ÿWPC% Æ# ä UNï %= 0ûC U:>4xŒÆ›Æa '-w@5 0?u 0D´ÆøƾÆ„ 0DJ 0JŽ 0TØ 0^, 0hŠ 0rò 0|d 0†à 0f 1uö 0dk BÏU>ìU** D3TU*‡U6± 0@ç 0K'v~rvÓð D+Ã" AOî" 0D=# D/# B°# AYÍ# 0F&$ A©l$˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLLÎ(ÈhH  Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX(ÓH=$¡¡Ñ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÔ€XÎ_XXXÔÑ7€¾úXXdðXXdð7Ñ, øð AZ‹"Arial Regular%€X$3|xC$Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5H :$;$<$D=$E>$E?$E@$A$DB$C$D(ï(3×ô$¤¤Ý ƒH=!ÝÑ  ÑÒH°ÒÒ°ÒÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÔ€XXîXXXÔÑ7€%iXXdìdì7ÑÝ  Ýà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$©©Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý2 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 d< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Arial$$$$'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(Times< Œ 9p`(Courier New("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó óPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿáùEG(üHHØ(d'`Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  ion-F Geneva ÒÒ  ion-F Geneva Ò'ÈÈÈÈdxd-‚ƒCþÿ<< Cÿÿ($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd-¸:Müÿ << deUU(n$––ò ò(Ú  Ú1Ú  Ú)ó ó-.:›&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€(ÔÑ  ÑÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€)ÔÑ#€++Xd#ÑÑ#€++Xd#ÑÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÑ À ÑÑ X Ñò ò›Þ ÞÌÌÌó óà@ àò òIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌWORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌKNOXVILLE,€DECEMBER€1997€SESSIONó óÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌMARTHA€SHUPEà àà àà àà à)à àHAWKINS€CIRCUITÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àPlaintiff/Appelleeà àà àà à)à àÌà àà àà àà àà àà à)ÌV.à àà àà àà àà àà à)à àHon.€Ben€K.€Wexler,Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àCircuit€JudgeÌINSURANCE€COMPANY€OFà àà à)ÌPENNSYLVANIAà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌà àDefendant/Appellantà àà à)à àNO.€03S01„9706„CV„00065Ìò òòòÌÌÌÌÌFor€the€Appellant:à àà àà àà àà àFor€the€Appellee:Ìó óóóÌNan€R.€Jenneà àà àà àà àà àThomas€D.€DossettÌTimothy€W.€Connerà àà àà àà àà à134€W.€Center€StreetÌ507€S.€Gay€Streetà àà àà àà àà àKingsport,€Tn.€€37660Ì1130€First€American€CenterÌKnoxville,€Tn.€€37902ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  Óò òòòM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÌÌò òòòMembers€of€Panel:ÌÌó óóóE.€Riley€Anderson,€Chief€JusticeÌJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€JudgeÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌAFFIRMED.à àà àà àà àà àà àà àTHAYER,€Special€JudgeÌÌÓÓà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€withÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€CourtÏof€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€Ìà àThe€appeal€was€perfected€by€the€employer,€Insurance€Company€ofÏPennsylvania,€from€a€decision€of€the€trial€court€awarding€the€employee,€MarthaÏJane€Shupe,€90%€permanent€partial€disability€to€the€body€as€a€whole.Ìà àOn€appeal€defendant€insurance€company€insists€(1)€the€trial€court€was€inÏerror€in€finding€the€cervical€disc€injury€was€work„related€and€(2)€if€the€injury€wasÏwork„related,€the€award€of€90%€was€excessive€under€the€proof.Ìà àThe€employee€contends€(1)€she€is€totally€disabled€and€the€award€should€beÏfixed€at€100%€and€(2)€the€trial€court€was€in€error€in€finding€the€aneurysm€rupture€wasÏnot€work„related.Ìà àPlaintiff€was€45€years€of€age€at€the€time€of€the€trial€and€had€completed€the€8thÏgrade.€€She€was€employed€at€a€Burger€King€restaurant€on€April€27,€1992,€when€sheÍclimbed€upon€a€shelf€to€return€a€box€to€a€higher€shelf;€in€attempting€to€come€down,Ïher€foot€slipped€and€she€fell€some€distance€landing€on€her€feet;€she€stated€the€fallÏcaused€her€body€to€twist€and€she€experienced€immediate€intense€pain€in€her€neck.Ìà àPlaintiff€was€taken€immediately€to€a€hospital€emergency€room€where€she€wasÏexamined€and€referred€to€another€doctor.€€She€remained€off€work€for€about€twoÏweeks€and€then€returned€to€work€on€a€reduced€time€schedule.€€She€testified€afterÏsome€period€of€part€time€work,€her€employer€decided€she€should€not€work€further.Ìà àOn€about€May€27,€1992,€she€was€present€with€her€husband€at€a€court€hearingÏ(unrelated€to€present€case)€when€she€turned€her€head€to€look€out€the€window€andÏfelt€a€sting€of€pain€in€the€back€of€her€neck.