ÿWPC² eUB– %ØUBÞ n0 0r3¥w@­4í 0J K 0TS 0^§ 0h 0rm 0|ß 0†[ 0á 1uq 0dæ AQJ Æ› 0Ža 0@ï 0D/ D/s B¢ D3¿ BòU6U*EB)oDC˜ AMÛ%(fM%³v~ØvÓV B) B*F BBp<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXô\  `*Times New RomanTT3|P`«<þ6X9`(*Courier 12pt10cpiXXxþ6X@ÉJQX@ô\  `*Times New RomanTTXXPô\  PŽ6QXPô\  `*Times New RomanTTôôCô\  PŽ6QôP(J`³$¡¡Ô€XîºXXXÔÔ€X58XXXîºÔÓ  Ó WXVYDZD[D\V]D^£_£`îFt‹#(2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô  ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ !"#%Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(f3F$¢¢Ý ƒ`³!ÝÔ€XâDXXXÔÔ€XÖXXXâDÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó'''÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd****'ÿÿdxd d< Œ 9p`(Courier New< Œ 9p`(Arial% Line 7 d----7Border 1dd ".Cþÿ << Gÿÿ Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ!"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€,ÔÔ€,ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€,XÔÌÌò òJanuary€7,€1998ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€,ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ Ý ƒ!ÝÔ€+ÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ!"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€,ÔÔ€,ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€,XÔÌÌò òJanuary€7,€1998ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€,ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(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 Òûÿ   d&ÿÿ0 d d>Thick DoubleK d dÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€+ÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ X ÒÓ  ÓÑ\R AØ'\Ñò òÔ€,ÔÞ ÞÌIN›€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€PANELÌAT€JACKSONÓ  ÓÌó óÌÌKATHY€REYNOLDS,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àBENTON€COUNTY€CIRCUITÌà àPlaintiff€/€Appellee,à àà àà àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌv.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHon.€C.€Creed€McGinley,€JudgeÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌLIFE€CARE€CENTERS€OF€AMERICA,à àà à)à àNO.€02S01„9703„CV„00015ÌINC.,€d/b/a€LIFE€CARE€CENTERS€OFà àà à)à à(Nos.€3734€&€3833€Below)ÌÙ€ ÙœßR€/0.A1-j|.` Å `€€@ÿRß›BRUCETON€AND€HOLLOW€ROCK,à àà à)Ìà àEmployer€/€Appellantà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌBIRMINGHAM€FIRE€INSURANCE€à àà à)ÌCOMPANY€OF€PENNSYLVANIA€c/oà àà à)ÌCRAWFORD€AND€COMPANY,à àà àà à)Ìà àInsurerà àà àà àà àà à)ÌÌÌÌò òòòFor€the€Appellant:à àà àà àà àà àà àà àFor€theÏAppellee:ÌÌó óóóLori€J.€Keenà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àCharles€L.€Hicksà àÌCarl€Wyattà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÔ€,ôÔATTORNEY€AT€LAWÔ€,XÔà àÌÔ€,ôÔGLASSMAN,€JETER,€EDWARDS€&€WADE,€P.C.Ô€,XÔà àà àà à9€North€Court€SquareÌ26€North€Second€Streetà àà àà àà àà àà àP.O.€Box€957ÌMemphis,€Tennessee€38103à àà àà àà àà àCamden,€TennesseeÏ383320ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONÌó óóóÌÌà@ àò òòòMembers€of€PanelÌÌó óóóà@ àJustice€Janice€HolderÌà@ àSenior€Judge€John€K.€ByersÌà@ àSpecial€Judge€Robert€L.