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ÐÌLisa€June€Cox,€€Jackson,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Paul€Rodgers.Ð ª$ú# ÐÌÓ ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÐ ‚&Ò!% ÐÌÓ  Óà  àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'€CompensationÐ Z(ª#' ÐAppeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð50„6„225(e)(3)€forÐ F)–$( Ðhearing€and€reporting€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.Ð 2*‚%) ÐÌà  àPlaintiff,€Paul€Rodgers,€filed€a€Complaint€for€workers'€compensation€benefits€on€SeptemberÐ  ,Z'+ Ð19,€1996.€€The€trial€was€heard€on€June€29,€1999.€€At€the€conclusion€of€the€proof€the€trial€courtÐ ö,F(, Ðawarded€Plaintiff€15%€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€Defendants,€MarvinÐ â-2)-ý ÐWindows€and€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance,€appeal€the€decision€of€the€trial€court.€€For€the€reasonsÐ ° Ðdiscussed€below,€we€affirm.Ð œì ÐÓ  Óò òòòÌóóFACTSòòÐ tÄ Ðó óóóÌÓ  Óà  àPlaintiff€is€a€38€year€old€man€with€a€high€school€education.€€His€work€history€includes€manualÐ L œ Ðlabor,€construction,€factory€work,€pipe€fitting,€and€a€period€of€time€where€he€owned€his€ownÐ 8 ˆ Ðconvenience€store.Ð $ t ÐÌà  àOn€September€4,€1996,€while€employed€at€Marvin€Windows,€plaintiff€was€carrying€a€doubleÐ ü L  ÐFrench€door€when€he€tripped€upon€a€skid€lying€on€the€floor.€€Plaintiff€fell€backward€hitting€the€backÐ è 8  Ðof€his€head,€right€shoulder,€and€the€right€side€of€his€back.€€He€returned€to€work,€but€complained€ofÐ Ô$  Ðpain€and€dizziness€from€the€fall.€€Soon€thereafter€plaintiff€again€passed€out€and€fell€at€work.€€PlaintiffÐ À  Ðhad€a€history€of€non„related€accidents€during€his€employment€at€Marvin€Windows€and€duringÐ ¬ü  Ðprevious€employment.€These€injuries€include€a€1980€water€skiing€accident,€a€car€wreck€in€1990,€andÐ ˜è  Ðan€injury€from€an€accident€involving€an€icy€railcar€in€1994.€€As€a€result€of€his€fall€at€MarvinÐ „Ô  ÐWindows,€plaintiff€was€taken€to€the€emergency€room.Ð pÀ ÐÌà  àThe€physician€on€duty€at€the€emergency€room€diagnosed€the€plaintiff€as€having€a€headÐ H˜ Ðtrauma/concussion,€cervical€strain,€and€right€shoulder€bruise.€€Plaintiff€was€given€a€soft€collar€for€hisÐ 4„ Ðneck€and€Tylenol€for€pain.€€He€was€put€on€bed€rest€for€24€hours€and€told€that€he€must€see€a€companyÐ  p Ðphysician€before€he€could€return€to€work.€€Ð  \ ÐÌà  àPlaintiff€next€saw€Dr.€Ô_ÔW.H.Ô_Ô€Tucker.€€Dr.€Tucker€kept€plaintiff€off€work€for€three€days,€andÐ ä4 Ðthen€returned€him€to€light€duty.€€Dr.€Tucker€noted€that€plaintiff€had€a€full€range€of€motion€in€his€neck,Ð Ð  Ðbut€that€plaintiff€complained€of€pain€in€all€ranges€of€motion.€€Dr.€Tucker€then€referred€plaintiff€to€Dr.Ð ¼  ÐD.J.€Ô_ÔCanaleÔ_Ô,€a€neurosurgeon.€€Dr.€Ô_ÔCanaleÔ_Ô€found€no€obvious€straightening€of€the€cervical€spine,€andÐ ¨ø Ðthat€plaintiff€resisted€flexion€and€extension€of€the€neck€beyond€50%€of€normal.€€€Dr.€Ô_ÔCanaleÔ_Ô€opinedÐ ”ä Ðthat€while€testing€plaintiffððs€grip€strength€plaintiff€ð ðseems€simply€not€to€exert€and€gives€wayðð,€andÐ €Ð Ðthe€Dr.€Ô_ÔCanaleÔ_Ô€did€not€detect€any€real€muscle€weakness.€€Dr.€Ô_ÔCanaleÔ_Ô€also€opined€that€the€EEG€testÐ l¼ Ðwas€normal,€and€there€was€no€evidence€of€muscle€spasms€in€the€neck.€€Dr.€Ô_ÔCanaleÔ_Ô€concluded€thatÐ X ¨ Ðplaintiff€had€sustained€no€permanent€impairment€and€could€return€to€work€without€restriction.Ð D!” ÐÌà  àAfter€his€employment€at€Marvin€Windows,€plaintiff€went€to€work€at€Great€Southern€Fire.€Ð #l! ÐDuring€this€employment€he€visited€Dr.€Ô_ÔVarnerÔ_Ô€for€a€low€back€injury€that€was€treated€with€muscleÐ $X" Ðrelaxers€and€exercise.€€He€later€returned€to€normal€work€duty€with€no€restrictions.€€Since€hisÐ ô$D # Ðemployment€with€Great€Southern€Fire€plaintiff€has€worked€at€CCL€as€a€line€mechanic€and€at€KrogerÐ à%0!$ Ðas€a€maintenance€mechanic.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àPlaintiff€sought€an€independent€medical€examination€on€September€8,€1999€from€Dr.€RobertÐ ¤(ô#' ÐChristopher.€€Dr.€Christopher€completed€a€detailed€C„32€form,€but€was€not€deposed€by€either€party.€Ð )à$( Ðâ âDr.€Christopher€found€no€muscle€spasms€on€the€right€side€of€the€neck,€but€mild€muscle€spasms€onÐ |*Ì%) Ðthe€left€side€and€the€base€of€plaintiffððs€neck.€€Dr.€Christopher€opined€that€plaintiff€sustained€a€12%Ð ° Ðimpairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole.Ð œì Ðâ âÌà  àOn€May€5,€1999,€Dr.€Robert€Barnett,€an€orthopedic€surgeon,€evaluated€plaintiff.€€Dr.€BarnettÐ tÄ Ðopined€that€plaintiff€had€a€cervical€strain€and€a€concussion€as€a€result€of€the€accident.€€Dr.€BarnettÐ `° Ðconcluded€that€plaintiff€retained€a€loss€of€cervical€curvature.€€Dr.€Barnett€then€opined€that€plaintiffÐ L œ Ðsustained€20%€impairment€to€the€body€as€a€whole,€finding€4%€to€the€body€as€a€whole€for€the€cervicalÐ 8 ˆ Ðstrain,€2%€for€the€dorsal€strain,€9%€for€the€limited€motion€to€his€neck€and€arms,€and€5%€for€weaknessÐ $ t Ðin€the€grip€strength.€€The€trial€court€did€not€consider€the€loss€of€grip€strength,€as€that€complaint€cameÐ  ` Ðafter€the€injury.Ð ü L  ÐÌà  àIn€his€deposition€plaintiff€had€stated€that€he€had€no€prior€injuries€to€his€head,€however,€in€hisÐ Ô$  Ðsupplemental€interrogatory€answers€he€stated€that€he€had€fallen€from€an€icy€railcar€in€1994€and€wasÐ À  Ðbriefly€knocked€out€as€a€result.€€He€was€treated€for€that€injury€by€Dr.€Snyder,€Dr.€Ô_ÔCanaleÔ_Ôððs€partner.€Ð ¬ü  ÐThe€medical€record€concerning€this€accident€lists€the€problems€as€being€knocked€unconscious,Ð ˜è  Ðblurred€vision,€nausea,€vomiting,€and€dizziness.€€€Plaintiff€admitted€at€trial€that€these€were€the€sameÐ „Ô  Ðsymptoms€that€he€had€after€the€fall€on€September€4,€1996.€€However,€plaintiff€also€testified€that€heÐ pÀ Ðhad€Ô_ÔhadÔ_Ô€no€further€problems€after€the€1994€railcar€incident.€€Plaintiff€did€not€tell€either€Dr.€BarnettÐ \¬ Ðor€Dr.€Christopher€about€the€injuries€he€sustained€in€the€1994€fall€from€the€icy€railcar.€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àAt€trial,€plaintiffððs€wife,€brother€and€a€co„worker€corroborated€his€testimony€that€plaintiff€hadÐ  p Ðno€difficulties€performing€his€job€responsibilities€before€the€September€4,€1996€incident.€€€In€additionÐ  \ Ðplaintiffððs€brother,€who€worked€with€the€same€employer€as€plaintiff€at€the€time€of€the€1994€railcarÐ øH Ðincident,€testified€that€plaintiff€had€no€problems€performing€his€job€responsibilities€after€the€1994Ð ä4 Ðrailcar€incident.€Ð Ð  ÐÌò òà@òò&ìàANALYSISó óˆÐ ¨ø ÐÌà  àAlthough€the€trial€court€had€questions€about€the€plaintiffððs€credibility,€after€hearing€andÐ €Ð Ðweighing€the€testimony€of€all€the€witnesses,€the€trial€court€found€that€the€plaintiff€had€suffered€aÐ l¼ Ðpermanent€injury€arising€from€the€September€4,€1996€incident.€€In€its€Order€dated€August€31,€1999Ð X ¨ Ðthe€trial€court€found€that€the€plaintiff€ð ðshould€have€told€the€Defendant€about€the€fall€from€the€railwayÐ D!” Ðcar€in€1994,ðð€but€that€ð ðit€is€not€believed€by€this€Court€that€Ô_ÔthatÔ_Ô€fall€resulted€in€any€serious€injury€orÐ 0"€  Ðpermanent€impairment€to€the€Plaintiff.