TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION 

IN THE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS 

AT MEMPHIS 

Evodio Davila, 

Employee, 

v. 

Diversified Builders, Inc., 

Employer, 

And 

Builders Mutual Insurance, 

Insurance Carrier. 

) Docket No.: 2015-08-0465 

) 

) State File No.: 29117-2015 

) 

) Judge: Jim Umsted 

) 

) 

) 

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER DENYING REQUESTED BENEFITS 

This case came before the undersigned Workers' Compensation Judge on 

September 20, 2016, upon the Request for Expedited Hearing filed by the employee, 

Evodio Davila, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239 (2015). The 

present focus of this case is whether the employer, Diversified Builders, Inc., must 

provide additional medical and temporary disability benefits for Mr. Davila's alleged 

work-related injuries. The central legal issue is whether Mr. Davila can demonstrate a 

likelihood of success at a trial on the merits on these issues. For the reasons set forth 

below, the Court holds Mr. Davila is unlikely to succeed at a hearing on the merits in 

proving entitlement to the requested benefits. 1 

History of Claim 

The following facts were established at the Expedited Hearing. Mr. Davila is a 

forty-six-year-old resident of Shelby County, Tennessee. He claimed he sustained 

multiple injuries after falling from a walk board while working for Diversified Builders 

on April9, 2015. 

After the accident, Diversified Builders provided Mr. Davila with a panel of 

physicians from which he selected D.r. Nahum Beard from Campbell's Clinic as his 

1 A complete listing of the technical record and exhibits is attached to this Order as an appendix. 

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treating physician. Dr. Beard oversaw medical care for Mr. Davila's left knee injury, 

treating the knee conservatively with physical therapy and medication. However, he 

referred Mr. Davila to specialists for his other injuries, which included a head injury and 

left shoulder injury, among others. 

In a prior Expedited Hearing Order issued on May 10, 2016, this Court required 

Mr. Davila to provide a list of his medical providers for the previous ten years to 

Diversified Builders so it could obtain a complete set of medical records to supply to Dr. 

Beard. It also ordered Diversified Builders to schedule an appointment with Dr. Beard to 

examine Mr. Davila, review all relevant medical records, and treat injuries he found 

compensable. Thereafter, Diversified Builders scheduled a follow-up appointment for 

Mr. Davila with Dr. Beard, and Dr. Beard ordered a series of injections for Mr. Davila's 

left knee. On July 21, 2016, Mr. Davila was scheduled for the third injection in the 

series, but he had a family emergency arise that required him to leave the country prior to 

his appointment. Due to Mr. Davila's failure to attend the appointment, Diversified 

Builders stopped his benefits, citing medical non-compliance. 2 Mr. Davila filed a new 

Request for Expedited Hearing on August 12, 2016, based on this termination of his 

benefits. 

Immediately prior to the Expedited Hearing held on September 20, 2016, the 

Court heard Mr. Davila's Motion for Sanctions for Failure to Pay Weekly Compensation 

and Creating Undue Delay of Proceedings3 as well as Diversified Builders' Motion for 

Sanctions for Failure to Comply with Order. Mr. Davila asked for sanctions under Rule 

11 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and 28 United States Code section 1927, 

arguing that Diversified Builders was causing undue delay in the proceedings through its 

filings and discovery. Diversified Builders sought sanctions for Mr. Davila's failure to 

provide a complete list of medical providers per the Court's May 10, 2016 order. The 

Court took both of these motions under advisement. 

During the hearing, Mr. Davila specifically requested the Court to order 

Diversified Builders to pay ongoing temporary disability benefits from July 21, 2016. He 

also asked the Court to require Diversified Builders to pay the medical bills associated 

with an unauthorized visit to St. Francis Hospital on June 1, 2016. He claimed this visit 

related to his April 9, 2015 fall because he developed a rash down his left leg after his 

authorized physical therapist put black tape on his leg to stabilize his knee. 

2 Diversified Builders reinstated Mr. Davila's benefits upon his return to Dr. Beard for the third injection in August 

2016. However, the parties submitted no medical records to show the exact date Mr. Davila returned to Dr. Beard 

for treatment. 

3 The Court also heard Mr. Davila's Motion to Determine Compensability of Medical Treatment, which the Court 

determined should be decided as part of the Expedited Hearing. It involved unauthorized medical treatment Mr. 

Davila obtained at St. Francis Hospital on June I, 2016. 

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Diversified Builders argued it has paid for all authorized treatment recommended 

by Dr. Beard and has reinstated Mr. Davila's temporary disability benefits. It further 

contended Mr. Davila offered no medical proof that his June 1, 2016 treatment for 

cellulitis at St. Francis Hospital causally related to his work injury of April 9, 2015. 

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law 

General Legal Principles 

At an Expedited Hearing, Mr. Davila need not prove every element of his claim by 

a preponderance of the evidence in order to recover temporary disability and/or medical 

benefits. McCord v. Advantage Human Resourcing, No. 2014-06-0063, 2015 TN Wrk. 

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

Instead, he must come forward with sufficient evidence from which this Court can 

determine he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits. !d.; Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-

239(d)(1) (2015). This lesser evidentiary standard "does not relieve an employee of the 

burden of producing evidence of an injury by accident that arose primarily out of and in 

the course and scope of employment at an expedited hearing, but allows some relief to be 

granted if that evidence does not rise to the level of a 'preponderance of the evidence."' 

Buchanan v. Carlex Glass Co., No. 2015-01-0012, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. 

LEXIS 39, at *6 (Tenn. Workers' Comp. App. Bd. Sept. 29, 2015). In analyzing whether 

he has met his burden, the Court will not remedially or liberally construe the law in his 

favor, but instead shall construe the law fairly, impartially, and in accordance with basic 

principles of statutory construction favoring neither Mr. Davila nor Diversified Builders. 

See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-116 (2015). 

Mr. Davila's Motion for Sanctions for Failure to Pay Weekly Compensation 

and Creating Undue Delay of Proceedings 

Based on the statements of counsel and the evidence presented, the Court holds 

Diversified Builders did not fail to pay weekly compensation or create an undue delay of 

the proceedings. Therefore, the Court denies Mr. Davila's motion for sanctions. 

Diversified Builders' Motion for Sanctions for Mr. Davila's Failure to Provide a 

Complete List of Medical Providers (per the Court's May 10, 2016 order) 

Based on the statements of counsel and the evidence presented, the Court holds 

Mr. Davila and his counsel made a good faith effort to comply with the Court's prior 

order. The Court believes Mr. Davila's testimony where he stated he provided a list of all 

the medical providers he could remember. He admitted he may not remember all of his 

past physicians, but he believes he listed most of them. Therefore, the Court denies 

Diversified Builders' request for sanctions. 

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Medical Benefits 

Pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-204(a)(l)(A) (2015), "the 

employer or the employer's agent shall furnish, free of charge to the employee, such 

medical and surgical treatment ... made reasonably necessary by accident as defined in 

this chapter." It is traditionally the employee's burden "to offer expert medical proof of 

causation ' [ e ]xcept in the most obvious, simple and routine cases."' Scott v. Integrity 

Staffing Solutions, No. 2015-01-0055, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 24 (Tenn. 

Workers' Comp. App. Bd. Aug. 18, 2015) (citing Cloyd v. Hartco Flooring Co., 274 

S.W.3d 638, 643 (Tenn. 2008)). 

The Court will first consider Mr. Davila's request to require Diversified Builders 

to pay the medical bills associated with an unauthorized visit to St. Francis Hospital on 

June 1, 2016. He claimed this visit related to his April 9, 2015 fall because he developed 

a rash down his left leg after his authorized physical therapist put black tape on his leg to 

stabilize his knee. The Court finds Mr. Davila provided no medical evidence at the 

Expedited Hearing to establish a causal connection between this treatment and the work 

injury. Therefore, the Court holds he is not likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits on 

this issue. 