€ChildersÌÌÌÌÌÌÌò òAFFIRMEDà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àCHILDERS,€Special€ÏJudgeó óÌÌà àà àà àà àà àÌÓ  ÓÓÓò òà àó óThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'ÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€TÔ€,ôÔENNÔ€,XÔ.€CÔ€,ôÔODEÔ€,XÔÏAÔ€,ôÔNNÔ€,XÔ.€€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€ofÏfact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ìà àThe€trial€court€awarded€the€plaintiff€50%€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€rightÏarm€and€25%€to€the€left€arm.€€The€trial€court€also€awarded€temporary€total€disability€œforÏthe€period€between€6/30/95€and€1/16/96€(22€weeks)€at›€the€œ$152.24€compensation›€rateÏœtotaling€$5,023.92€,›€medicals€and€mileage,€future€medical€on€arms€only,€attorney's€feesÏin€lump€sum€and€discretionary€costs.€Ìà àWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.Ìà àœThe€plaintiff›€is€a€œ55„year„old›€female€with€a€tenth€grade€education.€€She€has€workÏexperience€in€a€factory€and€experience€cleaning€and€working€on€boats.€€She€startedÏworking€for€the€defendant€in€1993€as€a€certified€nursing€assistant.Ìà àPlaintiff's€duties€for€the€defendant€included€making€beds,€feeding,€shaving€andÍbathing€patients€and€turning€them€in€their€beds.€€These€job€activities€require€lifting,Ïbending,€and€manipulating€of€the€patients€and€the€objects€around€them.Ìà àOn€May€10,€1995,€the€plaintiff,€while€attempting€to€lift€a€patient€into€a€chair€withÏthe€aid€of€a€fellow€employee,€fell€forward€striking€her€arm€on€the€chair.€€She€allegedÏthat€this€accident€caused€damage€to€her€neck,€shoulder€and€right€arm.€€The€trial€courtÏdid€not€find€adequate€proof€to€substantiate€an€injury€to€the€neck.€€Only€the€questions€ofÏcausation€and€the€amount€of€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€right€and€left€arms€areÏbefore€us€for€review.€Ìà àThe€plaintiff€testified€that€she€complained€of€the€injury€to€her€right€arm€to€herÏcharge€nurse€on€the€date€of€the€accident€and€again€on€the€next€day.€€The€plaintiffÏtestified€on€cross„examination€that€she€first€saw€Dr.€Portis€to€whom,€she€believes,€sheÏrelated€the€details€of€her€accident.€€However,€Dr.€Portisðð€medical€records€do€not€revealÏthat€the€plaintiff€informed€him€of€the€details€of€her€accident.Ìà àThe€plaintiff€then€saw€Dr.€Warmbroad€on€June€9,€1995.€€She€admits€that€she€didÏnot€tell€him€about€the€fall.€€Ìà àIn€June€of€1995,€€the€plaintiff€also€saw€Dr.€Anthony€Segal.€€She€did€not€give€aÏhistory€of€injury€or€trauma€to€her€right€arm€to€him.€€Dr.€Segal€thought€that€the€carpelÏtunnel€syndrome€was€"not€very€severe€in€her€right€and€her€left€arm€was€completelyÏnormal."€€Dr.€œSegal›€noted€nothing€repetitive€in€nature€within€her€job€œdescription›€andÏopined€that€the€syndrome€was€not€"occupationally€related."€€Ìà àThe€plaintiff€next€saw€Dr.€William€Schooley€on€June€29,€1995.€€The€evidenceÏshows€that€the€plaintiff€did€not€inform€him€of€her€accident€until€he€saw€her€onÏSeptember€5,€1995,€her€seventh€visit€to€Dr.€Schooley.€€The€plaintiff€testified€that€sheÏbelieves€she€told€Dr.€Schooley€about€the€accident€on€either€the€first€or€second€œvisits›Íand€that€the€September€5,€1995€notification€occurred€when€she€noticed€that€her€firstÏreport€of€the€injury€was€not€in€his€records.