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2Level 3Level 4Level 5(ÖÃ9 Z‹6Times New Roman Regular˜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 ‹6Times New Roman Regular(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù-(|G2ú×$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€•»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€XR X»»Ô d(|3ÿu$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€..ÑÑ8€•»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3ÿu$¢¢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€R XXdì»»d8ÑÓ  ÓÔ‡îT•Ôà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Ö& Ðà@@ƒƒìàAT€à0 @ àNASHVILLEÔ#†¼•»îîTî#ÔÐ üL ÐJuly€25,€2002€SessionÐ "r ÐÔ‡XR X»¼•ÔÌò òÔ#†¼•»XXR "#ÔGLENN€ELIZABETH€Ô_ÔTEFFTÔ_Ôòòóó€v.€Ô_ÔWEAKLEYÔ_Ô€COUNTY€AMBULANCEÐ  p ÐSERVICEòòóóÔ‡XR X»¼•Ôó óÐ 4 „ ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò òDirect€Appeal€from€the€Circuit€Court€for€Ô_ÔHumphreysÔ_Ô€CountyÐ 4 „ Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€8888€€€€€€Allen€W.€Wallace,€JudgeÐ  p  ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<ã` AßÐ ä4  ÐÌNo.€M2001„02270„Ô_ÔWCÔ_Ô„R3„CV€„€Mailed€„€October€14,€2002Ð ß/  ÐÔ#†¼•»XXR #ÔÔ‡XR X»¼•ÔFiled€„€November€15,€2002Ð Ë ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<¢` AßÐ £ó Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€Special€Workers'€Compensation€AppealsÐ žî ÐPanel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÐ ŠÚ Ðreporting€to€the€Supreme€Court€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€In€this€appeal,€Ô#†¼•»XXR ÿ#ÔÔ‡XR X»¼•ÔtheÐ vÆ ÐemployerÔ#†¼•»XXR )#ÔÔ‡XR X»¼•Ô€insists€(1)€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€judgeððs€finding€that€the€plaintiffÐ b² Ðsustained€a€back€injury€on€September€13,€1999€from€lifting€a€patient€where€the€evidence€shows€theÐ Nž Ðplaintiff€never€lifted€a€patient,€(2)€the€evidence€preponderates€against€the€trial€judgeððs€finding€thatÐ :Š Ðthe€plaintiff€gave€proper€notice€as€required€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„201€where,€without€aÐ &v Ðreasonable€excuse€for€delay,€plaintiff€began€treatment€but€did€not€inform€defendant€that€plaintiffððsÐ b Ðalleged€injury€was€work€related€until€a€month€and€fourteen€days€later,€(3)€the€trial€judge€erred€inÐ þN Ðadmitting€the€plaintiffððs€entire€deposition€into€evidence,€over€the€objection€of€the€defendant,€whenÐ ê: Ðthe€plaintiff€offered€the€same€after€excerpts€of€the€deposition€were€properly€offered€by€defendantÐ Ö& Ðpursuant€to€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€32.01,€and€(4)€the€trial€judge€erred€in€awarding€the€plaintiff€medicalÐ Â Ðexpenses€paid€by€the€plaintiffððs€health€insurance,€a€nonparty.€€As€discussed€below,€the€panel€hasÐ ® þ Ðconcluded€the€judgment€should€be€affirmed.Ð š!ê  ÐÓ³ÓÌò òÓ  ÓTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)€(2001€Supp.)€Appeal€as€of€Right;€Judgment€of€the€CircuitÐ r#Â" ÐCourt€Affirmedó óÐ ^$®# ÐÌòòÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ#†¼•»àXR ‹#ÔÔ‡XR X.¼•ÔóóJòòoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Sp.€J.óó,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòJanice€M.€Holder,€J.,óó€andÐ 6&†!% ÐòòJames€L.€Ô_ÔWeatherfordÔ_Ô,€Sr.€J.óó,€joined.Ð "'r"& ÐÌSean€Ô_ÔAntoneÔ_Ô€Hunt,€Ô_ÔSpicerÔ_Ô,€Flynn€&€Ô_ÔRudstromÔ_Ô,€Memphis,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Ô_ÔWeakleyÔ_ÔÐ ú(J$( ÐCounty€Ambulance€ServiceÐ æ)6%) ÐÌCharles€L.