ÿWPC” LGy1äù+„¾ÐûmY9¢äÇÓwQ\i° ¹øƒd˜È`Ô Ô2øU!JX\`ç2¤µÅKaÔÁ;¯<%±ü’ìâÕõºSÎàkç&ñ°ᎯÁl_߈ô:JîBîp$Ÿe«E² V?{±º²Ç:<ɯæó¼òŠ nqmckp¯¹>­Q5.ö;»P_—Ü®k8—§¢Ý4+wÒo!öÅ5xȈE˜…¦ÐJtËtSpwý¨Ä¼Ý?E 9ù*¼ZÈ dó#³]ÿM²\4µ’S„Ó9•'_ÐxÇab‡æô’äIßmÞA€n_SV¿‡ 2†E B»áÇ)®èÈéÅ÷Ó7ç E‘xªÓü”ç~"e‚NžÕÑ,TЊ»{­$çóZëä.žÃD½­bÕÇEºÐ†\^W,4vñ…®cMÑ@¹ãÁþ½5½¶å÷(Ì ¸GJdgaŸtøké(n'ÀIMÜÌ2ƒ›Iƒ);I7•ëÈ´C[ ö/r÷aç#>ˆà¤M±[¾»¬ÁØ$TS×µÍåp6k5[Yœ¶IáBpÏÂdåc×ÑΪ¬© §$ÛèœMH9 ©Šé¢¹rmuvò(š²Ãêò™4sVb#Á\ % ^ # 0ˆ/ UN· w 4 z Ò— i x mz UN‘ Æß Æ¥ Æk Æ1N÷Nù zûÒuEGGU@IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIb‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰‰ 0ë‘‘‘‘ B || 0¤™ D3= D-p 0K ASèÆ; 0¤ 0D¥ A«é˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0»Œ£‡)L (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular˜L-((h¡p$¨ ˜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.wpt3|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5˜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.wpt(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman - ù-(|G2ÚO$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€®D»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€X½ëX»»Ô d(|3A$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€®D»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3A$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€®D»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»$»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼»$»»»ÔÑ8€ºsXXdð»»d8ÑÑ  ÑÓ  Óà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ È Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€JACKSONÐ à0 Ð(November€1999€Session)Ð øH ÐÔ‡XºsX»¼»$ÔÌò òÔ#†¼»$»XXºsâ#ÔGERALD€M.€REED€òòóóv.€GOODYEAR€TIRE€AND€RUBBER€COMPANY,Ð  P Ðòòet€alóó.Ô‡XºsX»¼»$Ôó óÐ  h ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Ô_ÔObionÔ_Ô€CountyÐ  p Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€18,895€€€€€€W.€Michael€Ô_ÔMaloanÔ_Ô,€ChancellorÐ `  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ß` AßÐ à0  ÐÌNo.€W1999„00184„SC„WCM„CV€„€Mailed€Ô#†¼»$»XXºs‚#ÔÔ‡XºsX»¼»$ÔAugust€11,€2000;€Filed€December€7,€2000Ð ß/  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¾` AßÐ ¿ Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡ XtsXXXºsÔThis€case€involves€injuries€sustained€to€the€neck€and€body€as€a€whole€by€Gerald€Reed€on€August€8,Ð ¾ Ð1994€while€in€the€employ€of€Goodyear€Tire€and€Rubber€Company.€€The€employee€brought€suitÐ ªú Ðagainst€the€employer€and€its€insurer,€The€Travelers€Insurance€Company.€€Ô#†XºsXX Xts-#ÔÔ‡ XtsXXXºsÔÔ#† ¼ ?»X Xts_#ÔÔ‡ XtsX» ¼ ?ÔThe€trial€court€determinedÐ –æ Ðthat€Mr.€Reed€sustained€a€compensable€work€injury€and€awarded€permanent€partial€disability€in€theÐ ‚Ò Ðamount€of€15%€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€The€defendant€presented€one€issue€on€appeal:€€whether€theÐ n¾ Ðplaintiff€proved€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence€that€his€injuries€were€sustained€during€the€courseÐ Zª Ðand€scope€of€his€employment.€€After€careful€review,€we€affirm€the€decision€of€the€trial€court.Ô#†XºsXX Xtsš#ÔÔ#†¼»$»XXºsÜ#ÔÐ F– ÐÓ!