Oglesby, Edward v. United Parcel Service, Inc.

FILED Jul 19, 2018 03:04 PM(CT) TENNESSEE WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD 7(11(66((%85($82):25.(56¶&203(16$7,21 :25.(56¶&203(16$7,21$33($/6%2$5' (GZDUG2JOHVE\ 'RFNHW1R Y  6WDWH)LOH1R  8QLWHG3DUFHO6HUYLFH,QFHWDO  $SSHDOIURPWKH&RXUWRI:RUNHUV¶  &RPSHQVDWLRQ&ODLPV  'HDQD&6H\PRXU-XGJH $IILUPHGDQG5HPDQGHG±)LOHG-XO\ ,Q WKLV LQWHUORFXWRU\ DSSHDO WKH HPSOR\HH ZDV LQMXUHG ZKHQ KLV DUP ZDV FDXJKW LQ D PDFKLQHZKLOHKHZDVDWWHPSWLQJWRGHWHUPLQHZK\WKHPDFKLQHKDGPDOIXQFWLRQHG7KH HPSOR\HU GHQLHG WKH FODLP DVVHUWLQJ WKH HPSOR\HH¶V DFWLRQV FRQVWLWXWHG ZLOOIXO PLVFRQGXFW  )ROORZLQJ DQ H[SHGLWHG KHDULQJ WKH WULDO FRXUW GHWHUPLQHG WKH HPSOR\HH ZDVOLNHO\WRSUHYDLODWWULDOLQHVWDEOLVKLQJWKHFRPSHQVDELOLW\RIKLVFODLPDQGRUGHUHG WKH SD\PHQW RI SDVW PHGLFDO H[SHQVHV DQG WKH SURYLVLRQ RI DGGLWLRQDO PHGLFDO EHQHILWV EXWLWGHQLHGWKHHPSOR\HH¶VFODLPIRUWHPSRUDU\GLVDELOLW\EHQHILWV7KHHPSOR\HUKDV DSSHDOHG:HDIILUPWKHGHWHUPLQDWLRQRIWKHWULDOFRXUWDQGUHPDQGWKHFDVH -XGJH7LPRWK\:&RQQHUGHOLYHUHGWKHRSLQLRQRIWKH$SSHDOV%RDUGLQZKLFK3UHVLGLQJ -XGJH0DUVKDOO/'DYLGVRQ,,,DQG-XGJH'DYLG)+HQVOH\MRLQHG *DUUHWW (VWHS 0HPSKLV 7HQQHVVHH IRU WKH HPSOR\HUDSSHOODQW 8QLWHG 3DUFHO 6HUYLFH ,QF :LOOLDP5\DQ0HPSKLV7HQQHVVHHIRUWKHHPSOR\HHDSSHOOHH(GZDUG2JOHVE\ )DFWXDODQG3URFHGXUDO%DFNJURXQG (GZDUG 2JOHVE\ ³(PSOR\HH´  ZRUNHG IRU 8QLWHG 3DUFHO 6HUYLFH ,QF ³(PSOR\HU´  DV D SODQW PHFKDQLF DW D IDFLOLW\ LQ 6KHOE\ &RXQW\ 7HQQHVVHH  +LV MRE GXWLHVLQFOXGHGPDLQWDLQLQJDQGUHSDLULQJFRQYH\RUEHOWV\VWHPV2Q6HSWHPEHU (PSOR\HH ZDV GLVSDWFKHG WR UHSDLU D FRQYH\RU EHOW NQRZQ DV ³XQORDGHU ´ WKDW KDG VWRSSHGUXQQLQJ:KHQKHDSSURDFKHGWKHPDFKLQHKHORRNHGWKURXJKDEDFNJUDWHDQG QRWHGWKDWD³EHOWWUDFNLQJHUURU´LQGLFDWRUOLJKWZDVLOOXPLQDWHG+HDOVRH[DPLQHGWKH  WUDFNLQJ VZLWFKHV DQG WKH FRQYH\RU EHOW LWVHOI  $FFRUGLQJ WR (PSOR\HH KH GHWHUPLQHG