WPC  [i;PqNVYJC&ou,/:V(96p>Q`zx׿Ɇ9TnWApU KrHH)%*5p[)|@4zVQDڰvʥNld@<`/齠ށ{H7&?mg ~"}$^[s]ItxD@^/ lt ĝ֓`&hи,,JR?i_^=V| l;ɡy Ek0!;Kq%q+4i@KnܬRá;oR[4 [Pxt>kx/zQ.lTI91Wa .l J1^׆G-6?|3E7&Daj[ L%)bL^+$$I?7 T>(/!2W%EНg96L9a#NUN %] 0:c b : b  b   0~ 0DJ b  b  ^ w 4   m N U@ EZ U*\ U@ B HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL 60(9 Z6Times New Roman RegularX($USUS.,[2] 0#Xd#  [3]   [4]      ($USUS.,    1    _ԀTenn.CodeAnn.Section506239[c][4]providesthat inallcaseswheretheparties  haveanyissuesindispute,thepartiesshallrequestthedepartmenttoholdabenefitreview  conference.ThisprovisionappliestoallinjuriesoccurringonandafterJanuary1,1997.(.(3($ !USUS.,      0  (%$  1  [5]   [6]   |) pm) ~103|xU(9 Z(Times New Roman %2A`Arial(\Z  Z(Times New Roman  d !USUS.,  _XX  6Y ''INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  SPECIALWORKERSCOMPENSATIONAPPEALSPANEL  ATNASHVILLE  (June,2000session) *  JOHNWELSH,v.UNIVERSALFASTENERS,Inc.,andTHEYASUDA  F FIREANDMARINEINSURANCECOMPANY   T  DirectAppealfromtheChanceryCourtfor_Hickman_ԀCounty  p No.9813244!I,Hon.DonaldP. Harris,Chancellor .~  _________________________ J  No.M1999!00267!_WC_!R3!CV!MailedAugust17,2000 f  #XɭX=#XXɭFiledNovember28,2000 t Ѐ____________________________________  \     ThisworkerscompensationappealhasbeenreferredtotheSpecialWorkers  CompensationAppealsPanelinaccordancewithTenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)   forhearingandreportingoffindingsoffactandconclusionsoflaw.Theemployee  contendsthetrialcourterredingrantingtheemployersmotionforsummary & judgmentongroundsthattheclaimwasbarredbythestatuteoflimitations.We 4 concludethattherunningoftheoneyearstatuteoflimitationswastolledfromthe B timetheemployeerequestedassistanceoftheDepartmentofLaboruntilhisclaimfor P medicalbenefitswasrejectedbytheclaimsspecialist. ^  Tenn.CodeAnn.506225(e)(3)AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheChancery 8" CourtReversedandRemanded F#  _T URNBULL_Ԁ##,_Sp.J._,deliveredtheopinionofcourt,inwhich_DROWOTA_##Ԁ,J.,andLOSER#5 #, p&!  _Sp.J._,joined. ~'"! ChristopherL.Dunn,Columbia,Tennessee,fortheappellant,JohnWelsh. )$# _Delicia_ԀR.Bryant,Brewer,Krause&Brooks,Nashville,Tennessee,fortheappellees, +'% UniversalFasteners,Inc.,andTheYasudaFireandMarineInsuranceCompany. ,(&  -")' 6Y 8ɭXXdd8     MEMORANDUMOPINION   Facts     Thethirtyyearoldemployee,Welsh,isahighschoolgraduatewithawork * historyofmanufacturinglineemployment.Hebeganworkingforhisemployer, 8 UniversalFasteners,Inc.,inMarchof1989,andcontinuestoworkthere.  F     Inthespringof1996,theemployeebeganexperiencingpaininhisright  b shoulder.FromSeptemberof1991untilSeptemberof1996,heworkedon  p Universalsplatingline.Thistaskrequiredrepetitivescoopingliquidmaterial[slugs] .