WPC U-oi8>lnk?{=ㆴޏ-ȑii tΛjga]4?`2 :=5Z;l),i-("duϓUNI % 0U:40   w@ 0?D 0D H U:U:I- AQ 0 0 0D B9 D/VV B D3HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,,,,,,0nLh(hH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX(H=$  HTR[A' Legal[A' LegalA' LegalA' LegalTX_XXX7XXdXXd7,  AZ"Arial Regular[$3|xC   Bv$HXhXXX `   1    ݀InthesettlementofApril17,1995,theplaintiffwasawardedalumpsum  paymentbasedupona40percentpermanentpartialdisabilitytobotharms.AtthetrialofApril29,1997,thetrialjudgefoundtheplaintiffhada60percentimpairmenttoherrightarmanda50percentimpairmenttoherleftarm. &  Bv$HXhXXX `   2    ݀Itisnotabsolutelyclearintherecord,butapparentlythelightdutyjobwas  filledaftertheplaintifffailedtoreturntoworkinApril1995.H CCCDCPC!eCeCӀCCVC((3Bv$ H=!  HTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'TX(XXX7UOXXdd7   `   0  ('$  2   > !"XhXXX  XhXXXhNXXh   Ad FILEDXhXN   September3,1998  CecilCrowson,Jr.XXhAppellateCourtClerk ,cAZ"Arial Regular<6X9`("Courier 10cpi # !"XhXXX  NXXh   Ad FILED#XhXN:#   September3,1998  CecilCrowson,Jr.XXhAppellateCourtClerk  !"#%C<< CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3$ H=!  HTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'TX(XXX7UOXXdd7  (3$ H=!  HTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'TX(XXX7UOXXdd7  ($$   1   d''' dxdP Pd$$$$'dxd H=!  HTR[A' Legal3'A' Legal3'TXhXXX7(XXdd7  CCCCCCCCX     ќCCCr(<,(j 8` `@E0` ttx$h rC   8  @@  INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @@B B SPECIALWORKERS'COMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANELCt(>.*jxI ` `@Ey` ttx$ tߛC@@ATJACKSON   SARAHTAYLOR,   h     )    `     h     ) p     ` Plaintiff/Appellee h     ) p HARDEMANCHANCERY  (#     `     h     ) p  l  v. `     h     ) p NO.02S019708CH00074 R   `     h     ) p  8x HARMANAUTOMOTIVE,INC.,    ) p HON.DEWEYC.WHITENTON, ^  `     h     ) p JUDGE D  ` Defendant/Appellant    ) *  FortheAppellant:   h     FortheAppellee:  `  StuartB.Breakstone h     GaydenDrew,IV 8 Morton&Breakstone h     Drew&Martindale,P.C.  200Jefferson,Suite725 h     470NorthParkway,SuiteC  Memphis,TN38103 h     Jackson,TN38305        MEMORANDUMOPINION  '2$(  MembersofPanel: )&*  JusticeJaniceHolder +', SeniorJudgeJohnK.ByersSpecialJudgeJ.StevenStaffordC %  REVERSED    h      p   BYERS,SeniorJudge =9@ Ї   OPINION      ` Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)forhearingandreportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw. ` Reviewofthefindingsoffactmadebythetrialcourtisdenovouponthe    recordofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofthecorrectnessofthefindings,unlessthepreponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2);Stonev.CityofMcMinnville,896S.W.2d548,550(Tenn.1995). 0p TheapplicationofthisstandardrequiresthisCourttoweighinmoredepththefactualfindingsandconclusionsofthetrialcourtinaworkerscompensationcase.See   Corcoranv.FosterAutoGMC,Inc.,746S.W.2d452,456(Tenn.1988).   ` Theissueraisedinthiscaseiswhetherthetrialjudgeerroneouslysetasideapreviouslyapprovedsettlementoftheplaintiffsworkerscompensationcaseagainstthedefendant. ` Wefinditwaserrortosetthisjudgmentapprovingthesettlementaside.Wereversethejudgmentwhichdidsoandreinstatethejudgmentapprovingthesettlement. ` PriortoApril17,1995,theplaintiffandthedefendantreachedanagreementtosettletheplaintiffsclaimagainstthedefendant.Thepartiesfiledajointpetitionseekingcourtapprovaloftheagreement.OnApril17,1995,thepetitionwasheardbyChancellorCCMorris,CCsittingbyinterchangeforJudgeWhitentoninHardemanCounty. ` Afterhearingtheplaintiffandotherstatements,ChancellorMorrisfoundthesettlementwasproper,wasunderstoodbytheplaintiff,andgaveCCherCCsubstantiallywhatshewasentitledtoundertheWorkersCompensationAct. ` OnMay4,1995,theplaintifffiledapetitiontosetasidethesettlementbecause herworkerscompensationsettlementwasprocuredbyfraud,orinthealternative,thesettlementdidnotsecuretoherinasubstantialmannerthebenefits undertheworkerscompensationlawoftheStateofTennessee. 