1 TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

WORKERS’ COMPENSAT I ON APPEALS BOARD

Ger aldine Mann ) Docket No. 2020

- 04

- 0059

)

v. ) State File No. 12853

- 2020

)

ACA Tr ansport, LLC, et al. )

)

)

A p peal from the Court of Workers’ )

Compensation Claims )

Rob ert V. Durham , Judge )

A f f

i r m e d and Remanded

T h e e m p l o y e e

, a n o v e r

- t h e

- r o a d t r u c k d r i v e r

, a l l e g e d s u f f

e r i n g a n i n j u ry t o h e r u p p e r

b a c k a n d n e c k w h i l e p u l l i n g a p i n o n a f i f

t h w h e e l

. T h e e m p l o y e r d i s p u t e s t h a t i t

r e c e i v e d p r o p e r n o t i c e o f t h e a l l e g e d i n j u ry a n d d e n i e s t h a t t h e i n j u ry i s c o m p e n s a b l e

. T h e e m p l o y e r a l s o r a i s e d a d e f e n s e b a s e d u p o n t h e “ e l e c t i o n o f r e m e d i e s ” d o c t r i n e

,

a s s e r t i n g t h e e m p l o y e e i s b a rr e d f r o m r e c o v e r i n g b e n e f i t s i n T e n n e s s e e a s a r e s u l t o f

p u r s u i n g b e n e f i t s i n M i s s o u r i

. Foll owing an expedi t ed hearing, the trial court c o n c l u d e d

t h a t t h e e m p l o y e e w a s u n l i k e l y t o p r e v a i l a t t r i a l i n e s t a b l i s h i n g t h a t h e r c u rr e n t

c o m p l a i n t s a r o s e p r i m a r i l y o u t o f a n d i n t h e c o u r s e a n d s c o p e o f h e r e m p l o y m e n t

. The

employ ee has appealed. Having c arefully reviewed the recor d

, we a f f

i r m the trial court’s

decision and remand the case

.

Judge Pele I. Godkin delivered the opinion of the Appeals Board in which Presiding

Judge Timothy W. Conner a n d Judge D a vid F. Hensley joined.

G e r a l d i n e M a n n

, B o l i v a r

, M i s s o u r i

, employ e e

- appella n t, p r o s e

E m m i e K i n n a r d a n d H a y l e y E

. V o s

, N a s h v i l l e , Tennessee, for the e mploy e r

- appellee,

A C A T r a n s p o r t

, L L C 

### FILED

Mar 19, 2021

10:55 AM(CT)

TENNESSEE

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

APPEALS BOARD2 Memorandum Opinion 1

G e r a l d i n e M a n n ( “ E m p l o y e e ” ) b e g a n w o r k i n g a s a t r u c k d r i v e r f o r A C A

T r a n s p o r t

, L L C ( “ E m p l o y e r ” )

, o n S e p t e m b e r 9

, 2 0 1 9

. S h e a l l e g e s t h a t t w o d a y s l a t e r s h e

i n

j u r e d h e r u p p e r b a c k a n d n e c k w h i l e p u l l i n g a p i n o n a f i f

t h w h e e l

. S h e c o n t e n d s s h e

i m m e d i a t e l y i n f o r m e d h e r s u p e r v i s o r

, R o n S i a s

, o f t h e i n j u ry a n d t h a t s h e h a d m u l t i p l e

d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h b o t h M r

. S i a s a n d A

. C

. A l d o n

, E m p l o y e r ’ s o w n e r

, r e g a r d i n g h e r b a c k

i n

j u r y o v e r t h e n e x t f e w w e e k s

. M r

. S i a s a n d M r

. A l d o n d i s p u t e E m p l o y e e ’ s a s s e r t i o n

t h a t s h e r e p o r t e d h e r i n j u ry

, m a i n t a i n i n g t h e f i r s t n o t i c e t h e y r e c e i v e d w a s v i a t e x t

m e s s a g e o n O c t o b e r 3 1

, 2 0 1 9

.