~  inoneortwogallonbucketsweighingbetweentenandsixtypounds.Thetaskwas <  repeatedsixtimesduringeachsevenandonehalfminuteplatingcyclethroughout J  theworkday.Thepaininemployeesshoulderprogressedduringthesummerof X  1996,ultimatelycausinghimtoreporthisinjurytohisemployeronSeptember26, f  1996.WelshthenwenttoDr.Michael_Pagnani_Ԁwhodiagnosedbicipitaltendinitis t withaspurprojectingfromtheundersurfaceoftheright_acromion_Ԁandrecommended  limitationofupperextremitywork,anddiscussedthepossibilityofrotatorcuff  surgeryifpainpersisted.Dr._Pagnani_Ԁwasequivocalastowhethertheinjuryresulted  fromemployment.Afterinitiallypayingmedicalexpenses,theYasudaFireand  MarineInsuranceCompanydeniedWelchsclaimformedicalbenefitsandfileda   noticeofcontroversyonNovember4,1996.Yasudaslastvoluntarymedical  paymentoccurredonNovember27,1996. &   OnNovember18,1996,theemployeecontactedtheTennesseeDepartmentof B LaborandrequestedreviewofYasudasdenialofbenefits.Therecorddoesnot P containtheentireDepartmentofLaborfile,butdoesindicatethefirstclaimspecialist ^ assignedtothecasemadeaninvestigationandwroteforamedicalreportonApril23,  l 1997.Duetochangeofpersonnel,anewclaimspecialistwasassignedinthe *!z summerof1997,andonAugust8,1997,shewroteYasudaandWelshindicatingshe 8" found themedicalevidencesupportsthatMr.Welshsuffersfromacompensable F# workrelatedinjury,andstatedherposition medicalcoverageforthisclaimshould T$ bereinstatedandrecommendedcoursesoftreatment...shouldbefollowed. b%  However,onSeptember19,1997,thespecialistreversedherfindingandstatedina p&!  lettertoMr.Welsh: ~'"! __` ` __ Icannotjustifyorderingmedicaland/orlosttimebenefits +'%     _inthiscase.Mineisnotthefinalwordhowever,andyou  maybringyourdisputebeforeacourtofproper  jurisdiction.Youdonothaveanunlimitedtimetodoso.  Tenn.CodeAnn.,Section506203setsaoneyearstatute * oflimitationstobringasuitforcompensation.Youmay 8 wishtoseeklegalcounseltoproperlypreserveyourlegal  F rights.  T ` `   TheemployeeretainedcounselinJanuaryof1998,andfiledsuitFebruary3,  p 1998.Theemployeehasnotmissedanyworkduetohisinjury,butdidmakea .~  contingentclaimfortemporarytotalandpermanentdisabilitybenefitsinhisfiled <  complaint. J    Fromtheabovesummarizedevidence,thechancellorfoundnodisputeasto f  anygenuineissueofmaterialfactandconcludedthatWelshfailedtofilehis t complaintwithinoneyearfromthedateoflastvoluntarypaymentofmedical  expensesonNovember27,1996.Atthehearingonmotionforsummaryjudgment,  trialcounselfailedtociteoradvisethechancelloroftheprovisionofTenn.Code  Ann.section506203[b]whichsuspendstherunningoftheoneyearstatuteof  limitations fromthedateoftheinitialrequestforabenefitreviewconferenceuntil   thirty[30]daysaftereitherawrittenagreementorawrittenreportisfiledwiththe  commissionerpursuanttosec.506240. &   TheIssuesonAppeal@(#(#K(# B     Thecontrollingissuesonappealare: ^   [1]WhetherarequestforassistancesubmittedtotheTennesseeDepartment *!z ofLabortollsthestatuteoflimitationspendingthestatesdecisionand/oraction? 8"   [2]Ifso,dothefactsintherecordcreateadisputeastoagenuineissueof T$ materialfact? b%    Ourreviewofquestionsoflaw,aspresentedhere,isdenovowithno ~'"! presumptionofcorrectness.PerryvSentryIns.Co.,938SW2d404(Tenn.1996). (#" Onmotionforsummaryjudgment,thetrialcourtmustdenythemotionunlessthere )$# isnodisputeastoanygenuineissueofmaterialfactandthemovantisentitledto *%$ judgmentasamatteroflaw.Byrdvs.Hall,847SW2d208(Tenn.1993)The +'%         SupremeCourt continuestotakeadimviewoftheuseofsummaryjudgmentin  workerscompensationcasesinwhich summaryjudgmentisalmostneveranoption  ...Byrd,Id.atpage210,n.1.    