WPC \ѕLjەܰ,Z ٙq fySvDf2޵.WQeu+w^\eV/H g_7i*`bK#fny~[E2"/JγdZ^3p|ptFn3'f ƨJ(2Xy>FU~*C%2kl"?jZ"^cN`'6ktvEv5'6Fw΢PgRR1RiP|#j|NtLfdHBKP bN 1u 72= 0coN zNUN U@nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 0 B  0 D5Z D- 0K ASZ 0  0D A("  Z6Times New Roman Regular(`$.8dd8    \\IB01S02\CLERKJAC,,,,0C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\CUSTOM~1\OPINION3.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\Custom WP Templates\opinion3.wptF1  C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptULevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 56h0\P\Opinion Summary3|x({27$ !..8`dd8     ?\Appellants Attorney Name & Appellant's Name.?\Appellees Attorney Name & Appellee's Name.(#$  0  123456789101112\  `&Times New RomanQuickMark- - 3#37=CIQYag1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)2i)(;3$2#  0  .3  0  7C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(hH  Z 6Times New Roman Regular(9 Z(Times New Roman (|G2$ !..8`dd8         0  XX d(|3$ !..8`dd8     VVVV)!dxdx)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3$ !..8`dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8`dd8     _`8XXdd8    x`0+@@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL # @@ATJACKSON#`x#`` F April5,2004#``#``ԀSession i #``X#XX` #`XX#``%  DONNAPAYTON%v.%  McKENZIEVALVEANDMACHINING  b COMPANY%P,etal.#``#XX`  # s @@ %  %%DirectAppealfromthe%  CircuitCourt%Zfor%  Carroll% ԀCounty  m @@No.% ! 4473%!Ԁ% " C.CreedMcGinley,Judge%"  W  @@*AV) ` dE<` A     No.% # W200302094WCR3CV%#ԀMailedAugust24,2004;FiledOctober6,2004   #`XX#XX`AV) ` dE<{` A |  %      Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppeals t PanelinaccordancewithTennesseeCodeAnnotatedsection506225(e)(3)forhearingand ] reportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Inthisappeal,Employer F argues:(i)thatthetrialcourterredinallowingthetestimonyofoneofEmployee'switnesses;(ii) / thattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourt'sfindingthatEmployee'sinjurywascaused h byheremployment;and(iii)thattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourt'sawardof37.5% Q permanentpartialdisabilitytoeacharm.Weconcludethattheevidencefailstopreponderate : againstthetrialcourt'sdecisiontoallowthetestimonyofEmployee'switness,thetrialcourt's # findingthatEmployee'sinjurywascausedbyheremployment,andthetrialcourt'sawardof37.5%   permanentpartialdisabilitytoeacharm.%We,therefore,affirmthejudgmentofthetrialcourt.    % $     Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight%$ ;Judgmentofthe% % TrialCourt w Affirmed%%]   a       RobertL.Childers,Sp.J.#`Xy#XX.`,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhich% & JaniceM.Holder,J.,%&w and 4"! % ' WilliamB.Acree,Sp.J.%' ,joined. #m" %  S.NewtonAndersonandMildredL.Sabbatini,Memphis,Tennessee,fortheappellants,McKenzie $? $ ValveandMachiningCompanyandTravelersInsuranceCompany.%& %(!% %  % RobertT.Keeton,Jr.,Huntingdon,Tennessee,fortheappellee,DonnaPayton. '"'    MEMORANDUMOPINION #`XX# #XX` |)$) #`XX#XX` (X߰ XXX    FactualBackground O+&+   0  Appellee,DonnaPayton,("Employee")was41yearsoldatthetimeoftheallegedinjury.##-s(-(#(#) #0+ 0 0  ShehasaGED,attendedvocationalschoolforblueprintreadingandtaxpreparation,andtook  severalcollegenightcourses.Throughoutthemajorityofherworkinglife,shehasworkedasa  machinist.InJuly1997,EmployeebeganworkingasamachinistforEmployer,McKenzie  ValveandMachiningCompany,("Employer"). k   Inthesummerof2001,Employeebegantocomplainofnumbnessinherarmsandhands. =  ShereportedthesecomplaintstoEmployer.ShewasdiagnosedbyDr.Gulishwithbilateral & v carpaltunnelsyndrome.AfterwatchingavideotapeofEmployee'srequiredjobactivities,Dr.  _ GulishopinedthatifthevideotapeaccuratelydepictedEmployee'sjobduties,herinjuriesshould  H nothavebeencausedbyherwork.Employeedisputesthatthevideotapefairlydepictsherjob  1  duties.      CliffSwierckwasallowedtotestifyoverEmployer'sobjectionongroundsthatEmployee   failedtolistMr.Swierckinherresponsestointerrogatoriesasapersonwithknowledge.Mr.   SwierckcorroboratedEmployee'stestimonythatthevideodidnotshowmanyofherrequired n  activities. W    Dr.ChandlerperformedcarpaltunnelreleasesurgeryofEmployee'srighthandin )y October2001,andofherlefthandinFebruary2002.HereleasedEmployeewitha0% b impairmentratingtotherightarmanda3%impairmentratingtotheleftarm.Dr.Chandler K opinedthatEmployee'scontinuingproblemswithnumbnessandpaininherarmswerelikelydue 4 toporphyria,ablooddiseasefromwhichshesuffers.Dr.Kaufman,aspecialistwhohastreated  Employeeforporphyria,notedthatherconditionisworsening.Employeewasterminatedfrom  herjobafterherreleasebyDr.Chandler. Afteratrialonthemerits,thetrialcourtawarded  Employeeapermanentpartialdisabilityof37.5%toeacharm.      StandardofReview ^   0  Thestandardofreviewofissuesoffactisdenovoupontherecordofthetrialcourt2(#(# accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindings,unlessthepreponderanceof k evidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2);Lollarv.WalMartStores,Inc.,767  T S.W.2d143,149(Tenn.1989).Wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthewitnesses  = especiallyifissuesofcredibilityandweighttobegivenoraltestimonyareinvolved, !&  considerabledeferencemustbeaffordedthosecircumstancesonreviewbecauseitisthetrial "! courtwhichhadtheopportunitytoobservethewitness'demeanorandtoheartheincourt #" testimony.Longv.TriConIndustries,Ltd.,995S.W.2d173,178(Tenn.1999).Wherethe $# issuesinvolveexpertmedicaltestimonywhichiscontainedintherecordbydeposition,thenall z% $ impressionsofweightandcredibilitymustbedrawnfromthecontentsofthedepositionsandthe c&!% reviewingcourtmaydrawitsownimpressionastoweightandcredibilityfromthecontentsof L'"& thedepositions.Ormanv.WilliamsSonoma,Inc.,803S.W.2d67677(Tenn.1991).  5(#'   Analysis *X%)     EmployerarguesthatthetrialcourterredinallowingthetestimonyofCliffSwierkas ++'+ evidenceherein,contendingthatEmployerwaspreventedfromadequatelypreparingfortrial  duetoEmployee'sintentionalfailuretodisclosetheidentityofthewitness.Thetrialcourtfound  thatEmployeedididentifyMr.Swierkasapersonhavingknowledgerelativetooperationof  machineryattheplant.Further,Employerdidnotrequestacontinuancesothatitmight k adequatelypreparefortrial.Weconclude,therefore,thatthetrialcourtdidnoterrinallowing T Mr.Swierk'stestimonyinthiscase. =    Dr.EugeneGulish,Employee'streatingorthopedicsurgeon,opinedthatEmployee's  _ carpaltunnelwasnotcausedinthecourseandscopeofheremploymentwithMcKenzieValve.  H Dr.GulishacknowledgedinhisreportthataspartofEmployee'sdutiesshewasrequiredtoflex  1  andextendherwristssome23timesperday,andthatEmployeealsousedahandgrinderto    debur,evenifonlyforashorttimedaily.However,Dr.Gulishadmittedinhisreportthathe   basedhisopinionalsoonadiscussionwithRichardSumpter,whoassuredthedoctorthat   Employeewasnotrequiredtorepeatedlyflexandextendherwristswhenworkingwithher   machine,leadingDr.Gulishtoconcludethat,"Ithinkifthatistruewehavetoconcludethat n  suchshortperiodsofusingwristsinthisfashionshouldnothavecausedcarpaltunnel." W    EmployeetestifiedthatthevideotapepresentedbyEmployerdisplayingdutiesrequired )y oftheEmployeedidnotdemonstrateallofEmployee'sduties.Mr.Sumtertestifiedthat b EmployerhadproblemswiththeEmployee'smachinemalfunctioningalot,whichwasnot K shownonthevideo.Thevideoalsodidnotshowthemachineusingalargerdrill,orholesbeing 4 gouged,orthesetupofandputtingtoolsinthemachine,orthemachineoccasionallydropping  toolsandEmployeebeingrequiredtogetbehindthemachinetogetthetools,whichareallpart  ofEmployee'sregularworkresponsibilities.ItisobviousthatthetrialcourtfoundEmployee  andherwitnessestobemorecrediblethantheEmployer'switnesses.    