ÿWPC® cPcBMú _ôÏ ÑÒ‰ƒô€¯Qˆ‰UrkøðWîià”öšóþE¨{©PY1Íuø éÖxá,)oIuÒ6œ8)hˆ4 „k’˲‘-…L¶Ä÷N?„76ÆžžÁAUš1æ5(ã¨RŠ“­mÂÃcL §¤æk+ q¹ž„€jå÷õw+ŒüÂp§xÙK q\Å=<ÖïOï¹+#?¿¦P2°ö”xÚs„…HàãOöõ. ö#Sì¡ËJŸDk~Ãå–u»9%^–P]¥æv:±o¿W&xôU´ÜæÊ:éÛ¦f­¼@,§JbaÓ½rÎx0ë#G8AM_½¡”/DåÓ~]5ÆH<áì^Âæ1-DØ„RK_íA+~þ+GG»a¢Õô•ì¼ÍÚŠ‰¸)ü DD D áF!­¥õnfàá(Õ7mvöË:evhKÎ<鉵Öë䥻«œh¬ËÄé_¤“kön-^ZçÎÓ$²¬LšGV3â‹ÊEµHŸ Û^˜ª"?Ä"Ìš.tÀÍ!#e€°å›$ˆ>þPœ¦#KJiÊŸŽ%T/›{d·DŽî©_£)ìæ–þ vtÑûÖÎ7\çÜ£²áà¹UB %` U.f r” k 0qUBþ@n¯P 0rÿqw@q4±ÅÅUFÓU:SU:aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa B››››› D3¸¸¸ 0Žëëëëëëëëëëëëë D+yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy AO¤Æóó 0D¹ D/ý B,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, AYIÆ¢ 0Fhô\  `*Times New RomanTTô"ÝÆÿA€ArialTT'    0 .    aÝ ƒ­)ÝÔ€X½XôôÔÔ€XXXX½ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒ8°ÒÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°œX<ÓÔ  ÔÔ@  ÔÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚÔA  ÔÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?Ó(e2­$©©Ý ƒ ôˆ!ÝÔ€X½XôôÔÔ€XXXX½ÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ýô\  `*Times New RomanTT3|xÁ«ô\  `*Times New RomanTTôôCô\  PŽ6QôP"ÝÆÿA€ArialTTomanTTXXaÝÆÿptQXpô\  `*Times New RomanTT¼¼^ô\  PŽ6Q¼Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT„„yô\  PŽ6Q„Pô\  `*Times New RomanTT6ô\  PŽ6QPô\  `*Times New RomanTTXXPô\  PŽ6QXPô\  `*Times New RomanTT  kô\  PŽ6Q P(Jôˆ$¡¡Ô€X±XôôÔÔ€XøRXXX±ÔÓ  Ó ¢E£D¤¥D¦U§Ó€³D´µ¶Ó€w€#%aYd Ô€ô9: ôôôÔÔ€˜û  ôô9:ÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XèU X ˜ûÔÐ  ÐÌò òSeptember€4,€1998Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ô9: ô XXèUÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó<4šÛ 9Z ‹.Courier New Regular,kû¤AZ‹"Arial Regular Ô€ô9: ôôôÔÔ€˜û  ôô9:ÔÓ  ÓÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€XèU X ˜ûÔÐ  ÐÌò òSeptember€4,€1998Ð šš ÐÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€ô9: ô XXèUÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó,kû¤AZ‹"Arial Regular d%%%%'ÿÿdxd(f3A$££Ý ƒ ôˆ!ÝÔ€X½XôôÔÔ€XXXX½ÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ý'ÈÈÈÈdxd€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP Pd·-¸:Müÿ << deUU…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(n$––ò ò(Ú  Ú1Ú  Ú)ó óÝ ƒ ôˆ!ÝÔ€X½XôôÔÔ€XXXX½ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑTR[  AØ'3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÒ°ÒÒ8°ÒÖ€ÿÿÖÑ  ÑÔ&  ÔÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°œX<ÓÔ€¼FƼXXÔÔ€¼׌¼¼¼FÆÔÔ  ÔIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÐ ° ÐÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÌAT€KNOXVILLEÌ(June€30,€1998€Session)ÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓWILLA€DEAN€VALENTINE,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€COCKE€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€„ŒÇ„¼¼׌Ô€Ô€¼׌¼„„ŒÇÔ€€€€)Ð ¢ò  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee,€€€€€€€€Ô€(¼¼׌ÔÔ€((Ô€Ô€¼׌¼(ÔÔ€¼׌¼¼¼׌Ô)€€€€€Hon.€Richard€R.€Vance,Ð  Z  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€„ŒÇ„¼¼׌Ô€Ô€¼׌¼„„ŒÇÔ€)€€€€€Judge.