TollingoftheStatuteofLimitations 8     Wehavenotbeencited,norhavewefoundanyTennesseecaseconstruingthe  T issue,butananalysisofthecodeandapplicableruleswillbeinstructive.Tenn.  b CodeAnn.section506203[b]delineateslimitationsonworkerscompensation  p actionsandmodifiesthegeneralstatutoryperiodassetoutinsection506224[1]. .~  Tenn.CodeAnn.section506203[b]suspends therunningoftheoneyear <  limitationperiod...fromthedateoftheinitialrequestforabenefitreview J  conference   %  1      ׀untilthirty[30]daysaftereitherawrittenagreementorawrittenreport X  isfiledwiththecommissionerpursuanttosection506240.[emphasisadded]This f  reportisrequiredtoinclude Astatementofeachissueraisedbutnotagreedupon. t Tenn.CodeAnn.section506240[b][2].      Anoverviewofthepurposesanddutiesoftheworkerscompensationspecialist  assetoutinTenn.CodeAnn.sections506236506240giveslighttotheissue  underconsideration,e.g.,whatamountstoan initialrequestforabenefitreview   conference?Thespecialistprogramisestablishedto assistinjuredordisabled  employees...inprotectingtheirrightsandobtaininginformationavailableunder & workerscompensationlaws.Tenn.CodeAnn.section236[a].Specialists shall 4 conductbenefitreviewconferencesTenn.CodeAnn.section236[f]; meetwithor B otherwiseprovideinformationtoorreceiveinformationfrominjuredordisabled P employees,employers,insurancecarriersandhealthcareprovidersonbehalfof ^ injuredordisabledemployees.Tenn.CodeAnn.section236[b];andmayorderthe  l initiation,continuationand/orreinstitutionoftemporarytotaldisabilitybenefitsor *!z medicalbenefits.Tenn.CodeAnn.section238[a]Abenefitreviewconferenceis 8" anonadversarial,informaldisputeresolutionproceedingdesignedto: F# ` ` [1]Explain,orallyandinwriting,therightsofthe b%  respectivepartiestoaworkerscompensationclaimand p&!  theproceduresnecessarytoprotectthoserights; ~'"! '     [2]Discussthefactsoftheclaim,reviewavailable  informationinordertoevaluatetheclaim,anddelineate  thedisputedissues; * [3]Mediateandresolvedisputedissuesbymutual  F agreementofthepartiesinaccordancewiththischapter  T andthepoliciesofthecommissioner;  b [4]Provideanopportunityfor,butnottocompel,abinding .~  settlementofsomeoralloftheissuespresentatthetime; <  [5]Facilitatetheresolutionofissueswithouttheexpense X  oflitigationorattorneysfeesforeitherparty;and f  [6]Determine,underanyproposedsettlement,whetherany  employeeisreceiving,substantially,thebenefitsprovided  bytheworkerscompensationlaw.Tenn.CodeAnn.  section506237[a].  ` `   TheTennesseeDepartmentofLabor,DivisionofWorkersCompensationhas  adoptedWorkersCompensationBenefitReviewConferenceandMediationRules & pursuanttoTenn.CodeAnn.section506239[c][1][1992].Tenn.Comp.R.&Reg. 4 r.08002501empowersanypartytocontacttheworkerscompensationdivisionto B obtaininformationaboutrightsandobligationsundertheWorkersCompensation P Laws.Tenn.Comp.R.&Reg.r.08825.02[10]definesrequestforassistanceas ^ follows: Requestforassistanceisarequestforabenefitreviewconference.  l Sucha requestforassistancemaybemade orallyorinwritingTenn.Comp.R. *!z &Reg.r.080025.03[1]. 