ÿWPC} 5U:ö %06n­F 04ó'w@'4g 0J{ 0TÅ 0^ 0hw 0rß 0|Q 0†Í 0S 1uã 0dX AQ¼Æ 0PÓ 0@# 0Dc U6§ D/Ý B B) D3F B)y DC¢ AMå U *2 \ _ fbU>È&v~,vÓª<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiX#|x+«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXÂxþ6X@É“8õ X@( ¤U$¡¡Ó  Ó Ó€V¿ îD !Ó€+]tÁ$(®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!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5((3Þ¸$¢¢Ý ƒ¤U!ÝÓ  ÓÝ  Ý("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó< Œ 9p`(Courier New(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxd% Line 7 d****7Border 1dd!#+Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial ùÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€-ÔÔ€-ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€-XÔÌÌJuly€1,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ùÝ ƒ!ÝÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€-ÔÔ€-ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€-XÔÌÌJuly€1,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó \Ñ\R AØ'\Ñ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ""ÝÝ  ÝÔ€-ÔÔ€-ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€-XÔÌÌJuly€1,€1998ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{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  ellan Geneva ÒÒ  ellan Geneva ÒÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€%ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ Ð ÒÙ€!ÙÑ\R AØ'\ÑßR€,.+A1-j|` ç `€€@ÿRßÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌÌÌJERRY€J.€ROBERTS,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellant€€€€€€)€€No.€01S01„9710„CH„00216€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï)€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€DAVIDSON€COUNTY€CHANCERY€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ï)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€ÌGEORGE€BEELER,€individually€€€€€)€€IRVIN€H.€KILCREASE,€JR.,€€ÌßJ€,/;+'b|š` ç `€@ÿJßand€d/b/a€GEORGE€BEELER€AUTO€€€€)€€€CHANCELLORÌDELIVERY,€and€CIGNA€INSURANCE€€€)ÌCOMPANY,€and€STATE€OF€TENNESSEE€)ÌSECOND€INJURY€FUND,€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€Defendants/Appellees€€€€€)€€Ìòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óó)ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌòòFOR€THE€APPELLANTóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFOR€THE€APPELLEESóó:Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌSTEPHEN€D.€KARR€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€KITTY€BOYTE€€€€€€€€€€ÌSTILLMAN,€KARR€&€WISE€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€KIMBRA€SPANN€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ì430€Third€Avenue,€North€€€€€€€€€€€€€€GRACY,€RUTH,€HOWARD,€TATE€&€ÏSuite€300€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€SOWELLÌNashville,€Tennessee€37201€€€€€€€€€€€150€Second€Avenue€North€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Suite€201Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Nashville,€Tennessee€37201ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àMEMBERS€OF€PANELÌÌà@ àJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€ASSOCIATE€JUSTICE,€SUPREME€COURTÌà@ à€WILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGEÌà@ àWILLIAM€S.€RUSSELL,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€RUSSELL,€SP.€J.ÌÌÓÓÑ7€ÒXXdÈXXdÈ7Ñà àThis€appeal€in€a€workers'€compensation€case€has€beenÏreferred€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€ofÏthe€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tennessee€Code€AnnotatedÏSection€50„6„225€(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€SupremeÏCourt€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ìà@ àÌà àJerry€J.