ÓÌÔ€XºsX»¼»$Ôò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;Ð Jš ÐJudgment€of€the€Chancery€Court€Affirmedó óÐ :Š ÐÌòòÓ  ÓGeorge€R.€Ellis,€Sp.€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJanice€M.€Holder,€J.,óó€and€òòF.Ð j ÐLloyd€Ô_ÔTatumÔ_Ô,€Sp.€J.óó,€joined.Ð  Z ÐÌRandy€N.€Ô_ÔChismÔ_Ô,€Union€City,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellants,€Goodyear€Tire€&€Rubber€Company,€etÐ ê!:  Ðal.Ð Ú"*! ÐÌCharles€S.€Kelly,€Jr.,€for€the€appellee,€Gerald€M.€Reed.Ð º$ # ÐÌÔ  ÔÓ Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÐ š&ê!% ÐÌÓ  Óà  àÔ‡ XtsXXXºsÔThis€workerððs€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workerððs€CompensationÐ z(Ê#' ÐAppeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Section€50„6„225(e)€forÐ f)¶$( Ðhearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ð R*¢%) ÐÌà  àReview€of€the€findings€of€fact€made€by€the€trial€court€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€the€record,Ð *,z'+ Ðaccompanied€by€a€presumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€findings,€unless€the€preponderance€of€theÐ -f(,ýþ ÐÔ_Ôevidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€Section€50„6„225(e)(2);€òòStone€v.€City€of€McMinnvilleóó,€896Ð ° ÐS.€W.€2d€548,€550€(Tenn.€1995).€€The€application€of€this€standard€requires€this€Court€to€weigh€inÐ œì Ðmore€depth€the€factual€findings€and€conclusions€of€the€trial€court€in€a€workerððs€compensation€case.€Ð ˆØ ÐSee€òòCorcoran€v.€Foster€Auto€GMC,€Inc.€óó746€S.W.€2d,€452,€456€(Tenn.€1998).€€However,òòÐ tÄ Ðóóconsiderable€deference€must€be€given€to€the€trial€judge,€who€has€seen€and€heard€witnesses,€especiallyÐ `° Ðwhere€issues€of€credibility€and€weight€of€oral€testimony€are€involved.€€òòJones€v.€Hartford€AccidentÐ L œ Ð&€Indem.€Co.óó,811€S.W.2d€516,€521€(Tenn.€1991).Ð 8 ˆ ÐÌÔ  Ôà@¥¥(ìàò òFACTSó óˆÐ  ` ÐÌà  àGerald€Reed€reported€experiencing€pain€to€his€supervisor€on€August€8,€1994.€€Mr.€ReedÐ è 8  Ðtestified€that€the€pain€started€going€up€his€arm,€elbow€and€shoulder,€into€his€shoulder€blade€and€intoÐ Ô$  Ðhis€neck.€€The€pain€progressively€got€worse€from€August€until€February.€€Because€of€a€prior€carpalÐ À  Ðtunnel€syndrome€condition,€Mr.Reed€was€sent€for€an€examination€to€determine€if€carpal€tunnel€wasÐ ¬ü  Ðagain€the€problem.€€Carpal€tunnel€was€ruled€out€and€he€€sent€to€Dr.€Anthony€Segal,€a€neurosurgeon.€Ð ˜è  ÐDr.€Segal€ordered€a€MRI€in€September€of€1994€which€showed€degenerative€disc€problems€at€C3„4,Ð „Ô  ÐC5„6€and€C6„7òò.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àóóMr.€Reed€returned€to€Dr.€Segal€in€February€of€1995€for€an€onset€of€pain€in€the€left€neck€andÐ H˜ Ðshoulder€region€and€down€the€left€arm.€€Another€MRI€was€performed€which€showed€disc€lesions€atÐ 4„ ÐC3„4€and€C6„7.€€A€discectomy€and€fusion€was€performed€by€Dr.€Segal€at€these€levels.€€Dr.€SegalÐ  p Ðassigned€an€impairment€rating€to€Mr.€Reed€of€9%€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€Dr.€Segal€opined€that€Ð  \ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àas€we€get€older€.€.€.€degenerative€changes€occur.