€Hicks,€Camden,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellee,€Glenn€Elizabeth€Ô_ÔTefftÔ_ÔÐ ¾+'+ ÐÌÓa ÓÓ  Óò òMEMORANDUM€OPINIONó óÔ#†¼•»XXR #ÔÔ‡XR X»¼•ÔÐ –-æ(-ý  ÐÔ_Ô‡Ó  ÓÔ#†¼•»XXR ‹#ÔÔ€XR X»¼•Ôà  àThe€employee€or€claimant,€Ms.€Tefft,€initiated€this€civil€action€to€recover€workersððÐ ° Ðcompensation€benefits,€as€provided€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„101€et€seq,€for€injuries€allegedlyÐ œì Ðsuffered€in€a€work€related€accident€on€September€13,€1999.€€Following€a€trial€on€August€9,€2001,€theÐ ˆØ Ðtrial€court€awarded€to€her,€among€other€things,€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€based€on€35Ð tÄ Ðpercent€to€the€body€as€a€whole.€€The€employer,€Weakley€County€Ambulance€Service,€has€appealed.Ð `° ÐÌà  àÔ‡XR XXXR ÔFor€injuries€occurring€on€or€after€July€1,€1985,€appellate€review€is€de€novo€upon€the€recordÐ 8 ˆ Ðof€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€a€presumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€theÐ $ t Ðpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Ô#†XR XXXR €#ÔTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„225(e)(2)€(2001€Supp.).Ô‡XR XXXR Ô€€TheÐ  ` Ðreviewing€court€is€required€to€conduct€an€independent€examination€of€the€record€to€determine€whereÐ ü L  Ðthe€preponderance€of€the€evidence€lies.Ô#†XR XXXR #ÔÔ‡XR XXXR Ô€€òòWingert€v.€Government€of€Sumner€Countyóó,€908€S.W.2d€921,Ð è 8  Ð922€(Tenn.€1995).€€Ô#†XR XXXR #ÔÔ‡XR XXXR ÔThe€standard€governing€appellate€review€of€findings€of€fact€by€a€trial€courtÐ Ô$  Ðrequires€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€to€examine€in€depth€a€trial€courtððsÐ À  Ðfactual€findings€and€conclusions.Ô#†XR XXXR ¬#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR Ô€€òòGAF€Bldg.€Materials€v.€Georgeóó,€47€S.W.3d€430,€432€(Tenn.€2001).€Ð ¬ü  ÐÔ#†XR XXXR ç#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR ÔWhere€the€trial€judge€has€seen€and€heard€the€witnesses,€especially€if€issues€of€credibility€and€weightÐ ˜è  Ðto€be€given€oral€testimony€are€involved,€considerable€deference€must€be€accorded€thoseÐ „Ô  Ðcircumstances€on€review,€because€it€is€the€trial€court€which€had€the€opportunity€to€observe€theÐ pÀ Ðwitnessesðð€demeanor€and€to€hear€the€in„court€testimony.€€òòÔ#†XR XXXR †#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR ÔLong€v.€Tri„Con€Ind.,€Ltd.óó,€996€S.W.2dÐ \¬ Ð173,€178€(Tenn.€1999).Ô#†XR XXXR a#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR Ô€€The€trial€courtððs€findings€with€respect€to€credibility€and€weight€of€theÐ H˜ Ðevidence€may€generally€be€inferred€from€the€manner€in€which€the€court€resolves€conflicts€in€theÐ 4„ Ðtestimony€and€decides€the€case.€€òòÔ#†XR XXXR ÷#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR ÔTobitt€v.€Bridgestone/Firestone,€Inc.óó,€59€S.W.3d€57,€61€(Tenn.Ð  p Ð2001).Ô#†XR XXXR 3#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR Ô€€The€appellate€tribunal,€however,€is€as€well€situated€to€gauge€the€weight,€worth€andÐ  \ Ðsignificance€of€deposition€testimony€as€the€trial€judge.€€Ô#†XR XXXR Ñ#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR ÔòòWalker€v.€Saturn€Corp.óó,€986€S.W.2d€204,€207Ð øH Ð(Tenn.€1998)Ô#†XR XXXR ·#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR Ô.€€The€extent€of€an€injured€workerððs€vocational€disability€is€a€question€of€fact.€€òòÔ#†XR XXXR K#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR ÔSeals€v.Ð ä4 ÐEngland/Corsair€Upholstery€Mfg.óó,€984€S.W.2d€912,€915€(Tenn.€1999).