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 26, 2023

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 employer accepted the claim as compensable and provided medical benefits, including authorization of a partial knee replacement. After that surgery, the employee began experiencing back and hip pain, prompting a referral for a neurosurgical evaluation that resulted in a recommendation for lumbar surgery. A dispute arose over the employer’s authorization of decompression surgery but denial of a recommended fusion, and 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 ordered the employer to authorize the recommended surgery in full and concluded the employee was entitled to temporary disability benefits. On appeal, we affirmed the trial court’s interlocutory order. After the surgery was completed, the employer continued to contest the compensability of the spinal conditions. After a compensation hearing, the trial court determined the employee proved by a preponderance of the evidence that her spinal conditions were compensable. It further identified a date of maximum medical improvement it concluded was consistent with the expert medical evidence. The employer has appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s decision and certify it as final.

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