APPELLATE COURT OPINIONS

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Baldwin et al vs. Pirelli Armstrong et al

01A01-9804-CV-00195

Originating Judge:Ben H. Cantrell
Court of Appeals 03/12/99
State vs. Clem Henry

02C01-9803-CR-00063
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/12/99
Samuel S. Minton vs. State

03C01-9806-CC-00197

Originating Judge:R. Steven Bebb
Bradley County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/12/99
Howse vs. State

01A01-9809-BC-00489

Originating Judge:Thomas Stovall
Court of Appeals 03/12/99
State vs. Kevin S. Phillips

03C01-9801-CR-00024

Originating Judge:R. Jerry Beck
Sullivan County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/12/99
State vs. Robert Burton

02C01-9807-CC-00226

Originating Judge:William B. Acree
Weakley County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/12/99
State vs. Tommy Nunley

02C01-9804-CR-00114
Shelby County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/12/99
State vs. Timothy Inman

02C01-9808-CC-00254

Originating Judge:Lee Moore
Dyer County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/12/99
Knoble vs. Taylor

01A01-9803-CH-00153

Originating Judge:Irvin H. Kilcrease, Jr.
Court of Appeals 03/12/99
01C01-9708-CR-00329

01C01-9708-CR-00329

Originating Judge:J. Randall Wyatt, Jr.
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/11/99
Jerry E. Biggs vs. State

01C01-9711-CR-00514

Originating Judge:Cheryl A. Blackburn
Davidson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/11/99
Helen Mccurrie v. Eaton Corporation

02S01-9805-CH-00047
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. George E. Ellis,
Gibson County Workers Compensation Panel 03/11/99
State vs. Leslie R. Holt

01C01-9804-CR-00188

Originating Judge:J. O. Bond
Wilson County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/11/99
State vs. Charles Hayes

01C01-9804-CC-00176
Marshall County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/11/99
Cora Moton v. Kellogg USA, Inc.

02S01-9803-CV-00023
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Review of the findings of fact made by the trial court is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of the correctness of the findings, unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(2); Stone v. City of McMinnville, 896 S.W.2d 548, 55 (Tenn. 1995). The application of this standard requires this Court to weigh in more depth the factual findings and conclusions of the trial court in a workers' compensation case. See Corcoran v. Foster Auto GMC, Inc., 746 S.W.2d 452, 456 (Tenn. 1988). The trial court found that the plaintiff did not make a meaningful return to work and therefore that the statutory cap of 2.5 times the anatomical impairment rating did not apply. The trial court awarded the plaintiff benefits based on 3.5 times Dr. Weems' rating of fifteen percent for a total permanent partial disability award of 52.5 percent to the body as a whole. The defendant raises the following issues: 1. Whether the trial court erred in finding that Plaintiff did not make a meaningful return to work? 2. Whether the trial court erred in relying on the deposition testimony of Dr. Thomas D. Weems rather than the deposition testimony of Dr. James T. Galyon? 3. Whether the trial court erred in awarding Plaintiff a permanent partial disability rating for vocational disability purposes of 52.5%? We affirm the judgment of the trial court. BACKGROUND The plaintiff, age 37 at the time of trial, is a high school graduate. She took over five years of college classes in English, Biology, and Chemistry from various institutions, but she holds no degrees. She is certified as a pharmacy technician and has worked in that field at a rate of $9.5 per hour. She also has work experience as a chemical analyst. In January 199, the plaintiff went to work for the defendant as an FMC operator in the manufacturing process of frozen waffles. She earned $11.65 per 2
Authoring Judge: John K. Byers, Senior Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. James S. Russell,
Shelby County Workers Compensation Panel 03/11/99
Charles Haynes vs. State

01C01-9803-CC-00142
Hickman County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/11/99
03A01-9804-CV-00145

03A01-9804-CV-00145
Court of Appeals 03/10/99
State vs. Rema Morgan

03C01-9803-CR-00123

Originating Judge:W. Lee Asbury
Campbell County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/10/99
Sherer vs. Linginfelter

03A01-9805-CV-00168
Court of Appeals 03/10/99
Suerth v. Red Kap

03S01-9803-CH-00024
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Authoring Judge: Roger E. Thayer, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Frank V. Williams, III,
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 03/10/99
Tn Farmers Mutual Ins. vs. Inman

03A01-9808-CV-00246
Court of Appeals 03/10/99
Hopson v. Philips

03S01-9710-CV-00141
This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6-225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting to the Supreme Court of findings of fact and conclusions of law. The appeal has resulted from the action of the trial court in awarding plaintiff, Linda S. Hopson, 55% permanent partial disability to the left arm as a result of an accident while working for defendant, Philips Consumer Electronics. The circuit judge dismissed the case against the Second Injury Fund. Plaintiff, being dissatisfied with the award of benefits, contends the award should be increased. Linda Hopson was 42 years of age and is a high school graduate. She does not have any vocational training. She sustained a prior injury to her back during 1991 and was awarded 75% permanent partial disability to the body as a whole during a contested hearing in the Chancery Court for Greene County. The injury in the present action occurred on defendant's production line where she was required to use an air gun and to make repetitive arm movements. Her injury was to her left wrist and she is left-handed. She underwent surgery on November 8, 1994, when Dr. Christopher T. Lechner, an orthopaedic surgeon, repaired a partial tear of the ligament and noticed she had some synovitis (swelling); she was seen on regular basis and was still complaining of pain four months later. The doctor testified by deposition and said pain that late after surgery was not normal. He x-rayed her arm and noticed changes consistent with Kienbach's disease, which is a condition where the blood supply to lunate is not normal and the bone collapses. He stated this was a painful condition and required further surgery. The second surgery was performed on March 28, 1995 when the lunate was removed and the wrist was stabilized "by fusing three of the remaining six bones together". He also described the event as "taking the painful bone out and then to give her a stable wrist, although she knew that it would be a stiffer wrist as well". This surgery went well but she still had discomfort after a reasonable healing period and Dr. Lechner recommended she get a second opinion from another hand surgeon. Plaintiff saw Dr. Joseph C. DeFiore, Jr. and his report was introduced into evidence. He concurred with Dr. Lechner's diagnosis and treatment and stated "it is 2
Authoring Judge: Roger E. Thayer, Special Judge
Originating Judge:Hon. Ben K. Wexler,
Knox County Workers Compensation Panel 03/10/99
Ellis vs. Trentham

03A01-9806-CH-00204
Court of Appeals 03/10/99
Stewart vs. Stewart

03A01-9806-CV-00180
Court of Appeals 03/10/99
State vs. Delivetrick Blocker

03C01-9803-CR-00120
Hamilton County Court of Criminal Appeals 03/10/99