WPC :f:\:m¶92#H{lr"=o9Nq}Wo0MXK]D0*_Cv@5 xH;l:HSYB1i>ƣRMM]m}ڝ8S46PGTT{ W_'3^}>Sy)#QI^z(,:ai!VV0ᢛV 5`ĿZc5%Nsl"V yj#7vܽ6OAB3/ _6+UI>Z 0<& 0<bU*J D+ A@ o@ K oU  ? 09  0 0i 0( AQF"""@ o@ o B- BIf 0v#UN %M%()NQ^ Sw_4cw my\  `&Times New Roman' IN THE SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE AOCUSER0AOCUSER .   <:Default Para<:Footnote RefkIA`2WP TypographicSymbols'dxd&Draw Object <<=8C HKKKK  WPC i K513%)+-51d~ -  WPC i K513%)+-51d~ -   5 &)..      !lX!Xl!l  XkXllXXkWGCz hx p @X@Exxxx (#(#   (#(#XkXlZXXklZ(2&$ !..      !X!X!  ݃ Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5(2&$ !..      !X!X!  (2&$ !..      !X!X!  ($C<< c &"..      !lX!Xl!l    XkXlԄ  3  ڄ                  WPC i K513%)+-51d~ - WPC i K513%)+-51d~ -)Hairline d  d#|x(r$..      !X!X!\\IB27S11T\stats1,,,,0(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular!XnI-s $w%-PagesU !..      !lX!Xl!l  _         4lINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERS4=4ԀCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  ATKNOXVILLEZ4 A May23,2002Session ` XkXZZXXk CHARLESR.RAPIERv.JONESBLAIRPAINTXkXZ   R  DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtforBradleyCounty  D No.01022_Jerri_ԀS.Bryant,Chancellor  * FiledSeptember27,2002   -  lXXk k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE K K2 -  XkXl No.E200102915_WC_ԄR3CV   -  lXXk  k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE3 K K32 -  XkXl    ThisworkersXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥԀcompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkersXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥԀCompensation (x AppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.XѥXXXk'XkXXXѥԀ506225(e)(3)for ` hearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Thetrial H courtdismissedthecomplaintfindingtheactionwasbarredbytheoneyearstatuteoflimitations . andbecauseplaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsconditionwasnotworkrelated.Judgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.      Tenn.CodeAnn.XѥXXXk'XkXXXѥԀ506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChanceryCourt  isAffirmed  z   Thayer,Sp.J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichAnderson,J.andByers,Sr.J., F joined. ,| JimmyW._Bilbo_,ofCleveland,Tennessee,forAppellant,CharlesR.Rapier. H DavidC.Nagle,ofChattanooga,Tennessee,forAppellee,JonesBlairPaint.      MEMORANDUMOPINION  ""  X  Plaintiff,CharlesR.Rapier,hasappealedfromthetrialcourtXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsactionindismissinghis \$$ complaint.Thecourtheldtheactionhadnotbeentimelyfiledandwasbarredbythestatuteof D% % limitations.Thecourtalsoruledplaintiffhadfailedtoestablishhisconditionwascausally *&z!& relatedtotheaccidentinquestion. '`"'  X  BasicFacts  (,$)   XPlaintiff,afortynineyearoldhighschoolgraduate,wasemployedbydefendant,Jones *%+ BlairPaint,asanoutsidesalesrepresentativecallingonpaintcontractorsandindustryofficials +&, inacertainterritory. t,'-  X Z-(. _ X OnOctober31,1996,whiledrivingfromCleveland,Tennessee,toChattanooga,hewas  stoppedintrafficonInterstate75andwasstruckintherearbyanothervehicle.Hedescribedthe  impactasminorinnaturealthoughhehadsometemporaryinjurytohisneck,backandright | knee.Aboutoneweeklater,hetestifiedhebegantofeelXѥXXXkAXkXXXѥfunnyXѥXXXk@XkXXXѥԀandhewenttoawalkinclinic b wherehecollapsed.HedescribedthecollapsingspellasXѥXXXkAXkXXXѥlosingmuscletone.ItXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsjustlikeyour J brainturnsofftheswitchandyoujustcollapse.AndyouknowyouXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥregoingto,youjustcanXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥt 2  controlit.XѥXXXk@XkXXXѥԀThisproblemcontinuedforsomeperiodoftimeuntiladoctorgaveadiagnosisof  j narcolepsy(inappropriatesleep)andcataplexy(lossofallmuscletone).Medicationhas  R controlledalotoftheproblembutplaintiffhastobecarefulinrecognizingwarningsigns.  8 PlaintiffhascontinuedtoworkforthepaintcompanyinthesamejobandnoworkersXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥ    compensationbenefitswereeverpaidasallmedicalexpensesinvolvedinthediagnosisand    treatmentofhisconditionwasprocessedbytheinsurancecarrierprovidinggeneralhealth   coverage.    X XThisproceedingforworkersXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥԀcompensationbenefitswasfiledonJanuary16,2001, N  whichwasfouryearsandtwoandonehalfmonthsaftertheautomobileaccident. 