WPC jXb\:__-wFET'cBrq(cn~RV#CD(ߡOHlHYSž!>Q,KWN$ }M wG ϮY@(͇wTD>"UBj߯$؍8kk:J(P̼Q(͡ xc{ꦓ1 =-0h0C qbdM@|ApwaxC'?!sq%־5sOr1C"hAp!(Wy%mlZ|+ Z $) 2.$Pvޑ "JPYi`/jy$E"[/O) $vxuꠞVN}Mz*LZ/X]sROEȅnЇL4en|w>T}{ij[c wWȶ=; ]۬\6Na,rib %\U@b 0UFN*^ xw4 z   m #   ] # 0DN-/N7E9N; z=b 0 B || 0 D3= D-p 0K AS; 0 0D A(9 Z(Times New Roman (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regularhn+ yG* 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|xUHP LaserJet 40500Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#$  0   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- -(|G2$ !..8 dd8         0  XBX d(|3e$ !..8 dd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3e$ !..8 dd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8 dd8     _ 8BXXdd8   @@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL & @@ATKNOXVILLE# # L October10,2000Session "r XBX  # XXB#RYDERDRIVERLEASING,INC.v.BRUCEWILSONetal.XBX    p @@ DirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtforKnoxCounty  p @@No.1798DaleWorkman,CircuitCourtJudge  \ @@*AV) ` dE<` A   No.E200000905_WC_ԄR3CVMailedDecember12,2001   # XXB#XBX FILED:August27,2001   AV) ` dE<` A       XBXXXBThisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppeals  PaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTennesseeCodeAnnotated506225(e)(3)for v hearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Thetrial b courtfoundtheplaintiffhadacompensablepsychiatricinjury.Weaffirmthefindingsofthetrial N court. : #XBXXXBA## XXB#XBX 5   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(1999)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuitCourtis N Affirmed  :     JOHNK.BYERS,SR.J.,# XB#XBX. deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichHOUSTONM._GODDARD_,  SP.JUSTICEandWILLIAMH._INMAN_,SR.J.,joined.  DanielC.Todd,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellant,RyderDriverLeasing,Inc.   WilliamC._Cremins_,Knoxville,Tennessee,fortheappellee,BruceWilson. ^"! y  MEMORANDUMOPINION # XXB#XBX  6$#   XBXXXB  Thetrialcourtfoundthedefendanthadsustainedapsychiatricinjurybutnotedthedoctor &^!% failedtoassignanimpairmentratingandnotedthemedicaltestimonyshowedthedefendant &J"& couldreturntogainfulemployment.Afterallowingadditionalpsychiatricproof,thecourt '6#' awardedtemporarytotaldisabilityretroactivetoJanuary1,1998,thedateofmaximummedical ("$( improvement.Thetrialcourteventuallyawarded400weekspermanenttotaldisability,subject )%) tothemaximumallowableinTennesseeCodeAnnotated506102(b)forcompletelossof *%* mentalfaculties,andawardedfuturemedicals.#XBXXXBO ## XXB #XBX  +&+ XBXXXB  Theemployerarguesthetrialcourterredinawardingpsychiatricbenefitsafterdeciding n-(-} _nocompensablephysicalinjuryhadoccurred.Theemployeralsoarguesthetrialcourterredin  disallowingitsmotionforcontinuance.Theemployeeiscontestingthetrialcourtsfailureto  awardcompensationforaphysicalimpairment#XBXXXB## XXB#XBX .    # XXB#XBX    `     h   Facts  ` XBXXXB*XX XX*  Thedefendant,agefortysevenatthetimeoftrial,#XBXXXB#XBXXXBԀquitschoolinthetenthgrade;hereadsat $ t aneighthgradelevel.Hisworkhistoryisthatofatruckdriver,whichhehasdonefortwentyyears.  ` HeclaimshewasinjuredinAugustof1995whileinRhodeIsland.Hestrainedhisbackwhile  L  unloadingbedrails.  