WPC Ws@i^8l%j`ԖP L}Q%|C7ܫ@;9g $R<$,N|/Q`gX~I} j>_ۜ=D#AfFY?'}z7nBd7w[ gp:hd?Tg% 廲ŝ_D.<%n. ]u2f8dDr{x0vCeP1( c&/La;\9znf8N Kiz!MX7BCpiggtg۴eW+aA kW,n'ϥ钫&ZE NNxG3C}~92֑ `ɋ~#:퀫+Ry3P0= t=C.ۓM7HKEUB nD %U .r&o 0 0f#!(NG^ IwU4Ym moU:TYy AQ&w 0= 0 0DAA D3 B A 0T\  `*Times New RomanTT\  `*Times New RomanTTC\  P6QP"AArialTTomanTTXXaptQXp\  `*Times New RomanTT^\  P6QP\  `*Times New RomanTTXXP\  P6QXP"AArialTT'    0 .    e )X/XXXXX/  _8  <( ` hp x (#X<  @    1  A      ?+ ` hp x (#` X?(Y2$  !X/XXXXX/  3|x (>$XVXXXXXVHP LaserJet 8000 DN PS0!Bx8'L {Z=' :i+00U  [8"X/XXXXX/  X$iXXXXX$i Ad   _FILED39   September24,1999  Cecil_Crowson_,Jr.AppellateCourt_Clerk _-kAZ"Arial Regularc:\office\wpwin\template\legal\11deny.wpt o [8"X/XXXXX/  _X$iXXXXX$i Ad   FILED39   September24,1999  Cecil_Crowson_,Jr.AppellateCourtClerk Z[\]_C<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(Z38$  !X/XXXXX/  (Z38$  !X/XXXXX/  ($$   1  ````'dxd d\y  <<= 8C(f3@$  !X/XXXXX/   d  !X/XXXXX/  _TR[A'* 3'A' Legal3'T8  & r0   <( ` hp x (#X<XX `  _INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERS'COMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANELATKNOXVILLElY_6&"h 8 `EC Ztt0rB #l ##(March16,1999Session)  ?+ ` hp x (#` X?VIVIANL.RUSSELL, h     ) p ANDERSON  $  CIRCUIT ## `     h     ) ` PlaintiffAppellee,     p )  Hon.JamesB.Scott,Jr.,    `     h     ) p Judge. |  v. `     h     ) f   `     h     ) p No.03S019808CV00077 P ADVANCETRANSFORMER    ) : COMPANY,   h     ) $t  `     h     ) ` DefendantAppellant.    ) H ForAppellant:   h      p ForAppellee:  ArthurG.Seymour,Jr. h      p RogerL.Ridenour ^ RobertL.Kahn   h      p Ridenour,Ridenour&Fox H Knoxville,Tennessee h      p Clinton,Tennessee 2   <( ` hp x (#X<MEMORANDUMOPINION #" MembersofPanel: V(#' WilliamM.Barker,AssociateJusticeHowellN.Peoples,SpecialJudgeJoeC.Loser,Jr.,SpecialJudge  ?+ ` hp x (#` X?  <( ` hp x (#X<  ?+ ` hp x (#` X?   AFFIRMED   h      p      x  Loser, N3.3 Judge'r0  84/4   <( ` hp x (#X<MEMORANDUMOPINION b    ?+ ` hp x (#` X? ` Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanelinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.X/X ` `XX/ s  506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Inthisappeal,theemployercontends(1)theemployeefailedtogivenoticeofherinjury,(2)theclaimant'sinjurydidnotariseoutoftheemploymentrelationshipand(3)theawardofpermanentpartialdisabilitybenefitsisexcessive.Asdiscussedbelow,thepanelhasconcludedthejudgmentshouldbeaffirmed. `  ` TheclaimantinitiatedthisactiononMay23,1997torecoverworkers'compensationbenefitsforherinjuries.Byitsanswer,theemployeradmittedtheclaimanthad,inDecemberof1995,"complainedofaninjurytoherrightarm,"butdenied"thatshecomplainedofaninjurytoherleftarm."Itaffirmativelyaverredthatitprovidedherwithapanelofthreephysicians,fromwhichshechoseDr.RandallRobbins;andthatDr.Robbinstreatedher,referredhertootherspecialists,andperformedsurgeryonherinAprilof1996.Theemployerdidnotraisetheissueoflackofwrittennoticeinitsanswer. `  ` ThecasewastriedonMay29,1998,when,accordingtothejudgment,theonlyissuessubmittedtothetrialcourtwere"theextentofpermanent,partialdisabilitytobeawardedtotheplaintiff'srightarmandwhethertheplaintiffisentitledtoajudgmentforapermanent,partialdisabilitytotheleftarm,andwhetherthedefendantshouldreimburseuntotheplaintiffandherattorneyaportionofthepretrialexpensesincurredinpreparingthismatterfortrial,andwhetherRogerL.Ridenourshouldreceivehisattorneysfeesinalumpsum."Afteratrial,thecourtawarded,interalia,permanentpartialdisabilitybenefits [*%4 basedoneightyfivepercenttotherightarmandsixtypercenttotheleftarm,whichequatestoorseventytwoandonehalfpercenttobotharms.Wehavereviewedthecasedenovo,upontherecordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedby x.): apresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise,asrequiredbyTenn.CodeAnn.X/X ` `XX/Ԁ506225(e)(2). 61,>  `  ` Theemployeeorclaimant,Ms.Russell,isfiftytwoyearsoldwithatenthgradeeducationandexperienceasafactoryassembler,firstatBurlingtonHosiery,thenRobbinsSeatBeltCompany,thenatOliverSpringsApparelandfinallywiththisemployer,AdvanceTransformerCompany.Shegraduallydevelopeddisablingpaininbotharms,buthascontinuedtowork. p94J  `  ` OnDecember1,1995,shebeganexperiencingpainandnumbnessinbotharmsand,accordingtoherowntestimony,soreportedtotheemployer.However,thereportpreparedbytheemployerreflectedonlythatshecomplainedofpainintherightelbow.Dr.Robbinsinjectedcortisoneandtemporarilyrestrictedherfromliftingandusingherrighthandatwork.Shefirstimproved,thenworsened,andthedoctorrestrictedtheuseofherleftarm.Unsuccessfulsurgerywasperformedontherightarmandpostsurgicalrestrictionstotherightarmcausedhertodevelopoverusesyndromeintheleftarm.Theclaimantcontinuestoworkwithbilateralelbowpain,diagnosedaschronictenniselbow.Shecontinuestoworkforthesameemployer. `  ` Immediatelyupontheoccurrenceofaninjury,orassoonthereafterasisreasonableandpracticable,aninjuredemployeemust,unlesstheemployerhasactualknowledgeoftheaccident,givewrittennoticeoftheinjurytohisemployer.Tenn.CodeAnn.X/X ` `XX/Ԁ506201.Wheretheemployerdeniesthata A claimanthasgiventherequiredwrittennotice,theclaimanthastheburdenofshowingthattheemployerhadactualnotice,orthattheemployeehaseithercompliedwiththerequirementorhasareasonableexcuseforhisfailuretodoso,fornoticeisanessentialelementofhisclaim.Jonesv.SterlingLastCorp.,  & 962S.W.2d469(Tenn.1998).Thereasonsforthethirtydaystatutorynoticerequirementare(1)togivetheemployeranopportunitytomakeaninvestigationwhilethefactsareaccessible,and(2)toenabletheemployertoprovidetimelyandpropertreatmentfortheinjuredemployee.Id.Itissignificantthatwritten 9$. noticeisunnecessaryinthosesituationswheretheemployerhasactualknowledgeoftheinjury.Rainesv.ShelbyWilliamsIndustries,814S.W.2d &G"2 346(Tenn.1991).Thepresenceorabsenceofprejudicetotheemployerisaproperconsideration.McCalebv.SaturnCorp.,910S.W.2d412(Tenn.1995). )%6  `  ` Althoughthetrialjudgedidnotmakespecificfindingsconcerningthenoticeissue,probablybecauseitwasnotanissuesubmittedtohim,hedidaccredittheclaimant'stestimony,whichwasthattheemployerhadactualnoticeofbothinjuries.Moreover,eveniftheemployer'swrittenreportisaccurate,itappearsthattheemployerwasabletocontroltheclaimant'smedicalcareandwasnotprejudicedbythelackofwrittennotice.Thefirstissueisresolvedinfavoroftheplaintiff. `  ` Unlessadmittedbytheemployer,theemployeeorclaimanthastheburdenofproving,bycompetentevidence,everyessentialelementofhisclaim. 