€€Dr.€Schooley€performed€surgery€for€carpelÏtunnel€syndrome€on€the€Plaintiff's€right€arm€on€July€19,€œ1995,›€and€released€her€to€lightÏduty€work€on€January€16,€1996.€€In€early€March€1996,€plaintiff€notified€her€supervisorsÏthat€she€was€experiencing€pain€in€her€left€arm.€€Plaintiff€returned€to€Dr.€Schooley€MarchÏ12,€œ1996,›€complaining€of€left€arm€pain€which€she€contended€was€the€result€of€herÏovercompensation€for€the€injury€to€the€right€arm.€€Dr.€Schooley€stated€in€his€depositionÏthat€the€plaintiff€did€not€identify€any€specific€repetitive€work€activity,€but€repeatedlyÏreferred€to€lifting€and€pulling€patients.€€Dr.€Schooley€opined€that€both€of€the€armÏinjuries,€although€more€clearly€the€injury€to€the€right€arm,€were€work„related€and€œheÏassessed›€a€20%€disability€to€the€right€arm€and€œa€10%€disability›€to€the€left€arm.€€€€€Ìà àOur€review€is€òòde€novo€óóon€the€record€accompanied€by€the€presumption€that€theÏfindings€of€fact€of€the€trial€court€are€correct€unless€the€evidence€preponderatesÏotherwise.€€TÔ€,ôÔENNÔ€,XÔ.€CÔ€,ôÔODEÔ€,XÔ€AÔ€,ôÔNNÔ€,XÔ.€€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2).€€The€plaintiff€must€prove€every€elementÏof€his€case€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence.€€òòWhite€v.€Werthan€Industriesóó,€824ÏS.W.2d€158,€159€(Tenn.€1992).€€Causation€and€permanency€of€a€work„related€injuryÏmust€be€shown€in€most€cases€by€expert€medical€evidence.€€òòTindall€v.€Waring€ParkÏAss'nóó,€725€S.W.2d€935,€937€(Tenn.€1987).Ìà àDefendants€contend€that€the€medical€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trialÏcourt's€award€of€50%€œpermanent€partial€disability›€to€the€right€arm€and€25%€œpermanentÏpartial€disability€›to€the€left€arm.€€Defendants€assert€that€the€repetitive€work„relatedÏactivities€necessary€to€show€causation€in€this€case€were€not€adequately€established€byÏthe€expert€medical€evidence.€€Defendants€also€claim€that€plaintiff€failed€to€notify€any€ofÏthe€physicians€of€her€accident€until€her€September€œ5,€1996›€examination€by€Dr.ÍSchooley.Ìà àTo€support€what€they€believe€to€be€inadequate€proof€of€causation,€theÏdefendants€cite€our€decision€in€òòTalley€v.€Virginia€Insurance€Reciprocalóó€where€we€heldÏthat€the€plaintiff€must€establish€by€expert€medical€proof€the€causal€relationshipÏbetween€the€disability€complained€of€and€the€employment€activity€or€condition.€òòTalley,Ïóó775€S.W.2d€587€(Tenn.€1989).€In€addition,€defendants€note€the€requirement€in€òòTindallÏóóthat€€".€€.€€.[œa]lthough›€absolute€medical€proof€is€not€required€for€proof€of€causation,€.€.€.Ïmedical€proof€that€the€injury€was€caused€in€the€course€of€the€employee's€work€must€notÏbe€speculative€or€so€uncertain€regarding€the€cause€of€the€injury€that€attributing€it€to€theÏPlaintiff's€employment€would€be€an€arbitrary€determination€or€a€mere€œpossibility€.€.€.€"›€ÏòòTindallóó,€725€S.W.2d€935€(Tenn.€1987).€Ìà àWe€do€not€agree€with€the€defendants€that€the€plaintiff's€proof€of€causation€wasÏinadequate€to€meet€the€criteria€of€our€previous€decisions.€€Dr.€Schooley€testified€in€hisÏdeposition€that€he€believed€that€plaintiff's€symptoms€were€causally€linked€to€her€work„related€accident.