ÿWPC¤ “TC#ˆöNë œq÷o ‡t X¸Øhãí£´+’*~&ë®K:î3û=1¥s:˜%*†¤¯æp ü (X2Ó6&™:0ùMôÝS9¶’ZÆûI^Y³Îüü#҈țI¡Ä¾9´/’ÉWç`ÿ"ð?ŒÒšãªL¤_ ‚øü°ø}MtQŒ`@@"þDÑ' 3´3,›'Û»cmPÉIc‘Q Èâ¡›¨Ý-i–Ó2 šRAZ)÷V“PíÉ$YÁwâ@ýו÷-Rå'?¶Î_éÖ‘A»v 4-ŸƒÄš.UËî®ÖŽhúÀHÁá+óò‚ùn{­?fÐ7ÍPÃ%jêì€ÆÚ§G¦ÐâiùÖ«§…Fè^I¹ÀÝæ³ù™ŽÈµ{éJQÖRŽ·æpÄÂ@7 sæö™˜ÎGÜN„¡Å íA‡…¹Cä-^áiõE¥ x~C‚:¢;¼—ƒþ{ª2¬4 ìg¿‹LÙµFWIGé†V Ö¬A¬žÃù7ÇcBw*»ä³†´ýžïׯßý.£>¬È-G$ejU4–_c†* ¢S.÷%ÌlÍMĹª‹wÿŒ´l•e:Ì`Q•ø‡¸Ì>¦[GdµïZb#É\ %% UN+ 0ˆy U*N ^ O w[ z_ ÒÙ 4« ¿ Î mÐ Æç Æ­ ÆsÆ9ÿNN  z E…Ò‡‡U@YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYb™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™™ 0ë¡¡¡¡ B ŒŒ 0¤© D3M D-€ 0K­­ ASøÆK 0¤ 0Dµ A«ù˜\\IB01S08T\knoxclerk4ÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0»(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular(`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman Regular÷zl/Ï  ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt²p)/ê:i¢×+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5 ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt(ÖÃ9 Z‹(Times New Roman - ù-(|G2ˆÓ$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€%»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€XPÉX»»Ô d(|3‡q$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€%»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3‡q$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€%»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€%»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼%»»»ÔÑ8€PÉXXdì»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡î %Ôà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Ö& Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€KNOXVILLEÔ#†¼%»îî î#ÔÐ üL ÐMay€22,€2003€SessionÐ "r ÐÔ‡XPÉX»¼%ÔÌò òÔ#†¼%»XXPÉ#ÔBEVERLY€A.€TAYLORòòóó€v.€Ô_ÔEBASCOÔ_Ô€CONSTRUCTORS,€INC.òòóóÔ‡XPÉX»¼%Ôó óÐ  p ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò ò€Direct€Appeal€from€the€Chancery€Court€for€Rhea€CountyÐ  p Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€8173€€€€€€Honorable€Jeffrey€R.€Stewart,€ChancellorÐ  \ ÐÌFiled€November€12,€Ô_Ô2003Ô_ÔÐ ä4  Ðà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<Ï` AßÐ Ð  ÐÌNo.€E2002„01929„WC„R3„CVÐ Ë  ÐÔ#†¼%»XXPÉ·#ÔÔ‡XPÉX»¼%ÔÌÌßA€V) °°` dE<Ž` AßÐ ß Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThis€workersðð€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workersðð€CompensationÐ ŠÚ ÐAppeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€forÐ vÆ Ðhearing€and€reporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€trialÐ b² Ðcourt€found€the€employee€was€permanently€and€totally€disabled€as€a€result€of€her€exposure€toÐ Nž Ðaluminum€during€the€course€of€her€employment.€€The€employer€contends€the€evidence€is€notÐ :Š Ðsufficient€to€establish€a€compensable€work€injury.€€The€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€Ô‡X¤ XXXPÉÔÐ &v ÐÔ#†XPÉXXX¤ Þ#ÔÔ#†¼%»XXPɲ#ÔÔ‡XPÉX»¼%ÔÌÓ9ÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(1999)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€Chancery€CourtÐ ê: Ðis€Affirmedó óÐ Ö& ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThayer,€Sp.€J.,€Ô#†¼%»àXPÉX#ÔÔ‡XPÉX.¼%Ôóódelivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòBarker,€J.,óó€and€òòPeoples,€Sp.€J.óó,€joined.Ð ®þ ÐÌRobert€M.€Ô_ÔShelorÔ_Ô€and€Ô_ÔKristiÔ_Ô€D.€Ô_ÔMcKinneyÔ_Ô,€of€Knoxville,€for€Appellant,€Ô_ÔEbascoÔ_Ô€Constructors,€Inc.Ð † Ö ÐÌBruce€D.€Fox,€of€Clinton,€Tennessee,€for€Appellee,€Beverly€A.€Taylor.