IURPKLVYLVXDOLQVSHFWLRQWKDWWKHFRQYH\RUEHOWKDGWUDFNHGRIIFHQWHUWRVXFKDGHJUHH WKDWLWWULJJHUHGDWUDFNLQJVZLWFKLOOXPLQDWHGWKHWUDFNLQJHUURUOLJKWDQGFDXVHGWKHEHOW WR VWRS  (PSOR\HH ZDV DZDUH WKH SRZHU WR WKH PDFKLQH ZDV RQ EXW WKH EHOW ZDV QRW PRYLQJ+HVWDWHGLIWKHEHOWKDGFRQWLQXHGWRUXQLQWKDWSRVLWLRQ³LWZRXOGWHDUWKHEHOW XS´  (PSOR\HH WHVWLILHG WKDW EDVHG RQ KLV LQVSHFWLRQ RI WKH PDFKLQH DV ZHOO DV WKH LOOXPLQDWHG WUDFNLQJ HUURU OLJKW KH EHOLHYHG KH QHHGHG WR SHUIRUP D ³OLYH FRQYH\RU UHSDLU´8QGHUVXFKFLUFXPVWDQFHVDFFRUGLQJWR(PSOR\HHLWZDVXQQHFHVVDU\WR³ORFN RXW´ DQG ³WDJ RXW´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¶V IDFLOLW\ HQJLQHHULQJ PDQDJHU 5RGQH\ 5RELQVRQ YLVLWHG KLP  0U 5RELQVRQ WHVWLILHG WKDW GXULQJ WKHLU FRQYHUVDWLRQ (PSOR\HHVWDWHGKHKDGUHDFKHGIRUGHEULVLQWKHPDFKLQHZKHQLWFDPHRQDQGFDXJKWKLV DUP(PSOR\HHWHVWLILHGKHGLGQRWUHFDOOPDNLQJWKLVVWDWHPHQWWR0U5RELQVRQDQGKH IXUWKHUGHQLHGKHKDGUHDFKHGLQWRWKHPDFKLQHWRUHPRYHGHEULV  (PSOR\HUGHQLHG(PSOR\HH¶VFODLPIRUZRUNHUV¶FRPSHQVDWLRQEHQHILWVDVVHUWLQJ (PSOR\HH¶VDFWLRQLQIDLOLQJWRORFNRXWWDJRXWWKHPDFKLQHEHIRUHUHPRYLQJWKHJXDUG ZDVDYLRODWLRQRILWVVDIHW\UXOHVDQGFRQVWLWXWHGZLOOIXOPLVFRQGXFWDVFRQWHPSODWHGLQ 7HQQHVVHH&RGH$QQRWDWHGVHFWLRQ D   )ROORZLQJDQH[SHGLWHGKHDULQJ WKHWULDOFRXUWGHWHUPLQHGWKHUHZDVLQVXIILFLHQWHYLGHQFHWRFRQFOXGH(PSOR\HH¶VDFWLRQ FRQVWLWXWHGZLOOIXOPLVFRQGXFWWKDW(PSOR\HUGLGQRWVKRZLWZDVOLNHO\WRSUHYDLORQLWV DIILUPDWLYHGHIHQVHDWWULDODQGWKDW(PSOR\HHKDGHVWDEOLVKHGDOLNHOLKRRGRISUHYDLOLQJ    7KHUH ZDV QR GLVSXWH WKDW (PSOR\HU KDG VDIHW\ SURWRFROV LQ SODFH DQG WKDW LWV UXOHV ZHUH VWULFWO\ HQIRUFHG2QHVXFKUXOHUHTXLUHGSHUVRQQHOLQFHUWDLQFLUFXPVWDQFHVWRFXWSRZHUWRWKHPDFKLQH ³ORFN RXW´  DQG KDQJ D WDJ RQ WKH PDFKLQH ³WDJ RXW´  WR LQIRUP RWKHU ZRUNHUV WKDW WKH PDFKLQH ZDV QRW LQ RSHUDWLRQ  ,W ZDV DOVR XQGLVSXWHG WKLV ³ORFN RXWWDJ RXW´ SURWRFRO ZDV XQQHFHVVDU\ LQ FHUWDLQ FLUFXPVWDQFHVLQFOXGLQJLIWKHUHSDLUWHFKQLFLDQGHWHUPLQHGWKDWD³OLYHFRQYH\RUUHSDLU´ZDVQHHGHG    (PSOR\HH¶V WHVWLPRQ\ WKDW KH ZDV DXWKRUL]HG WR UHPRYH JXDUGV RQ PDFKLQHV DV QHHGHG WR FRQGXFW UHSDLUVZDVXQUHIXWHG    7KH QDWXUH H[WHQW DQG GXUDWLRQ RI (PSOR\HH¶V PHGLFDO FDUH DUH QRW UHOHYDQW WR WKH LVVXHV UDLVHG RQ DSSHDO7KXVZHQHHGQRWDGGUHVV(PSOR\HH¶VPHGLFDOFDUHIXUWKHU   RQWKHLVVXHRIFRPSHQVDELOLW\,WWKHUHIRUHDZDUGHGSDVWDQGIXWXUHPHGLFDOEHQHILWVEXW GHQLHG(PSOR\HH¶VFODLPIRUWHPSRUDU\GLVDELOLW\EHQHILWV(PSOR\HUKDVDSSHDOHG  6WDQGDUGRI5HYLHZ  7KH VWDQGDUG ZH DSSO\ LQ UHYLHZLQJ D WULDO FRXUW¶V GHFLVLRQ SUHVXPHV WKDW WKH FRXUW¶VIDFWXDOILQGLQJVDUHFRUUHFWXQOHVVWKHSUHSRQGHUDQFHRIWKHHYLGHQFHLVRWKHUZLVH See 7HQQ &RGH $QQ †  F      :KHQ WKH WULDO MXGJH KDV KDG WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR REVHUYH D ZLWQHVV¶V GHPHDQRU DQG WR KHDU LQFRXUW WHVWLPRQ\ ZH JLYH FRQVLGHUDEOH GHIHUHQFH WR IDFWXDO ILQGLQJV PDGH E\ WKH WULDO FRXUW  Madden v. Holland Grp. of Tenn., Inc.  6:G   7HQQ    +RZHYHU ³>Q@R VLPLODU GHIHUHQFHQHHGEHDIIRUGHGWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VILQGLQJVEDVHGXSRQGRFXPHQWDU\HYLGHQFH´ Goodman v. Schwarz Paper Co.1R:6&5:&7HQQ/(;,6DW  7HQQ :RUNHUV¶ &RPS 3DQHO -DQ     6LPLODUO\ WKH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ DQG DSSOLFDWLRQRIVWDWXWHVDQGUHJXODWLRQVDUHTXHVWLRQVRIODZWKDWDUHUHYLHZHGde novoZLWK QR SUHVXPSWLRQ RI FRUUHFWQHVV DIIRUGHG WKH WULDO FRXUW¶V FRQFOXVLRQV  See Mansell v. Bridgestone Firestone N. Am. Tire, LLC  6:G   7HQQ    :H DUH DOVR PLQGIXO RI RXU REOLJDWLRQ WR FRQVWUXH WKH ZRUNHUV¶ FRPSHQVDWLRQ VWDWXWHV ³IDLUO\ LPSDUWLDOO\ DQG LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK EDVLF SULQFLSOHV RI VWDWXWRU\ FRQVWUXFWLRQ´ DQG LQ D ZD\WKDWGRHVQRWIDYRUHLWKHUWKHHPSOR\HHRUWKHHPSOR\HU7HQQ&RGH$QQ†     $QDO\VLV  $W DQ H[SHGLWHG KHDULQJ ZKHUH DQ HPSOR\HH LV VHHNLQJ WKH LQLWLDWLRQ RI PHGLFDO DQGRU