FILED Oct 31, 2019 02:25 PM(CT) TENNESSEE WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD 7(11(66((%85($8 2):25.(56¶&203(16$7,21 :25.(56¶&203(16$7,21$33($/6%2$5' 0DUVKD:ULJKW 'RFNHW1R Y 6WDWH)LOH1R 7HQQHVVHH&963KDUPDF\//&HWDO $SSHDOIURPWKH&RXUWRI:RUNHUV¶ &RPSHQVDWLRQ&ODLPV 'HDQD&6H\PRXU -XGJH $IILUPHGDQG&HUWLILHGDV)LQDO 7KHHPSOR\HHVXIIHUHGSK\VLFDODQGPHQWDOLQMXULHV GXULQJWKHFRXUVHDQGVFRSHRIKHU ZRUN DV D UHVXOW RI EHLQJ UREEHG DW JXQSRLQW DW WKH HPSOR\HU¶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¶VDZDUGDQGZHDIILUPWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VGHFLVLRQDQGFHUWLI\LWDV ILQDO -XGJH'DYLG)+HQVOH\ GHOLYHUHGWKHRSLQLRQ RIWKH$SSHDOV%RDUG LQZKLFK 3UHVLGLQJ -XGJH0DUVKDOO/'DYLGVRQ,,, DQG -XGJH7LPRWK\:&RQQHU MRLQHG $OH[ % 0RUULVRQ .QR[YLOOH 7HQQHVVHH IRU WKH HPSOR\HUDSSHOODQW 7HQQHVVHH &96 3KDUPDF\//& 0RQLFD55HMDHL 0HPSKLV7HQQHVVHHIRUWKH HPSOR\HHDSSHOOHH0DUVKD:ULJKW )DFWXDODQG3URFHGXUDO%DFNJURXQG 0DUVKD :ULJKW ³(PSOR\HH´ ZDV HPSOR\HG DV D VKLIW VXSHUYLVRU IRU 7HQQHVVHH &963KDUPDF\//& ³(PSOR\HU´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¶VWKLUGYLVLW'U&OHYHODQGDUUDQJHGIRU DQ 05, RI (PSOR\HH¶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¶V RQJRLQJ FRPSODLQWV $W (PSOR\HH¶V LQLWLDO HYDOXDWLRQ 'U $O+DPGD GLDJQRVHG DFXWH SRVWWUDXPDWLF VWUHVV GLVRUGHU ³376'´ DQG LQVRPQLD DQG UHFRPPHQGHG WKDW (PSOR\HH EH VHHQ E\ D SV\FKLDWULVW ,Q -XQH (PSOR\HU SURYLGHG (PSOR\HH D SDQHO RI SV\FKLDWULVWV IURP ZKLFK (PSOR\HH VHOHFWHG 'U 0HOYLQ *ROGLQ 'U *ROGLQ GLDJQRVHG 376' DW (PSOR\HH¶VILUVWYLVLW ,QKLVGHSRVLWLRQ'U*ROGLQWHVWLILHG WKDW(PSOR\HH¶V376' DURVH SULPDULO\RXW RIWKH 1RYHPEHUZRUNLQFLGHQW +HVWDWHGWKDW(PSOR\HHKDGUHDFKHG PD[LPXP PHGLFDO LPSURYHPHQW RQ )HEUXDU\ DQG KH DVVLJQHG D SHUPDQHQW LPSDLUPHQW UDWLQJ RIEDVHGRQWKH 6L[WK(GLWLRQRIWKH$PHULFDQ0HGLFDO$VVRFLDWLRQ¶V *XLGHV WR WKH (YDOXDWLRQ RI 3HUPDQHQW ,PSDLUPHQW ³$0$ *XLGHV´ 2YHU WKH FRXUVH RI KLV WUHDWPHQW 'U *ROGLQ SUHVFULEHG VHYHUDO PHGLFDWLRQV WR DVVLVW ZLWK (PSOR\HH¶V (PSOR\HHILOHGDPRWLRQUHTXHVWLQJWKDWZHVHWWKLVFDVHIRURUDODUJXPHQW:HGHFOLQHWRGRVRDQG