Ð ^"®! ÐÌÓ: ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼%»XXPÉy #ÔÔ‡XPÉX»¼%ÔÐ 6$†# ÐÌÓ  ÓÔ#†¼%»XXPɹ #ÔÔ€XPÉX»¼%Ôà  àThe€employer,€Ô_ÔEbascoÔ_Ô€Constructors,€Inc.,€has€appealed€from€the€trial€courtððs€finding€theÐ &^!% Ðemployee,€Beverly€A.€Taylor,€was€permanently€and€totally€disabled€as€a€result€of€her€exposure€toÐ ú&J"& Ðaluminum€during€the€course€of€her€employment.Ð æ'6#' ÐÌà  àThe€employee€was€forty„four€(44)€years€of€age€at€the€time€of€the€trial€and€had€completed€theÐ ¾)%) Ðninth€grade€in€school.€€She€did€not€have€any€special€skills€and€never€obtained€a€GED€certificate.€€SheÐ ª*ú%* Ðbegan€working€for€Ô_ÔEbascoÔ_Ô,€a€subcontractor€at€the€Watts€Bar€Nuclear€Plant€in€Spring€City,€Tennessee,Ð –+æ&+ Ðon€August€10,€1992,€as€a€general€laborer€with€janitorial€duties.€€She€testified€that€her€job€requiredÐ ‚,Ò', Ðsweeping€up€metal€shavings€as€well€as€cleaning€some€chemical€spills.€€She€had€only€worked€for€aÐ n-¾(-ýÀ ÐÔ_Ôshort€period€of€time,€approximately€two€weeks,€when€she€developed€a€rash€over€her€body;€had€bloodÐ ° Ðin€her€urine;€became€short€of€breath;€and€developed€breathing€problems.€€She€saw€a€doctor€and€wasÐ œì Ðoff€work€from€sometime€during€August€until€January€1993.€€She€told€the€trial€court€she€had€neverÐ ˆØ Ðhad€symptoms€of€that€nature€before.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àOn€about€January€12,€1993,€she€returned€to€work€and€was€assigned€duties€as€an€electricalÐ L œ Ðhelper.€€She€began€to€miss€work€again€because€of€these€continuing€problems€and€she€was€terminatedÐ 8 ˆ Ðon€March€2,€1993€for€missing€too€much€work.€€She€testified€that€she€first€became€aware€duringÐ $ t ÐSeptember€1993€that€her€exposure€to€aluminum€in€her€workplace€had€cause€her€lung€condition€andÐ  ` Ðthat€she€so€notified€her€employer.€€The€employer€was€not€convinced€her€condition€was€a€result€of€herÐ ü L  Ðwork€since€she€had€been€working€for€such€a€short€period€of€time.€€Therefore,€her€claim€was€notÐ è 8  Ðrecognized€as€a€compensable€injury€and€she€filed€suit€in€June€1994.€€After€learning€of€her€diagnosisÐ Ô$  Ðshe€saw€other€doctors€across€the€country€for€a€lengthy€period€of€time€and€was€also€seen€at€VanderbiltÐ À  ÐHospital€in€Nashville,€Tennessee€and€at€a€lung€research€hospital€in€Denver,€Colorado.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àAt€the€time€of€the€first€hearing€during€March€2000,€the€employee€testified€she€could€not€walkÐ „Ô  Ðvery€far€because€she€was€real€short€of€breath;€most€of€the€time€her€joints€hurt€a€lot;€she€had€lesionsÐ pÀ Ðon€her€skin;€and€that€she€was€taking€medication€and€was€on€oxygen.€€She€stated€she€could€not€do€anyÐ \¬ Ðtype€of€work€and€that€her€immune€system€was€very€low€as€it€would€take€her€weeks€to€get€over€a€cold.€Ð H˜ ÐHer€income€has€been€Social€Security€Disability€benefits€and€SSI€benefits.Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àWitness€Linda€King,€a€sister€of€the€employee,€testified€her€sister€was€not€able€to€walk€veryÐ  \ Ðfar€and€that€she€did€most€of€her€shopping€and€errands.Ð øH ÐÌà  àThe€only€medical€testimony€before€the€trial€court€was€the€deposition€of€Dr.€Charles€Bruton,Ð Ð  Ða€pulmonologist€in€Oak€Ridge,€Tennessee,€who€saw€her€for€the€first€time€on€August€30,€1993.€€HeÐ ¼  Ðstated€she€had€come€to€him€for€a€second€opinion€after€receiving€a€diagnosis€of€sarcoidosis€at€theÐ ¨ø ÐUniversity€of€Tennessee€Medical€Center.€€He€said€after€her€initial€visit,€he€did€not€see€her€again€untilÐ ”ä Ð1998,€when€she€decided€to€continue€treatment€locally.