WHPSRUDU\ GLVDELOLW\ EHQHILWV KH RU VKH PXVW FRPH IRUZDUG ZLWK VXIILFLHQW HYLGHQFHIURPZKLFKWKHWULDOFRXUWFDQFRQFOXGHWKHHPSOR\HH³ZRXOGOLNHO\SUHYDLO´DW WULDO7HQQ&RGH$QQ† G  McCord v. Advantage Human Resourcing1R 71:UN&RPS$SS%G/(;,6DW  7HQQ:RUNHUV¶&RPS $SS%G0DU 3HUWLQHQWWRWKLVFDVH7HQQHVVHH&RGH$QQRWDWHGVHFWLRQ  D  H[FOXGHV IURP FRYHUDJH FHUWDLQ LQMXULHV DULVLQJ IURP DQ HPSOR\HH¶V FRQGXFW $PRQJ VXFK LQMXULHV DUH WKRVH FDXVHG E\ DQ HPSOR\HH¶V ³ZLOOIXO PLVFRQGXFW´  7HQQ &RGH $QQ †  D    :KHQGHQ\LQJ D FODLP RQ WKLV EDVLV WKH EXUGHQ RISURRI UHVWV ZLWK WKH HPSOR\HU  7HQQ &RGH $QQ †  E   0RUHRYHU DOWKRXJK D WULDO FRXUWFDQFRQVLGHUDWDQH[SHGLWHGKHDULQJZKHWKHUDQHPSOR\HUKDVFRPHIRUZDUGZLWK VXIILFLHQWHYLGHQFHWRLQGLFDWHDOLNHOLKRRGRISUHYDLOLQJRQLWVDIILUPDWLYHGHIHQVHDWWULDO LQWKHFRQWH[WRIDQH[SHGLWHGKHDULQJVXFKFRQVLGHUDWLRQVDUHUHOHYDQWRQO\LQDVVHVVLQJ ZKHWKHUWKHHPSOR\HHLVOLNHO\WRSUHYDLODWWULDOSee Iboy v. Kenten Mgmt., LLC1R   71 :UN &RPS $SS %G /(;,6  DW  7HQQ :RUNHUV¶ &RPS$SS%G0D\     (PSOR\HHGLGQRWDSSHDOWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VGHQLDORIKLVFODLPIRUWHPSRUDU\GLVDELOLW\EHQHILWV   :LWK UHVSHFW WR WKH DIILUPDWLYH GHIHQVH RI ZLOOIXO PLVFRQGXFW LW LV QHFHVVDU\ WR FRQVLGHU WKH GLVWLQFWLRQ EHWZHHQ FRQGXFW WKDW SURSHUO\ FDQ EH FODVVLILHG DV ZLOOIXO PLVFRQGXFW YHUVXV FRQGXFW WKDW LV FRQVLGHUHG QHJOLJHQW  $V WKH 7HQQHVVHH 6XSUHPH &RXUWKDVH[SODLQHG  :RUNHUV>¶@ FRPSHQVDWLRQ OLDELOLW\ LV LPSRVHG XSRQ WKH HPSOR\HU UHJDUGOHVV RI WKH IDXOW RI HLWKHU SDUW\  %XW WKLV QRIDXOW OLDELOLW\ LV QRW XQOLPLWHG  7KH LQMXU\ E\ DFFLGHQW PXVW DULVH RXW RI DQG LQ WKH FRXUVH RI HPSOR\PHQW IRU ZRUNHUV>¶@ FRPSHQVDWLRQ OLDELOLW\ WR EH LPSRVHG  ,I WKLV WHVW LV PHW OLDELOLW\ ZLOO EH LPSRVHG QR PDWWHU KRZ UDVK RU IRROKDUG\ WKH HPSOR\HH¶V FRQGXFW VR ORQJ DV WKH LQMXU\ LV QRW ³GXH WR WKH HPSOR\HH¶V ZLOOIXOPLVFRQGXFW´  Hall v. Mason Dixon Lines, Inc.  