Court Opinion

ID: 4560342
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-26 21:02:02.31393+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:19:33.770983
License: Public Domain

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ebruary 9, 2018
TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION february ®,

IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS TN COURT OF

AT JACKSON WORKERS
COMPENSATION
CLAIMS
JARED KIZER, ) Docket No. 2017-07-0073
Employee, ) 8:26 AM.
Vv. )
EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT, ) State File No. 81955-2016
Employer, )
and )
AMERICAN INSURANCE GROUP, ) Judge Allen Phillips
Carrier. )

 

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER FOR MEDICAL BENEFITS

 

Mr. Kizer requested medical and temporary disability benefits for an injury to his
right hand. Express Services (Express) denied his claim on grounds of illegal drug use.
The Court heard the contested issues at an Expedited Hearing on January 24, 2018, and
now holds Mr. Kizer would likely prevail at a hearing on the merits regarding his request
for medical benefits. The Court denies his request for temporary disability benefits.

History of Claim

Express, a staffing agency, assigned Mr. Kizer to work at Pinnacle Foods, a frozen
food manufacturer. On October 20, 2016, Mr. Kizer was operating a “splitter” machine
that cut blocks of frozen fish into fish sticks. He claimed the machine malfunctioned and
amputated three fingers on his right hand.

Express denied Mr. Kizer’s claim after a post-accident urinalysis revealed the
presence of THC, a metabolite of marijuana. Because it was a participant in the
Tennessee Drug Free Workplace Program (DFWP), Express also asserted that Mr.
Kizer’s drug use was the presumptive proximate cause of his injury. Mr. Kizer agreed
Express was a DF WP participant and conceded that he smoked marijuana. However, he
disputed that drug use caused his injury.
Namely, Mr. Kizer explained the splitter machine malfunctioned when he tried to
align a “jammed” block of frozen fish. He claims he “hit the e-stop,” a switch that
completely stops the machine from running, and then “raised” a door designed to
disengage the machine. He then reached inside the machine, removed “eight blocks of
fish,” cleaned some half-melted fish residue from the side of the machine, and
manipulated several other blocks of fish in an effort to clear the misalignment. The
machine then unexpectedly “cut on and pulled [his] hand” against the steel frame. Mr.
Kizer testified he had performed the task “a million times” and that he was “taught” to
operate the machine in the way he did. He said his only training was how to “load and
stop” the machine and that the training included no specific safety instruction.

Mr. Kizer denied being under the influence of marijuana when injured and pointed
out he had successfully operated the machine since 4 p.m., five hours before the injury.
Mr. Kizer admitted smoking marijuana on the morning of October 20, but some thirteen-
plus hours before his injury. He also worked through the morning at another job on a
farm owned by a friend. He then went home to rest and travelled from his home in
Lexington to Pinnacle’s facility in Jackson.' Mr. Kizer admitted he was a habitual
marijuana smoker, smoking regularly for some time prior to the accident. He conceded
his memory was not clear as to exactly how often he smoked marijuana, both at the time
of injury and currently, and he acknowledged the drug effects his memory.

Brock Wilson, Pinnacle’s Director of Workers’ Compensation testified via
affidavit that Mr. Kizer’s use of the splitter machine “was not in compliance with the
safety procedures for that machine.” Specifically, a report attached to his affidavit
indicated the first Pinnacle employee “on the scene” noted the e-stop was not engaged as
Mr. Kizer alleged but did function properly when tested. Further, the investigation
revealed Mr. Kizer apparently held the machine’s door open with his left hand while
reaching inside with his right, thus exposing his hand to the machine’s ramming device.
However, Pinnacle’s investigation also “discovered the interlock adjustment was so that
[it] allowed the [door] to travel some distance prior to it activating and shutting off [the
machine] thus allowing Mr. Kizer access to the product area.”

Pinnacle’s investigation also determined “the operators knew about the
[machine’s] shutdown process,” but “no documentation [of such], nor training . . . was
located.” Pinnacle instituted “initial corrections” after the accident, including placing a
bolt in the door that forced operators to completely lift the door to activate the interlock
device and training all operators on a “communication of expectations” regarding
machine operation.

Philip Miller was a former Pinnacle employee who worked as the lead
maintenance technician on Mr. Kizer’s shift at the time of injury. He also rendered first

 

' The Court takes judicial notice that this is approximately a thirty-mile trip, one-way.