8    Hetooktimeoffaftertheinjury,duringwhichtimehereceivedtemporarytotaldisability   benefits,andthentriedtoreturntoworkinNovemberof1996butcouldnotstandthepain.He   testifiedthatafterleavingworkinNovemberhecouldnolongertraveltoseefamily,camporboat.   Hecouldnotdriveorliftorwork.Hecouldworkbeforetheaccidentdespitepainbecausehewas   ableto workthroughit.Thedefendanthasanextensivemedicalhistorypreaccident:chronic p backpain,severesleepapnea,depression,obesity,hypertension,_gastroesophageal_Ԁrefluxdisease, \ prostatitis,andimpotence. H @" MedicalEvidence  \    Theemployeewasseenbyamultitudeofphysicians.Thepertinenttestimonyissetout 4 below.     Dr.MargaretRobbins,M.D.,apsychiatrist,testifiedviadeposition.Dr.Robbinsnotedthe  employee#XBXXXBr#XBXXXBԀhadpreviouslybeentreatedbyanotherdoctorwith_Paxil_Ԁbutdidnotfinishhiscourseof  treatment.Theemployee#XBXXXB#XBXXXBԀalsohadbeennoncompliantforhismedicaltreatmentofotherconditions  suchassleepapnea.Dr.Robbinstestifiedthattheemployee#XBXXXB#XBXXXBscurrentmedicalconditionis l sufficientlyexplainedbyhisongoingmedicalproblemsandnotcausedbytheAugust1996accident. X    Dr.Robert_Finelli_,M.D.,aneurosurgeon,testifiedviadeposition.Dr._Finelli_Ԁsawthe 0"  employee#XBXXXBa#XBXXXBԀonfouroccasionsbeforetheAugust1996event.Theemployee#XBXXXB#XBXXXBԀhadcomplaintssimilar #l! tothepostinjurycomplaintsatthosevisits!backandrightlegpainwithpainintothemidthighand $X" calf,chronicsince1988.Dr._Finelli_Ԁfelttheemployee#XBXXXB#XBXXXBԀwouldhavetolearntolivewiththeproblems. $D # Dr.KevinBailey,M.D.,anorthopedistwithaspecialtyinphysicalmedicineandrehabilitation, &"% testifiedviadeposition.Dr.BaileysawtheemployeeaftertheaccidentinAugust1996.He '#& performedanMRIinSeptemberof1996thatwasessentiallynormalandshowednochangefrom (#' onetakeninFebruaryof1996.Dr.Baileytestifiedthatwithinareasonabledegreeofmedical )$( certainty,theemployeesustainednopermanentinjuryandneedednopermanentrestrictions. |*%)  h+&* _  Dr.WilliamPaulsen,M.D.,aneurologist,testifiedviadeposition.Dr.Paulsenexaminedthe  employeeinJanuaryof1998.Heclassifiedtheemployee#XBXXXB#XBXXXBԀasnormalandfelttheemployeeschronic  painwasduetomuscoskeletalfactorswithnoobjectiveneurologicabnormalities.Hefeltthe  employee#XBXXXBt!#XBXXXBԀmightexperienceperiodicflareupsofsymptomsbutshouldbeabletoreturntohisduties t asatruckdriver. `   Dr.CliftonTennison,M.D.apsychiatrist,testifiedviadeposition.Dr.Tennisonstatedhe 8  examinedtheemployeeandfoundachangeinthehisdepressionduetohisnotbeingabletobethe $ t breadwinneraftertheAugustaccident.Dr.Tennisontestifiedtherewasaphysiologicalbrain  ` changeaftertheAugustinjury.Dr.Tennisonsdepositionwastakenthreeweeksbeforetrial.The  L  employermovedforacontinuancebecausethedefendanthadfailedtodisclosetheexpertanddid  8  notprovidehisrecordsuntilafewdaysbeforethedeposition;however,thecontinuancewasdenied $  bythetrialjudge.Dr.Tennisondidnotprovideanimpairmentrating. #XBXXXBs"#XBXXXB     Dr.KelleyWalkerfoundtheplaintiffsdepressionhadworsenedasaresultofhisinability   towork.       Dr.NormanHankins,Ph.D.,avocationaldisabilityexpert,testifiedviadeposition.Dr. \ HankinsfoundtheemployeeunemployableintheKnoxandCockeCountylabormarkets.#XBXXXBg&#XBXXXB H #XBXXXB?