The Court will next consider Mr. Davila's request for medical treatment with other 

specialist physicians. Mr. Davila is currently treating with Dr. Beard and the Court will 

not disturb that status. The Court finds Mr. Davila presented no medical evidence at the 

Expedited Hearing showing he is entitled to any other medical treatment. Therefore, the 

Court holds he is not likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits on this issue. 

Temporary Disability Benefits 

Mr. Davila claimed entitlement to a period of temporary disability benefits while 

he was out of the country on personal business, and not receiving scheduled medical 

treatment. An injured worker is eligible for temporary disability benefits if: (1) the 

worker became disabled from working due to a compensable injury; (2) there is a causal 

connection between the injury and the inability to work; and (3) the worker established 

the duration of the period of disability. Simpson v. Satterfield, 564 S.W.2d 953, 955 

(Tenn. 1978). According to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-204(b)(8) (2015), if 

an injured employee refuses to accept the medical services provided by the employer, the 

injured employee's right to compensation shall be suspended while the injured employee 

continues to refuse. 

Mr. Davila submitted no medical proof to support his claim for additional 

temporary disability benefits. Diversified Builders stated it has provided all temporary 

disability benefits due and will continue paying temporary disability benefits which may 

become due pursuant to treatment with Dr. Beard. However, citing medical non4 
compliance, Diversified Builders stopped paying temporary disability benefits July 21, 

2016, when Mr. Davila missed a scheduled a scheduled third injection by Dr. Beard due 

to leaving the country for a "family emergency." He returned a few weeks later and 

received the third injection. Diversified Builders agreed to resume payment of temporary 

disability benefits on the date Mr. Davila returned and received the third injection. Based 

on the above legal principals, the Court determines Mr. Davila is not entitled to 

temporary disability benefits while he is out of the country attending to personal business, 

and not receiving scheduled medical treatment. Therefore, the Court holds Mr. Davila 

has failed to show he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits on this issue. 

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows: 

1. Mr. Davila's claim against Diversified Builders for the requested medical and 

temporary disability benefits is denied at this time. 

2. This matter is set for a Status Hearing on December 12, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. 

Central time. 

ENTERED this the 26th day of September, 2016. 

Judge Jim Umsted 

Court of Workers' Compensation Claims 

Status Conference: 

A Status Conference has been set with Judge Jim Umsted, Court of Workers' 

Compensation Claims. You must call 615-532-9550 or toll-free at 866-943-0014 to 

participate in the Initial Hearing. 

Please Note: You must call in on the scheduled date/time to 

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

your further participation. 

Right to Appeal: 

Tennessee Law allows any party who disagrees with this Expedited Hearing Order 

to appeal the decision to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. To file a Notice of 

Appeal, you must: 

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1. Complete the enclosed form entitled: "Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal." 

2. File the completed form with the Court Clerk within seven business days of the 

date the Workers' Compensation Judge entered the Expedited Hearing Order. 

3. Serve a copy of the Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal upon the opposing party. 

4. The appealing party is responsible for payment of a filing fee in the amount of 

$75.00. Within ten calendar days after the filing of a notice of appeal, payment 

must be received by check, money order, or credit card payment. Payments can be 

made in person at any Bureau office or by United States mail, hand-delivery, or 

other delivery service. In the alternative, the appealing party may file an Affidavit 

of Indigency, on a form prescribed by the Bureau, seeking a waiver of the filing 

fee. The Affidavit of Indigency may be filed contemporaneously with the Notice 

of Appeal or must be filed within ten calendar days thereafter. The Appeals Board 

will consider the Affidavit of Indigency and issue an Order granting or denying 

the request for a waiver of the filing fee as soon thereafter as is 

practicable. Failure to timely pay the filing fee or file the Affidavit of 

lndigency in accordance with this section shall result in dismissal of the 

appeal. 