2
aid to Mr. Kizer. Mr. Miller testified that Mr. Kizer did not appear intoxicated on the
night of the accident. Further, Mr. Miller verified after the accident that the machine’s e-
stop was working but found that the machine did cycle if the door was only partially
raised. He confirmed that Pinnacle immediately placed the bolt referenced in the
investigative report and developed a “‘six-step protocol” for employees to follow after Mr.
Kizer’s injury. He noted almost all employees on second shift were “temps,” like Mr.
Kizer, and lacked proper training on how to operate the machine. However, Mr. Miller
confirmed that, if Mr. Kizer opened the door with one hand while placing the other
inside, then he used the same technique as other operators and had violated no known
safety protocols.

TOSHA investigated the accident and found that the machine would “cycle” when
the door of the machine was open, “exposing the employees to injury.” The TOSHA
inspector determined the machine had inadequate guarding and cited Pinnacle for a
“Serious Violation.”

Dr. Mario Figueroa, the emergency room physician who treated Mr. Kizer
following the accident, stated he did not “find [Mr. Kizer] to be intoxicated or cognitively
impaired in any way.” Regarding whether Mr. Kizer might have been “impaired in
another way,” Dr. Figueroa said, “I cannot tell you that . . . I’m telling you as [sic] when I
examined the patient, he didn’t appear impaired to me.”

Mr. Kizer also offered deposition testimony from Dr. Kenneth Ferslew, a
toxicologist. Dr. Ferslew explained the urinalysis only establishes Mr. Kizer used
marijuana “anywhere from hours to days prior to” the accident. The results neither prove
nor disprove that Mr. Kizer was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the
accident. Instead, Dr. Ferslew testified he would need other “forensic evidence” to
establish proof of intoxication.

Dr. Michael Dolan, an orthopedic surgeon, performed surgery to debride and close
Mr. Kizer’s wounds. He explained that Mr. Kizer will require further surgical procedures
to prepare the stumps of his fingers for possible attachment of a prosthetic hand. He did
not believe Mr. Kizer would reach maximum medical improvement until two years after
the injury and would have a significant impairment from a “mangling, life-changing
injury.” He noted the emergency room records did not indicate Mr. Kizer was

 

* Express objected to admission of the TOSHA report on grounds it lacked trustworthiness in contravention
of Tennessee Rule of Evidence 803(8)’s hearsay exception regarding “Public Records and Reports.” Express
contended the report included information other than TOSHA’s investigation of Mr. Kizer’s accident and the splitter
machine. The Court agrees that the report includes much information not relevant here and which the Court did not
consider. However, the Court finds nothing that calls into question the report’s trustworthiness. Instead, the Court
considers that the report documents the activities of TOSHA required by law and is an exception from the rule
against hearsay.
intoxicated, and he never noticed any signs of intoxication during approximately a dozen
follow-up examinations of Mr. Kizer.

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
Standard Applied

Mr. Kizer must present sufficient evidence from which the Court can determine he
is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1) (2017).

Analysis
Illegal drug use defense

The Court will analyze the evidence in light of the parties’ stipulation that
Express was part of the DF WP and entitled to all of its protections. When so doing, the
Court first looks to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-110(c)(1) which affords a
presumption that Mr. Kizer’s drug use was the “proximate cause of [his] injury.”
“Proximate cause” means the cause producing an injury and, without which, it would not
have occurred. Solomon v. Hall, 762 S.W.2d 158, 161 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1988). Mr. Kizer
may rebut this presumption by “clear and convincing evidence,” which means there is no
serious or substantial doubt regarding the facts and that they are “highly probable.” See
Teter v. Republic Parking Sys., 181 S.W.3d 330, 341 (Tenn. 2005). Thus, Mr. Kizer
must produce facts that create no serious or substantial doubt that his drug use did not
cause his injury and that it is highly probable it did not. For the following reasons, the
Court finds Mr. Kizer carried his burden.

