FILED 

TN COURI'OF 

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CLilllS 

Time· 1 :32 PM 

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION 

IN THE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS 

AT NASHVILLE 

Cleaster Marshall, ) Docket No. 2016-06-1687 

Employee, ) 

v. ) 

Gate Precast Company, ) State File No. 67709-2016 

Employer, ) 

And ) 

XL Specialty Insurance, ) Judge Kenneth M. Switzer 

Carrier. ) 

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER DENYING REQUESTED RELIEF 

This case came before the undersigned Workers' Compensation Judge on March 

30, 2017, on Mr. Marshall's Request for Expedited Hearing. The present focus of this 

case is whether he gave legally sufficient notice of his alleged work-related injury and 

whether he suffered an injury arising primarily out of and in the course and scope of 

employment with Gate Precast. For the reasons set forth below, the Court holds Mr. 

Marshall gave sufficient notice but did not come forward with sufficient evidence of an 

injury arising primarily out of employment. Thus, the Court denies his requested relief at 

this time. 

History of Claim 

Mr. Marshall worked for Gate Precast. He alleged that on February 14, 2016, he 

was "working on a pad" and "building steps" at a university. He had to kneel to do the 

work, and as long he was kneeling on a flat surface and wearing knee pads, he felt okay. 

However, to do this work, the steps were laid down in a "v" shape, and Mr. Marshall had 

to kneel with his knees inside the "v." After several hours in that position, he 

experienced knee pain and promptly told his supervisor, Nathan Grissom. The next day 

at work, the pain "really got bad," necessitating medical care. The description Mr. 

Marshall provided on his Petition for Benefit Determination (PBD) of the mechanism of 

injury similarly states: 

1 
2-14-16 I was working on a Pad [sic] & we were building steps for a 

University. The first day my knees started hurting. I complained about & 

over night my knees swole real badly & the next day I had to do the same 

job which was 2-15-2016. And my knees continued to get worse. The next 

Day I went to see my Doctor Korivi. . . . This was also reported to my . I superv1sor. 

Mr. Marshall further testified that constant standing at work caused the veins in his 

legs "to break." He attempted to introduce documentation into evidence regarding this 

allegation, but the Court denied his request because he failed to timely file the 

documents. 2 

Mr. Marshall additionally stated he fell on the ice at work, landing on his hip, on 

February 9, 2016, and he "might have" told Gate Precast at that time he did not need 

treatment as a result of the fall. He acknowledged previous treatment with his hip but 

stated, "I got reinjured when I fell," and, "later on it bothered me." He also alleged an 

eye injury from "mixing chemicals" on his PBD but offered no testimony or documentary 

evidence to support the allegation. 

Mr. Marshall saw his primary care physician, Dr. Giriprasadarao Korivi, on 

February 16. (Ex. 2 at 1-2, 4-5.) Mr. Marshall gave a history of"right knee and hip pain: 

ongoing for 3 years or longer. Intermittent exacerbation. Current exacerbation x 1 week. 

fell [sic] on his right hip last week. He is able to walk but notes worsening knee pain. He 

has had steroid shots in the hip and knee in the past." Dr. Korivi diagnosed right-knee 

and right-hip pain, referred him for an orthopedic evaluation, and excused him from work 

for that day. 

The next day, Mr. Marshall saw Dr. Allison Cabrera, an orthopedic surgeon. (Ex. 

2 at 14-20.) Records from that visit state that she saw him previously for bilateral hip 

pain, and, "[T]oday is having hip, buttock and knee pain, right knee is the most severe. 

He was kneeling for some time at work within the last week and says that really 

aggravated his knee[.] ... He is not currently taking any medication for and no new 

1 Gate Precast argued February 14, 2016, was a Sunday and that Mr. Marshall did not work that day. Mr. 

Marshall conceded the date of injury was not a Sunday. The Court finds the incident occurred on 

February 15, 2016, rather than February 14, as noted on the PBD. The discrepancy, in and of itself, is not 

determinative of the outcome in this case. As our Supreme Court observed, "Even if minor and 

insignificant details vary, an injured worker should not be penalized simply for being a poor historian." 

Orman v. Williams Sonoma, Inc., 803 S.W.2d 672, 677 (Tenn. 1991). 

2 See Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-020-21-.14( 1 )(a)-( c) (20 16) (Request for expedited hearing must be 

accompanied by documents demonstrating the party is entitled to the requested relief, and evidence not 

disclosed in accordance with this rule will not be considered unless good cause is shown as to why the 

evidence/witness was not disclosed.). 

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injury or falls." She diagnosed primary osteoarthritis of the right hip, "other chronic 

pain," and "chronic pain of the right knee," and excused him from work until February 

22. Mr. Marshall submitted no additional records from Dr. Cabrera after this visit. He 

testified he continued to work despite the pain because he felt he "had no other choice." 