6   X XAstoplaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsknowledgeaboutthediagnosisanditbeingcausallyrelatedtothe R accident,hetestifiedoncrossexaminationthataDr.RandallBrewerinAthensfirsttoldhimof : thediagnosissometimeduring1997.Atanotherpoint,headmittedhewastoldbyanother   doctorduringApril1999ofthediagnosisandthatitwasprobablycausedbytheautoaccidentin  1996.   X  ExpertMedicalEvidence  h   XAllofthemedicalevidencewaspresentedtothetrialcourtbydeposition. 4  X XDr.MarthaH.Hagman,aninternalmedicinephysician,testifiedtheplaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥscondition P wasmoderatelysevereandthatitwasapermanentconditionwheremedicationwouldalways 8 havetobetaken.Shegaveanimpairmentratingofsomewherebetween39and50percentand  hadreleasedhimtoreturntowork.Atonepointduringhertestimonyshesaidtheautoaccident  couldhavecausedtheconditionbutshecouldnotsaywithcertaintythatitwascausedbythe   accident.Oncrossexamination,shefurtherstatedthatshecouldnotstatewithinareasonable !  degreeofcertaintywhatcausedthecondition. f"!  X XDr.JamesM.Dodson,aclinicalpsychologistintrainingtobeboardcertifiedinsleep 2$# medicine,testifiedhesawplaintiffduringOctober1999becausehewashavingsomememory %h $ problems.Hewasawareofthediagnosisandgaveanopinionthatsinceplaintiffdidnothave %N!% symptomsofnarcolepsyandcataplexybeforetheaccident,hecouldsaywithinareasonable &4"& degreeofmedicalcertaintytheautoaccidentcausedthecondition.Defendantobjectstothis '#' conclusionasbeingbeyondthewitnessXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsqualificationsandexpertknowledge. ($(  X XDr.RobertF.Marcum,apulmonaryspecialistwithexperiencewithsleepproblems, ~*%* concurredwiththediagnosismadebypreviousdoctorsandtestifiedhediscussedsamewith d+&+ plaintiffduringSeptember1998afterseeinghimonseveralvisits.HewrotealettertoplaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥs J,', counselstatingthatnarcolepsywasaverycomplexconditionandthatmostofthetime 2-(-           individualswiththisconditionhadbeenshowntohavesomekindofpredeterminedgenetic  predispositiontothecondition.Healsostatedintheletterthatthereweresomereportsof  stressfulsituationsinducingthepresentationofnarcolepsy.Heconcludedtheletterbysayinghe | didnotfeetthathecouldofferanopinion(oncausation)thattheattorneywouldneed.Hethen b referredplaintifftoDr.Farber. H  X XDr.SharonN.Farber,aneurologist,sawplaintiffonseveraloccasionsfromAugust1998  d toApril1999.Shewasoftheopiniontheconditionwasnotcausedbythe1996autoaccident  J becauseplaintiffhaddescribedtheimpactasminorinnatureandplaintiffhadnotsustaineda  0 realheadinjury.Shesaidthatusuallythereismajorheadinjurieswhenanaccidentcanbesaid    tohavecausedthecondition.     X  StandardofReview x    X Thecaseistobereviewedonappealdenovoaccompaniedbyapresumptionofthe D  correctnessofthefindingsoffactunlesswefindthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise. *z  Tenn.CodeAnn.XѥXXXk'XkXXXѥԀ506255(e)(2). `  X  AnalysisofIssues  .   XFirst,wemustdetermineifthetrialcourtwascorrectinholdingtheclaimwasbarredby  therunningoftheoneyearstatuteoflimitations.   X TennesseeCodeAnnotatedXѥXXXk'XkXXXѥԀ506203generallyprovidesaclaimmustbefiled \ withinoneyearoftheaccidentorwithinoneyearofthecessationofthepaymentof D compensationbenefits.Caselawalsoestablishesthattherunningofthestatuteissuspended *z untilbyreasonablecareanddiligenceitisdiscoverableandapparentthataninjurycompensable ` underworkersXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥԀcompensationlawhasbeensustained. Ferrellv.CignaProperty&Cas.Ins. F Co. ,33S.W.3d731(Tenn.2000); Ogdenv.MatrixVision ,838S.W.2d528(Tenn.1992); .  NortonCo.v.Coffin ,553S.W.2d751,752(Tenn.1977).    XInthepresentaction,suitwasnotinstitutedwithinoneyearoftheaccidentandsinceno   compensationbenefitswereeverpaid,thequestionbeforeusiswhethertheplaintifftimelyfiled v!  thisactionwithinoneyearwhenhekneworintheexerciseofreasonablediligenceshouldhave \"! knownthathesustainedacompensableinjury. B#"  X XOnappealplaintiffarguesitwasnotuntilDecember18,2000thathewasadvisedbyDr. %^ $ Dodson,theclinicalpsychologist,thatthe1996autoaccidentprobablycausedhismedical %D!