€€In€addition,€we€find€that€the€plaintiff's€notice€of€injury€to€herÏsupervisors€immediately€following€the€accident€and€thereafter€was€sufficient,€combinedÏwith€Dr.€Schooley's€deposition€testimony,€to€establish€that€the€link€between€herÏaccident€and€the€injuries€to€her€right€and€later€her€left€arm€is€more€than€speculative€orÏuncertain€proof€of€causation.Ìà àNext,€in€determining€whether€there€has€been€a€decrease€in€the€employee'sÏcapacity€to€earn€wages€in€any€line€of€work€available€to€the€employee€and€in€assigningÏpermanent€partial€disability,€the€trial€court€should€consider€both€expert€and€layÏtestimony,€as€well€as€the€employee's€age,€education,€skills,€training,€local€jobÏopportunities,€and€capacity€to€work€at€types€of€employment€available€œin€the›€employeeððsÍdisabled€condition.€€òòOrman€v.€Williams€Sonoma,€Inc.óó,€803€S.W.2d€672,€678€(Tenn.Ï1991).€€Ìà àWe€find€that€the€expert€medical€testimony€and€plaintiff's€testimony€at€trialÏestablish€that,€as€a€result€of€her€injury,€she€is€limited€in€future€employment€possibilities.€ÏThe€evidence€showing€plaintiff's€inability€to€perform€the€repetitive€movements€requiredÏby€clerical€work€and€the€loss€of€strength€in€her€arms€necessary€to€attend€to€patients€atÏher€pre„accident€level€œdoes›€not€preponderate€against€the€trial€court's€award€of€50%Ïpermanent€partial€disability€to€the€right€arm€and€25%€permanent€partial€disability€to€theÏleft€œarm.€€We€affirm€the€decision€of€the€trial€court.›Ìà àœThe›€cost€of€this€appeal€is€assessed€against€œ€the›€defendants/appellants.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óó€€€€€€€€€Ïà àà àà àà àà àà àà àRobert€L.€Childers,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌò òCONCUR:ÌÌÌó óòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óóÌœJanice€M.›€Holder,€JusticeÌÌÌÌòòœ›€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ̜р1ÑÇÓ  ÓÑ  ÑÑ X Ñ›à@ àÔ€,¼ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€JACKSONÔ€,XÔÌÌÌÓ#` p…X LÐ X#ÓKATHY€œREYNOLDS›,à àà à)à àBENTON€CIRCUITÌÓ#` p` LÐ X#Óà à)à àNO.€œ3734€&€3833›ÌÓ` p` ¸ ’XÓà àPlaintiff/Appellee,à à)à àÌÓ#` p` ¸ LÐ X#Óà àà à)à àHon.€C.€Creed€œMcGinley›,Ìvs.à àà à)à àJudgeÌà àà à)ÌLIFE€CARE€CENTERS€OF€AMERICA,€INC.,à à)à àNO.€œ02S01›„9703„CV„00015Ìd/b/a€LIFE€CARE€CENTERS€OF€œBRUCETON›à à)ÌAND€HOLLOW€ROCK,à à)Ìà àà à)Ìà àEmployer/Appellant,à à)Ìà àà à)ÌBIRMINGHAM€FIRE€INSURANCE€COMPANYà à)ÌOF€PENNSYLVANIA€c/o€œCRAWFORD›€à à)ÌœßJ€/2;+'b|Õ` Å `€@ÿJß›AND€COMPANY,à à)Ìà àà à)Ìà àInsurer.à à)à àAFFIRMED.ÌÌÌÌà@ àÔ€,¼ÔJUDGMENT€ORDERÔ€,XÔÌÌÓ  ÓÓÓÌÓ` p`  ’XÓà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€orderÏof€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€whichÏare€incorporated€herein€by€reference.Ìà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€theÏPanel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€ofÏthe€Court.Ìà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Appellants,€and€surety,€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.Ìà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€œ7th›€day€of€January,€1998.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌ(Holder,€J.,€not€participating)ÌÌÌÌ