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ÔÔ€ÔÔ€ôÔÔ€XÔÔ€ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÖ€)ÖÔ  ÔÔ  ÔÑ  ÑÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ&  ÔÔ€¼ÔÔ€ÔÞ ÞÌIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌSPECIAL€WORKERS'€COMPENSATION€APPEALS€PANELÌÙ€ÙßR€/0,A1-j|` Å `€€@ÿRßà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌAT€KNOXVILLEÌ(November€19,€1997€Session)ÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓULYES€WILLIAMS,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€)€€€€€KNOX€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellee,€€€€€€€€)€€€€€Hon.€Dale€C.€WorkmanÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€€)€€€€€Judge.Ìv.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€)€€€€€No.€03S01„9706„CV„00070ÌCITY€OF€KNOXVILLE,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Ô€ôÔ€Ô€¼Ô€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellant€Ô€,Ô€Ô€¼Ô€€€)ÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€òòFor€Appellee:óóÌÌGeorge€T.€Underwood€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€J.€Randolph€HumbleÌKnoxville,€Tennessee€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Knoxville,€TennesseeòòÌóóÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓòòM€E€M€O€R€A€N€D€U€M€€€€O€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌÌÌÌòòMembers€of€Panelóó:ÌÌFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€Associate€Justice,€Supreme€CourtÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌJoe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÌÌÔ'  ÔÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓÌÌÌÌÌÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÌÓ  ÓAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDED€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Loser,ÏJudgeÓ ¹ ÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓòòMEMORANDUM€OPINIONóóÓ rAÓÌÓ BÓÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓÓ€Óà àà àThis€workers'€compensation€appeal€has€been€referred€to€theÏSpecial€Workers'€Compensation€Appeals€Panel€of€the€Supreme€Court€inÏaccordance€with€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€section€50„6„225(e)(3)€for€hearing€andÏreporting€of€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law.€€The€City€of€KnoxvilleÏcontends€(1)€the€claim€is€barred€by€the€statute€of€limitations€and€(2)€the€trialÏcourt€erred€in€not€accepting€the€opinion€testimony€of€the€treating€physician.€ÏThe€claimant€contends€the€trial€court€erred€in€allowing€credit€for€overpaidÏtemporary€total€disability€benefits.€€The€panel€has€concluded€the€judgmentÏshould€be€affirmed.Ìà àà àThe€claimant,€Williams,€has€less€than€an€eighth€grade€education,Ïlittle€or€no€reading€or€writing€skills€and€no€vocational€training.€€He€was€39Ïyears€old€at€the€time€of€the€trial.€€He€has€worked€for€the€city€since€aboutÏ1988,€first€as€a€laborer€and€later€as€tractor„mower€operator.Ìà àà àIn€1992,€he€suffered€a€compensable€back€injury,€wasÏtemporarily€disabled€and€returned€to€work€until€September€18,€1995,€whenÏhe€re„injured€his€back€at€work.€€Back€surgery€was€performed€on€or€aboutÏNovember€18,€1995€and€he€returned€to€work€around€March€1,€1996€for€aÍfew€weeks,€quit€because€of€post„surgical€problems,€then€returned€againÏaround€July€1,€1996.€€He€has€since€been€terminated.Ìà àà àThis€civil€action€was€commenced€on€March€29,€1996.€€TheÏdefendant€filed€and€served€its€answer€on€April€26,€1996,€but€did€not€averÏtherein€that€the€claim€was€barred€by€any€statute€of€limitations.€€That€a€claimÏis€so€barred€is€an€affirmative€defense€and€the€facts€constituting€such€defenseÏmust€be€set€forth€in€short€and€plain€terms€in€a€defendant's€answer.€€Tenn.€R.ÏCiv.€P.€8.03.€€Moreover,€the€record€fails€to€establish€that€the€claimant€hadÏfair€notice€of€the€employer's€intention€to€assert€the€statute€of€limitations€as€aÏdefense.€€The€defense€was€thus€waived.€€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€12.08.€ÏAdditionally,€the€panel€finds€the€defense€to€be€without€merit.€€The€first€issueÏis€resolved€in€favor€of€the€appellee.Ìà àà àAs€the€employer€insists,€citing€òòOrman€v.€Williams€Sonoma,ÏInc.óó,€803€€S.W.2d€€672,€676€(Tenn.€1991),€the€trial€judge€must€choose€whichÏof€conflicting€expert€medical€opinions€to€accept.€€We€are€aware€of€no€ruleÏwhich€would€require€in€all€cases€that€the€opinion€testimony€of€a€treatingÏphysician€be€accepted€to€the€exclusion€of€other€credible€opinion€evidence.€ÏMoreover,€the€record€fails€to€establish€that€the€evidence€preponderatesÏagainst€the€trial€judge's€finding€with€respect€to€the€extent€of€the€claimant'sÏpermanent€partial€disability.