6:G   7HQQ   LQWHUQDO FLWDWLRQ RPLWWHG    ,QNall v. E.I. Dupont De Nemours & Co.1R0:&5&9 7HQQ/(;,6 7HQQ:RUNHUV¶&RPS3DQHO-DQ WKHLQMXUHGZRUNHUZDVD ORQJWHUP HPSOR\HH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU XQORDGLQJ UDLO FDUV VRPH RI ZKLFK FRQWDLQHG KD]DUGRXV PDWHULDOV  Id. DW   7KHUH ZDV QR TXHVWLRQ WKH HPSOR\HU KDG VDIHW\ SURFHGXUHV LQ SODFH WKH HPSOR\HH ZDV DZDUH RI WKRVH VDIHW\ UXOHV DQG WKH HPSOR\HU VWULFWO\ HQIRUFHG LWV UXOHV  Id. DW   2QH RI WKH HPSOR\HU¶V VDIHW\ UXOHV UHTXLUHG HPSOR\HHV WR ZHDU DQ ³DFLG VXLW´ DQG RWKHU VDIHW\ HTXLSPHQW ZKLOH XQORDGLQJ FHUWDLQ KD]DUGRXV PDWHULDOV  Id. DW   2Q WKH GD\ RI WKH DFFLGHQW WKH HPSOR\HH ZDV ³LQVSHFWLQJ´DUDLOFDUFRQWDLQLQJVXOIXULFDFLGEHIRUHGRQQLQJKHUVDIHW\HTXLSPHQWDQG VWDUWLQJWKHXQORDGLQJSURFHVVId.$VVKHGLGVRVKHZDVVSUD\HGZLWKDFLGDQGVHYHUHO\ EXUQHG  Id.  $IWHU D WULDO WKH FRXUW UHMHFWHG WKH HPSOR\HU¶V GHIHQVH EDVHG RQ ZLOOIXO PLVFRQGXFWDQGDZDUGHGSHUPDQHQWWRWDOGLVDELOLW\EHQHILWVId.DW    ,Q DIILUPLQJ WKH GHFLVLRQ RI WKH WULDO FRXUW LQ Nall WKH 6SHFLDO :RUNHUV¶ &RPSHQVDWLRQ$SSHDOV3DQHOILUVWH[SODLQHGWKDW³>Z@RUNHUV¶FRPSHQVDWLRQEHQHILWVDUH SD\DEOHZLWKRXWUHJDUGWRIDXOWRIWKHHPSOR\HHRUWKHFDUHH[HUFLVHGE\WKHHPSOR\HH H[FHSW LQ FDVHV ZKHUH WKH HPSOR\HH LV JXLOW\ RI ZLOOIXO PLVFRQGXFW´  Id. DW   7KH $SSHDOV 3DQHO WKHQ QRWHG D GLVSXWH LQ WKH OD\ WHVWLPRQ\ LQ ZKLFK D FRPSDQ\ GRFWRU WHVWLILHGWKHHPSOR\HHWROGKLPVKHZDVDWWHPSWLQJWRORRVHQWKH³GRPHOLG´RIWKHUDLOFDU ZKHQWKHDFFLGHQWKDSSHQHGEXWWKHHPSOR\HHGHQLHGWDNLQJWKDWDFWLRQRUPDNLQJVXFKD VWDWHPHQW  Id. DW   7KH $SSHDOV 3DQHO H[SODLQHG WKDW WKH WULDO MXGJH EHOLHYHG WKH HPSOR\HH¶VWHVWLPRQ\DQG³LILVVXHVRIFUHGLELOLW\DQGZHLJKWWREHJLYHQRUDOWHVWLPRQ\ DUHLQYROYHGFRQVLGHUDEOHGHIHUHQFHPXVWEHDFFRUGHG´WKHWULDOFRXUW¶VGHWHUPLQDWLRQV Id. DW   ,Q UHMHFWLQJ WKH HPSOR\HU¶V ZLOOIXO PLVFRQGXFW GHIHQVH WKH $SSHDOV 3DQHO H[SODLQHG    :KHUH DV KHUH WKH HPSOR\HH