€Roberts€filed€suit€on€December€7,€1993,€seekingÏcompensation€benefits€for€herniated€thoracic€spine€discs€at€T€8„9Ïand€T€6„7€which€he€contends€were€injured€on€October€30,€1990.€€OnÏthat€date€he€had€fallen€from€a€vehicle€hauler€a€distance€of€10€toÏ12€feet,€and€was€in€pain€from€his€neck€to€his€buttocks.€€He€wasÏtreated€by€Dr.€Larry€Laughlin,€an€orthopaedic€surgeon.€€Dr.ÏLaughlin€returned€the€plaintiff€to€work€on€February€4,€1991.€€AllÏcompensation€benefits€due€as€a€result€of€the€known€injuries€fromÏthat€fall€were€timely€paid.ÌÌà àMr.€Roberts€suffered€another€fall€at€work€on€June€15,€1993,Ïbut€did€not€seek€medical€attention.€€The€next€month,€while€on€aÏtrip€to€Ohio,€he€began€to€complain€of€pain€in€his€left€arm,€neck,Ïshoulder€and€chest.€€He€sought€treatment€by€a€cardiologist€andÏwas€referred€to€a€neurologist.€€MRI€scans€were€obtained€and€theyÏrevealed€that€he€had€two€herniated€discs€of€the€thoracic€spine.€ÏA€claim€for€compensation€was€made,€grounded€upon€the€contentionÏthat€the€discs€had€been€herniated€by€the€October€30,€1990,€fall.€ÏThe€claim€was€denied€and€this€suit€followed.€€The€Second€InjuryÏFund€was€added€as€a€defendant,€because€the€employee€had€injuredÏhis€low€back€and€legs€at€work€in€Kentucky€in€1978,€and€hadÏreceived€a€vocational€disability€rating€of€27.7%€to€the€body€as€aÏwhole.ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€recognized€the€dispositive€issue€to€beÏcausation,€and€appreciated€the€burden€which€the€law€places€uponÏthe€employee€to€prove€causation€by€a€preponderance€of€theÏevidence€by€expert€testimony.€€òòTindall€v.€Waring€ParkÏAssociationóó,€745€S.W.€2d€934,€937€(Tenn.€1987);€òòDorris€v.€INAÏInsurance€Companyóó,€764€S.W.€2d€538€(Tenn.€1989).€€Weighing€theÏexpert€and€other€testimony,€the€court€dismissed€the€case€becauseÏin€the€court's€judgment€causation€for€the€disc€herniations€foundÏin€1993€was€not€established€by€the€greater€weight€of€the€evidenceÏto€have€been€the€fall€in€1990.ÌÌà àWe€review€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€òòdeóó€òònovoóó€upon€theÍtrial€court€record,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€theÏcorrectness€of€the€judgment€unless€the€evidence€preponderates€toÏthe€contrary.€€T.C.A.€Sec.€50„6„225€(e).€€That€review€of€factualÏfindings€and€conclusions€is€required€to€be€in€depth.€€òòHumphrey€v.ÏDavid€Witherspoon,€Inc.óó,€734€S.W.€2d€315€(Tenn.€1997).ÌÌà àDr.€Larry€Laughlin€is€the€orthopaedic€surgeon€who€treatedÏMr.€Roberts€after€his€1990€fall.€€He€testified€that€Mr.€Roberts'Ïcomplaints€at€that€time€did€not€suggest€an€injury€to€the€thoracicÏspine.€€He€testified€that€complaints€of€pain€radiation€into€theÏabdomen€or€chest€area€are€indication€of€a€thoracic€spine€injuryÏand€that€Mr.€Roberts€complained€of€no€such€pains€during€eightÏmonths€of€treatment€by€Dr.€Laughlin.€€This€physician€released€theÏplaintiff€to€return€to€work€on€February€4,€1991,€with€noÏrestrictions.€€When€he€last€saw€Mr.€Roberts€on€July€9,€1991,€theÏemployee€was€not€permanently€disabled.€€He€saw€no€relationshipÏbetween€the€injuries€from€the€1990€fall€for€which€he€treated€Mr.ÏRoberts€and€the€herniated€discs€found€in€1993.€€He€opined€thatÏthe€new€problem€could€be€a€result€of€the€degenerative€process.ÌÌà àDr.€Richard€S.€Lisella€is€a€neurologist€who€saw€theÏplaintiff€in€1990€upon€referral€by€Dr.€Laughlin.€€None€of€Mr.ÏRoberts'€symptoms€at€that€time€could€be€related€to€the€thoracicÏarea,€according€to€Dr.€Lisella.€€He€testified€to€the€opinion,€toÏa€reasonable€degree€of€medical€certainty,€that€there€was€noÏrelationship€between€the€thoracic€spine€disc€problems€and€theÍfall€in€1990.