JOE CHRISTOPHER WATSON v. THE PARENT COMPANY - Articles

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JOE CHRISTOPHER WATSON v. THE PARENT COMPANY

Posted by: Tanja Trezise on May 14, 2014

Court: TN Workers Comp Appeals

Attorneys 1:

Richard R. Clark, Jr., Nashville, Tennessee, for the appellant, The Parent Company.

Attorneys 2:

Eric J. Burch, Manchester, Tennessee, for the appellee, Joe Christopher Watson.

Judge(s): SUMMERS

In 2007, the employee suffered a work-related back injury. After conservative treatment failed to provide relief, the employee underwent an unauthorized back surgery. Employee’s workers’ compensation claim was settled in 2009. The settlement provided for “future medical benefits relating to the back injury” of 2007, while precluding future benefits for unauthorized medical care. In 2011, the employee sought authorization for a second surgery by an authorized treating surgeon. The employer refused, asserting that it was not liable under the terms of the settlement. The trial court ordered the employer to pay for the second surgery. The employer has appealed. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

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