E m p l o y e e c o n t i n u e d t o w o r k f o r E m p l o y e r u n t i l h e r t e r m i n a t i o n o n J a n u a r y 8

, 2 0 2 0

, p u r p o r t e d l y f o r d r i v i n g i n e x c e s s o f t h e n u m b e r o f h o u r s p e r m i t t e d b y f e d e r a l l a w

. T h a t same d a y

, E m p l o y e e f i l l e d o u t a n a p p l i c a t i o n t o r e tu r n t o w o r k f o r he r previous

employer, R B X

, I n c

. ( “ R B X ” )

. S h e r e tu r n e d t o w o r k f o r R B X u n t i l s o m e t i m e i n

F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 0

.

Following the alleged work injury, E m p l o y e e p r e s e n t e d t o C o o k e v i l l e R e g i o n a l

M e d i c a l C e n t e r on October 3, 2019

, c o m p l a i n i n g o f d i f f

i c u l t y u r i n a t i n g a c c o m p a n i e d b y

r i g h t l o w b a c k p a i n

, b u t m a d e n o c o m p l a i n t s o f u p p e r b a c k o r n e c k p a i n

. O n O c t o b e r 8

, 2 0 1 9

, ap p r o x i m a t e l y o n e m o n t h a f t e r h e r a l l e g e d i n j u ry

, E m p l o y e e u n d e r w e n t a D O T

p h y s i c a l

. S h e r e p o r t e d e x p e r i e n c i n g b a c k a n d n e c k p r o b l e m s r e l a t e d t o a 2 0 1 3 n e c k

s u r g e ry t h a t s h e s a i d l e f t h e r w i t h “ s o m e l i m i t a t i o n s

. ” T h e D O T m e d i c a l e x a m i n e r

indicated E m p l o y e e ’ s b a c k a n d s p i n e w e r e “ n o r m a l

. ” N o m e n t i o n w a s m a d e d u r i n g t h i s

e x a m i n a t i o n o f a n y r e c e n t w o r k i n j u r y o r o f a n y c o m p l a i n t s associated w i t h a r e c e n t b a c k

in

jury

.

W h i l e w o r k i n g f o r E m p l o y e r o n D e c e m b e r 3

, 2 0 1 9

, E m p l o y e e s u f f

e r e d a w o r k

r e l a t e d i n j u r y t o h e r r i g h t h a n d w h i l e c o u p l i n g a t r a i l e r t o h e r t r u c k

. S h e w a s s e e n a t

E x p r e s s W e l l n e s s U r g e n t C a r e f o r t h e h a n d i n j u r y

. I n t h e h i s t o ry t a k e n a t t h a t v i s i t

, s h e

d e n i e d b a c k o r muscle p a i n s

, a n d h e r e x a m i n a t i o n r e v e a l e d s h e h a d n o r m a l r a n g e o f

m o t i o n i n h e r s h o u l d e r s

. S h e w a s d i a g n o s e d w i t h a c o n t u s i o n t o t h e r i g h t h a n d

.

O n J a n u a ry 1 3

, 2 0 2 0

, E m p l o y e e a t t e n d e d a n o t h e r D O T p h y s i c a l a f t e r r e tu rn i n g t o

w o r k f o r R B X

, w h i c h w a s p e r f o r m e d b y S u sie R o b e r t s o n

, a n u r s e p r a c t i t i o n e r a n d D O T

M e d i c a l E x a m i n e r a t F a i t h I n t e r m e d i a t e C a r e a n d O c c u p a t i o n a l M e d i c i n e

. T h e r e c o r d o f

t h a t e x a m i n a t i o n r e f l e c t s t h a t E m p l o y e e r e p o r t e d t h e p r i o r n e c k s u r g e r y i n 2 0 1 3 a n d t h a t

s h e h a d n o l i m i t a t i o n s

. H e r b a c k a n d s p i n e w e r e described b y t h e e x a m i n e r a s “ n o r m a l

. ”