Ô#†XR XXXR æ#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR Ô€€Where€the€medical€testimonyÐ Ð  Ðin€a€workersðð€compensation€case€is€presented€by€deposition,€the€reviewing€court€may€make€anÐ ¼  Ðindependent€assessment€of€the€medical€proof€to€determine€where€the€preponderance€of€the€proof€lies.€Ð ¨ø ÐòòÔ#†XR XXXR Š#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR ÔWhirlpool€Corp.€v.€Nakhoneinhóó,€69€S.W.3d€164,€167€(Tenn.€2002).Ô#†XR XXXR í #ÔÐ ”ä ÐÌà  àThe€claimant€worked€for€the€employer€as€an€emergency€medical€technician.€€On€the€date€ofÐ l¼ Ðthe€injury,€she€and€her€partner/supervisor,€Joe€David€Laws,€responded€to€an€emergency€call€issuedÐ X ¨ Ðbecause€R.€C.€Lamb,€a€5'11"€240€pound€man,€had€fallen.€€The€claimant€claims€she€felt€a€pull€in€herÐ D!” Ðlower€back€during€the€process€of€lifting€the€patient€onto€a€stretcher.€€A€couple€of€days€later,€sheÐ 0"€  Ðverbally€reported€the€injury€to€Laws.€€She€continued€working,€but€with€increasingly€severe€pain.€€OnÐ #l! ÐOctober€5,€1999,€she€visited€her€physician,€Dr.€Richard€Jackson.Ð $X" ÐÌà  àDr.€Jackson€noted€that€Tefft€was€tender€in€the€lumbar€region€of€her€back,€had€decreased€rangeÐ à%0!$ Ðof€motion€and€had€inflamation€in€her€back.€€He€ordered€a€CT€scan,€which€revealed€a€bulging€disc€atÐ Ì&"% ÐL5„S1€and€a€central€herniation€at€L4„L5.€€Tefft€received€the€results€of€the€test€on€October€6,€1999.€Ð ¸'#& ÐShe€immediately€called,€verbally€notifying€the€employer€and€relating€her€belief€that€the€injury€hadÐ ¤(ô#' Ðoccurred€at€the€Lamb€home€on€the€claimed€date€and€insisting€her€claim€should€be€covered€byÐ )à$( Ðworkersðð€compensation.€€Her€claim€was€eventually€denied.Ð |*Ì%) ÐÔ_ÔÐ h+¸&* Ðà  àThe€employer€contends€the€accident€did€not€happen,€relying€on€testimony€by€Laws€andÐ ° Ðanother€witness€that€the€claimant€did€not€lift€the€patient.€€Their€testimony€is€in€direct€conflict€withÐ œì Ðthe€testimony€of€the€claimant.€€Lamb€testified€that€he€thought€he€was€lifted€by€both€Laws€and€Ô_ÔTefftÔ_Ô.€Ð ˆØ ÐThe€trial€court€believed€Ô_ÔTefftÔ_Ô€and€Lamb.€€Giving€due€deference€to€the€findings€of€the€trial€court,€weÐ tÄ Ðcannot€say€the€preponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.Ð `° ÐÌà  àThe€appellant€further€contends€the€claimant€failed€to€give€proper€notice€of€her€injury.€Ð 8 ˆ ÐÔ‡XR XXXR ÔImmediately€upon€the€occurrence€of€an€injury,€or€as€soon€thereafter€as€is€reasonable€and€practicable,Ð $ t Ðan€injured€employee€must,€unless€the€employer€has€actual€knowledge€of€the€accident,€give€writtenÐ  ` Ðnotice€of€the€injury€to€the€employer.Ô#†XR XXXR ì)#Ô€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„201(a).€€Ô‡XR XXXR ÔIt€is€significant€that€writtenÐ ü L  Ðnotice€is€unnecessary€in€those€situations€where€the€employer€has€actual€knowledge€of€the€injury.Ô#†XR XXXR g+#Ô€Ô‡XR XXXR ÔÐ è 8  ÐÔ#†XR XXXR =,#ÔòòGeorge€v.€Building€Materials€Corp.óó,€44€S.W.3d€481,€485€at€n€1€(Tenn.€2001).€€In€this€case,€theÐ Ô$  Ðevidence€fails€to€preponderate€against€a€finding€that€the€employer€had€actual€notice€resulting€fromÐ À  Ðthe€claimantððs€verbal€notification€to€her€immediate€supervisor€and€to€the€employerððs€office€manager.Ð ¬ü  ÐÌà  àThe€appellant€further€contends€the€trial€court€erred€in€allowing€the€claimant€to€introduce€herÐ „Ô  Ðentire€deposition€into€evidence€after€the€appellant€introduced€a€portion€of€it.€€By€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.Ð pÀ Ð32.01(4),€if€part€of€a€deposition€is€offered€into€evidence€by€a€party,€an€adverse€party€may€require€theÐ \¬ Ðoffering€party€to€introduce€any€other€part€which€ought€in€fairness€to€be€considered€with€the€partÐ H˜ Ðintroduced.