% conditionandthatsuitwasfiledthefollowingmonth.Whenthepsychologistgavehis &*"& depositionhewaslocatedatadifferentofficefromwherehesawandexaminedplaintiffanddid '#' nothaveaccesstothoseofficenotesandrecords.Hetestifiedfromanundatedletterwhichhe (#( hadwrittentoplaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsattorney.Inthedepositioncounselforplaintiffkeptreferringtothe )$)     December18,2000letterbutwhenaskedoncrossexaminationthedateoftheletter,the  psychologistreplied,XѥXXXkAXkXXXѥIwouldnXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥtbeabletogiveyouanhonestanswer.XѥXXXk@XkXXXѥ   X XWemustnowobservethatthelegalquestionbeforeusiswhendidtheplaintiffbecome d awarehehadacompensableclaimandnotwhenhisattorneyfoundevidenceofcausation.We J havecarefullyexaminedtherecordandfindthereislittle,ifany, evidence tosupportplaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥs 0  argumentonthisissue.PlaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsowntestimonyindicateshewasawareofthediagnosisas  h earlyas1997andthattheautoaccidentcouldhavecausehisconditionasearlyasApril1999.  P Hisconditionneverchangedthroughoutthelongperiodoftimefromthedateoftheaccidentto  6 theinstitutionofsuitexcepttoimprovewithmedicationprescribedbythedoctors.Wetherefore    concurwiththetrialcourtthatthestatuteoflimitationshadexpiredpriortotheinstitutionofsuit    onJanuary16,2001.    X XThesecondissuedealswiththefindingofthetrialcourtthattheplaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsmedical d  conditionwasnotrelatedtothe1996automobileaccident.ItiswellsettledthatinaworkersXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥ L  compensationproceedingthatasageneralrulecausationandpermanencyofaninjurymustbe 4  establishedbyexpertmedicaltestimony .McCalebv.SaturnCorp. ,910S.W.2d412(Tenn. j 1994); ArgonautIns.Co.v.Williams, 580S.W.2d784(Tenn.1979).Althoughplaintiff P concedesinhisbriefthatapsychologistisnotcompetenttorenderanopinionastocausation 6 andpermanencyofaninjuryinworkersXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥԀcompensationcases,itisinsistedthatthisrulebe  reconsideredandthatDr.DodsonXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥstestimonybeacceptedbythePanel.Wedeclinetoaccept  thisinvitation.AnychangeintheruleshouldcomefromtheSupremeCourtorthelegislature.  Thereseemstobeagreatdealofdifferenceinthepracticeofmedicine(Tenn.CodeAnn.XѥXXXk'XkXXXѥԀ63  6204)andthepracticeofapsychologistasdefinedbyTennesseeCodeAnnotatedXѥXXXk'XkXXXѥ 6311202, j 203.Also,wefindtheadmissibleexpert testimonyinthecasedoesnotsupportplaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥstheory R ontheissueofcausationofhismedicalcondition.Therefore,weholdtheevidencedoesnot : preponderateagainstthetrialcourtXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsconclusionthattheopinionandtestimonyofthe  p psychologistwasnotadmissibleandthatcausationofplaintiffXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsmedicalconditionwasnot X relatedtotheaccidentinquestion. @  X XThejudgmentofthetrialcourtisaffirmed.Costsoftheappealaretaxedtotheplaintiff.     X X  !   X h___________________________________ T#" ROGERE.THAYER,SPECIALJUDGE  :$#  h0p x (#X0ZXXkQ9 9 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  Q$ATKNOXVILLE   H.` hp x (#X(#HXkXZ  ZXXk CHARLESR.RAPIERv.JONESBLAIRPAINTXkXZ     3p x (#X(#3Q  ChanceryCourtforBradleyCounty   Q%%%No.01022   H.` hp x (#X(#H3p x (#X(#3Q*H.` hp x (#X(#H-  lXXk k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE K K2 -  XkXl 3p x (#X(#3Q==No.E200102915WCMCV T  H.` hp x (#X(#H-  lXXk k[W$~ Kp@0 dd`  KE K K2 -  XkXl  3p x (#X(#3Q( ORDER    H.` hp x (#X(#H XThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponthemotionforreviewfiledbyCharlesR.Rapier w pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.XѥXXXk'XkXXXѥԁ50-6-225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderof ] referraltotheSpecialWorkersXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥԀCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsMemorandum E Opinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw. -}  X XItappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandistherefore I denied.ThePanelXѥXXXk=XkXXXѥsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedby / reference,areadoptedandaffirmed.ThedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentofthe  Court.   X XCostsareassessedtoCharlesR.Rapier,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. y  X h  PERCURIAM "-"  hlXXk