TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION 

IN THE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS 

AT GRAY 

KATELYN JONES, ) Docket No. 2018-02-0409 

Employee, ) 

v. ) 

UPPER EAST TENNESSEE HUMAN ) 

DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ) State File No. 37058-2018 

Employer, ) 

And ) 

PUBLIC ENTITY PARTNERS, ) 

Carrier. ) Judge Brian K. Addington 

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER DENYING REQUESTED BENEFITS 

The Court held an Expedited Hearing on May 14, 2019, on Katelyn Jones's 

entitlement to medical and temporary disability benefits. The issue is whether Ms. Jones 

is likely to establish at trial that she is entitled to these benefits for a knee injury she 

suffered from a fall at work. For the reasons below, the Court denies the requested relief. 

History of Claim 

Ms. Jones worked as a family resource specialist at Upper East Tennessee Human 

Development Agency (UETHDA). Her position included "engagement activities," which 

are planned events where all students and their parents participate in social activities 

coordinated by teachers, their assistants, and the family resource specialists. 

During an engagement activity in UETHDA's gym on May 18, 2018, Ms. Jones 

ensured that the activities progressed, the children and parents stayed engaged, and the 

participants remained safe. After an activity ended, she walked across the gym floor and 

suddenly fell injuring her left knee. The floor was level and unobstructed. Ms. Jones did 

not observe anything that caused her to fall. 

UETHDA provided a panel, and Ms. Jones chose Holston Medical Group. After 

two visits, UETHDA denied her claim on the basis she suffered an idiopathic injury. Ms. 

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FILED

May 16, 2019

07:34 AM(CT)

TENNESSEE COURT OF

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

CLAIMS
Jones continued limited treatment at her own expense and testified that she needs surgery 

to repair a ligament and bone spur. 

Ms. Jones asserted her injury occurred at work and she never experienced knee 

complaints before the fall. She argued her work duties supervising children and 

interacting with the adults during the engagement activity presented a hazard that caused 

her injury. UETHDA argued Ms. Jones suffered an idiopathic injury; no work hazard 

caused her to fall. It asked the Court to deny Ms. Jones's claim and moved to dismiss the 

case. 

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law 

To prevail at an expedited hearing, Ms. Jones must provide sufficient evidence to 

show she would likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits in proving her claim for 

medical and temporary disability benefits. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(l) 

(20 18). She failed to do so. 

Since Ms. Jones does not know why she fell, UETHDA argued she suffered an 

idiopathic injury. An idiopathic injury is defined as "one that has an unexplained origin 

or cause, and generally does not arise out of the employment unless 'some condition of 

the employment presents a peculiar or additional hazard."' Veler v. Wackenhut Servs., 

No. E2010-00965-WC-R3-WC, 2011 Tenn. LEXIS 78, at *9 (Tenn. Workers' Comp. 

Panel Jan. 28, 2011). Since Ms. Jones fell on a level, unobstructed surface, she must 

establish that her unexplained fall was due to a condition of the employment that 

presented a peculiar or additional hazard to her. Byrom v. Randstad N Am., L.P., No. 

E2011-00367-WC-R3-WC, 2012 Tenn. LEXIS 152, at *13 (Tenn. Workers' Comp. 

Panel Mar. 8, 2012). 

Ms. Jones's argument that her job duties presented a hazard that caused her injury 

is not persuasive. As the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board explained in McCaffery 

v. Cardinal Logistics, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 50, at *8-11 (Dec. 10, 

20 15), the relevant inquiry is not what caused the alleged idiopathic condition or event 

but what caused the injury. The Board noted that "cause" in the context of idiopathic 

injuries "means that the accident originated in the hazards to which the employee was 

exposed as a result of performing his job duties." !d. at *10. Here, the important inquiry 

is not what caused Ms. Jones's fall, but what caused her knee injury. Ms. Jones did not 

submit any evidence as to what caused her knee injury, and her mere presence at work is 

not a "hazard." See Rogers v. Kroger Co., 832 S.W.2d 538, 541 (Tenn. 1992). 

Therefore, the Court holds Ms. Jones did not come forward with sufficient evidence to 

prevail at a hearing on the merits and she is not entitled to the requested benefits. 

Finally, UETHDA's motion to dismiss, presumably a motion for involuntary 

dismissal under Rule 41.02 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, is denied. Ms. 

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Jones sought interlocutory relief at an expedited hearing, so this is a nonfinal order 

subject to modification at any time before the final compensation hearing. See Tenn. 

Code Ann.§ 50-6-239(d)(3). 

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows: 

1. Ms. Jones's requested relief is denied at this time. 

2. This matter is set for a Status Hearing on August 27, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern 

Time. The parties must call 855-543-5044 toll-free to participate in the hearing. 

Failure to appear by telephone may result in a determination of the issues without 

your further participation. 

ENTERED May 16, 2019. 

Is/ Brian K. Addington 

JUDGE BRIAN K. ADDINGTON 

Court of Workers' Compensation Claims 

APPENDIX 

Exhibits 

1. Ms. Jones's Affidavit 

2. Notice ofDenial of Claim for Compensation 

3. Medical records ofHMG Urgent Care 

4. Medical records of Family Physicians of Johnson City 

5. Franklin Woods's radiology report 

6. Medical records of Appalachian Orthopedics 

7. Collective-Medical bills and receipts 

8. Pay Stubs from April and May 2018 

9. Job Description 

Technical Record 

1. Petition for Benefit Determination 

2. Dispute Certification Notice 

3. Request for Expedited Hearing 

4. Motion to Dismiss 

5. Agreed Order 

6. Statement of Stipulated Facts 

7. Ms. Jones's Pre-Hearing Brief 

8. Employer's Pre-Hearing Brief 

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I certify that a copy of the Order was sent to these recipients by the following 

methods of service on May 16, 2019. 

Name Certified Mail 

Josh Hoeppner, 

Employee's 

Attorney 

Sam McPeak, 

Employer's 

Attorney 

Email Service sent to: 

X josh@hoeppnerlaw .com 

X sam@hbm-lawfirm.com 

M, COURT CLERK 

Court of W rkers' Compensation Claims 

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