LV SHUIRUPLQJ WKH GXWLHV DVVLJQHG WR KHU E\ KHU HPSOR\PHQW FRQWUDFW DQG LV DFWLQJ LQ IXUWKHUDQFH RI WKH HPSOR\HU¶V LQWHUHVWV UHJDUGOHVV RI WKH IDFW WKDW VKH SHUIRUPV WKRVH GXWLHV LQ DQ XQQHFHVVDULO\GDQJHURXVRUUDVKPDQQHULWFDQQRWEHVDLGWKDWKHUUHVXOWLQJ LQMXULHV GLG QRW DULVH RXW RI KHU HPSOR\PHQW SURYLGHG WKDW KHU FRQGXFW FRXOGEHUHDVRQDEO\DQWLFLSDWHG  Id.DW    :H DGGUHVVHG VLPLODU IDFWV LQ Roper v. Allegis Group 1R   71:UN&RPS$SS%G/(;,6 7HQQ:RUNHUV¶&RPS$SS%G)HE  ,QWKDWFDVHWKHHPSOR\HHZDVDPDLQWHQDQFHZRUNHUDWDPDQXIDFWXULQJIDFLOLW\Id.DW :KHQDFRZRUNHUQRWLFHGDSOXPHRIEODFNVPRNHRQDQDXJHUGHFNDERYHWKHPWKH HPSOR\HH ZHQW WR LQYHVWLJDWH DQG LQVSHFW WKH PDFKLQHU\  Id.  $V WKH HPSOR\HH ZDV PDQHXYHULQJSDVWSDUWRIWKHPDFKLQHU\ZKHUHKHQRWHGDQRSHQKDWFKWKDWVKRXOGKDYH EHHQFORVHGKLVVOHHYHZDVVQDJJHGDQGKLVDUPZDVSXOOHGLQWRWKHDXJHUUHVXOWLQJLQ LQMXU\Id.DW 7KHHPSOR\HUDUJXHGWKHHPSOR\HH¶VIDLOXUHWR³ORFNRXWWDJRXW´WKH PDFKLQH EHIRUH LQVSHFWLQJ LW FRQVWLWXWHG ZLOOIXO PLVFRQGXFW  Id. DW   2Q DSSHDO ZH DJUHHGZLWKWKHWULDOFRXUWWKDWWKHUHZDVLQVXIILFLHQWHYLGHQFHWKHHPSOR\HHKDGZLOOIXOO\ IDLOHG RU UHIXVHG WR IROORZ WKH HPSOR\HU¶V VDIHW\ UXOHV  Id. DW   :H QRWHG WKH HPSOR\HU¶V UXOHV ³FRQWHPSODWHG WKDW DXWKRUL]HG PDLQWHQDQFH SHUVRQQHO ZRXOG SHUIRUP WURXEOHVKRRWLQJDFWLYLWLHVZKLOHWKHPDFKLQHVZHUHVWLOOHQHUJL]HG´Id.DW :HDOVR FRQFOXGHGWKHUHZDV³DPSOHVXSSRUWLQWKHUHFRUGWKDW>WKHHPSOR\HH@ZDVQRWDWWHPSWLQJ WRVHUYLFHRUZRUNRQWKHPDFKLQHDWWKHWLPHRIWKHDFFLGHQW´Id.)LQDOO\ZHDGGUHVVHG WKH HPSOR\HU¶V DUJXPHQW WKDW SXUVXDQW WR WKH 7HQQHVVHH 6XSUHPH &RXUW¶V GHFLVLRQ LQ Mitchell v. Fayetteville Public Utilities6:G 7HQQ DQ³HPSOR\HH¶V ODFNRIDYDOLGH[FXVHIRUIROORZLQJDVDIHW\UXOHFRQVWLWXWHVZLOOIXOQHVV´:HFRQFOXGHG  7KLV LV DQ RYHUEURDG LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI Mitchell WKDW LI DFFHSWHG ZRXOG DOORZHPSOR\HUVWRGHQ\EHQHILWVWRHPSOR\HHVZKRVHPHUHO\QHJOLJHQWRU UHFNOHVV