€€The€second€issue€is€resolved€in€favor€of€theÏappellee.Ìà àà àBenefits€for€temporary€total€disability€are€payable€until€theÏinjured€employee€is€able€to€return€to€work€or€until€he€attains€maximumÏrecovery€from€his€injury,€at€which€time€his€entitlement€to€such€benefitsÏterminates.€€òòSimpson€v.€Satterfieldóó,€564€€S.W.2d€€953€(Tenn.€1978).€€TheÏrecord,€particularly€the€testimony€of€Dr.€Bishop,€reflects€that€the€claimantÏwas€able€to€return€to€work€and€reached€maximum€medical€improvement€onÍor€before€February€12,€1996.€€The€trial€judge€properly€allowed€theÏemployer€credit€for€temporary€total€disability€benefits€paid€after€that€date,Ïagainst€permanent€partial€disability€benefits€awarded.€€The€final€issue€isÏresolved€in€favor€of€the€appellant.Ìà àà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€and€the€causeÏremanded€to€the€Circuit€Court€of€Knox€County.€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxedÏto€the€parties,€one„half€each.Ó ¹ ÓÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ` ‹XÓ_______________________________Ó ÓÌÓ  Ó€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Joe€C.€Loser,€Jr.,€Special€JudgeÌÓ  ÓÓ ` ŒXÓCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌFrank€F.€Drowota,€III,€Associate€JusticeÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌWilliam€H.€Inman,€Senior€JudgeÌÑ€1ÑÇÒ  ÒÒ 8 ÒÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€IN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌßJ€/2;+'b|` Å `€@ÿJßà à€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àà àà àÌà à€à à€€€€€€€€€€€€€à àAT€KNOXVILLEà àà àÌÌÒ Ê ÒÒ 8 Òà àà àà àà àà àÒ S ÒÒ 8 ÒULYES€WILLIAMS,à àà à)€€€€KNOXÏCIRCUIT€€€€€€€€€€€€à àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€ÏNo.€€2„212„96Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff/Appellee,à à)à àà àà àà àà à€€€€à àà àà à€€€€€€€Ïà àà àà àà à)à à€à àÌvs.€€à àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€Hon.€Dale€C.€Workmanà àà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)€€€€€ÏJudgeà à€€€€€à àÌCITY€OF€KNOXVILLE,à à)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€à à)€€€€€€No.€03S01„9706„CV„00070ÌÓÓà àDefendant/Appellant.à à)à àà àÌà àà àà à€€€€€€€€€€€€à àÌà àà àà àà àJUDGMENT€ORDERÌà àà àà àÌà à€€€€€€€€€€€ÓfæÓÓ ø ÓÓ` Ü…X ì–XÓThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€the€entire€record,€includingÏthe€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€Workersðð€Compensation€Panel,€and€theÏPanelððs€Memorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€MemorandumÏOpinion€of€the€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€the€PanelÏis€made€the€Judgment€of€the€Court.€€à àà àÌÒ  ÒÒ 8 Òà à€€€€€Costs€on€appeal€are€taxed€to€the€parties,€one„half€to€UlyesÏWilliams€and€one„half€to€City€of€Knoxville,€for€which€execution€mayÏissue€if€necessary.Ì2/23/98Ì€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÙ€Ù<<€Conversion€error€>>à àà àThis€case€is€before€the€Court€upon€motionÏfor€review€pursuant€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann€.ðð€50„6„225€(e)€(5)€(B),€theÏentire€record,€including€the€order€of€referral€to€the€Special€WorkersððÏCompensation€Appeals€Panel,€and€the€Panelððs€Memorandum€OpinionÏsetting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€which€areÏincorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€motion€for€reviewÏis€not€well€taken€and€should€be€denied;€andÌà àà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€theÍPanel€is€made€the€judgment€of€the€Court.Ìà àà àCosts€will€be€paid€by€the€plaintiff„appellant€and€sureties,€forÏwhich€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.Ìà àà àIT€IS€SO€ORDERED€this€____€day€of€June,€1997.ÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àPER€CURIAMÌÌAnderson,€J.€„€Not€ParticipatingÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌal€to€the€Special€Workerðð€Compensation€Panel,€and€the€PanelððsÏMemorandum€Opinion€setting€forth€its€findings€of€fact€and€conclusionsÏof€law,€which€are€incorporated€herein€by€reference;Ìà àÌà àWhereupon,€it€appears€to€the€Court€that€the€Memorandum€Opinion€ofÏthe€Panel€should€be€accepted€and€approved;€andÌÌà àIt€is,€therefore,€ordered€that€the€Panelððs€findings€of€act€andÏconclusions€of€law€are€adopted€and€affirmed,€and€the€decision€of€theÏPanel€is€made€the€Judgment€of€the€Court.ÌÌà àCosts€on€appeal€are€taxed€€to€the€plaintiff„appellant,€Vernon€HarrisÏandÌGilbert€and€Faulkner.€surety,€for€which€execution€may€issue€ifÏnecessary.€€ÌÌ06/03//97à àà àà àà àà àà àÌÌÌÌà àœÔ€Ô