€€Shortly€later€she€experienced€doubleÏvision€problems€and€could€not€move€her€legs€for€awhile.€€She€also€becameÏnauseated.€€Further€investigation€into€her€complaints€indicated€there€had€been€aÏrupture€of€an€aneurysm€in€her€head€and€that€she€also€had€a€herniated€cervical€disc.€ÏSurgery€was€performed€to€correct€the€aneurysm€problem€and€about€a€year€later,Ïshe€had€a€fusion€to€repair€the€disc€problem.Ìà àThe€trial€was€conducted€on€October€28€and€29,€1996,€which€was€about€4€ððÏyears€after€sustaining€the€injury.€€She€testified€she€had€attempted€to€find€some€lightÏwork€but€no€one€would€hire€her€upon€learning€of€her€condition.€€She€said€she€stillÏsuffered€a€great€deal€of€pain€and€was€never€without€it.€€She€also€stated€she€sufferedÏfrom€some€loss€of€memory€and€dropped€objects€frequently.Ìà àShe€married€Danny€Busler€during€July€1995€and€he€testified€she€took€painÏmedication€every€day€and€she€did€not€work€much€around€the€house.€€He€said€he€didÏmost€of€the€housework.Ìà àDr.€Norman€Hankins,€a€vocational€rehabilitation€consultant,€was€of€theÏopinion€plaintiff€was€100%€vocationally€disabled€as€a€result€of€the€disc€surgery.€€HeÍalso€stated€she€would€not€be€totally€disabled€if€she€had€been€released€to€return€toÏwork€without€any€physical€restrictions.Ìà àAll€of€the€expert€medical€testimony€was€by€deposition.Ìà àDr.€Greg€Corrandine,€a€neurosurgeon,€testified€he€followed€plaintiff€after€theÏdisc€surgery€since€her€operating€doctors€had€retired.€€He€said€a€myelogram€showedÏa€large€herniated€cervical€disc€which€required€a€fusion€and€he€was€of€the€opinionÏthe€incident€at€work€caused€the€disc€injury.€€He€said€he€did€not€place€any€physicalÏrestrictions€because€he€had€not€been€requested€to€make€that€determination€as€sheÏhad€not€reached€a€return€to€work€stage.€€As€to€the€causation€of€the€aneurysmÏrupture,€he€said€it€would€be€speculative€to€make€that€determination.€€He€stated€anÏelevation€of€blood€pressure€ð ðcould€or€might€haveðð€caused€the€rupture€but€he€had€noÏidea€what€her€blood€pressure€was€at€the€time€of€the€rupture.Ìà àDr.€John€Marshall,€a€physical€medicine€and€rehabilitation€physician,€sawÏplaintiff€on€the€day€of€the€incident€at€work€and€felt€she€had€a€strain€of€the€cervicalÏand€lumbar€areas.€€He€prescribed€medicine€and€therapy.€€He€also€saw€her€soonÏafter€the€courtroom€incident€and€was€of€the€opinion€the€aneurysm€condition€pre„existed€the€incident€at€work€and€that€the€rupture€was€not€work„related.€€He€gave€aÏ10%€medical€impairment€for€the€disc€injury.Ìà àDr.€Jim€C.€Brasfield,€a€neurosurgeon,€saw€plaintiff€on€only€one€occasion€onÏSeptember€15,€1992.€€He€was€of€the€opinion€she€did€not€have€a€ruptured€disc€butÏthat€she€had€degenerative€changes€in€her€neck€which€was€probably€aggravated€byÏthe€incident€at€work.€€It€was€his€opinion€that€the€aneurysm€problem€was€not€work„related.€€He€testified€severe€pain€could€cause€a€sudden€elevation€of€blood€pressureÏwhich€in€turn€could€cause€an€aneurysm€to€rupture€but€felt€that€when€this€did€occurÍthere€was€usually€something€more€than€mere€elevation€of€blood€pressure€such€as€aÏstraining€movement.Ìà àTrudy€Castleberry,€a€medical€case€manager€and€vocational€consultant,Ïtestified€orally€before€the€court€and€stated€her€duties€with€Optima€RehabilitationÏServices€required€her€to€place€disabled€persons€in€employment.€€She€hadÏinterviewed€plaintiff€and€examined€numerous€medical€records,€etc.€and€concludedÏplaintiff€was€not€totally€disabled€but€could€perform€light€physical€capacity€tasks.Ìà àThe€case€is€to€be€reviewed€on€appeal€de€novo€accompanied€by€aÏpresumption€of€the€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact€unless€the€preponderance€ofÏthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€T.C.A.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2).Ìà àIn€resolving€disputes€in€medical€testimony,€the€trial€court€may€choose€whichÏmedical€testimony€to€accept.€€In€doing€this,€the€court€may€consider€the€qualificationsÏof€the€experts,€the€circumstances€of€their€examination,€the€information€available€toÏthem€and€the€evaluation€of€the€importance€of€that€information€by€other€experts.€ÏòòOrman€v.€Williams„Sonoma,€Inc.,óó€803€S.W.2d€672,€676€(Tenn.€1991).Ìà àThe€trial€court€found€plaintiffððs€cervical€disc€injury€was€work„related€but€theÏaneurysm€rupture€was€not€work„related.€€Each€party€raises€an€issue€concerning€thisÏquestion€on€causation.€€From€our€independent€review€of€the€evidence,€we€find€theÏgreater€weight€of€the€evidence€supports€this€conclusion€and€therefore,€the€evidenceÏdoes€not€preponderate€against€the€decision€of€the€trial€court.