ðð€€Further€the€trial€court€found€that€plaintiff€ð ðhad€resumed€hisÐ #l! Ðwork€duties€and€worked€at€various€factories€without€problems€after€that€fall.ðð€Ð $X" ÐÌà  àConsiderable€deference€must€be€given€to€the€trial€court's€findings€of€fact,€especially€whereÐ à%0!$ Ðissues€of€credibility€are€involved.€òòCollins€v.€Ô_ÔHowmetÔ_Ôóó,€970€S.W.2d€941,€943€(Tenn.€1998).€Ð Ì&"% ÐConsiderable€deference€must€also€be€given€to€the€trial€judge's€findings€regarding€the€weight€andÐ ¸'#& Ðcredibility€of€any€oral€testimony.€òòTownsend€v.€Stateóó,€826€S.W.2d€434,€437€(Tenn.€1992).€€ReviewÐ ¤(ô#' Ðof€the€trial€court's€decision€requires€a€determination€of€whether€the€preponderance€of€the€evidenceÐ )à$( Ðâ âfavors€the€trial€court's€judgment.€€The€decision€of€the€trial€court€will€be€upheld€unless€upon€reviewÐ |*Ì%) Ðit€is€determined€that€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€court's€judgment.€òòPainter€v.€Ô_ÔToyoÔ_ÔÐ ° ÐÔ_ÔKogyoÔ_Ô€of€Japanóó,€682€S.W.2d€944,€951€(Tenn.€Ct.€App.€1984).€Ð œì Ðâ âÌÓ  Óò òCONCLUSIONó óÐ tÄ ÐÓ  ÓÌà  àAfter€review€of€the€trial€courtððs€findings,€the€briefs€and€oral€argument€submitted€by€theÐ L œ Ðparties,€we€find€that€the€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€AÐ 8 ˆ Ðplaintiff€in€a€workers'€compensation€case€has€the€burden€of€proving€causation€and€permanency€of€hisÐ $ t Ðinjury€by€a€preponderance€of€the€evidence.€òòÔ_ÔRoarkÔ_Ô€v.€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Co.óó,€793€S.W.2d€932,Ð  ` Ð934€(Tenn.€1990).€€€We€find€the€medical€records,€the€doctors'€opinions€based€on€those€records,€andÐ ü L  Ðthe€testimony€of€the€lay€witnesses€are€sufficient€under€the€law.€€Therefore€we€find€the€preponderanceÐ è 8  Ðof€the€evidence€favors€the€trial€courtððs€judgment.€€€Costs€are€assessed€to€the€Defendants/Appellants.Ð Ô$  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð „Ô  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àROBERT€L.€CHILDERS,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÐ pÀ ÐÌÐ  H˜ Ðà@7 7 ìàÔ‡¼Í¢»XX‡^ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@??ìàSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELˆÐ  Ðà@''%ìàAT€JACKSONˆÐ Ô$ Ðà@ÂÂ"ìàAugust€31,€2000€ˆÐ æ6 ÐÌò òÓ  Ó€PAUL€RODGERS€v.€MARVIN€WINDOWS€OF€TENNESSEE,€et€al.ó óÐ  Z ÐÓÉ6ÓÌà@  ìàò òChancery€Court€for€Lauderdale€CountyˆÐ 0 € Ðà@ææ#ìàNo.€€10242€T.D.ˆÐ D ” ÐÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<k` A߈Ð l¼  ÐÌà@  ìàNo.€W1999„01852„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Filed€June€5,€2001ˆÐ ß  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¶` AßÐ · Ðó óÌà@PP&ìàò òJUDGMENTó óˆÐ Ø( ÐòòóóÌÔ‡¼Í¢»»¼Í¢Ôà  àà ` àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€orderÐ þN Ðof€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel'sÐ ` ÐMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€whichÐ "r Ðare€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€theÐ X¨ ÐPanel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÐ jº ÐÌà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusionsÐ ŽÞ Ðof€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgmentÐ  ð Ðof€the€Court.Ð ²  Ѐ€Ð Ä! Ðà  àà ` àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€Appellants,€Marvin€Windows€ofÐ Ö"& ÐTennessee,€and€Liberty€Mutual€Insurance€Co.,€for€which€execution€may€issue€ifÐ è#8 Ðnecessary.Ð ú$J  ÐÌà  àà ` àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED.Ð 'n"" ÐÔ#†¼Í¢»»¼Í¢09#ÔÔ‡¼Nì»»¼Í¢ÔÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPER€Ô_ÔCURIAMÔ_ÔÐ <)Œ$$ ÐÔ#†¼Í¢»»¼Nìå=#ÔÔ#†X‡^X»¼Í¢¯5#Ô