Opinion ID: 1057759
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Discretionary CostsC-32 Form

Text: Finally, Anderson Hickey argues that the trial court erred by awarding Crew discretionary costs of $150 for reimbursement of charges she incurred for a doctor's completion of a Tennessee Department of Labor C-32 form. The contention is that Dr. West's testimony did not relate Crew's injury to her employment with Anderson Hickey. Rule 54.04(1) of the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure provides, in part, that [c]osts... shall be allowed to the prevailing party unless the court otherwise directs. Adjudging costs is within the reasonable discretion of the trial court. Lock v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co., 809 S.W.2d 483, 490 (Tenn.1991). Furthermore, the trial judge may apportion the costs between the litigants as is deemed equitable. Tenn.Code Ann. § 20-12-119 (1994). Accordingly, the judgment of the trial court will not be disturbed on appeal absent a showing that the trial judge abused his discretion. Perdue v. Green Branch Mining Co., 837 S.W.2d 56 (Tenn.1992); Lewis v. Bowers, 216 Tenn. 414, 392 S.W.2d 819, 823 (1965). Crew is no longer the prevailing party. Moreover, the information gleaned from Dr. West's C-32 filing was adverse to Crew's position. Thus the trial court erred by awarding discretionary costs to Crew.