Ð  p  Ðv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€X½X¼¼׌Ô€Ô€¼׌¼XX½Ô€€Ô€(¼¼׌ÔÔ€((Ô€Ô€¼׌¼(ÔÔ€¼׌¼¼¼׌Ô€€€€)Ð ˆØ Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€„ŒÇ„¼¼׌Ô€Ô€¼׌¼„„ŒÇÔ€€)€€€€€No.€03S01„9712„CV„00138Ð žî Ðñ¶ñßr€*<,(j 8` `€€@EF` ttx$~ð Õrßñ¶ñHEEKIN€CAN,€INC.,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ Gp ¼¼׌Ô€Ô€¼׌¼  GpÔ€)Ð V Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€„ŒÇ„¼¼׌Ô€Ô€¼׌¼„„ŒÇÔ€€€€€€ñ´ñ€ñ´ñ)Ð F– Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant.€€€Ô€X½X¼¼׌Ô€Ô€¼׌¼XX½Ô€€ñ³ñ€ñ³ññµñ€ñµñ)Ð ®þ ÐÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appelleeóó:Ð l ÐÌJames€T.€Shea€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€William€G.€BallÌKnoxville,€Tennessee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Knoxville,€TennesseeòòÐ ^"® ÐóóÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX<ÓòòM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÐ Ì'# ÐÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:Ð :-Š($ ÐÌWilliam€M.€Barker,€Associate€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÌÌÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓÌÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX<ÓÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓÌÓ  ÓAFFIRMED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,€JudgeÓ {ÀÓÐX;¨61 ÐÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX<ÓòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÔ'°÷ÔÓ ö€{ÀÓÐ ° ÐÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓÓ€ÓÓ ö€Óà ` àà ¸ àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€the€SpecialÏWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€accordance€withÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€and€reporting€of€findingsÏof€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€issue€for€review€is€whether€the€claim€isÏbarred€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„203,€a€statute€of€limitations.€€AsÏdiscussed€below,€the€panel€has€concluded€the€judgment€should€be€affirmed.Ìà ` àà ¸ àThe€trial€court€overruled€the€employer's€pre„trial€motion€forÏsummary€judgment€and,€after€a€trial,€found€that€the€injury€did€not€manifest€itselfÏuntil€March€of€1993€and€awarded€benefits€to€the€injured€employee.€€AppellateÏreview€is€de€novo€upon€the€record€of€the€trial€court,€accompanied€by€aÏpresumption€of€correctness€of€the€findings€of€fact,€unless€the€preponderance€ofÏthe€evidence€is€otherwise.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(2).€€It€isÏundisputed€that€the€action€was€commenced€on€June€23,€1993.Ìà ` àà ¸ àThe€employee€or€claimant,€Valentine,€was€50€years€old€at€the€timeÏof€the€trial.€€She€has€a€ninth€grade€education€and€has€worked€for€the€employer,ÏHeekin,€as€a€packing€machine€operator€since€1984.€€In€June€of€1991,€she€twistedÏher€neck€and€arm€while€pulling€cans€from€the€line.€€She€immediately€notified€aÏsupervisor€but€he€did€not€complete€a€work€related€injury€report€because€thereÏwas€no€visible€evidence€of€injury.€€Instead,€the€employer€filed€a€health€insuranceÏclaim.Ìà ` àà ¸ àThe€next€week,€Valentine€took€a€vacation,€but€continued€to€haveÏneck€and€arm€pain.