(#@))% Discussion   p XBXXXB  Reviewofthefindingsoffactmadebythetrialcourtisdenovoupontherecordofthetrial H court,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefinding,unlessthepreponderanceof 4 theevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2).Stonev.CityofMcMinnville,896   S.W.2d548,550(Tenn.1995).TheapplicationofthisstandardrequiresthisCourttoweighinmore   depththefactualfindingsandconclusionsofthetrialcourtsinworkerscompensationcases.See  Corcoranv.FosterAutoGMC,Inc.,746S.W.2d452,456(Tenn.1988).#XBXXXB(#XBXXXB  #XBXXXB+#XBXXXB  #XBXXXB-,#XBXXXBTheemployerarguesthetrialcourterredinfindingtheemployeesufferedacompensable l psychiatricinjuryasaresultoftheAugustinjuryatwork.ThisCourthasrecognizedtwofactual X  situationsinwhichemployeesmayrecovercompensationbenefitsformentaldisorders.Firstly, D! recoveryisappropriateforamentalinjurybyaccidentoroccupationaldisease,standingalone,ifthe 0"  mentaldisorderis causedbyanidentifiable,stressful,workrelatedeventproducingasudden #l! mentalstimulussuchasfright,shockorexcessiveunexpectedanxiety.Hillv.EagleBendMfg., $X" Inc.,942S.W.2d483(Tenn.1997);Batsonv.CignaProperty&CasualtyCompanies,874S.W.2d $D # 566,570(Tenn.1994).Secondly,compensationforpsychologicaldisordershasbeenallowedwhen %0!$ anemployeesustainsacompensableworkrelatedinjurybyaccidentandthereafterexperiencesa &"% mentaldisorderwhichiscausedbytheoriginalcompensableworkrelatedinjury.Batson,874 '#& S.W.2dat570. (#'   Inthiscase,theemployeereceivedcompensationintheformoftemporarytotaldisability |*%) foraperiodoftimeduetohisbackinjury.Thetrialjudgefoundtheinjurytotheemployeesback, h+&* althoughcompensableonatemporarytotalbasis,wasnotpermanentaccordingtothemedical  testimony.Themedicalevidencesupportsthetrialjudgesfindinginthisrespectandtheevidence  doesnotpreponderateagainstthefindingregardingpermanencyofanyphysicalinjurysufferedby  theemployee. t   Thetrialjudgefoundtheemployeesbackinjurycontributedtoandexacerbatedthe L  employeespreexistingdepressiontothepointhebecameunabletowork. 8  #XBXXXB|,#XBXXXB  Astothepreexistingdepression,anemployerisresponsibleforworkerscompensation  ` benefits,eventhoughtheclaimantmayhavebeensufferingfromaseriouspreexistingcondition  L  ordisability,ifemploymentcausesanactualprogressionofthepriordisablingconditionordisease.  8  SeeHillv.EagleBendMfg.,Inc.,942S.W.2d483(Tenn.1997).Tobecompensable,thepre $  existingconditionmustbeadvanced,theremustbeanatomicalchangeinthepreexistingcondition,   ortheemploymentmustcauseanactualprogressionoftheunderlyingdisease.Sweatv.Superior   Indus.,Inc.,966S.W.2d31,32(Tenn.1998).#XBXXXB4#XBXXXBThemedicalevidenceshowstheplaintiffsuffereda   progressionorworseningofthedepressiontothepointthatheessentiallybecamenonfunctional.   Also,Dr.Tennisontestifiedtheemployeesbrainunderwentaphysiologicalchangeasaresultof p theAugustinjury.#XBXXXB&8# \   XBXXXBTheultimatequestioninthiscase,asinanyworkerscompensationcase,isvocational 4 disability.Inmakingdeterminationsastovocationaldisability,thecourtshallconsiderallpertinent  p factors,includinglayandexperttestimony,employeesage,education,skillsandtraining,localjob  \ opportunities,andcapacitytoworkattypesofemploymentavailableinclaimantsdisabled H condition.Tenn.CodeAnn.506241(c);Robersonv.LorettoCasketCo.,722S.W.2d380,384 4 (Tenn.1986).