€€If€there€is€severeÐ ä4 Ðinjury€to€discs,€over€time€those€discs€will€narrow€down€and€causeÐ Ð  Ðdegenerative€changes.€€Itððs€hard€to€say,€Mr.€Reed€is€a€patient€who€hasÐ ¼  Ða€very€strenuous€job,€and€repeated€injury€and€using€it€can€do€it,€but€weÐ ¨ø Ðalso€see€wear€and€tear€changes€just€as€a€price€for€living.€€So€itððsÐ ”ä Ðimpossible€to€be€absolutely€sure€about€the€causes€for€degenerativeÐ €Ð Ðchanges.€€It€seems€intrinsic€to€the€patient.Ðl¼` x` x ÐÌDr.€Segal€testified€that€in€September€Mr.€Reed€did€not€have€the€ruptured€discs.€€Dr.€Segal€testifiedÐ D!” Ðthey€can€occur€spontaneously,€just€by€getting€up,€brushing€oneððs€teeth,€sneezing€and€turning€the€head,Ð 0"€  Ðbutòò€óóthey€can€also€beòò€óócaused€by€a€lot€of€twisting€or€jerking€of€the€neck,€sudden€flexion€of€the€neck,Ð #l! Ðor€a€lot€of€pulling€which€will€throw€strain€on€the€neck.Ð $X" ÐÌà  àDr.€Lynn€Warner€of€Dyersburg,€Tennessee€evaluated€Mr.€Reed.€€He€gave€his€opinion€as€toÐ à%0!$ Ðcausation€based€on€Mr.€Reedððs€history.€€Dr.€Warner€opined€that€causation€was€most€likely€becauseÐ Ì&"% Ðof€his€job€as€a€tire€builder€at€Goodyear.€€He€testified€that€he€had€no€problem€accepting€the€factòò€óóthatÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€injury€happened€on€the€job€because€it€does€not€take€a€sudden€onset€to€cause€it.€€He€further€opinedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðthat€the€repetitive€strain€put€on€Mr.€Reed€at€work€would€be€the€most€likely€cause€unless€he€had€someÐ )à$( Ðother€things€at€home€or€away€from€work€to€do€it.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÔ_ÔÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àMr.€Reed€testified€that€he€had€experienced€no€injury€outside€of€work.Ð ° ÐÌà  àMs.€Rae€Nell€Ô_ÔMcMillinÔ_Ô€and€Mr.€James€Ô_ÔBramlettÔ_Ô€testified€that€they€had€known€Mr.€Reed€allÐ ˆØ Ðof€his€life€and€for€fifty€years,€respectively€and€that€he€had€a€good€reputation€in€the€community€forÐ tÄ Ðtruth€and€veracity.Ð `° ÐÌÔ  Ôà@òò&ìàò òANALYSISó óˆÐ 8 ˆ ÐÌà  àGoodyear€asserts€that€Gerald€Reed€has€established€speculation€and€mere€possibility€that€theÐ  ` Ðinjury€could€have€occurred€at€work€or€at€home.€€They€urge€this€court€that€he€has€not€been€able€toÐ ü L  Ðproduce€any€testimony€as€to€when€or€how€the€injury€occurred€other€than€to€say€his€pain€wasÐ è 8  Ðincreasing€for€a€period€of€time.€€The€defendant€argues€that€since€he€could€not€identify€a€painÐ Ô$  Ðproducing€event€at€work€he€has€failed€to€carry€his€burden€of€proof.Ð À  ÐÌà  àDr.€Warner€and€Dr.€Segal€opined€that€the€work€that€Mr.€Reed€does,€building€tires€atÐ ˜è  ÐGoodyear,€is€strenuous€and€can€cause€this€injury€unless€he€had€some€other€injury€at€home.€€The€trialÐ „Ô  Ðjudge€heard€the€testimony€of€Mr.€Reed€and€his€character€witnesses.€€Although€the€medical€evidenceÐ pÀ Ðwas€equivocal,€the€trial€court€chose€to€believe€the€testimony€of€Mr.€Reed€that€he€had€sustained€noÐ \¬ Ðinjury€outside€of€work€and€ruled€that€he€had€sustained€a€compensable€injury.Ð H˜ ÐÌà8  àà8` Ð Ð àAn€accidental€injury€arises€out€of€oneððs€employment€when€there€isÐ  p Ðapparent€to€the€rational€mind,€upon€a€consideration€of€all€theÐ  \ Ðcircumstances,€a€causal€connection€between€the€conditions€underÐ øH Ðwhich€the€work€is€required€to€be€performed€and€the€resulting€injury,Ð ä4 Ð...