€€Dr.€Bruton€stated€that€toxicity€testing€in€1993Ð €Ð Ðindicated€high€toxic€aluminum€levels€and€that€this€condition€mostly€affected€the€lungs.€€At€one€pointÐ l¼ Ðduring€his€examination,€he€said€that€generally€patients€improve€somewhat€over€a€long€period€of€timeÐ X ¨ Ðbut€Ms.€Taylor€had€not€done€so.€€He€was€of€the€opinion€that€she€had€a€50€percent€impairment€underÐ D!” Ðthe€AMA€guidelines;€that€she€was€totally€disabled;€and€that€her€work€conditions€had€caused€herÐ 0"€  Ðdisability.Ð #l! ÐÌà  àDr.€Craig€Colvin,€a€professor€at€the€University€of€Tennessee€and€a€part„time€vocationalÐ ô$D # Ðconsultant,€also€testified€the€employee€could€not€work€in€the€open€labor€market.Ð à%0!$ ÐÌà  àAt€a€second€hearing€during€May€2002,€the€trial€court€heard€the€testimony€of€Fred€Roper,€whoÐ ¸'#& Ðhad€worked€at€the€Watts€Bar€Nuclear€Plant.€€He€stated€he€had€been€employed€by€TVA€and€workedÐ ¤(ô#' Ðat€the€plant€from€1982€until€1991€and€then€at€another€location€until€1992.€€On€September€20,€1992,Ð )à$( Ðhe€went€to€work€for€Ebasco€at€Watts€Bar€and€worked€until€December€31,€1992.€€While€working€forÐ |*Ì%) ÐEbasco,€his€job€title€was€sheet€metal€foreman.€€He€testified€he€was€familiar€with€the€different€Ô_ÔmetalsÐ h+¸&* Ðused€there€and€that€aluminum€was€used€frequently€because€it€was€lightweight,€was€easy€to€work€withÐ ° Ðand€easy€to€move€in€order€to€clean€around.€€Roper€testified€that€his€work€crew€had€to€fabricate€manyÐ œì Ðthings€out€of€aluminum€and€that€cutting€and€grinding€aluminum€stock€was€very€common€and€wouldÐ ˆØ Ðcreate€a€heavy€dust€which€was€cleaned€up€by€the€general€labor€crews.€€He€said€it€would€get€in€yourÐ tÄ Ðhair€and€be€everywhere€and€that€by€the€end€of€the€day,€it€was€so€heavy€that€sometimes€you€could€onlyÐ `° Ðsee€the€whites€of€his€eyes.Ð L œ ÐÌà  àDefendant€Ô_ÔEbascoÔ_Ô€did€not€introduce€any€evidence€at€either€hearing.Ð $ t ÐÌòòÓ  ÓStandard€of€ReviewóóÐ ü L  ÐÌÓ  Óà  àWe€must€review€the€case€on€appeal€de€novo€with€a€presumption€that€the€findings€of€the€trialÐ Ô$  Ðcourt€are€correct€unless€we€find€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð À  Ððð€50„6„225(e)(2).Ð ¬ü  ÐÌÓ  ÓòòAnalysisóóÐ „Ô  ÐÌÓ  Óà  àThe€trial€court€found€the€employee€was€totally€disabled€as€a€result€of€her€exposure€toÐ \¬ Ðaluminum€during€the€time€she€was€actually€working€at€the€nuclear€facility.€€The€employer€does€notÐ H˜ Ðchallenge€the€finding€of€total€disability€but€contends€the€evidence€is€not€sufficient€to€establish€herÐ 4„ Ðcondition€was€caused€by€her€work.€€More€specifically,€Ô_ÔEbascoÔ_Ô€argues€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Ô_ÔBrutonÔ_ÔÐ  p Ðand€witness€Roper€is€not€competent€to€support€the€award€of€disability€on€the€causation€question.Ð  \ ÐÌà  àWe€have€carefully€reviewed€Dr.€Ô_ÔBrutonÔ_Ôððs€testimony€and€find€that€he€clearly€expressed€theÐ ä4 Ðopinion€that€her€exposure€to€aluminum€dust€and/or€shavings€at€work€was€the€cause€of€her€medicalÐ Ð  Ðcondition.€€On€cross„examination,€he€stated€that€in€general€exposure€to€aluminum€anywhere€fromÐ ¼  Ðweeks€to€forty€years€before€could€have€resulted€in€her€symptoms€and€that€he€could€not€pinpoint€whenÐ ¨ø Ðexposure€exactly€occurred.€€Counsel€argues€that€since€the€evidence€indicates€one€week€of€theÐ ”ä Ðemployeeððs€actual€work€record€was€in€training€and€that€only€left€about€one€week€for€actual€exposureÐ €Ð Ðin€the€workplace,€that€the€doctorððs€evidence€is€not€sufficient.€€We€disagree.€€While€Dr.