784:  ` OnSeptember13,1996,JudgeWhitenton,notthejudgewhoapprovedthesettlement,setasidethejudgmententeredonApril17,1995andorderedatrialonthecase. '  1      ׀ThecasewasthentriedonApril29,1997. X   ` TheplaintiffclaimsonthisappealthatCCthesettingCCasideoftheapprovedsettlementwaswarrantedunderTenn.CodeAnn.506206,whichallowsforthesettingasideofasettlementofacompensationclaimifthetrialcourtfindsthesettlementdoesnotsubstantiallyawardanemployeethebenefitstowhichCCheCCCCisCCentitledundertheWorkersCompensationAct.TheplaintiffalsoclaimsthatCCthesettingCCasideoftheapprovedsettlementwasproperunderRule60.02oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedure,whichprovidesforCCthesettingCCasideafinaljudgmentbasedupon (1)mistake,inadvertence,surpriseorexcusableneglect;(2)fraud...,misrepresentation,orothermisconductofanadverseparty;(3)thejudgmentisvoid;(4)[notnecessarytothiscase];or(5)anyotherreasonjustifyingrelieffromtheoperationoftheCCjudgment.CC ` WeareunabletosaywhetherJudgeWhitentonrelieduponTenn.CodeAnn.506206oruponRule60.02oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedureinsettingasidethejudgment.WearealsonotabletosaywhatreasonJudgeWhitentonfoundforrelyingupontheoneheselected.Inrulingonthepetitiontosetasidethejudgment,JudgeWhitentonstated: BasedonthefactsbeforetheCourt,theCourtisgoingtosetthissettlementasideandallowthismattertobereopened.̀ ` ChancellorMorris,whoapprovedthesettlementandenteredthejudgment '#( thereon,foundthesettlementdidgivetheplaintiffsubstantiallytherightstowhichshewasentitledCCunderCCtheWorkersCompensationAct.JudgeWhitenton,whosetthesettlementaside,foundthesettlementsubstantiallydeprivedtheplaintiffofherrightsundertheAct.ThefactthatJudgeWhitentonawardedtheplaintiffmorebenefitsinthetrialofthecasethanCCwereCCobtainedinthesettlementisnotasufficientbasisuponwhichtofindthatthesettlementdidnotproperlyawardtheplaintiffundertheAct.Therefore,wefindthesettlementcouldnotbesetasideunderTenn.CodeAnn.506206becausetheevidenceisnotsufficienttodoso. 6P28  ` AsinthecaseofTenn.CodeAnn.506206,JudgeWhitentonmadenodefinitivefindinguponwhichcriterionhefoundifhesetthejudgmentasideunderRule60.02oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProcedure. ` TheimplicationofthepetitiontosetasidethesettlementandthetestimonyoftheplaintiffinthehearingonthepetitionwasthatthedefendantcommittedfraudinprocuringthesettlementbecauseonApril18,1994thedefendanttransferredherfromthe reworkdepartmentoftheplant,whichwaslightdutywork,totheplasticsline,whichwasnotlightdutywork. ` TheevidenceshowsthatonFebruary17,1995atthesettlementconference,theplaintiffexpressedaneedtobemovedtolightdutywork.TheplaintiffreturnedtoworkonFebruary20,1995andwasassignedtothereworkdepartment,whichconsistedofsortingoutflawedpartsfromtheproductionlinesforreworking.Thiswaslightdutyworkandwithintheplaintiffsmedicalrestrictions.Priortothis,theplaintiffworkedintheplasticsdepartmentandwasnotdoingworkwithinherrestrictions. ` TherecordshowsthatbetweenFebruary1995andApril1995,thedefendanthadreorganizeditsfunctionwhicheliminatedthereworkdepartmentandtransferredthetaskofsortingoutflawedpartstotheproductionlineswherethepartsweremade.Inotherwords,thereworkdepartmentwasessentiallytransferredtotheproductionlines,andthepeoplewhosortedoutthesepartswereassignedtoaproductionline. ` OnApril18,1995,thedayafterthesettlement,theplaintiffwastoldshewouldbeassignedtotheplasticsline.Theplaintiffdidnotworkonthatdatebecauseshehadadoctorsappointment,andsheneverreturnedtowork.Theplaintiffsexplanationfornotreturningtoworkwasthatshehadworkedintheplasticsdepartmentbeforeandthatshewasunabletodothisworkbecauseoftheinjuriestoherarms,thereforedecidingtherewasnouseinreturning.Theplaintifftestifiedsheaskedasupervisorwhatshewoulddointheplasticsdepartmentandhetoldherthatshewouldbedoinganythingthatneededtobedone. ` Aworkerscompensationspecialist,employedbytheState,testifiedtheplaintiff,atthesettlementconference,expressedconcernaboutbeingabletocontinuewithlightdutyworkafterthesettlementwasapproved.Thespecialist t;7> testifiedthesettlementwasreachedbaseduponlightdutyworkbeingfulfilledbythedefendant. ` TheplaintiffdidnotattempttoreturntoworkuntilSeptember7,1995andwastoldatthattimenojobswereavailablewithinhermedicalrestrictions.  '  2       $ d  ` Thesupervisorforwhomtheplaintiffwouldworkintheplasticsdepartmenttestifiedhetoldtheplaintiffshewouldbedoingsorting,whichwaslightdutywork. ` TheburdenofprooflieswiththepartyseekingreliefunderRule60.02oftheTennesseeRulesofCivilProceduretoshowfactsgivingrisetothereliefCCsought.Holtv.Holt,751S.W.2d426,427(Tenn.App.1988);Brumlowv.Brumlow,729  ` S.W.2d103,106(Tenn.App.1986).CCTheplaintiffthereforehastheburdeninthisCCcase.CCAfterCCconsideringalltheevidenceinthiscase,itCCshowsCthefollowing:CCCthattheplaintiffsmedicalrestrictionsrequiredhertodolightdutywork;thatshewasplacedonlightdutyworkinthereworkdepartment;thatthisjobwasmovedtotheplasticsdepartment;thatshewastransferredtothatdepartmenttodosorting,asshehaddoneinthereworkdepartment;thatsheassumedshewouldhavetodoheavydutyworkintheplasticsdepartment,asshehaddonebefore;andthatwhensheattemptedtoreturntoworkinSeptember1995allthesortingjobshadapparentlybeenfilled. ` Thepreponderanceoftheevidenceshowstheplaintiffwouldhavebeendoinglightdutyworkintheplasticsdepartment.Theevidencetothecontrary,ifany,istheplaintiffstestimonythatsheassumedshewouldhavetodoheavydutyworkinthatdepartment.Thisassumptionbytheplaintiffisnotsufficienttocarrytheburdenofproofrequiredbytherule. ` Wereversethejudgmentofthetrialcourtsettingasidethejudgmentapprovingthesettlement.WestrikethejudgmententeredonMay7,1997,whichawardedtheplaintiffbenefitsafteratrialofthecasesubsequenttothesettingasideofthesettlementjudgment.Wereinstatethejudgmentapprovingthesettlementagreement,whichwasfiledonMay5,1995. ` Thecostofthisappealistaxedtotheplaintiff.   6T28  7 4: CCCCCCCCC ` CCCC ` CCC    h     _____________________________ `     h     JohnK.Byers,SeniorJudgeCONCUR:________________________________JaniceHolder,Justice________________________________J.StevenStafford,SpecialJudgeC  n  CCCCXHXXXXh@DINTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE    ATJACKSON  SARAHTAYLOR     p )HardemanChanceryNo.10172    `     h      p ) ` Plaintiff/Appellee    )Hon.DeweyC.Whitenton, H @  `     h     )Chancellorv. `     h     )    `     h     )SupremeCourtNo.t(>.*jxw` `@E` ttx$h p tHARMANAUTOMOTIVE,INC.     p )02S019708CH00074 h`   `     h     )   0(   ` Defendant/Appellant   p )Reversed    ` @(DJUDGMENTORDER   `  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponmotionforreviewpursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference; `  Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshouldbedenied;and `  Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadoptedandaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt. `  Costwillbepaidbyplaintiffappellee,forwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary.#XhXXX55#XXXXh#XhXXXh=#XXXXh `     h      p PERCURIAM 2+8 Holder,J.,notparticipating#XhXXX=#XXXXh 5.< 9#XhXXX~>#C