€and€occurs€in€the€course€of€oneððs€employment€if€it€occurs€while€anÐ Ð  Ðemployee€is€performing€a€duty€he€was€employed€to€do.м ` x` x ÐÌòòFink€v.€Ô_ÔCaudleÔ_Ôóó,€856€Ô_ÔS.W.Ô_Ô€2d€952,€958€(Tenn.€1993).€€à8 @d àà8 @d àð ðArising€out€ofðð€refers€to€the€origin€of€theÐ ”ä Ðinjury€in€terms€of€causation€and€ð ðin€the€course€ofðð€relates€to€time,€place€and€circumstance.€€òòHill€v.Ð €Ð ÐEagle€Bend€Manuf.€Inc.óó,€942€S.W.2d€483,€487€(Tenn.€1997).€€Where€a€condition€develops€graduallyÐ l¼ Ðover€a€period€of€time€resulting€in€a€definite,€work„connected,€unexpected,€fortuitous€injury,€it€isÐ X ¨ Ðcompensable€as€an€injury€by€accident.€€òòBrown€Shoe€Co.€v.€Reedóó,€209€Tenn.€106,€350€Ô_ÔS.W.Ô_Ô€2d€65Ð D!” Ð(1961).€€In€making€such€a€determination,€this€court€must€give€considerable€deference€to€the€trialÐ 0"€  Ðjudgeððs€findings€regarding€the€weight€and€credibility€of€any€oral€testimony€received.€€òòTownsend€v.Ð #l! ÐStateóó,€826€S.W.2d€434,€437€(Tenn.€1992).Ð $X" ÐÌÔ  Ôà@FF%ìàò òCONCLUSIONó óˆà p àÐ à%0!$ ÐÌà  àFor€the€foregoing€reasons,€we€affirm€the€trial€courtððs€judgment€that€the€plaintiff€sustained€anÐ ¸'#& Ðinjury€while€in€the€course€and€scope€of€his€employment.Ð ¤(ô#' ÐÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€The€costs€of€the€appeal€are€taxed€to€theÐ |*Ì%) Ðdefendant.Ô#†XºsXX XtsY #ÔÐ h+¸&* ЇÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð  ð Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àGEORGE€R.€ELLIS,€Special€JudgeÐ à ÐÌÐ  pÀ ÐÔ‡¼»$»XXºsÔÑ  Ñà@™ ™ ìàÔ#†XºsX»¼»$Ã-#ÔÔ‡îï÷ îXXºsÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@õõ%ìàAT€JACKSONˆÐ Ü, ÐÔ#†XºsX îîï÷#.#ÔÔ‡¼»$»XXºsÔÔ#†XºsX»¼»$Î.#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼»$»XXºsÔÓ  ÓGERALD€M.€òòóóREED€v.€GOODYEAR€TIRE€&€RUBBER€COMPANYÔ#†XºsX»¼»$/#Ôó óÐ øH ÐÓ3/ÓÌà@ìì*ìàò òˆÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ï ` A߈Ð ð @ ÐÌà@\ \ ìàNo.€W1999„00184„SC„WCM„CV;€Filed€December€7,€2000ˆÐ ï ? ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Î ` AßÐ Ï   Ðó óÌà@ƒƒ(ìàò òORDERó óˆÐ Î  ÐÌòòóóÌÌÔ‡XtsXXXºsÔà  àà ` àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€review€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð ŽÞ  Ððð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'Ð zÊ ÐCompensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€factÐ f¶ Ðand€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð R¢ Ðà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€well„taken€andÐ >Ž Ðshould€be€denied€andÐ *z Ðà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€areÐ f Ðadopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.€€ò òÐ R Ðó óà  àà ` àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendant.Ð î> ÐÌà  àà ` àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED.Ð Æ ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÐ žî ÐHolder,€J.€„€€Not€participating.Ð ŠÚ ÐÔ#†XºsXXXts21#ÔÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à