8"   Fromtherecordinthiscase,sparsethoughitmaybe,thefollowingfactsare T$ supportedbymaterialevidence: b%    1.Theemployeemadea requestforassistancetotheDepartmentofLabor ~'"! onNovember18,1996. (#"   2.Boththeemployerandinsurerdescribedtheemployeesrequesttothe *%$ DepartmentofLaborasa requestforassistanceintheirstatementof_undisputed +'% '    factssubmittedtothechancellor.    3.Thespecialistinvestigated,soughtmedicalreports,considered,allowedand  laterrejectedtheclaimformedicalbenefits. *   4.ThespecialistinherletterandreportofSeptember19,1997finallydeclined  F toordermedicalbenefitsandwarnedtheemployeeoftheoneyearstatuteof  T limitations.  b   Areadingofthelawwhichestablishesthesystemofclaimsspecialists,benefit .~  reviewconferences,andinformalearlyresolutionofclaimsrevealsaclearlegislative <  intenttoencourageinjuredworkerstoseekrelieffortheirworkrelatedinjury J  disputeswithouttheabsolutenecessityofemployingexpensivelegalcounsel.Our X  holdingthatarequestforassistanceoftheDepartmentofLaborsuspendsthestatute f  oflimitationswillfurtherthatpolicyandhelpassurethatunrepresentedinjured t workerswillnotbetakenadvantageofwhileseekingtheassistanceoftheclaim  specialist.    Weconcludethatthestatuteoflimitationswassuspendedortolledduringthe  periodoftimebetweenthe requestforassistancewhichamountedtoarequestfor   abenefitreviewconferenceonNovember18,1996,andthedatetheemployees  claimwasdeniedonSeptember19,1997.Therefore,theperiodforfilinghissuitfor & workerscompensationmedicalbenefitswasextendedanadditionaltenmonthsand 4 oneday.Therecordbeforeusdemonstratesadisputeastoagenuineissueof B materialfact,makingsummaryjudgmentinappropriate. P     Accordingly,thesummaryjudgmentisreversedandthecaseisremandedto  l thechancerycourtof_Hickman_ԀCountyforafullhearingontheissues,including *!z whethertheactionwastimelyfiled. 8"   Thecostsonappealareassessedtotheappellees.  T$ @7 7 INTHESUPREMECOURTOFTENNESSEE  @$ATNASHVILLE     JOHNWELSH,Appelleev. * UNIVERSALFASTENERS,INC.,etal.,Appellants  8 XɭX1D   ChanceryCourtfor_Hickman_ԀCounty  , No.9813244I0 @ DonaldP.Harris,Chancellor   D@*A`) ` dE< ` A߈      No.M199900267SCWCMCVFiledNovember28,2000   FA`) ` dE<N` A O  Oi Nw  i @& JUDGMENT  D    ThiscaseisbeforetheCourtuponJohnWelshsmotionforreviewpursuanttoTenn.Code ` Ann.506225(e)(5)(B),theentirerecord,includingtheorderofreferraltotheSpecialWorkers' F CompensationAppealsPanel,andthePanel'sMemorandumOpinionsettingforthitsfindingsoffact , andconclusionsoflaw,whichareincorporatedhereinbyreference;    Whereupon,itappearstotheCourtthatthemotionforreviewisnotwelltakenandshould  beDENIED;and t   Itis,therefore,orderedthatthePanel'sfindingsoffactandconclusionsoflawareadopted @ andaffirmed,andthedecisionofthePanelismadethejudgmentoftheCourt.#XɭXXXɭC#XɭXXXɭTheCourtfurther &v recommendsthattheSpecialWorkersCompensationAppealsPanelopinionbepublished.#XɭXXXɭJ#XɭXXXɭO#0X wF#Ow X0N#i  wF#Nw  i  \   CostswillbeassessedtoJohnWelshforwhichexecutionmayissueifnecessary. g    `     h     PER_CURIAM_ a  _Drowota_,J.,notparticipating !   O#0X wۯK#N#XX0K# #XɭXXXɭmK##XXɭD#