WPC 9NNg Q,sq)TMH(_U;d{r lӧy:P- NNU@ECU:EEEE 0Db 0 B  0 D3w D- 0K AS"u 0; 0D A#+-s (`$.8dd8    ("  Z6Times New Roman Regular],+00̠3|x C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptU(9 Z6Times New Roman Regular Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5HP LaserJet 4 Plus,,,,,,0(9 Z(Times New Roman ,yAZ"Arial Regular(#$  0  - -(|G2$ !..8Ldd8         0  XX d(|3'$ !..8Ldd8     VVVV'dxd)!dxdx( $ Figure  1  ^_X`YE<<CLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3'$ !..8Ldd8     ($$   1  X[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8C HKKKK !.8Ldd8     _L8XXdd8  L@@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL , @@ATJACKSON#L# X April25,2002Session 4 XXL #LXX#_TAMIKA_ԀWASHINGTONv.FEDERALEXPRESSCORPORATIONXXL  <  @@ DirectAppealfromtheCircuitCourtforShelbyCounty D  @@No.305513TKayS._Robilio_,Judge 4  @@*AV) ` dE<` A T  No.W200102215_WC_ԄR3CVMailedJune13,2002;FiledSeptember11,2002 S  #LXX#XXLAV) ` dE<` A #      Thisworkers'compensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers'CompensationAppeals " PaneloftheSupremeCourtinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)forhearingand  reportingtotheSupremeCourtoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Inthisappeal,#LXX#XXLԀthe  employeequestionsthetrialcourtsdisallowanceofpermanentdisabilitybenefits.Asdiscussed  below,thepanelhasconcludedtheevidencefailstopreponderateagainstthefindingsofthetrial  court.  R   Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2001Supp.)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheCircuit b CourtAffirmed  R     JoeC.Loser,Jr.,Sp.J.#LX#XX.L,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichJaniceM.Holder,J.,and 2 HamiltonV._Gayden_,Jr.,Sp.J.,joined. "r SteveTaylor,Memphis,Tennessee,fortheappellant,_Tamika_ԀWashington !R J.Mark_Griffee_ԀandRobertB.C.Hale,Memphis,Tennessee,fortheappellee,FederalExpress "2! Corporation #""   MEMORANDUMOPINION #LXX #XXL %!$   #LXX #XXL  Itisundisputedthattheemployeeorclaimant,_Tamika_ԀWashington,sufferedaworkrelated '"& injurywhensheslippedwhileworkingfortheemployer,FederalExpress,onSeptember29,1999. (#' Shereceivedmedicalandtemporarydisabilitybenefitsfromtheemployer,butwasdenied r)$( permanentdisabilitybenefitsbecausethetreatingphysicianfoundnopermanentimpairmentand b*%) prescribednopermanentrestrictions.Shecommencedthiscivilactiontorecoverpermanent R+&* disabilitybenefitsonNovember16,1999.ThecasewastriedonAugust13,2001.Thetrialcourt B,'+ foundthattheclaimantsprooffailedtoestablishpermanencybyapreponderanceoftheevidence, 2-(, butawardedmedicalbenefitsasprovidedbylaw.Theclaimantseeksareversalofthedenialof  permanentpartialbenefitsandanawardofsuchbenefitsbythistribunal.     Xu# XXXForinjuriesoccurringonorafterJuly1,1985,appellatereviewisdenovoupontherecord  ofthetrialcourt,accompaniedbyapresumptionofcorrectnessofthefindingsoffact,unlessthe l preponderanceoftheevidenceisotherwise.#XX X Xu#?#Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(2) Xu# XXX.Thereviewing X  courtisrequiredtoconductanindependentexaminationoftherecordtodeterminewherethe X  preponderanceoftheevidencelies.#XX X Xu## Xu# XXXԀ_Wingert_Ԁv.GovernmentofSumnerCounty,908S.W.2d921, D  922(Tenn.1995).#XX X Xu## Xu# XXXConclusionsoflawaresubjecttodenovoreviewonappealwithoutany 0  presumptionofcorrectness.#XX X Xu#~# Xu# XXX_Nutt_Ԁv.ChampionIntern.Corp.,980S.W.2d365,367(Tenn.1998).#XX X Xu#;# Xu# XXXԀ  l    Wherethetrialjudgehasseenandheardthewitnesses,especiallyifissuesofcredibilityand D  weighttobegivenoraltestimonyareinvolved,considerabledeferencemustbeaccordedthose 0  circumstancesonreview,becauseitisthetrialcourtwhichhadtheopportunitytoobservethe   witnessesdemeanorandtoheartheincourttestimony.#XX X Xu## Xu# XXXLongv.TriConInd.,Ltd.,996S.W.2d   173,178(Tenn.1999).#XX X Xu## Xu# XXXԀThetrialcourtsfindingswithrespecttocredibilityandweightofthe   evidencemaygenerallybeinferredfromthemannerinwhichthecourtresolvesconflictsinthe  testimonyanddecidesthecase._Tobitt_Ԁv.Bridgestone/Firestone,Inc.,59S.W.3d57,62(Tenn. | 2001).Theappellatetribunal,however,isaswellsituatedtogaugetheweight,worthand h significanceofdepositiontestimonyasthetrialjudge.#XX X Xu#u# Xu# XXXԀWalkerv.SaturnCorp.,986S.W.2d204,207 T (Tenn.1998).