€Ô_ÔBrutonÔ_Ô€didÐ l¼ Ðindicate€many€things€ð ðcouldðð€happen€or€result,€the€last€question€to€him€on€redirect€examination€was:Ð X ¨ ÐÌà8  àQ.à0` Ð Ð àDoctor,€does€that€change€your€opinion€that,€within€a€reasonable€degree€ofÐ 0"€  Ðmedical€certainty,€her€Ô_ÔsarcoidosisÔ_Ô€based€on€the€history€and€the€test€results€isÐ #l! Ðrelated€to€her€exposure€at€work?Ð$X"` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà8  àA.à0` Ð Ð àNo,€sir.Ðà%0!$` Ð ` Ð  ÐÌà  àWith€reference€to€the€question€raised€concerning€witness€Fred€Roper,€counsel€points€out€thatÐ ¸'#& Ðthe€employee€left€work€during€late€August€1992€and€witness€Roper€did€not€start€working€for€Ô_ÔEbascoÔ_ÔÐ ¤(ô#' Ðuntil€late€September€1992€and€therefore€he€had€no€knowledge€of€what€the€employee€was€exposed€to.€Ð )à$( ÐWe€are€not€persuaded€by€this€argument.€€The€employee€testified€about€the€activity€of€other€workersÐ |*Ì%) Ðat€the€plant€and€that€was€the€same€activity€that€witness€Roper€described€when€he€was€working€duringÐ h+¸&* Ðhis€period€of€employment.€€He€gave€the€court€a€more€vivid€description€of€how€heavy€the€dust€couldÐ ° Ðbe.€€He€was€very€familiar€with€the€different€metals€that€were€being€used€in€the€workplace€and€hisÐ œì Ðtestimony€supports€the€finding€of€the€trial€court€on€the€causation€question.Ð ˆØ ÐÌÓ  ÓòòConclusionóóÐ `° ÐÌÓ  Óà  àThe€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€findings€of€the€trial€court.€€The€judgment€isÐ 8 ˆ Ðaffirmed€in€all€respects€and€the€case€is€remanded€for€payment€of€all€accrued€benefits€and€paymentÐ $ t Ðof€regular€benefits€until€the€employee€becomes€sixty„five€(65)€years€of€age.€€Costs€of€the€appeal€areÐ  ` Ðtaxed€to€the€employer.Ð ü L  ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð ¬ü  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àROGER€E.€THAYER,€SPECIAL€JUDGEÐ ˜è  ÐÐ  „Ô  ÐÔ_ÔÔ_ÔÔ‡¼%»XXPÉÔÑ  ÑÑ  Ñà@™ ™ ìàÔ#†XPÉX»¼%54#ÔÔ‡î îXXPÉÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@kk$ìàAT€NASHVILLEˆÐ Ö& ÐÌÔ#†XPÉXîî ¡4#ÔÔ‡¼%»XXPÉÔÔ#†XPÉX»¼%O5#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼%»XXPÉÔÓ  ÓEBASCO€CONSTRUCTORS,€INC.,€v.€BEVERLY€TAYLORÔ#†XPÉX»¼%•5#Ôó óÐ  ^ ÐÓ´5ÓÌà@ìì*ìàò òˆÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ù ` A߈Ð ú J ÐÌà@ìàNo.€E2002„01929„WCM„SC„CVˆÐ õ E  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<Ì` AßÐ Í  Ðó óÌÔ‡¼%»XXPÉÔÔ#†XPÉX»¼%U7#Ôà@ƒƒ(ìàò òORDERó óÔ‡¼%»XXPÉÔÔ#†XPÉX»¼%´7#ÔˆÐ È  ÐÌòòóóÔ‡¼%»XXPÉÔÔ#†XPÉX»¼%8#ÔÌÔ‡¼%»XXPÉÔÔ#†XPÉX»¼%V8#ÔÌÔ‡X¤ XXXPÉÔà  àà ` àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motion€for€review€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ð xÈ Ððð€50„6„225(e)(5)(B),€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workers'Ð d´ ÐCompensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€factÐ P  Ðand€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ð <Œ Ðà  àà ` àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€review€is€not€well„taken€andÐ (x Ðshould€be€denied€andÐ d Ðà  àà ` àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€areÐ P Ðadopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.€€ò òÐ ì< Ðó óà  àà ` àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€employer.Ð Ø( ÐÌà  àà ` àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€12òòthóó€day€of€November,€2003.Ð ° ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àPER€CURIAMÐ ˆØ ÐÌÌÌBarker,€J.€„€€Not€participating.Ð 8"ˆ! ÐÔ#†XPÉXXX¤ ™8#ÔÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à