GHQ\ (PSOR\HH¶V PRWLRQ FRQWLQXLQJFRPSODLQWVRIDQ[LHW\GHSUHVVLRQDQGLQVRPQLD+H DOVRUHFRPPHQGHGWKDW (PSOR\HH³FRQWLQXHWKHRQJRLQJSV\FKRWKHUDS\DQGSKDUPDFRWKHUDS\´ ,Q 0DUFK 'U*ROGLQ VLJQHG D 3K\VLFLDQ &HUWLILFDWLRQ )RUP FHUWLI\LQJ WKDW ³GXHWRWKHSHUPDQHQWUHVWULFWLRQVRQDFWLYLW\>(PSOR\HH@KDVVXIIHUHGDVDUHVXOWRIWKH LQMXU\>(PSOR\HH@QRORQJHUKDVWKHDELOLW\WRSHUIRUP>KHU@SUHLQMXU\RFFXSDWLRQ´,Q KLV GHSRVLWLRQ 'U *ROGLQ WHVWLILHG WKDW (PSOR\HH LV ³XQDEOH WR UHWXUQ WR KHU MRE DQG SODFHRIZRUNIURPWKHWLPHRIWKHLQMXU\GXHWRKHUPDUNHGIHDUIXOQHVVYLUWXDOO\WRWKH SRLQWRISDUDQRLDLQSUHWW\PXFKDQ\SXEOLFVHWWLQJ´'U*ROGLQWHVWLILHG WKDW(PSOR\HH LVFXUUHQWO\XQDEOHWRSHUIRUPZRUNLQDSXEOLFVHWWLQJEXWDGGHG ³WKDWPLJKWFKDQJHZLWK D FRXSOH RI \HDUV RI JRRG WUHDWPHQW´ 2Q FURVVH[DPLQDWLRQ 'U *ROGLQ VWDWHG WKDW DOWKRXJK (PSOR\HHZDVFXUUHQWO\ XQDEOHWRZRUNLQWKHSXEOLFVSKHUHVKHPD\EHDEOHWR SHUIRUP MREV RXWVLGH WKH SXEOLF VSKHUH EXW ³>L@W ZRXOG GHSHQG RQ WKH MRE DQG GHWDLOV VXFKDVKRZDQGZKHUHWKHSODFHLVKRZVKHKDVWRJHWWKHUH>DQG@DQ\QXPEHURIRWKHU YDULDEOHV´ $WWULDO WKHSDUWLHVVWLSXODWHGWKDW(PSOR\HH ZDVIRUW\HLJKW \HDUVRIDJH WKDWVKH REWDLQHG D KLJK VFKRRO GLSORPD RU JUDGXDWH HTXLYDOHQF\ GLSORPD WKDW VKH KDG QRW UHWXUQHGWRZRUNIRU(PSOR\HUHDUQLQJWKHVDPHRUDJUHDWHUZDJHWKDQVKHZDVHDUQLQJ DW WKH WLPH RI KHU LQMXULHV WKDW (PSOR\HU ZDV XQDEOH WR DFFRPPRGDWH (PSOR\HH¶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³DQ[LHW\DQGMXVWEHLQJDURXQGSHRSOH´6KHWHVWLILHGVKHKDV³YHU\ VHYHUH´PLJUDLQHVZKLFK VKHDWWULEXWHGWRKHUDQ[LHW\6KH GHVFULEHGSDQLFDWWDFNV WKDW ZHUHWULJJHUHGE\EHLQJLQDFURZGDQGHQFORVHGEXLOGLQJV GXULQJZKLFKVKHH[SHULHQFHG QDXVHD DQG VKRUWQHVV RI EUHDWK (PSOR\HH WHVWLILHG VKH H[SHULHQFHG ³PD\EH WKUHH WR IRXU´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¶V KXVEDQG DOVR WHVWLILHG FRUURERUDWLQJ (PSOR\HH¶V WHVWLPRQ\ +H WHVWLILHG KH FKDQJHG KLV ZRUN VKLIW DIWHU WKH LQFLGHQW WR ZRUN GD\V DQG WKDW KH FRPHV KRPHDWOXQFKWRFKHFNRQKLVZLIHDQGWRSUHSDUHKHUOXQFKVWDWLQJ VKHLVQRORQJHUDEOH WRVDIHO\FRRNIRUKHUVHOI+HWHVWLILHGWKDWKHKDVWRFDOO(PSOR\HHEHIRUHHQWHULQJKLV