Mr. Marshall insisted that telling Gate Precast about work injuries rarely resulted in 

seeing a doctor, but rather the typical response was just to "Take it easy." Gate Precast 

terminated him in May 2016 citing "lack of work." 

Gate Precast contested the sufficiency of Mr. Marshall's notice and whether he 

sustained an injury as defined by the Workers' Compensation Law. 

With regard to its notice argument, Gate Precast offered into evidence documents 

its counsel referred to as "affidavits" from two supervisors, who denied Mr. Marshall 

reported a knee injury, but rather stated that he fell on ice before the alleged date of injury 

and did not need medical treatment. The Court declined to admit the documents into 

evidence because the notary's statement reads that the notary herself made the statement 

and does not state that the affiants were sworn. Therefore, they are not valid affidavits.3 

Gate Precast relied on the testimony of Sarah Parker, its human resources 

manager, who testified she investigated the claim and first learned that Mr. Marshall filed 

a workers' compensation claim in September after he filed his PBD and several months 

after his termination. She stated Mr. Marshall reported falling on ice on February 9 but 

according to an incident report, which was not admitted into evidence, he told supervisors 

he did not need treatment. According to Ms. Parker, he gave no notice of a knee injury 

after that date. Gate Precast never provided a panel or authorized any treatment. 

As to whether Mr. Marshall sustained an injury as defined by the Workers' 

Compensation Law, Gate Precast argued Mr. Marshall suffered from longstanding 

preexisting conditions. Medical records from Dr. Korivi indicate he diagnosed 

osteoarthritis as early as August 2014. Notes from the next visit of April 1, 2015, read 

that Dr. Korivi diagnosed "bilateral knee pain and swelling: present for 3 years. No 

better with shots. had [sic] seen dr. Cabrera for this." Mr. Marshall additionally saw Dr. 

Kishorkumar Desai, a rheumatologist, in May 2015, who diagnosed joint pain, 

rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. 

Mr. Marshall, who is self-represented, wrote on the PBD that the date of injury is 

"1997 2nd time 2013." He clarified that he suffered hernias at work in 1997 and 2010 or 

2013. The Court explained at the Expedited Hearing that it has no jurisdiction to order 

3 "An affidavit is a written statement by an affiant that was made under oath." Kenyon v. Handa/, 122 

S.W.3d 743, 752 n.6 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2003). "The document, without a signature or oath, does not 

commit its purported author to any of the substantive statements it contains and, thus, has no evidentiary 

value." !d. at 752. 

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any relief for Mr. Marshall's alleged injuries sustained before July 1, 2014, precluding 

workers' compensation benefits related to the hernias. 

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law 

As in all workers' compensation actions, Mr. Marshall, as the claimant, has the 

burden of proof on the essential elements of his claim. Scott v. Integrity Staffing 

Solutions, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 24, at *6 (Aug. 18, 2015). However, 

since this is an expedited hearing, he only has to come forward with sufficient evidence 

from which the Court can determine he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits in 

order to meet his burden. McCord v. Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN Wrk. 

Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-8, 9 (Mar. 27, 2015). 

Applying these legal principles first within the context of Gate Precast's notice 

defense, the Workers' Compensation Law mandates that "[e]very injured employee ... 

shall, immediately upon the occurrence of an injury, or as soon thereafter as is reasonable 

and practicable, give or cause to be given to the employer who has no actual notice, 

written notice of the injury." Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-201(a)(l) (2015). The statute 

additionally provides that "[ n ]o compensation shall be payable . . . unless the written 

notice is given to the employer within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of the 

accident, unless reasonable excuse for failure to give the notice is made to the 

satisfaction of the tribunal to which the claim for compensation may be presented." !d. 

(emphasis added). The notice requirement contained in section 50-6-201 "exists so that 

the employer will have the opportunity to make a timely investigation of the facts while 

still readily accessible, and to enable the employer to provide timely and proper treatment 

for the injured employee." Buckner v. Eaton Corp., et al., 2016 TN Wrk. Comp. App. 

Bd. LEXIS 84, at *6-7 (Nov. 9, 2016). 

Here, the Court finds Mr. Marshall credibly testified that he told Mr. Grissom 

about injuring his knees after almost a full day's work kneeling on them inside the "v" of 

stairs laid flat. Gate Precast's counsel vigorously cross-examined him, yet Mr. Marshall 

did not alter his testimony. Gate Precast did not offer countervailing testimony from Mr. 

Grissom. Further, Ms. Parker did not relay first-hand knowledge regarding the 

circumstances of Mr. Marshall's injuries but rather conveyed her impressions resulting 

from her "investigation," largely of hearsay documents and conversations with 

supervisors about events that happened several months earlier. The Court accredits Mr. 

Marshall's testimony over hers in this regard. 

However, to award the benefits Mr. Marshall seeks, he must satisfy his burden to 

show he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits regarding whether he sustained an 

injury as defined in the Workers' Compensation Law. That definition provides that 

"injury" means an "injury by accident ... arising primarily out of and in the course and 

scope of employment, that causes ... disablement or the need for medical treatment[.]" 