Ìà àThe€parties€also€each€raise€issues€concerning€the€extent€of€disability.€ÏPlaintiff€seeks€an€increase€to€100%€disability.€€The€defendant€seeks€a€reductionÏfrom€the€90%€award.€€The€trial€court€was€in€a€better€position€to€judge€credibility€ofÏthe€plaintiff€as€she€testified€orally€before€the€court.€€When€the€court€heard€plaintiffððsÏtestimony,€it€had€been€4€ðð€years€since€the€accident€at€work.€€She€was€stillÍcomplaining€of€a€great€deal€of€pain€and€insisted€she€was€not€able€to€work.€€In€ourÏreview€of€the€record,€we€cannot€say€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€awardÏof€disability.Ìà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€of€the€appeal€are€taxed€toÏdefendant.Ìà àÌÓÓÔ% € ÔÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà à___________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌE.€Riley€Anderson,€Chief€JusticeÌÌÌÌ________________________________ÌJohn€K.€Byers,€Senior€Judge€ÌÌÌÌÌÌœÇÒ  ÒÒ H ÒÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€IN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ìà à€à à€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àAT€KNOXVILLEà àà àÌÌÌÌÒ Ê ÒÒ H Òà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àÌÒ S ÒÒ H Òà àà àMARTHA€SHUPEà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€à àÏà àPlaintiff€Appelleeà àà àà à)€€€HAWKINS€CIRCUITÌ€€€à à€€€à à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€No.€€6614à àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àÌvs.à àà àà àà àà à)€€€€Hon€Ben€K.€Wexlerà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€ÏJudgeà àà àà àà àà à€€€€à àà àà à€€€€€€€à àà àà à)à àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà à)ÌINSURANCE€COMPANY€OFà à)ÌPENNSYLVANIA€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€No.€03S01„9706„CV„00065Ìà àDefendant/Appellant.à à)à àÌà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€à àÌà àÌÌà àà àà àà àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌà àà àà àÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€ÓfæÓÓ ø ÓÓ` Ü…X ì–XÓThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€theÏorder€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Panel,€and€the€PanelððsÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€whichÏare€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€theÏPanel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€JudgmentÏof€the€Court.€€à àà àÌÒ  ÒÒ H Òà à€€€€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendant/appellant,€InsuranceÏCompany€of€Pennsylvania.€and€Timothy€W.€Conner,€surety,€for€which€executionÏmay€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌ03/03/98Ì€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÙ€Ù<<€Conversion€error€>>à àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€forÏreview€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann€.ðð€50„6„225€(e)€(5)€(B),€the€entire€record,Ïincluding€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€AppealsÏPanel,€and€the€Panelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€factÏand€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€notÏwell€taken€and€should€be€denied;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€isÏmade€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ìà àà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€the€plaintiff„appellant€and€sureties,€for€whichÏexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ìà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€____€day€of€June,€1997.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌÌAnderson,€J.€„€Not€ParticipatingÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌal€to€the€Special€Workerðð€Compensation€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€MemorandumÏOpinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€areÏincorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àÌà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€theÏPanel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€act€and€conclusions€ofÏlaw€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€theÏJudgment€of€the€Court.ÌÌà àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€€to€the€plaintiff„appellant,€Vernon€Harris€andÌGilbert€and€Faulkner.€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.€€ÌÌ06/03//97à àà àà àà àà àà àÌÌÌÌà àœÔ€,ÔÔ€,ÔÇ›ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