KRPHWRDYRLGIULJKWHQLQJ KHU )ROORZLQJWKHWULDOWKHFRXUWFRQFOXGHG WKDW(PSOR\HHZDVHQWLWOHGWRDQRULJLQDO DZDUGRI ZHHNVRISHUPDQHQWGLVDELOLW\EHQHILWV EDVHGRQKHULPSDLUPHQW WKDW GXH WR KHU QRW UHWXUQLQJ WR ZRUN DQG KHU DJH VKH ZDV HQWLWOHG WR LQFUHDVHG GLVDELOLW\ EHQHILWV DQG D UHVXOWLQJ DZDUG DV SURYLGHG LQ 7HQQHVVHH &RGH $QQRWDWHG VHFWLRQ % WKDW(PSOR\HH¶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¶V GHFLVLRQ SUHVXPHV WKDW WKH FRXUW¶VIDFWXDOILQGLQJVDUHFRUUHFWXQOHVVWKHSUHSRQGHUDQFHRIWKHHYLGHQFHLVRWKHUZLVH See 7HQQ &RGH $QQ F :KHQ WKH WULDO MXGJH KDV KDG WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR REVHUYH D ZLWQHVV¶V GHPHDQRU DQG WR KHDU LQFRXUW WHVWLPRQ\ ZH JLYH FRQVLGHUDEOH GHIHUHQFH WR IDFWXDO ILQGLQJV PDGH E\ WKH WULDO FRXUW Madden v. Holland Grp. of Tenn., Inc. 6:G 7HQQ +RZHYHU ³>Q@R VLPLODU GHIHUHQFHQHHGEHDIIRUGHGWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VILQGLQJVEDVHGXSRQGRFXPHQWDU\HYLGHQFH´ Goodman v. Schwarz Paper Co.1R: 6&5:&7HQQ/(;,6DW 7HQQ :RUNHUV¶ &RPS 3DQHO -DQ 6LPLODUO\ WKH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ DQG DSSOLFDWLRQRIVWDWXWHVDQGUHJXODWLRQVDUHTXHVWLRQVRIODZWKDWDUHUHYLHZHGde novo ZLWK QR SUHVXPSWLRQ RI FRUUHFWQHVV DIIRUGHG WKH WULDO FRXUW¶V FRQFOXVLRQV See Mansell v. Bridgestone Firestone N. Am. Tire, LLC 6:G 7HQQ :H DUH DOVR PLQGIXO RI RXU REOLJDWLRQ WR FRQVWUXH WKH ZRUNHUV¶ FRPSHQVDWLRQ VWDWXWHV ³IDLUO\ LPSDUWLDOO\ DQG LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK EDVLF SULQFLSOHV RI VWDWXWRU\ FRQVWUXFWLRQ´ DQG LQ D ZD\WKDWGRHVQRWIDYRUHLWKHUWKHHPSOR\HHRUWKHHPSOR\HU7HQQ&RGH$QQ $QDO\VLV (PSOR\HU UDLVHV WZR LVVXHV RQ DSSHDO )LUVW (PSOR\HU FRQWHQGV WKH WULDO FRXUW HUUHG LQ GHWHUPLQLQJ (PSOR\HH ZDV HQWLWOHG WR LQFUHDVHG SHUPDQHQW GLVDELOLW\ EHQHILWV SXUVXDQWWRVHFWLRQ % ³EHFDXVHVKHKDVSXWIRUWKQRHIIRUWLQWRILQGLQJDMRE WKDW FRXOG UHSODFH WKH LQFRPH WKDW VKH KDV ORVW´ 6HFRQG (PSOR\HU FRQWHQGV WKH WULDO FRXUW HUUHG LQ GHWHUPLQLQJ LW ZRXOG EH LQHTXLWDEOH WR OLPLW (PSOR\HH¶V DZDUG WR WKH LQFUHDVHG EHQHILWV SURYLGHG LQ VHFWLRQ 