€€She€went€to€a€medical€clinic,€where€she€received€painÏmedication€and€a€soft€neck€collar.€€She€returned€to€work€following€the€vacation,Ïbut€her€neck€and€arm€still€hurt,€so€she€reported€the€injury€to€a€plant€manager,Ïwho€attributed€the€problem€to€"old€age"€and€refused€to€complete€a€work€relatedÏinjury€report.€€Concerned€with€the€financial€strain€of€the€copayment€requirementÏof€her€health€insurance€coverage,€the€claimant€spoke€directly€to€the€secretaryÏwho€handled€workers'€compensation€claims€for€the€employer.€€The€secretary,€inÐ F8–3? Ðher€trial€testimony,€admitted€the€claim€was€mishandled,€but€testified€also€thatÏshe€only€designated€claims€as€workers'€compensation€claims€when€instructed€toÏdo€so€by€a€supervisor.Ìà ` àà ¸ àIn€September€of€1991,€the€claimant€visited€the€company€doctor,€Dr.ÏWilliam€Williams,€because€of€persistent€pain.€€Dr.€Williams€prescribed€lightÏduty€work€and€put€her€arm€in€a€sling.€€She€visited€a€chiropractor€in€October€ofÏ1991.€€She€returned€to€Dr.€Williams€in€December€of€the€same€year€and€wasÏreferred€to€Dr.€David€Hauge,€a€neurosurgeon,€who€treated€her€conservativelyÏuntil€March€17,€1992,€when€he€released€her€to€return€to€work€withoutÏrestrictions.€€The€record€does€not€reveal€that€any€of€the€doctors€told€her€she€wasÏpermanently€impaired€in€1991€or€1992.Ìà ` àà ¸ àShe€did€return€to€work€and€worked€continuously€until€March€17,Ï1993,€when€she€again€was€injured€at€work.€€This€time€she€immediately€informedÏthe€secretary€that€she€wanted€the€injury€to€be€designated€as€a€workers'Ïcompensation€claim.€€However,€the€claim€was€denied€by€the€supervisor€becauseÏthe€form€had€the€same€diagnostic€code€as€the€1991€injury.€€The€claimant€againÏreported€to€Dr.€Williams€and€was€referred€to€Dr.€Hauge,€who,€in€March€of€1993,Ïinformed€her€for€the€first€time€that€she€had€a€permanent€injury.€€The€doctor€laterÏperformed€fusion€discectomy€and,€on€January€1,€1994,€assigned€a€permanentÏimpairment€rating€of€eleven€percent€to€the€whole€body.Ìà ` àà ¸ àA€psychologist€testified€at€trial€that€the€claimant's€verbal€andÏclerical€perception€is€in€the€lower€one„third€of€the€population,€that€she€reads€atÏthe€seventh€grade€level,€and€that€she€is€in€the€fifth€percentile€with€respect€toÏclerical€ability.Ìà ` àà ¸ àAn€action€by€an€employee€to€recover€benefits€for€an€accidentalÏinjury,€other€than€an€occupational€disease,€must€be€commenced€within€one€yearÏafter€the€occurrence€of€the€injury.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„224(1).€ÏHowever,€the€running€of€the€statute€of€limitations€is€suspended€until€byÏreasonable€care€and€diligence€it€is€discoverable€and€apparent€that€a€compensableÐ Ð8 4@ Ðinjury€has€been€sustained.€€òòHibner€v.€St.€Paul€Mercury€Ins.€Co.óó,€619€€S.W.2d€Ð ° Ð109€(Tenn.€1981).€€It€is€the€date€on€which€the€employee's€disability€manifestsÏitself€to€a€person€of€reasonable€diligence€„€not€the€date€of€accident€„€whichÏtriggers€the€running€of€the€statute€of€limitations€for€an€accidental€injury.€€òòIdóó.€Ð “ ã ÐThus,€we€must€affirm€the€finding€of€the€trial€judge,€unless€the€evidenceÏpreponderates€otherwise.€€It€does€not.