€ÌÌà àDr.€James€P.€Anderson,€a€neurologist,€conducted€a€singleÏexamination€of€the€plaintiff€on€May€18,€1995,€at€the€request€ofÏplaintiff's€attorney.€€He€stated€that€the€plaintiff's€conditionÏwas,€more€probable€than€not,€cased€by€the€1990€fall.€€He€assignedÏa€15%€anatomical€impairment€to€the€whole€body,€and€said€that€Mr.ÏRoberts€is€capable€of€working€but€should€avoid€heavy€lifting€andÏtruck€driving.ÌÌà àDr.€Anthony€Maresse,€an€orthopaedic€surgeon€practicing€inÏIndiana€and€Illinois,€treated€the€plaintiff€for€a€low€backÏcondition€between€1977€and€1979.€€He€saw€Mr.€Roberts€on€July€24,Ï1995,€regarding€his€present€complaints.€€He€opined€that€hisÏpresent€condition€was€caused€by€the€1990€fall,€and€that€he€had€aÏ10„20%€anatomical€impairment.ÌÌà àThe€trial€judge€concluded€that€the€opinions€of€Drs.€LaughlinÏand€Lisella€were€not€overcome€by€a€preponderance€of€the€expertÏmedical€evidence.€€It€is€within€the€discretion€of€the€trial€judgeÏto€conclude€that€the€opinion€of€certain€experts€should€beÏaccepted€over€that€of€other€experts€and€that€it€contains€the€moreÏprobable€explanation.€€òòHinson€v.€Wal„Mart€Stores,€Inc.óó,€654€S.W.Ï2d€675,€676„77€(Tenn.€1983);€òòKellerman€v.€Food€Lion,€Inc.óó,€929ÏS.W.€2d€333,€335€(Tenn.€1996).ÌÌà àWhile€the€presumption€of€correctness€that€otherwise€attachesÏto€the€trial€judge's€findings€of€fact€does€not€attach€to€theÏfindings€of€fact€vis€a'€vis€expert€medical€testimony€presented€byÏdepositions,€òòHensen€v.€City€of€Lawrenceburgóó,€851€S.W.€2d€809,€812Ï(Tenn.€1993),€our€careful€review€of€that€testimony€in€this€caseÏleads€us€to€the€same€conclusions€as€expressed€by€the€trial€judgeÏin€his€comprehensive€findings€of€fact.ÌÌà àWe€affirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€Costs€on€appealÏare€assessed€to€the€appellant.Ìà àÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÓÓóó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÏWILLIAM€S.€RUSSELL,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÌÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌóóJANICE€M.€HOLDER,€ASSOCIATE€JUSTICEÌÌÌÌÌòò€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€óó€ÌWILLIAM€H.€INMAN,€SENIOR€JUDGEà àÌÌÌÑ€0ÑÇÒ  ÒÒ £ ÒÔ€1ÔòòÔ€1¼Ôà@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌJERRY€J.€ROBERTS,à àà àà à}à àDAVIDSON€CHANCERYÌà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àNo.€93„3597„I€BelowÌà àPlaintiff/Appellantà àà à}Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}à àHon.€Irvin€H.€Kilcrease,€Jr.,Ìvs.à àà àà àà àà àà à}à àChancellorÌßJ€,2;+'b|7` ç `€@ÿJßà àà àà àà àà àà à}ÌGEORGE€BEELER,€individually€andà à}Ìd/b/a€GEORGE€BEELER€AUTOà à}ÌDELIVERY,€and€CIGNA€INSURANCE}ÌCOMPANY,€and€STATE€OF€TENN.à à}ÌSECOND€INJURY€FUND,à àà à}à àNo.€01S01„9710„CH„00216Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à}Ìà àDefendants/Appellees.à àà à}à àAFFIRMED.ÌÌÌà@ àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌÌÌÓ€Óà àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€theÏorder€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€theÏPanel's€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusionsÏof€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€Panel's€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€isÏmade€the€judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÓ ` ` šXÓà àà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€Plaintiff/Appellant€and€Surety,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÓÓà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€on€July€1,€1998.ÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌóóÌÌÌÔ€1XÔ