0RUH VSHFLILFDOO\ FRQFHUQLQJ (PSOR\HU¶VVHFRQGLVVXH(PSOR\HUDVVHUWV'U*ROGLQFRQWUDGLFWHGKLV VWDWHPHQWLQWKH IRUP FHUWLI\LQJ WKDW (PSOR\HH QR ORQJHU KDV WKH DELOLW\ WR SHUIRUP KHU SUHLQMXU\ RFFXSDWLRQ GXH WR permanent UHVWULFWLRQV RQ DFWLYLW\ UHVXOWLQJ IURP KHU ZRUN LQMXU\ (PSOR\HU GRHV QRW FRQWHVW WKH RULJLQDO DZDUG RI ZHHNV RI SHUPDQHQW GLVDELOLW\ EHQHILWVWKDWWKHWULDOFRXUWFDOFXODWHGE\PXOWLSO\LQJ(PSOR\HH¶VLPSDLUPHQWE\ ZHHNVDVSURYLGHGLQVHFWLRQ $ Increased Benefits Pursuant to Section 50-6-207(3)(B) (PSOR\HU FRQWHQGV WKDW WKH WULDO FRXUW HUUHG LQ DZDUGLQJ LQFUHDVHG SHUPDQHQW GLVDELOLW\ EHQHILWV DV SURYLGHG LQ VHFWLRQ % (PSOR\HU DVVHUWV WKDW (PSOR\HH¶V³ODFNRIUHDVRQDEOHHIIRUWLQWU\LQJWRUHWXUQWRZRUN´GLVTXDOLILHGKHUIURP LQFUHDVHGEHQHILWV $V SHUWLQHQW WR WKH LVVXH KHUH VHFWLRQ % SURYLGHV WKDW ³>L@I DW WKH WLPH WKH SHULRG RI FRPSHQVDWLRQ SURYLGHG E\ VXEVHFWLRQ $ HQGV WKH HPSOR\HH KDV QRWUHWXUQHGWRZRUNZLWKDQ\HPSOR\HUWKHLQMXUHGHPSOR\HHPD\ILOHDFODLPIRU LQFUHDVHGEHQHILWV´,QWKLVFDVHWKHSHULRGRIFRPSHQVDWLRQUHSUHVHQWHGE\WKHRULJLQDO DZDUG KDG HQGHG ZKHQ WKH FDVH ZDV WULHG $FFRUGLQJO\ WKH WULDO FRXUW SURSHUO\ FRQVLGHUHG ZKHWKHU LW ZDV DSSURSULDWH WR DZDUG (PSOR\HH LQFUHDVHG EHQHILWV LQ DFFRUGDQFHZLWKVXEVHFWLRQ % 7KDWVXEVHFWLRQVWDWHVWKDW³LIDSSURSULDWH´ DQHPSOR\HH¶VRULJLQDODZDUG³VKDOOEHLQFUHDVHGE\PXOWLSO\LQJWKHRULJLQDODZDUGE\D IDFWRU RI ´ LI WKH HPSOR\HH KDV QRW UHWXUQHG WR ZRUN ZLWK DQ\ HPSOR\HU DW WKH WLPHWKHRULJLQDOSHULRGRIFRPSHQVDWLRQHQGV7KHVWDWXWHUHIHUVWRWKLVLQFUHDVHGDZDUG DVWKH³UHVXOWLQJDZDUG´ ,QDGGLWLRQWRDQDZDUGEHLQJLQFUHDVHGEHFDXVH DQHPSOR\HHKDVQRWUHWXUQHGWR ZRUN DW WKH HQG RI WKH WLPH SHULRG UHSUHVHQWHG E\ WKH RULJLQDO DZDUG VXEVHFWLRQ % DOVR SURYLGHVWKDWDQHPSOR\HH¶VUHVXOWLQJDZDUGFDQEHIXUWKHULQFUHDVHGE\ PXOWLSO\LQJWKHUHVXOWLQJDZDUGE\WKHSURGXFWRIWKUHHDGGLWLRQDOIDFWRUVLIDSSOLFDEOH +HUH (PSOR\HH¶V DJH ZDV WKH RQO\ DGGLWLRQDO DSSOLFDEOH IDFWRU DQG WKH WULDO FRXUW FDOFXODWHGWKHWRWDOUHVXOWLQJDZDUGE\PXOWLSO\LQJWKHLQLWLDOUHVXOWLQJDZDUGE\DIDFWRU RIIRU(PSOR\HH¶VDJHDVSURYLGHG LQVXEVHFWLRQ % LL (PSOR\HU FRQWHQGV LW