1 “The a ppeals b oar d may, in an effort to secure a j ust and speedy determination of matters on appea l and

with the concurrenc e of all judges, d ecide an appeal by an abbr eviate d order or by mem orandu m opinion,

whi c hever th e a ppeals b oard deems appropriat e, in cases that are n ot legally and/or factually novel or

comp lex.” Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800

- 02

- 22

- .03(1) (2020)

.3 O n F e b r u a r y 2 3

, 2 0 2 0

, E m p l o y e e f i l e d a p e t i t i o n s e e k i n g m e d i c a l b e n e f i t s f r o m

E m p l o y e r

, a s s e r t i n g t h a t s h e i n j u r e d h e r n e c k o n S e p t e m b e r 1 1

, 2 0 1 9 w h e n s h e w a s

“ [ p ] u l l i n g t h e p i n o n t h e f i f

t h w h e e l

. ” T h e p e t i t i o n a l l e g e d t h a t s h e g a v e n o t i c e o f h e r

i n

j u r y o n S e p t e m b e r 1 1 “ a n d s e v e r a l o t h e r d a t e s

, ” s t a t i n g t h a t “ E m p l o y e r [ w o u l d ] n o t f i l e

t h e c l a i m

. ” E m p l o y e r s u b s e q u e n t l y p r o v i d e d a p a n e l o f p h y s i c i a n s

, a n d E m p l o y e e

s e l e c t e d F a i t h I n t e r m e d i a t e C a r e a n d O c c u p a t i o n a l M e d i c i n e f r o m t h e p a n e l

. S h e w a s

s e e n t h e n e x t d a y b y M s

. R o b e r t s o n

, t h e D O T M e d i c a l E x a m i n e r w h o p e r f o r m e d

E m p l o y e e ’ s J a n u a r y D O T p h y s i c a l

. 2 E m p l o y e e r e p o r t e d s h e s u f f

e r e d a n i n j u r y t o h e r

n e c k o n S e p t e m b e r 1 1

, 2 0 1 9

, a n d w a s e x p e r i e n c i n g b a c k a n d n e c k p a i n

. S h e d e n i e d

h a v i n g r e c e i v e d t r e a t m e n t f o r t h e i n j u r y a n d r e p o r t e d s h e w a s u n a b l e t o f u l l y r o t a t e h e r

h e a d o r l i f t h e r a r m s a b o v e h e r h e a d

. S h e a c k n o w l e d g e d h a v i n g p r e v i o u s l y u n d e r g o n e

s u r g e r y o n h e r c e r v i c a l s p i n e b u t m a i n t a i n e d h e r c u r r e n t s y m p t o m s w e r e “ i n a d i f f

e r e n t

a r e a

. ” M s

. R o b e r t s o n n o t e d t h a t E m p l o y e e ’ s r a n g e o f m o t i o n i n h e r n e c k w a s s e l f

- l i m i t e d

a n d t h a t s h e h a d g r e a t e r p a s s i v e r a n g e o f m o t i o n t h a n a c t i v e r a n g e o f m o t i o n

. S h e h a d

d e c r e a s e d f o r w a r d f l e x i o n a n d e x t e n s i o n o f h e r s h o u l d e r s

, b u t t h e r e p o r t i n d i c a t e s h e r

e x a m w a s o t h e rw i s e n o r m a l

. M s

. R o b e r t s o n s t a t e d i n t h e r e p o r t t h a t s h e w a s “ [ u ] n a b l e t o

note i f c u r r e n t s y m p t o m s a r e r e l a t e d t o a n injury i n S e p t e m b e r i n l i g h t o f n o r m a l e x a m

n o t e d o n r e c e n t D O T physical c o m p l e t e d b y t h i s p r o v i d e r i n J a n u a ry 2 0 2 0

. ”