€€In€this€case,€the€employer€introduced€approximately€sixteen€pages€of€the€claimantððsÐ 4„ Ðdeposition.€€The€claimant€then€introduced€the€entire€deposition€to€allow€for€consideration€of€the€partsÐ  p Ðintroduced€by€the€employer.€€The€trial€court€agreed€that€the€entire€deposition€was€needed€to€considerÐ  \ Ðthe€various€parts€introduced.Ð øH ÐÌà  àThe€admissibility€of€such€evidence€rests€largely€within€the€discretion€of€the€trial€court€andÐ Ð  Ðsuch€rulings€should€not€be€overturned€unless€there€has€been€an€abuse€of€that€discretion.€€We€are€notÐ ¼  Ðpersuaded€the€trial€court€abused€its€discretion€by€allowing€the€entire€deposition€to€be€introduced.€Ð ¨ø ÐMoreover,€by€Tenn.€R.€App.€P.€36(b),€a€final€judgment€from€which€relief€is€available€and€otherwiseÐ ”ä Ðappropriate€should€not€be€set€aside€unless,€considering€the€whole€record,€the€error€involving€aÐ €Ð Ðsubstantial€right€more€probably€than€not€effected€the€judgment.€€This€issue€is€resolved€in€favor€of€theÐ l¼ Ðclaimant.Ð X ¨ ÐÌà  àFinally,€the€employer€contends€the€trial€court€erred€in€ordering€medical€benefits€paid€directlyÐ 0"€  Ðto€the€claimant€instead€of€the€health€care€providers.€€The€trial€court€ordered€the€employer€to€beÐ #l! Ðð ðresponsible€for€plaintiffððs€medical€treatment€rendered€to€her€as€a€result€of€her€work€related€injuriesÐ $X" Ðof€September€13,€1999€to€her€back....ðð€€The€employerÔ‡XR XXXR Ô€is€required€to€provide,€free€of€charge€to€theÐ ô$D # Ðinjured€employee,€all€medical€and€hospital€care€which€is€reasonably€necessary€on€account€of€theÐ à%0!$ Ðinjury.Ô#†XR XXXR 56#Ô€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€50„6„204(a)(1).€€We€find€no€error€in€the€trial€courtððs€ruling.Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àFor€those€reasons,€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€are€taxed€to€theÐ ¤(ô#' Ðappellant.Ð )à$( ÐÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  à___________________________________€Ð h+¸&* Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àJOE€C.€LOSER,€JR.Ð  ° ÐÔ_ÔÔ‡¼•»XXR ÔÓ  Óà@@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐSPECIAL€WORKERSðð€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÐ Â ÐÌÔ#†XR X»¼•R9#ÔÌò òÔ‡¼•»XXR ÔGLENN€ELIZABETH€TEFFT€v.€WEAKLEY€COUNTY€AMBULANCEÐ Ò" ÐSERVICEòòóóÔ#†XR X»¼•0:#Ôó óÐ æ 6 ÐÌà@@¼¼ìàò òCircuit€Court€for€Humphreys€CountyÐ æ 6 Ðà@@ôôìàNo.€8888Ð Ò " ÐÌÌà@@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<•` AßÐ –æ  ÐÌNo.€M2001„02270„WC„R3„CV€„€Filed€„€November€15,€2002Ð ‘á  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<h` AßÐ i¹  Ðó óÌÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡¼•»XXR ÔÔ#†XR X»¼•€<#ÔÌÌÓt<ÓÓ  Óò òJUDGMENTó óÔ‡¼•»XXR ÔÔ#†XR X»¼•î<#ÔÐ <Œ ÐÌÓ  ÓÔ‡¼•»XXR ÔÔ#†XR X»¼•R=#ÔÔ‡XR XXXR Ôà  àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€theÐ d ÐSpecial€Workersðð€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forthÐ P Ðits€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference.Ð ì< ÐÌà  àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€of€the€Panel€should€beÐ Ä Ðaccepted€and€approved;€andÐ ° ÐÌà  àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adoptedÐ ˆØ Ðand€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àCosts€will€be€paid€by€the€appellant,€Weakley€County€Ambulance€Service,€Inc.,€for€whichÐ L œ Ðexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ð 8!ˆ  ÐÌà  àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED.Ð #`" ÐÌÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àà  àPER€CURIAMÐ À&"& Ðà  àÔ#†XR XXXR ”=#ÔÔ_Ô