Weagreewiththetrialcourtandconclude,basedonthetestimonyofEmployeeandthe Z depositiontestimonyofDr.Barnett,thatEmployee'scarpaltunnelsyndromeisdirectlyrelatedto C heremploymentwithEmployerandthatEmployeeshouldbeawardedappropriateworkers' ,| compensationbenefits. e   Employerarguesthattheevidencepreponderatesagainstthetrialcourtsawardof37.5%  7 permanentpartialdisabilitytoeachofEmployeesarms.EmployerarguesthatEmployees !   inabilitytoreturntoworkiscausedbyherbattlewithporphyriaandisnotaconsequenceof " ! residualimpairmentcausedbyhercarpeltunnelsyndrome.EmployercontendsthatbecauseDr. #" BarnettwasnotEmployeestreatingphysicianandbecauseheimproperlyreliedonlossofgrip $# strengthfortheimpairmentratingheassignedtoEmployee,hisopinionshouldnotbegivenany t% $ weight. ]&!%   Wheremedicaltestimonydiffers,itiswithinthediscretionofthetrialcourttoconclude /(#' thattheopinionofcertainexpertsshouldbeacceptedoverthatofotherexperts.Hinsonv.Wal )h$( MartStores,Inc.,654S.W.2d675,67677(Tenn.1983).Trialcourtsarenotboundtoaccept *Q%) physiciansopinionsregardingtheextentofanemployeesdisability,butshouldconsiderallthe *:&* evidence,bothexpertandlaytestimony,indeterminingtheextentofanemployeesdisability. +#'+ WhirlpoolCorp.v.Nakhoneinh,69S.W.3d164,167(Tenn.2002).Inthiscase,thetrialcourt  reviewedexpertmedicalprooffrombothDr.ChandlerandDr.Barnett,whoheldvarying  opinionsastotheimpairmentratingforEmployee.Thetrialcourt,afterconsideringallofthe  factsofthecase,awardeda37.5%permanentpartialdisabilityratingtoeacharm.Wefindthe k awardbythetrialcourtissupportedbytherecordandthattheevidencepreponderatesinfavor T ofthetrialcourt'sjudgment. =    Conclusion  `      Weconcludethattheevidencefailstopreponderateagainstthetrialcourt'sdecisiontoallow  3  thetestimonyofEmployee'switness,thetrialcourt'sfindingthatEmployee'sinjurywascausedby    heremployment,andthetrialcourt'sawardof37.5%permanentpartialdisabilitytoeacharm.The   judgmentofthetrialcourtisthereforeaffirmed.Costsaretaxedtotheappellants,McKenzieValve   andMachiningCompanyandTravelersInsuranceCompany,forwhichexecutionmayissueif   necessary.% ) %)6 p  #XX X(X߰[##`XX9#XX`   `     h     ____________________________________ +{    `     h     ROBERTL.CHILDERS,SPECIALJUDGE d   6 __@v v INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @ SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  @%ATJACKSON  @#April5,2004 k    DONNAPAYTONv.MCKENZIEVALVEANDMACHININGCOMPANY,INC.,etal.  =  9@DD CircuitCourtforCarrollCounty  ` @__&No.4473  J @*AV) ` dE< ` A߈    @ No.W200302094WCR3CVFiledOctober6,2004   AV) ` dE<` A    @# JUDGMENTORDER    9X߰ XXX   ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtupontheentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferral Q totheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsetting : forthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; #s    ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthattheMemorandumOpinionofthePanel E shouldbeacceptedandapproved;and .    ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaware  adoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.  Ѐ     ` CostsonappealaretaxedtotheAppellants,McKenzieValveandMachining k CompanyandTravelersInsuranceCompany,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. T     ` ITISSOORDERED. !_! #XX X9X߰;#8XXXX   `     h     PERCURIAM  "3# #XXX8X@#