5. The parties, having the responsibility of ensuring a complete record on appeal, 

may request, from the Court Clerk, the audio recording of the hearing for the 

purpose of having a transcript prepared by a licensed court reporter and filing it 

with the Court Clerk within ten calendar days of the filing of the Expedited 

Hearing Notice of Appeal. Alternatively, the parties may file a joint statement of 

the evidence within ten calendar days of the filing of the Expedited Hearing 

Notice of Appeal. The statement of the evidence must convey a complete and 

accurate account of what transpired in the Court of Workers' Compensation 

Claims and must be approved by the workers' compensation judge before the 

record is submitted to the Clerk of the Appeals Board. 

6. If the appellant elects to file a position statement in support of the interlocutory 

appeal, the appellant shall file such position statement with the Court Clerk within 

five business days of the expiration of the time to file a transcript or statement of 

the evidence, specifying the issues presented for review and including any 

argument in support thereof. A party opposing the appeal shall file a response, if 

any, with the Court Clerk within five business days of the filing of the appellant's 

position statement. All position statements pertaining to an appeal of an 

interlocutory order should include: (1) a statement summarizing the facts of the 

case from the evidence admitted during the expedited hearing; (2) a statement 

summarizing the disposition of the case as a result of the expedited hearing; (3) a 

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statement of the issue(s) presented for review; and (4) an argument, citing 

appropriate statutes, case law, or other authority. 

APPENDIX 

Exhibits: 

1. Form C-42 Agreement Between Employer/Employee Choice of Physician, dated 

April 26, 20 15; 

2. Form C-42 Agreement Between Employer/Employee Choice of Physician, dated 

October 6, 20 15; 

3. Mr. Davila's list of medical providers for the past ten years; 

4. Collective exhibit of photographs of Mr. Davila's left knee; 

5. Medical records from St. Francis Hospital, dated June 1, 2016; 

6. Medical bill from St. Francis Hospital for date of service June 1, 2016; 

7. Medical record from St. Francis Hospital, dated April11, 2010; and 

8. Intake form from St. Francis Hospital, dated April11, 2010. 

Technical record: 4 

1. Petition for Benefit Determination, filed October 6, 2015; 

2. Dispute Certification Notice, filed on November 10, 2015; 

3. Petition for Benefit Determination, filed November 17, 2015; 

4. Dispute Certification Notice, filed on December 7, 2015; 

5. Expedited Hearing Order for Medical Benefits, filed May 10, 20 16; 

6. Request for Expedited Hearing, filed August 12, 2016; 

7. Mr. Davila's Motion for Sanctions for Failure to Pay Weekly Compensation and 

Creating Undue Delay of Proceedings filed August 12, 2016; 

8. Diversified Builders' Motion for Sanctions for Failure to Comply with Order, filed 

August 22, 2016; 

9. Diversified Builders' Response to Mr. Davila's Motion for Sanctions for Failure to 

Pay Weekly Compensation and Creating Undue Delay of Proceedings, filed 

August 31, 2016; 

10. Mr. Davila's Motion to Determine Compensability of Medical Treatment, filed 

September 7, 2016; 

11. Diversified Builders' Response to Mr. Davila's Motion to Determine 

Compensability ofMedical Treatment, filed September 13, 2016; 

12.Diversified Builders' Pre-Hearing Brief, filed September 13, 2016; and 

13. Diversified Builders' Supplemental Pre-Hearing Brief, filed September 19, 2016. 

4 The Court did not consider attachments to Technical Record filings unless admitted into evidence during the 

Expedited Hearing. The Court considered factual statements in these filings or any attachments to them as 

allegations unless established by the evidence. 

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was sent to the 

following recipients by the following methods of service on this the day of 

September, 2016. 

Name 

Marilyn Sellers-Hobbs, 

Employee's Attorney 

Carolina Martin, 

Employer's Attorney 

Certified Via Via Email Address 

Mail Fax Email 

X mhobbs@bellsouth.net 

X carol ina.martin@Retersonwhite.com 

Penny Patterson-Shrum, Clerk 

Court of Workers' Compensation Claims 

WC.CourtClerk@tn.gov 

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