NATACHA HUDGINS v. GLOBAL PERSONNEL SOLUTIONS, INC., ET AL. - Articles

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NATACHA HUDGINS v. GLOBAL PERSONNEL SOLUTIONS, INC., ET AL.

Posted by: Karen Belcher on Apr 17, 2020

Court: TN Workers Comp Appeals Board

Attorneys 1: W. Troy Hart and Tiffany B. Sherrill, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the employer-appellant, Global Personnel Solutions, Inc.

Attorneys 2: Matthew G. Coleman, Cleveland, Tennessee, for the employee-appellee, Natacha Hudgins

Judge(s): GODKIN

The employee sustained an injury to her right hand and right knee after tripping over a pallet in the course of her employment. The claim was accepted as compensable and the employer provided medical benefits, including authorization of a partial knee replacement. Following surgery, the employee began experiencing back and hip pain, prompting a referral for a neurosurgical evaluation that resulted in a recommendation for lumbar surgery. The employer authorized decompression surgery, but declined to authorize a fusion. The employee filed a petition seeking to compel the employer to authorize both procedures and to pay temporary disability benefits for the period of time she alleged she was disabled as a result of her hip and lumbar conditions. Following an expedited hearing, the trial court concluded the employee had come forward with sufficient evidence indicating she would likely prevail at trial in establishing that her back complaints were the direct and natural consequence of her knee injury. It ordered the employer to authorize the recommended surgery and concluded the employee was entitled to temporary disability benefits. The employer has appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s decision and remand the case.

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