#XBXXXB9#     Theemployeewassufferingfromapreexistingconditionofdepression.Thetrialjudge  foundtheconditionwasnotcausedbytheinjury;however,themedicalevidenceacceptedbythe  trialjudgeshowstheemployee,asaresultoftheworkrelatedinjury,sufferedpainanddistress  causedanaggravationofhisexistingmentalconditionwhichhassettledintoapermanent l impairmentfromwhichthephysiciansopinehewillnotrecover.Thus,underHillthementalinjury X  iscompensable D!   Theultimatequestioninaworkerscompensationcaseisvocationaldisability.Amedical #l! expertstestimonyisoneoftherelevantfactorsfordeterminingtheextentofvocationaldisability $X" inaworkerscompensationproceeding,butvocationaldisabilityisnotrestrictedtopreciseestimates $D # ofanatomicaldisabilitymadebyamedicalwitness.Cooperv.InsuranceCo.ofNorthAmerica,884 %0!$ S.W.2d446(Tenn.1994) &"% XBXXXB  Theextentofvocationaldisabilityisaquestionoffacttobedeterminedfromallofthe (#' evidence,includinglayandexperttestimony.Tenn.CodeAnn.506241(c);Worthingtonv. )$( ModineMfg.Co.,798S.W.2d232,234(Tenn.1990)._Atrialjudgeisnotboundtoaccept |*%) physiciansopinions,butisentitledtodeterminetheextentofthedisabilityfromalloftheevidence, h+&* bothexpertand_nonexpert_.Hinson_v._ԀWalMartStores,Inc.,654S.W.2d675(Tenn.1983).#XBXXXB;A#  XBXXXB  Dr.Clifton_Tennison_,M.D.,theemployeestreatingpsychiatrist,testifiedhefoundachange  intheemployeesdepressionaftertheAugustaccident.Hetestifiedtherewasanactual t physiologicalbrainchangeaftertheinjury. `   Dr.Norman_Hankins_,Ph.D.,avocationaldisabilityexpert,testifiedtheemployeeis 8  unemployableintheKnoxand_Cocke_ԀCountylabormarkets.#XBXXXB+D# $ t   Itisclearthattheemployeesufferedacompensablephysicalworkrelatedinjuryandwas  L  entitledtothetemporarytotaldisabilitycompensationhereceived.Theemployee,therefore,also  8  sufferedamentalinjurythatiscompensable.Theevidencedoesnotpreponderateagainstthetrial $  judgesawardinthisrespect.     Finally,astotheemployersargumentthatthetrialjudgeerredinfailingtogrant_a   continuance_,wefindnoshowingofprejudiceontherecord;therefore,theargumentisoverruled.     Thecostsofthisappealaretaxedtotheemployer. \    `     h     ___________________________________ 4    `     h     JOHNK.BYERS,SENIORJUDGE   p  XXB   @ #XBX J#XXBINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @WW$ATKNOXVILLE#XBXJK# XXBԈ & @44October10,2000Session L #XBX K#  XXB  RYDERDRIVERLEASING,INC.v.BRUCEWILSON,etal.#XBX }L#  J L@ CircuitCourtforKnoxCounty  J @66%No.1798  6 @*AV) ` dE<` A߈   @No.E200000905WCR3CV   AV) ` dE<|` A }    XXB#XBX N#@& JUDGMENT  XXB#XBX O#Ԉ x  @FILED:AUGUST27,2001 d  XXB#XBX O# XXB#XBX O#  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponRyderDriverLeasing,Inc.smotionforreviewpursuant < toTenn.CodeAnn.50-6-225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltothe (x SpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforth d itsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; P   Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshould ( bedenied;and    Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadopted  andaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.    CostswillbepaidbyRyderDriverLeasing,Inc.,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. `   ITISSOORDERED. XXB#XBX ,T# 8!