DFWLRQV UHVXOWHG LQ D YLRODWLRQ RI D NQRZQ VDIHW\ UXOH  2Q WKH FRQWUDU\ WKH Mitchell &RXUW VWDWHG MXVW WKH RSSRVLWH  ,Q HYDOXDWLQJ 0U 0LWFKHOO¶V YLRODWLRQ RI WKH SHUWLQHQW VDIHW\ UXOH LQ WKDW FDVH WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW FRQFOXGHG ³KLV DFNQRZOHGJPHQW WKDW KH HOHFWHG WR WDNH RII >WKH SURWHFWLYHJORYHV@DQ\ZD\FOHDUO\HVWDEOLVKHGWKDWKLVDFWZDVZLOOIXODQG QRW PHUHO\ QHJOLJHQW RU UHFNOHVV´  7KXV WKH 6XSUHPH &RXUW LQ Mitchell UHLQIRUFHGORQJVWDQGLQJSUHFHGHQWWKDWDQHPSOR\HH¶VQHJOLJHQWRUUHFNOHVV DFWLRQV JHQHUDOO\ DUH QRW HQRXJK WR GHIHDW D FODLP IRU ZRUNHUV¶ FRPSHQVDWLRQEHQHILWV  Id.DW  LQWHUQDOFLWDWLRQRPLWWHG      7KH IDFWV RI WKH SUHVHQW FDVH DUH VWULNLQJO\ VLPLODU WR WKRVH LQ Nall DQG Roper +HUHWKHUHLVQRTXHVWLRQ(PSOR\HHZDVSHUIRUPLQJZRUNLQIXUWKHUDQFHRI(PSOR\HU¶V LQWHUHVWV  (PSOR\HH WHVWLILHG KH DSSURDFKHG WKH PDFKLQH LQ DQ HIIRUW WR GLDJQRVH WKH SUREOHP DQG GHWHUPLQH WKH FDXVH RI WKH PDOIXQFWLRQ  +H EHOLHYHG KH ZDV H[HUFLVLQJ DSSURSULDWH GLVFUHWLRQ DQG IROORZLQJ DSSURSULDWH VDIHW\ SURWRFROV LQ GHWHUPLQLQJ KH QHHGHGWRFRQGXFWD³OLYHFRQYH\RUUHSDLU´+HKDGQRWKRZHYHUEHJXQWKHUHSDLUDWWKH WLPHRIWKHDFFLGHQW$OWKRXJKDZLWQHVVWHVWLILHG(PSOR\HHWROGKLPLQWKHKRVSLWDOKH ZDVDWWHPSWLQJWRUHPRYHGHEULVIURPWKHPDFKLQHDWWKHWLPHRIWKHDFFLGHQW(PSOR\HH GHQLHGKHUHDFKHGKLVKDQGLQWRWKHPDFKLQHWRUHPRYHGHEULVDQGGLGQRWUHFDOOPDNLQJ WKDWVWDWHPHQWWRWKHVXSHUYLVRU,QFRQFOXGLQJ(PSOR\HHZDVSHUIRUPLQJWKHUHSDLUWDVN LQ DQ ³DFFHSWDEOH PDQQHU´ WKH WULDO FRXUW LPSOLFLWO\ DFFHSWHG(PSOR\HH¶V WHVWLPRQ\ RQ WKLV LVVXH DV FUHGLEOH DQG ZH ILQG WKH HYLGHQFH GRHV QRW SUHSRQGHUDWH DJDLQVW WKDW FRQFOXVLRQ  :LWK UHVSHFW WR ZKHWKHU (PSOR\HU¶V VDIHW\ SURWRFROV JDYH LWV PHFKDQLFV WKH GLVFUHWLRQ WR FRQGXFW D OLYH FRQYH\RU UHSDLU LQ WKLV VLWXDWLRQ WKHUH ZDV D GLIIHUHQFH RI RSLQLRQ DPRQJ WKH WHVWLI\LQJ ZLWQHVVHV DV WR WKH VFRSH DQG WLPLQJ RI D PHFKDQLF¶V GLVFUHWLRQ