ZDV HUURU IRU WKH WULDO FRXUW WR PDNH D UHVXOWLQJ DZDUG ³EHFDXVH >(PSOR\HH@ KDV SXW IRUWK QR HIIRUW LQWR ILQGLQJ D MRE WKDW FRXOG UHSODFH WKH LQFRPHWKDWVKHKDVORVW´(PSOR\HUHPSKDVL]HVWKDW(PSOR\HHWHVWLILHGQRWRQO\WKDWVKH KDVQRWJRQHEDFNWRZRUNEXWWKDW³VKHKDVQRWHYHQORRNHGLQWRRUDSSOLHGIRUMREVWKDW VKH FRXOG GR HYHQ ZLWK KHU LQMXU\´ (PSOR\HU DUJXHV WKDW LW ³VKRXOG QRW EH SHQDOL]HG XVLQJWKHPXOWLSOLHUVLQWKLVFDVH´ZKHQ'U*ROGLQ¶VWHVWLPRQ\WKDW(PSOR\HHPLJKWILQG VXFFHVVLQZRUNDZD\IURPWKHSXEOLFLVFRQVLGHUHGZLWK(PSOR\HH¶VIDLOXUHWRDWWHPSWWR ZRUNRUWRORRNIRUZRUN (PSOR\HUFLWHVQRDXWKRULW\IRULWVSRVLWLRQRWKHUWKDQDWULDO FRXUWRUGHULQZKLFKWKHMXGJHGHWHUPLQHGWKDWDQHPSOR\HH¶VDGPLWWHGODFNRIHIIRUWLQ REWDLQLQJSRVWLQMXU\HPSOR\PHQWZHLJKHGDJDLQVWWKHHPSOR\HH $VZHKDYHSUHYLRXVO\ REVHUYHG³WULDOFRXUWRUGHUVDUHQRWELQGLQJDXWKRULW\RQDSSHDO´Palmer v. Paul Hardy 1R 71 :UN &RPS $SS %G /(;,6 DW 7HQQ :RUNHUV¶ &RPS $SS %G )HE $FFRUGLQJO\ (PSOR\HU¶V UHOLDQFH RQ WKH WULDO FRXUW RUGHU LV PLVSODFHG 0RUHRYHU WKH 7HQQHVVHH 6XSUHPH &RXUW¶V 6SHFLDO :RUNHUV¶ &RPSHQVDWLRQ $SSHDOV 3DQHO UHFHQWO\ KHOG WKDW DQ HPSOR\HH¶V IDLOXUH WR VHHN HPSOR\PHQW GRHV QRW VHUYH DV DQ DXWRPDWLF EDU WR EHQHILWV EH\RQG WKH RULJLQDO DZDUG See Duignan v. Stowers Mach. Corp.1R(6&5:& 7HQQ/(;,6 DW 7HQQ:RUNHUV¶&RPS3DQHO-XQH :HFRQFOXGHWKDWE\LQFOXGLQJWKHSKUDVH³>L@IDSSURSULDWH´LQDXWKRUL]LQJDWULDO FRXUWWRDZDUGLQFUHDVHGEHQHILWVLQVHFWLRQ % WKHOHJLVODWXUHH[SUHVVHGLWV LQWHQW WKDW D WULDO FRXUW FRQVLGHU DOO UHOHYDQW IDFWRUV LQFOXGLQJ WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV RI DQ LQMXUHGZRUNHU¶VDELOLW\DQGRUZLOOLQJQHVVWRUHWXUQWRZRUNLQKLVRUKHUGLVDEOHGVWDWH DQG WKH UHDVRQDEOHQHVV RI WKH HPSOR\HU LQ DWWHPSWLQJ WR UHWXUQWKH LQMXUHG HPSOR\HH WR ZRUN Cf. Bain v. UTI Integrated Logistics, LLC 1R :6&:&0:& 7HQQ /(;,6 DW 7HQQ :RUNHUV¶ &RPS 3DQHO 2FW ,Q DQDO\]LQJZKHWKHUWKHUHKDVEHHQDPHDQLQJIXOUHWXUQWRZRUN³WKHGHWHUPLQDWLRQRIWKH UHDVRQDEOHQHVVRIWKHDFWLRQVRIWKHHPSOR\HUDQGWKHHPSOR\HHGHSHQGVRQWKHIDFWVRI HDFKFDVH´ ,Q WKH SUHVHQW FDVH WKH WULDO FRXUW FRQFOXGHG WKDW (PSOR\HH VXIIHUV IURP 376' VWDWLQJ (PSOR\HH ³IHDUV WKH SXEOLF DQG XQIDPLOLDU VXUURXQGLQJV DQG VHOGRP OHDYHV KHU KRPH´ 7KH WULDO FRXUW QRWHG WKDW ³'U *ROGLQ FHUWLILHG >(PSOR\HH@ FRXOG QR ORQJHU SHUIRUP KHU SUHLQMXU\ RFFXSDWLRQ DQG TXHVWLRQV ZKHWKHU VKH ZLOO HYHU ZRUN DJDLQ´ *LYLQJGHIHUHQFHWRWKHIDFWXDOILQGLQJVPDGHE\WKHWULDOFRXUWDQGEDVHGRQWKHFRXUW¶V RSSRUWXQLW\ WR KHDU (PSOR\HH¶V WHVWLPRQ\ ZH FRQFOXGH WKH WULDO FRXUW GLG QRW HUU LQ GHWHUPLQLQJ LW ZDV ³DSSURSULDWH´ WR DZDUG (PSOR\HH LQFUHDVHG SHUPDQHQW GLVDELOLW\ EHQHILWVSXUVXDQWWRVXEVHFWLRQ % Additional Disability Benefits Pursuant to Subsection 50-6-242(a)(2) 6HYHUDO UHTXLUHPHQWV PXVW EH PHW IRU DQ HPSOR\HH WR EH HQWLWOHG WR DGGLWLRQDO EHQHILWV SXUVXDQW WR VXEVHFWLRQ D )LUVW WKH VWDWXWH SURYLGHV WKDW ³LQ H[WUDRUGLQDU\ FDVHV ZKHUH WKH HPSOR\HH LV HOLJLEOH IRU LQFUHDVHGEHQHILWVXQGHU % ´ WKH HPSOR\HH PD\ UHFHLYH DGGLWLRQDO EHQHILWV ³IRU D SHULRG QRW WR H[FHHG >@ZHHNVLQFOXVLYHRIWKHEHQHILWVSURYLGHGWRWKHHPSOR\HHXQGHU $ ´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¶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¶VSUHLQMXU\RFFXSDWLRQ7KH DXWKRUL]HG WUHDWLQJ SK\VLFLDQ¶V FHUWLILFDWLRQ VKDOO KDYH D SUHVXPSWLRQRIFRUUHFWQHVVWKDWPD\EHRYHUFRPHE\WKHSUHVHQWDWLRQ RIFRQWUDU\FOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFH DQG & 7KHHPSOR\HHLVQRWHDUQLQJDQDYHUDJHZHHNO\ZDJHRUVDODU\WKDWLV JUHDWHUWKDQRUHTXDOWRVHYHQW\SHUFHQW RIWKHHPSOR\HH¶VSUH LQMXU\DYHUDJHZHHNO\ZDJHRUVDODU\ 7HQQ&RGH$QQ D $ & ,QWKLVFDVH(PSOR\HUDFNQRZOHGJHVWKDW(PSOR\HHKDVQRWUHWXUQHGWRZRUNDQG WKDWVKHKDVDQLPSDLUPHQW UDWLQJ RI$FFRUGLQJWR(PSOR\HULWVVHFRQG LVVXH RQ DSSHDO³GHULYHVIURPWKHVHFRQGSURQJRIWKLVIDFWRUWHVW´(PSOR\HUFRQWHQGVWKDW³WKH VWDWHPHQWV PDGH E\ 'U *ROGLQ VXJJHVW WKDW WKLV LV QRW D SHUPDQHQW LPSDLUPHQW´ DQG (PSOR\HUDVVHUWV WKDWZKHQDVNHGLQKLVGHSRVLWLRQDERXW(PSOR\HH¶VUHWXUQLQJWRZRUN 'U*ROGLQVDLG³LWPLJKWKDSSHQODWHU´(PSOR\HUDUJXHV WKLVVWDWHPHQW³FRQWUDGLFWVWKH SHUPDQHQF\ UHTXLUHPHQW RI WKH SHUPDQHQW SDUWLDO GLVDELOLW\ EHQHILWV VWDQGDUG >DQG@ VXJJHVWV WKDW >(PSOR\HH@ FRXOG UHWXUQ WR ZRUN LI VKH FRQWLQXHV ZLWK KHU