Ïarthritis€travels€at€its€own€rate€independent€of€treatment,€fromÏour€standpoint€pretty€much.€€So€the€rate€of€progression€isÏsomething€thatððs€hard€for€me€to€predict,€I€guess€is€the€best€way€toÏput€it€.€.€.€She€did€have€a€relative€progression€of€arthritis€from€theÏtime€of€injury€to€the€time€of€this€last€evaluation.€€Based€on€our€x„ray€view€of€the€width€of€her€joint,€there€was€some€progression.€ÏAgain,€whether€that€was€acceleratedby€these€episodes€or€not,€IÏreally€canððt€say.€€I€can€only€òòsay€that€her€pain€symptomatically€wasÏremarkably€different€from€this€injury€until€this€finalÏexmaination.ðð€à0 àóóÌÓÓÌÓ  Óà àDr.€Bell€testified€that€the€thirty€percent€impairment€rating€was€based€onÏa€loss€of€range€of€motion€as€well€as€the€x„ray€findings€of€joint€spaceÏnarrowing.€€When€asked,€ð ðCan€you€tell€us€to€a€reasonable€degree€of€medicalÏcertainty€whether€the€joint€space€narrowing€was€attributable€to€her€workÏinjury?ðð€he€answered,€ÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓà8 àð ð[t]he€joint€space€narrowing,€again,€would€have€been€present€to€aÏdegree.€€Again,€I€canððt€go€back€unfortunately€and€say€exactly€whatÏdegree,€but€it€would€have€been€present€at€the€time€of€her€injury€toÏsome€extent,€based€on€just€the€x„rays€from€that€time.€€So€itÏcertainly€doesnððt,€again,€correlate€with€just€the€time€from€accidentÏto€final€rating.€€There€would€have€been€joint€space€narrowingÏpredating€the€injury.ððÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓà àDr.€Bell€was€asked€whether€within€a€reasonable€degree€of€medicalÍcertainty€the€on„the„job€happening€of€October€5,€1993€aggravated€the€arthriticÏcondition€of€the€knee€and€caused€it€to€worsen€and€cause€the€problems€forÏwhich€he€treated€Mrs.€Pack.€€òòHe€answered€that€it€was€probable€that€the€injuryÏaggravated€the€pre„existing€arthritic€condition.óóÌà àThe€trial€judge€concluded€that€the€plaintiff€failed€to€carry€the€burden€ofÏproof€of€ð ðshowing€by€the€greater€weight€of€the€evidence€that€the€pre„existingÏarthritic€condition€was€aggravated€directly€and€proximately€by€the€October€5,Ï1993€incident,ðð€and€that€there€is€insufficient€proof€of€permanent€disability€as€aÏresult€of€either€injury.Ìà àThe€issue€on€appeal€is€whether€these€conclusions€are€correct.Ìà à€Our€review€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompaniedÏby€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€finding,€unless€the€preponderanceÏof€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€òòT.C.A.€ðð€óó50„6„225(e)(2).€€òòStone€v.€City€ofÏMcMinnville,€óó896€S.W.2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).€We€review€questions€of€lawÏòòde€novoóó€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.€€òòPerry€v.€Sentry€Ins.€Co.,€óó938ÏS.W.2d€404€(Tenn.€1996).€Ìà àThe€appellant€argues€that€the€trial€judge€was€plainly€in€error€in€findingÏno€permanent€disability€resulted€from€the€1991€injury€when€the€medical€proofÏwas€uncontroverted€that€the€injury€was€job„related€and€that€it€resulted€inÏdisability.€€We€agree.Ìà àThe€1993€injury€is€more€difficult€to€analyze,€principally€because€Dr.ÍBell€equivocated.€€He€essentially€found€a€pre„existing€arthritic€condition€whichÏbecame€increasongly€painful€as€a€result€of€the€plaintiffððs€employment.€€TheÏthrust€of€his€testimony€is€that€he€found€no€new€injury,€but€concluded€that€theÏplaintiffððs€arthritic€knee€was€aggravated€by€activity,€including€jobÏrequirements.Ìà àThe€appellee€relies€on€the€holding€in€òòCunningham€v.€Goodyear€Tire€andÏRubber€Co.,€óó811€S.W.2d€888€(Tenn.€1991)€as€controlling.€€òòCunninghamóó€isÏauthority€for€the€proposition€that€the€aggravation€of€pre„existing€arthritisÏwhich€does€not€advance€the€condition€but€merely€increases€pain€without€theÏintervention€of€a€job„related€injury€is€not€compensable.€€But€òòCunninghamóó€isÏinapposite€here,€because€the€plaintiff€òòadmittedlyóó€suffered€injuries€by€accident,Ïwhich€under€all€the€proof€aggravated€the€underlying€disease.€€Ìà àWe€find€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€judgment€and€in€favorÏof€a€finding€that€the€plaintiff€has€a€25€percent€permanent,€partial€disability€toÏher€left€leg.€€The€judgment€is€accordingly€reversed€and€the€plaintiff€isÏawarded€benefits€for€a€25€percent€permanent,€partial€disability€to€her€left€leg.€ÏCosts€are€assessed€to€the€appellee€and€the€case€is€remanded.ÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ________________________ÌFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€JusticeÌÌÌ________________________ÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÇÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€IN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌßJ€/1;+'b|` à. `€@ÿJßà à€à à€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àAT€KNOXVILLEà àà àÌÌÌÌÌÌÒ Ê ÒÒ „ Òà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌÒ S ÒÒ „ ÒFREIDA€PACK,à àà àà àà à)€€€€BLOUNT€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€No.€€L„9110Ìà àPlaintiff/Appellantà àà à)à àà àà àà àà à€€€€à àà àà à€€€€€€€Ïà àà àà àà à)à à€à àÌvs.€€à àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€Hon.€W.€Dale€Youngà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€Ïà àà à)€€€€€€Judgeà à€€€€€à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌBTR€DUNLOP,€INC.à àà àà à)Ì.à àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€€€NO.€03S01„9706„CV„00066Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àDefendants/Appellees.à àà à)à àà àÌà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà à)Ìà àÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌà àà àà àÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€ÓfæÓÓ ø ÓÓ` Ü…X ì–XÓThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€includingÏthe€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Panel,€and€theÏPanelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€OpinionÏof€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€andÍconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€isÏmade€the€Judgment€of€the€Court.€€à àà àÌÒ  ÒÒ „ Òà à€€€€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellee,€BTR€Dunlop,€Inc.,€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌ02/19/98Ì€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÙ€Ù<<€Conversion€error€>>à àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€forÏreview€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann€.ðð€50„6„225€(e)€(5)€(B),€the€entireÏrecord,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€WorkersððÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€Memorandum€OpinionÏsetting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€areÏincorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€isÏnot€well€taken€and€should€be€denied;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€PanelÏis€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ìà àà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€the€plaintiff„appellant€and€sureties,€forÏwhich€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ìà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€____€day€of€June,€1997.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌÌAnderson,€J.€„€Not€ParticipatingÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌal€to€the€Special€Workerðð€Compensation€Panel,€and€the€PanelððsÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àÌà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€ofÏthe€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€act€and€conclusionsÏof€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€theÏJudgment€of€the€Court.ÌÌà àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€€to€the€plaintiff„appellant,€Vernon€Harris€andÌGilbert€and€Faulkner.€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.€€ÌÌ06/03//97à àà àà àà àà àà àÌÌÌÌà àœÔ€'Ô