A f t e r r e c e i p t o f M s

. R o b e r t s o n ’ s r e p o r t

, E m p l o y e r d e n i e d E m p l o y e e ’ s c l a i m f o r a

S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9 i n j u r y

. E m p l o y e e

, a M i s s o u r i r e s i d e n t

, r e t a i n e d c o u n s e l i n Missou r i

,

w h o f i l e d a c l a i m t h e r e d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t E m p l o y e e h a d a n a c t i v e T e n n e s s e e w o r k e r s ’

c o m p e n s a t i o n c l a i m

. 3 O n M a r c h 4

, 2 0 2 0

, E m p l o y e e w a s e v a l u a t e d a t C o x S o u t h

E m e r g e n c y D e p a r t m e n t f o r c o m p l a i n t s o f n e c k p a i n

. S h e d e s c r i b e d f e e l i n g a n d h e a r i n g

s o m e t h i n g p o p a n d s n a p i n h e r n e c k o n S e p t e m b e r 1 1

, 2 0 1 9 w h e n p u l l i n g a p i n o n a f i f

t h

w h e e l

. E m p l o y e e r e p o r t e d i n c r e a s e d p a i n i n h e r n e c k a n d n u m b n e s s i n b o t h a r m s

. T h e

r e c o r d f r o m t h a t v i s i t r e f l e c t s E m p l o y e e s t a t e d s h e h a d n o t b e e n e v a l u a t e d f o r h e r i n j u ry

a n d t h a t s h e h a d h i r e d a n a t t o rn e y w h o h a d i n s t r u c t e d h e r t o g o t o t h e e m e r g e n c y r o o m

. T h e r e p o r t i n d i c a t e d E m p l o y e e s t a t e d s h e experienced d e c r e a s i n g m o b i l i t y w h i l e t u rn i n g

h e r h e a d a n d r a i s i n g h e r a r m s d u e t o p a i n

. S h e w a s d i a g n o s e d w i t h c e r v i c a l p a i n

. E m p l o y e e w a s a l s o e v a l u a t e d f o r h e r a l l e g e d w o r k i n j u ry a t C i t i z e n s M e m o r i a l H o s p i t a l

C l i n i c o n A p r i l 1 4

, 2 0 2 0

, w h e r e s h e c o n t i n u e d t o r e c e i v e u n a u t h o r i z e d m e d i c a l c a r e

, i n c l u d i n g p h y s i c a l t h e r ap y a n d

, u l t i m a t e l y

, a n o r t h o p e d i c r e f e rr a l

.

2 The tri al court ’ s order r eflects that this v is it wa s with Dr. J a sper Wakem an, a physician in the s ame

medical practice as Ms. Robertson, wh ose signature appe ar s a t the end of the recor d. However, the first

page of the February 24, 2020 record indicates the at tending provider was Ms. Robertson, which is

consistent with the statement in that reco r d that she was “[u]nable to note if current symptoms are related

to an injury in September in light of normal exam noted on recent DOT physical completed by this

provid er in January 2020.” (Emphasis added

. )

3 E m p l o y e e h a s i n d i c a t e d s h e d o e s n o t i n t e n d t o p u r s u e t h e M i s s o u r i c l a i m

. E mployer has raised an

election o f r em e dies defense in the e vent Employee does not dismiss the Missour i claim.4 F o l l o w i n g a n e x p e d i t e d h e a r i n g

, t h e t r i a l c o u r t c o n c l u d e d E m p l o y e e w a s u n l i k e l y

t o p r o v e h e r i nj ury a r o s e p r i m a r i l y o u t o f a n d in the c o u r s e a n d s c o p e o f h e r e m p l o y m e n t

. T h e c o u r t p r i n c i p a l l y b a s e d i t s d e c i s i o n o n i t s a s s e s s m e n t o f E m p l o y e e ’ s c r e d i b i l i t y

,

n o t i n g t h a t E m p l o y e e h a d p r e s e n t e d n o e v i d e n c e t o c o r r o b o r a t e h e r t e s t i m o n y t h a t h e r

i n

j u r y o c c u r r e d o n S e p t e m b e r 1 1 o r t h a t s h e h a d r e p o r t e d h e r i n j u ry t o e i t h e r M r