Ìà ` àà ¸ àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€consequently€affirmed.€€Costs€onÏappeal€are€taxed€to€the€defendant„appellant.Ó íÓÌÓ  ÓÓ<(ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX<ÓÓ€Ó_______________________________Ó íÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ?+ÿÿ ` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#ÿÿ` ‹X?ÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌWilliam€M.€Barker,€Associate€JusticeÌÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌRoger€E.€Thayer,€Special€JudgeÌÓ-ÿÿçÈ xÐ (#ÿÿŒX-ÓÐ ]&­!% ÐÑTR[  AØ'ÿ Legal[  AØ' AØ'ÿ Legal AØ'ÿ LegalTÑÔ‡Šsм¼׌Ôà ç àÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€IN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEE€€Ô#†¼׌¼ŠŠs¼$#ÔÔ‡X½X¼¼׌ÔÐ ¸ Ðà@TT-TàˆÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€AT€KNOXVILLEÌà ç àÌà ç àà È àà  à€€€à x àÐ Œ Ü Ðà , àà @, àà  àà ç àà  àà ç àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àà (# àñ¦ñÌÌÌñ¦ñà ç àà È àÌWILLA€DEAN€VALENTI€NE,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€COCKE€CIRCUIT€€€€€€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à ç àÐ ,|  Ѐ€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€No.€€21,762à  àà x àà Ð àà (# àÐ l  ÐV.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à ç àÐ  \  Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à ç àà È àÐ üL ÐHEEKIN€CAN,€INC.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€03S01„9712„CV„00138à x àà Ð àà (# àÐ ì< Ѐ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€à ç àÐ Ü, Ѐ€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€€€€€€€€Hon.€Richard€R.€Vance€à Ð àà (# àÐ Ì Ðà ç àà È àà  àà x àÌñ§ñßr€*<,(j 8` `€€@EF­` ttx$~¬ð Õrßñ§ñà ç àà È àà  àà x à€€€€€€€€€€€€€à (# àÐ ¬ü Ðà ç àà È àà  àà x àà Ð àà (# àÓ€ÓÌà ç àà È àà  à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€JUDGMENT€ORDERÌÔ‡Xc XXX½Ôà ç àÌ€€€€€This€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€à Ð àà (# àÐ e Ðrecord,including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€à Ð àà (# àÐ V¦ ÐWorkers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panel's€à Ð àà (# àÐ — ç! ÐMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€à (# àÐ Ø!(# Ðconclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€à Ð àà (# àÐ #i% Ðreference;à ç àà È àà  àà x àà Ð à€€€€€€€ñŸññžñà ç àñžññŸññ ñÐ Z$ª' Ѐ€€€€ñ ñWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€MemorandumÏOpinion€of€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌ€€€€€ñ¡ñ€ñ¡ñ€It€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panel's€à x àà Ð àÐ (m#- Ðfindings€of€facts€and€conclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€à (# àÐ ^)®$/ Ðaffirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€Panel€is€made€the€JudgmentÏñ¢ñà ç àñ¢ñof€the€Court.Ìñ£ñà ç àà ç àñ£ññ¤ñ€€€€€€ñ¤ñCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€defendant/appellant,€à Ð àà (# àÐ !-q(5 ÐHeekin€Can,€Inc.€and€James€T.€Shea,€Iv,€Surety,for€which€à (# àÐ b.²)7 Ðexecution€may€issue€if€necessary.€à ç àÐ £/ó*9 Ðñ¥ñà ç àñ¥ñ09/04/98à ç àÔ#†X½X XXc j,#ÔÔ#†¼׌¼XX½H%#Ô