#XX X Xu## @   Followingheraccidentatwork,theclaimantwastakentoalocalemergencyroomwhereshe l receivedfirstaidandwasreferredtoDr.AnaK._Palmieri_,aboardeligibleorthopedicsurgeonand  \ boardcertifiedphysicaltherapist.Dr._Palmieri_Ԁdiagnosedagradetworightanklesprain,ordered L Xraysandotherscientifictesting,prescribedphysicaltherapyandrestrictedtheclaimant < temporarilyfromanyprolongedstandingorwalking.Amagneticimagingresonancetestordered , onNovember22,1999,revealednoevidenceofinjurytotheinjuredarea.OnNovember29,1999,  thedoctorreleasedtheclaimanttoreturntoworkwithnorestrictions.     TheclaimantreturnedtoDr._Palmieri_ԀonJanuary25,2000withacomplaintofpainand   intermittentswellingafterthirtyminutesofwalking.Thedoctorinjectedthejointwithcortisone ! andcontinuedtoprovidefollowupcare.AfunctionalcapacityevaluationdoneonMay8,2000 |"  indicatedtheclaimantcouldwalkonatreadmillfortwentyminutesandclimbmultiplestairsforten l#! minuteswithoutdifficulty.Additionaltestingrevealed,inDr._Palmieri_sopinion,nopermanent \$" injuryfromtheworkrelatedaccident.Theclaimantwasagainreleasedtoreturntoworkwithout L% # restrictionsonMay9,2000,butwithinstructionstoreturnifnecessary.Theclaimanthadnot <&!$ returnedatthetimeofthetrial.Inall,Dr._Palmieri_ԀsawtheMs.Washingtonfourteentimesovera ,'|"% periodofsevenmonths.Thedoctoropinedinherdepositionthattheclaimantisnotpermanently (l#& impairedfromherinjury,basedonreasonablemedicalcertainty.Oncrossexamination,Dr.  )\$' _Palmieri_Ԁopinedthattheclaimantwasexaggeratinghersymptoms. )L%(   Dr._Tewfik_Ԁ_Rizk_,alsoawellqualifiedphysician,sawandtreatedtheclaimantfromJune19, +,'* 2000throughMarch20,2001anddiagnosedposttraumaticosteoarthritiscausallyrelatedtothe  accidentatworkonSeptember29,1999.Dr._Rizk_Ԁopined,toareasonabledegreeofmedical  certainty,thattheclaimantispermanentlyimpaired.Thedoctorassignedapermanentimpairment  ratingbasedonoutdatededitionoftheAMAGuidestotheEvaluationofPermanentImpairment.  Hesawtheclaimanteighttimes. p   Theclaimanttestifiedattrialthatshecontinuestohavepainandswellingintheinjured P  ankle.Hergrandmothertestifiedthattheclaimantnevercomplainedbeforetheaccident,butnow @  takesoverthecounterpainmedicationandcomplainsofrightanklepainwhengoingupanddown 0  stairs.  p    Thetrialjudge,whohadtheopportunitytoobservetheclaimantduringthetrial,gave P  considerableweighttotheopinionsofDr._Palmieri_Ԁandannouncedfromthebench,afterobserving @  theclaimantandhearinghertestimony,thatshefelttheclaimantwasexaggeratinghersymptoms. Xu# XXX 0    Whenthemedicaltestimonydiffers,thetrialcourtmustchoosewhichviewtobelieve.In   doingso,thecourtisallowed,amongotherthings,toconsiderthequalificationsoftheexperts,the  circumstancesoftheirexamination,theinformationavailabletothem,andtheevaluationofthe  importanceofthatinformationbyotherexperts.#XX X Xu#1)#Ormanv.Williams_Sonoma_,Inc.,803S.W.2d672,  676(Tenn.1991). Xu# XXXԀMoreover,itiswithinthediscretionofthetrialcourttoconcludethattheopinion  ofcertainexpertsshouldbeacceptedoverthatofotherexpertsandthatitcontainsthemoreprobable  explanation.#XX X Xu#+#ԀHinsonv.WalMartStores,Inc.,654S.W.2d675,6767(Tenn.1983). l   Givingduedeferencetothefindingsofthetrialcourt,wecannotsaythepreponderanceof \ theevidenceisotherwise.Thejudgmentisaffirmed.Costsaretaxedtotheappellant. L    `     h     ___________________________________ ,|    `     h     JOEC.LOSER,JR. l   L Xu# XXXԀ#XX XXu#@/#X1 XXX#XX XX1܄/#LXX@7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @''%ATJACKSON  #XXL/# LXX  _TAMIKA_ԀWASHINGTONv.FEDERALEXPRESSCORPORATION#XXL0#    0@zz _Cricuit_ԀCourtforShelbyCounty  ( @$No.305513T   @*AV) ` dE< ` A߈    @ No.W200102215SCWCMCVFiledSeptember11,2002   AV) ` dE<v` A w   @..# JUDGMENTORDER  f   Xu# XXX  ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponthemotionforreviewfiledby_Tamika_ԀWashington F pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.50-6-225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferral 2 totheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanelsMemorandumOpinionsetting n forthitsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.  Z   ItappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandisthereforedenied. 2 ThePanelsfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedbyreference,areadopted  andaffirmed.ThedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.     Costsareassessedtotheappellant,_Tamika_ԀWashington,andhersurety,forwhichexecution  mayissueifnecessary. ~ #XX X Xu#S3#Xu# XXX  ItissoORDERED. V    `     h     PER_CURIAM_ "j! JaniceM.Holder,J.,notparticipating@*#XX XXu#7#Xu# XXXԈ $. $ #XX XXu#8#X1 XXXԀ#XX XX1(9#