. S i a s o r

M r

. A l d o n

. T h e c o u r t a l s o n o t e d t h a t E m p l o y e e ’ s t e s t i m o n y w a s n o t c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e

medic al r e c o r d s e n t e r e d i n t o e v i d e n c e

, w h i c h d i d n o t r e f l e c t a n y c o m p l a i n t s r e l a t e d t o a

w o r k i n j u r y u n t i l F e b r u a r y 2 4

, 2 0 2 0

. T h e c o u r t f u r t h e r n o t e d t h a t b o t h D O T p h y s i c a l s

p e r f o r m e d a f t e r t h e a l l e g e d i n j u r y w e r e s i l e n t w i t h r e s p e c t t o a n a l l e g e d w o r k injury

, a n d

t h e c o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t E m p l o y e e ’ s e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t h i s s i l e n c e m a d e h e r c r e d i b i l i t y

“ s u s p e c t

. ” F i n a l l y

, t h e c o u r t p o i n t e d o u t t h a t

, “ a s t o c a u s a t i o n

, [ t h e a u t h o r i z e d m e d i c a l

p r o v i d e r ] s t a t e d [ s ] h e w a s ‘ u n a b l e t o n o t e i f c u r r e n t s y m p t o m s a r e r e l a t e d t o a n i n j u ry i n

S e p t e m b e r i n l i g h t o f n o r m a l e x a m n o t e d o n r e c e n t D O T p h y s i c a l

, ’ ” a d d i n g t h a t “ [ u ] n d e r

t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s

, n e i t h e r c a n t h e C o u r t

. ” T h e c o u r t d e n i e d E m p l o y e e ’ s r e q u e s t f o r

b e n e f i t s

, concluding E m p l o y e e i s “ u n l i k e l y t o p r o v e h e r c u r r e n t c o m p l a i n t s a r o s e

p r i m a r i l y o u t o f a n d i n t h e c o u r s e a n d s c o p e o f h e r e m p l o y m e n t

. ” E m p l o y e e h a s

ap p e a l e d

. 4

Employee is self

- repre sente d in this a ppeal

, a s s h e w a s i n t h e t r i a l c o u r t

. P a rti e s

who represent t hemselv e s are ent itled to fai r and eq ua l treatment b y the courts. Whi ta ker

v. Whirlp o ol Corp. , 32 S.W .3d 2 2 2, 227 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2000). However, a s explained

by the T e n n e s s e e Court of Appeal s

,

courts must also be min dful of th e bounda ry bet w een fai rness to a p ro se

lit igant and un fairness t o the pr o se litigant’s adversa ry . Thus, the c ourts

mus t not excuse pro se lit igants from complying with the same sub stantive

and procedur al rules that r e presented parties are expe cted to

ob se rve

. . . . P r o se li tigants sho u ld not be permitted t o shift th e burden o f

the litigat ion to t he courts or to their adv e rsaries.

Hessm e r v. H essmer , 138 S.W.3d 901, 903

- 04 (Tenn. C t. App. 2003) (citati ons omitt ed).

T h e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s d e t e r m i n a t i o n s r e s t e d l a r g e l y o n i t s a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e w i t n e s s e s ’

c r e d i b i l i t y

. As w e have pre viously observed, “ [w ]h en the trial court has heard in

- court

t estimon y, c onsiderable deference must be afford ed in reviewing the trial court’ s f i ndings

of credibility and assessment o f the weight to be given to tha t t estimon y. ” Love v. Delta

Fau cet Co. , N o. 2015

- 07

- 0195, 2016 T N Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 45, at *17 (Tenn.

Workers’ Comp. App. Bd. Sept. 19, 2016) (citing Tryon v. Saturn Corp. , 2 54 S .W.3d

4 Employee submitted numer ous docume nts and correspondence after filing h er n otice of appeal

, inc luding additional m edical information. However, as we have previously noted, we wil l not consider on

a ppea l any documents or other evide nce not pres ented to a nd considered by the trial court. S ee Hadzic v.

Averitt Express , No. 201 4

- 02

- 0064, 20 15 TN W rk. Comp. App. Bd. LEX I S 14, at *13 n.4 (Tenn.