WUHDWPHQW DQG LPSURYHVLQZD\VWKDWDUHIRUHVHHDEOH´:HGLVDJUHH ,QDGGLWLRQWRWKHWZRRWKHUIDFWVWKDWWKHVWDWXWHUHTXLUHVWKHWULDOFRXUWWR³PDNH VSHFLILF GRFXPHQWHG ILQGLQJV´ WR EH WUXH ³DV RI WKH GDWH RI WKH DZDUG´ WKH FRXUW PXVW GHWHUPLQHWKDW'U*ROGLQWKHDXWKRUL]HGWUHDWLQJSK\VLFLDQKDVFHUWLILHGRQWKH %XUHDX¶V IRUP WKDW ³GXH WR WKH SHUPDQHQW UHVWULFWLRQV RQ DFWLYLW\ >(PSOR\HH@ KDV VXIIHUHG DV D UHVXOW RI WKH LQMXU\ >(PSOR\HH@ QR ORQJHU KDV WKH DELOLW\ WR SHUIRUP >KHU@ SUHLQMXU\ RFFXSDWLRQ´ 7HQQ &RGH $QQ D 7KH WULDO FRXUW FRQFOXGHG WKDW ³'U *ROGLQ FHUWLILHG >(PSOR\HH@ FRXOG QR ORQJHU SHUIRUP KHU SUHLQMXU\ RFFXSDWLRQ DQG TXHVWLRQV ZKHWKHU VKH ZLOO HYHU ZRUN DJDLQ´ 7KH %XUHDX¶V 3K\VLFLDQ &HUWLILFDWLRQ )RUP FHUWLI\LQJ WKH LQIRUPDWLRQ UHTXLUHG E\ WKH VWDWXWH ZDV VLJQHG E\ 'U *ROGLQ RQ 0DUFKDQGPDGHDQH[KLELWDWWULDO 0RUHRYHULQFLUFXPVWDQFHVZKHUHDSK\VLFLDQKDVWHVWLILHGDVWRWKHSHUPDQHQFH RIDFRQGLWLRQVWDWHPHQWVRIWKDWSK\VLFLDQVXJJHVWLQJWKHFRQGLWLRQ³PD\LPSURYH´RYHU WLPH GR QRW DXWRPDWLFDOO\ UHQGHU WKH SK\VLFLDQ¶V RSLQLRQV FRQFHUQLQJ SHUPDQHQFH LQYDOLGSee, e.g. American Mut. Ins. Co. v. Tune1R6& 7HQQ/(;,6 DW 7HQQ$XJ SK\VLFLDQ¶VVWDWHPHQWWKDWWKHHPSOR\HH¶VFRQGLWLRQ ZDV SHUPDQHQW DOWKRXJK LW ³PD\ LPSURYH VORZO\´ VXSSRUWHG WULDO FRXUW¶V DZDUG RI SHUPDQHQW GLVDELOLW\ EHQHILWV Wilson v. Spring Arbor Distribs. 1R 6 &9 7HQQ /(;,6 DW 7HQQ 2FW SK\VLFLDQ¶V WHVWLPRQ\ WKDW WKH HPSOR\HH¶V FRQGLWLRQ ³FRXOG LPSURYH RYHU WKH ORQJ WHUP´ GLG QRW QHFHVVLWDWH UHYHUVLQJWULDOFRXUW¶VDZDUGRISHUPDQHQWGLVDELOLW\EHQHILWV ,PSRUWDQWO\VXEVHFWLRQ D % SURYLGHVWKDW³>W@KHDXWKRUL]HGWUHDWLQJ SK\VLFLDQ¶V FHUWLILFDWLRQ VKDOO KDYH D SUHVXPSWLRQ RI FRUUHFWQHVV WKDW PD\ EH RYHUFRPHE\WKHSUHVHQWDWLRQRIFRQWUDU\FOHDUDQGFRQYLQFLQJHYLGHQFH´,QLWVEULHIWKH RQO\HYLGHQFH(PSOR\HUSUHVHQWVLQVXSSRUWRI LWVSRVLWLRQLV'U*ROGLQ¶VRZQWHVWLPRQ\ DVVHUWLQJ ³WKH VWDWHPHQWV PDGH E\ 'U *ROGLQ VXJJHVW WKDW WKLV LV QRW D SHUPDQHQW LPSDLUPHQW´ (PSOR\HUFRQWHQGVWKDWZKHQDVNHGDERXW(PSOR\HH¶VUHWXUQLQJWRZRUN 'U *ROGLQ¶V WHVWLPRQ\ WKDW ³LW PLJKW KDSSHQ ODWHU´ LV VXIILFLHQW WR ³FRQWUDGLFW>@ WKH SHUPDQHQF\ UHTXLUHPHQW RI WKH SHUPDQHQW SDUWLDO GLVDELOLW\ VWDQGDUG´ DQG VXJJHVWV WKDW (PSOR\HH FRXOG UHWXUQ WR ZRUN ³LI VKH FRQWLQXHV ZLWK KHU WUHDWPHQW DQG LPSURYHV LQ ZD\VWKDWDUHIRUHVHHDEOH´(PSOR\HU¶VHYLGHQFHIDOOVIDUVKRUWRIRYHUFRPLQJ³E\FOHDU DQG FRQYLQFLQJ HYLGHQFH´ WKH SUHVXPSWLRQ RI FRUUHFWQHVV RI 'U *ROGLQ¶V FHUWLILFDWLRQ $FFRUGLQJO\ZHILQGQRPHULWLQ(PSOR\HU¶VVHFRQGLVVXH Frivolous Appeal )LQDOO\ (PSOR\HH KDV UHTXHVWHG WKDW ZH ILQG (PSOR\HU¶V DSSHDO WR EH IULYRORXV DQG WKDW ZH DVVHVV DQ DSSURSULDWH SHQDOW\ $ IULYRORXV DSSHDO LV RQH WKDW LV GHYRLG RI PHULW Combustion Eng’g, Inc. v. Kennedy 6:G 7HQQ RU RQH WKDW KDV QR UHDVRQDEOH FKDQFH RI VXFFHHGLQJ Davis v. Gulf Ins. Grp. 6:G 7HQQ &RQVLGHULQJ WKH WRWDOLW\ RI WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV ZH GHFOLQH WR ILQG (PSOR\HU¶VDSSHDOIULYRORXV See 7HQQ&RPS5 5HJV &RQFOXVLRQ )RUWKHIRUHJRLQJUHDVRQVWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VRUGHULVDIILUPHGDQGFHUWLILHGDVILQDO &RVWVRQDSSHDODUHWD[HGWR(PSOR\HU TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD Marsha Wright ) Docket No. 2018-08-0461 ) v. ) State File No. 94867-2015 ) Tennessee CVS Pharmacy, LLC, et al. ) ) ) Appeal from the Court of Workers’ ) Compensation Claims ) Deana C. Seymour, Judge ) CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the Appeals Board’s decision in the referenced case was sent to the following recipients by the following methods of service on this the 31st day of October, 2019. Name Certified First Class Via Via Sent to: Mail Mail Fax Email Monica Rejaei X mrejaei@nstlaw.com Tiffany Sherrill X tbsherrill@mijs.com Alex B. Morrison X abmorrison@mijs.com Deana C. Seymour, Judge X Via Electronic Mail Kenneth M. Switzer, Chief Judge X Via Electronic Mail Penny Shrum, Clerk, Court of X penny.patterson-shrum@tn.gov Workers’ Compensation Claims Jeanette Baird JJeanette Deputy Cl D Clerk, k WWorkers’ k ’C Compensation Appeals Board 220 French Landing Dr., Ste. 1-B Nashville, TN 37243 Telephone: 615-253-0064 Electronic Mail: WCAppeals.Clerk@tn.gov