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Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-102(14). The definition further states that an injury does not 

include "the aggravation of a preexisting disease, condition or ailment unless it can be 

shown to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the aggravation arose primarily 

out of and in the course and scope of employment[.]" !d. at § 50-6-102(14)(A). In 

addition, an injury "arises primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment" 

only if it has been shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the employment 

contributed more than fifty percent (50%) in causing the injury, considering all causes." 

!d. at § 50-6-102(14)(B). Moreover, this must be shown "to a reasonable degree of 

medical certainty." !d. at§ 50-6-102(14(C). 

Applying these criteria, the Court looks to the medical evidence and finds that Mr. 

Marshall suffers from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the onset of which pre-dated 

February 2016. The medical records from the February 16 visit with Dr. Korivi mention 

a fall at work approximately one week before the visit, but are notably silent regarding 

the kneeling incident. Meanwhile, Dr. Cabrera's notes from February 17 mention pain 

while kneeling but also that he reported "no new injuries or falls." 

McCord instructs that Mr. Marshall need not prove his case by a preponderance of 

the evidence at the expedited hearing phase, but at the lower standard that he is "likely to 

prevail at a hearing on the merits." The Court cannot find at this time that Mr. Marshall 

satisfied even this lower burden, given that the medical records are equivocal at best 

regarding his history, and they strongly suggest that other causes, such as Mr. Marshall's 

preexisting arthritis, might be responsible for the onset of pain he experienced at work, 

rather than his employment activities. As our Appeals Board observed, "an injury purely 

coincidental, or contemporaneous, or collateral, with the employment ... will not cause 

the injury ... to be considered as arising out of the employment." Hosford v. Red Rover 

Preschool, 2014 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 1, at *20-21 (Oct. 2, 2014) (Citation 

omitted). Therefore, as a matter of law, Mr. Marshall has not come forward with 

sufficient evidence from which this Court concludes that he is likely to prevail at a 

hearing on the merits, and his request for workers' compensation benefits is denied at this 

time. 

As a final matter, after Mr. Marshall filed the PBD, Bureau staff notified Gate 

Precast of its obligation to file a First Report of Injury. Likewise, the mediation specialist 

made a penalty referral for Gate Precast's failure to file this required form. Court staff 

brought this to Gate Precast's counsel's attention on the date of the Expedited Hearing. 

To date, it has failed to file the form. Tennessee Compilation Rules and Regulations 

0800-2-14-.03(2) requires insurers to file a report of accident on Form C-20. Further, any 

Bureau employee may refer any entity to the penalty program for the assessment of a 

penalty whenever the referring employee believes there may have been a violation of the 

Bureau's rules. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-02-24-.03. The Court believes there may 

have been a rules violation and thus refers the matter to the Penalty Unit for consideration 

of whether a penalty assessment is warranted. 

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IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows: 

1. Mr. Marshall's claim against Gate Precast and its workers' compensation carrier 

for the requested medical and temporary disability benefits is denied at this time. 

2. This matter is set for a Scheduling Hearing on May 22, 2017, at 9:00a.m. Central. 

You must call 615-532-9552 or toll-free at 866-943-0025 to participate in the 

Hearing. Failure to call in may result in a determination of the issues without 

your further participation. 

3. This matter is referred to the Penalty Unit for consideration of whether a penalty 

should be assessed regarding the employer/carrier's failure to file Form C-32. 

ENTERED this the 4th day of April, 2017. 

dge Kenneth M. Switzer 

Court of Workers' Compensat 

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APPENDIX 

Exhibits: 

1. Affidavit 

2. Medical records 

3. Wage statement 

4. Letter from Bureau of Workers' Compensation to Gate Precast 

5. Penalty Referral Checklist 

6. Revised wage statement 

7. Separation notice 

Technical record: 

1. Petition for Benefit Determination 

2. Employer position statement 

3. Dispute Certification Notice 

4. Request for Expedited Hearing 

5. Employer and Insurance Carrier Response in Opposition to Employee's Request 

for Expedited Hearing; (Blank discovery, interrogatories, was attached but no 

motion to compel was filed. Therefore, it is not included as part of the technical 

record.) 

6. Employer's Supplemental Response in Opposition to Employee's Request for 

Expedited Hearing (Without attachments) 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I certify that a true and correct copy of the Expedited Hearing Order Denying 

Requested Relief was sent to the following recipients by the following methods of service 

on this the 4th day of April, 2017. 

Name Certified Via 

Mail Fax 

Cleaster Marshall, X 

Self-represented 

Fred Hodge, 

Employer's Counsel 

Penalty Unit 

Via Service sent to: 

Email 

567 Donna Dr., Clarksville TN 37042 

X tbodge@howell-fisher. com 

X W CCompliance.Program(a),tn. !!OV 

rum, Clerk of Court 

Court Workers' Compensation Claims 

WC.CourtClerk@tn.gov 

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