84L Osterv.Yates,845S.W.2d215(Tenn.1992).Inordertoestablishthatan  injurywasonearisingoutoftheemployment,thecauseofthedeathorinjurymustbeproved;andiftheclaimisforpermanentdisabilitybenefits,permanencymustbeproved.Hillv.RoyalIns.Co.,937S.W.2d873(Tenn.  1996).Inallbutthemostobviouscases,causationandpermanencymayonlybeestablishedthroughexpertmedicaltestimony;Thomasv.AetnaLifeandCas.    Ins.Co.,812S.W.2d278(1991);butaninjuredemployeeiscompetentto  :  testifyastohisownassessmentofhisphysicalconditionandsuchtestimonyshouldnotbedisregarded.UptainConstructionCo.v.McClain,526S.W.2d   458(Tenn.1975). `  ` Thetreatingphysiciantestifiedunequivocallyandwithoutcontradictionthattheclaimant'sinjurieswerecausedbyherwork.Heopinedthatherrightarmwasfourteenpercentpermanentlyimpairedandhepermanentlyrestrictedherfromliftingmorethanfivepoundswitheitherarm.Weareawareofnoruleorauthoritywhichprohibitsanawardofpermanentdisabilitybenefitsforthelossofuseofascheduledmemberunlessaclinicalimpairmentratingisgiven,particularlywherepermanentrestrictionsareprescribed;andnonehasbeencited.Thus,theevidencefailstopreponderateagainstthetrialcourt'sfindingthattheclaimanthasapermanentdisabilitytobotharms,arisingoutofheremploymentbythedefendant.Thesecondissueisresolvedinfavoroftheplaintiff. `  ` Oncethecausationandpermanencyofaninjuryhavebeenestablishedbyexperttestimony,thetrialjudgemayconsidermanypertinentfactors,includingage,jobskills,education,training,durationofdisability,andjobopportunitiesforthedisabled,inadditiontoanatomicalimpairment,forthepurposeofevaluatingtheextentofaclaimant'spermanentdisability.Tenn.CodeAnn.X/X ` `XX/ )%6 506241(a)(2).Avocationalexperttestified,withoutcontradictionthatMs.Russellreadsatabelowaveragelevelandperformsarithmeticfunctionsatthelowendofaverage;andheassessedhervocationaldisabilityatninetytoninetyfourpercent.Fromacarefulconsiderationofalloftheabovefactsandcircumstances,wecannotfairlysaytheevidencepreponderatesthetrialcourt'sfindingastotheextentoftheclaimant'spermanentdisability. ` X ` Thejudgmentofthetrialcourtisconsequentlyaffirmed.Costsonappealaretaxedtothedefendantandthecauseisremandedtothetrialcourtforanawardofinterestonaccruedbutunpaidbenefitsandanyotherfurtherproceedings. 84L  X  <( ` hp x (#X<_______________________________  ӀJoeC.Loser,Jr.,SpecialJudge  ?+ ` hp x (#` X?CONCUR:_________________________________WilliamM.Barker,AssociateJustice_________________________________HowellN.Peoples,SpecialJudge  $t 8` TR[A'Legal Manual[A'* A' LegalA' LegalT@5 5 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE `  lY_6&"h 8 `E< Ztt0rt (l ttT$T$@""!zATKNOXVILLEVIVIANL.RUSSELL,@SS'z)  ANDERSON Q COUNTY T$T$tt@.) p NO.97LA0217 %   ` PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE,@.)   @.) p HON.JAMESB.SCOTT,JR.,   v.@.) p   JUDGE   @.)ADVANCETRANSFORMER@.) p S.CT.NO.03S019808CV W  00077COMPANY,@.) + @.) ` DEFENDANT/APPELLANT.@.)0 p AFFIRMED_pT$pT$ @* JUDGMENT T$T$MT$   ` ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponmotionforreviewpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; ` Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshouldbedenied;and ` Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. ` CostswillbepaidbyDefendant/Appellant,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. ` ITISSOORDERED. `     h      p PERCURIAM 8A/5 ЇBARKER,J.NOTPARTICIPATING0`  x (#X0