Workers’ Comp. App. Bd. May 18, 201 5)

.5 321, 327 (Tenn. 2008 ) ). H e r e

, t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f t h e evidenc e s u p p o r t s t h e t r i a l

c o u r t ’ s c r e d i b i l i t y d e t e r m i n a t i o n s

.

F u r t h e r m o r e

, a l t h o u g h E m p l o y e e f i l e d a b r i e f o n ap p e a l

, h e r b r i e f d i d n o t c o n t a i n

a n y l e g a l a r g u m e n t s o r e x p l a n a t i o n s d e s c r i b i n g h o w t h e t r i a l c o u r t p u r p o r t e d l y e rr e d

. R a t h e r

, s h e r e i t e r a t e d t h e a r g u m e n t s s h e m a d e i n t h e t r i a l c o u r t

. W h e n a n ap p e l l a n t f a i l s

t o o f f

e r s ub s t a n t i v e a r g u m e n t s o n a p p e a l

, a n a p p e l l a t e c o u r t ’ s a b i l i t y t o c o n d u c t

m e a n i n g f u l ap p e l l a t e r e v i e w i s s i g n i f i c a n t l y h a m p e r e d

. H o l m e s v

. E l l i s W a t

k

i n s d /

b

/

a

W

a t

k

i n s L a w n C a r e

, N o

. 2 0 1 7

- 0 8

- 0 5 0 4

, 2 0 1 8 T N W r k

. C o m p

. A p p

. B d

. L E X I S 7

, a t * 3

-

4 ( T e n n

. W o r k e r s ’ C o m p

. A p p

. B d

. F e b

. 1 3

, 2 0 1 8 )

. I t is not o ur role t o se arc h the record

for possible errors or to formula t e a p a r t y ’ s legal arguments where t h a t p a r t y has provided

no meanin gful argu me n t or auth ori ty to su pport i t s position. Cos ey v. Jard en Corp.

, No.

2017

- 0 1

- 0053, 20 1 9 TN Wrk. Comp. Ap p. Bd . L EXIS 3, at * 8 (Te nn. Workers’ Comp.

App. Bd. Jan. 15, 201 9). Were w e t o se arch the record for possib le erro r s and raise iss ues

and a rgume nts fo r Employee , w e would be acting as h e r counsel , whi ch th e law pr oh ibits.

We bb v. Sher r ell , No. E 2013

- 027 24

- CO A

- R 3

- CV, 2015 T enn. App. LEXIS 645, at *5

(Tenn. Ct. App. Au g. 12, 2015 )

.

A c c o r d i n g l y

, we affirm t he de cision of the trial cou rt and remand the ca s e. Costs

o n appeal are taxed to Employ e e.TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

WORKERS’ COMPENSAT ION APPEALS BOARD

Geraldine Mann ) Docket No. 2020-04-0059

)

v. ) State File No. 12853-2020

)

ACA Transport, LLC, et al. )

)

)

Appeal from the Court of Workers’ )

Compensation Claims )

Robert V. Durham, Judge )

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the Appeals B oard’s decision in the referenced

case was sent to th e following recipients by the following methods of service on this the 19th day

of March , 2021.

Name Certified

Mail First Class

Mail Via

Fax Via

Email Sent to:

Ger ald ine Mann X m rsmann5 1@yahoo .com

Hayley E. Vos

Emmie Kinnard

Jill Armstrong X hvos@ortalekelley.com

ek innard@ortalekelley.com

jarmstrong@ortal ekelley.com

Robert V. Durham

, Judge X Via Electronic M ail

Kenneth M. Switzer

, Chief Judge X Via Electronic Mail

Penny Shrum, Clerk, Court of

Workers’ Compensation Claims X penny.patterson

- shrum@tn.gov

Olivi a Yearwood

Clerk, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board

220 French Landing Dr., Ste. 1-B

Nashville, TN 37243

Telephone: 615-253-1606

Electronic Mail: WCAppeals .Clerk@tn.gov