First, Mr. Kizer explained he operated the machine on the day of injury in the
same way he routinely operated it, just as he had done “a million times.” He said he was
“taught” to operate the machine the way he did, and Mr. Miller corroborated that
employees on Mr. Kizer’s shift “routinely” performed the same action as Mr. Kizer. Mr.
Miller did not believe Mr. Kizer violated any safety protocols and noted that virtually all
second shift employees were “temps,” lacking proper training in the splitter machine’s
operation. Such testimony is highly probative because, as Express pointed out, Mr.
Miller did not “have a dog in this fight” and was “just there to tell the truth.” By its
direct observation of him, the Court notes Mr. Miller’s testimony was forthcoming,
honest, and self-assured, and it finds him highly credible. Kelly v. Kelly, 445 S.W.3d
685, 695-696 (Tenn. 2014).

Next, the Court finds the machine’s safety devices did not function properly.
TOSHA confirmed this in its investigation. However, even without the TOSHA report,
the Court still concludes the machine’s safety devices failed to protect Mr. Kizer based
upon Mr. Miller’s testimony. Mr. Miller was a maintenance technician knowledgeable in
the machine’s operation. He examined the machine after the accident and found the “e-
stop” was not engaged, leading him to believe that Mr. Kizer lifted the hood with his left
hand while reaching his right hand inside the machine. That Mr. Kizer’s right hand was
inside the machine is obvious, regardless of the precise logistics of Mr. Kizer’s actions.
Based on his unrebutted testimony, his hand remained inside the machine for some time
before the ramming device engaged. There is no serious or substantial doubt that the
machine should not have engaged when it did, irrespective of Mr. Kizer’s earlier
marijuana usage.

Finally, Tennessee authority supports the Court’s conclusions. In /nterstate Mech.
Contractors v. McIntosh, 229 S.W.3d 674 (Tenn. 2007), an employee of a DFWP
participant tested positive for THC after a machine injured his hand. Like Mr. Kizer, that
employee’s level of THC vastly exceeded the amount of THC required for a positive
result. However, unlike here, expert toxicology proof indicated that employee’s reaction
time would have been diminished by the level of THC present. Nevertheless, that
employee prevailed because the evidence established he could not have reacted quickly
enough to avoid injury after activation of the machine regardless of any intoxication.
Similarly, in Campbell v. PML, No. W2008-01539-WC-R3-WC 2009 Tenn. LEXIS 68
(Tenn. Workers’ Comp. Panel May 6, 2009), an employee of a DF WP participant
prevailed despite his marijuana use. There, the trial court found the employee’s
credibility was “imperfect.” However, it also noted the absence of evidence showing
how THC affected him and further noted the absence of evidence that the employee
appeared impaired at the time of the accident. The same findings apply here. Mr.
Kizer’s testimony also was imperfect, but the only evidence in the record is that he did
not appear impaired on the night of injury. Moreover, the expert toxicology proof here
does not establish THC caused Mr. Kizer’s accident.

Based on these findings, the Court holds that Mr. Kizer rebutted by clear and
convincing evidence the statutory presumption that illegal drug use was the proximate

cause of his injury.
Medical Benefits

Dr. Dolan testified the treatment he provided Mr. Kizer was “absolutely” made
necessary by the injury. Thus, the Court finds Mr. Kizer is entitled to both payment of
his medical bills to date and payment for ongoing treatment of his injury. The Court
finds it appropriate to designate Dr. Dolan as the authorized treating physician.

Temporary Disability Benefits

Dr. Dolan never totally restricted Mr. Kizer from work. Thus, he is not entitled to
temporary total disability. However, he might be entitled to temporary partial disability
(TPD) which is payable when an employee might resume some gainful employment but
has yet to reach maximum medical improvement. Hackney v. Integrity Staffing Solutions,
Inc., 2016 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 29, at *11 (July 22, 2016). Here, Dr. Dolan
maintained a restriction of one-handed work since the date of injury, and Mr. Kizer
testified he has not worked since. However, Express may enforce its workplace rules
even though Mr. Kizer suffered an injury for which temporary benefits would otherwise
be payable. Barrett v. Lithko Contracting, 2016 TN Wrk Comp App Bd LEXIS 70, at *9
(June 17, 2016).

At this time, the Court does not have evidence Express either attempted or refused
to return Mr. Kizer to work or that it terminated him for violation of a workplace rule.
Thus, Mr. Kizer has not presented sufficient evidence to show he would likely prevail at
a hearing on the merits regarding any entitlement to temporary disability benefits, and the
Court denies his request at this time.

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:

1. Express shall pay Mr. Kizer’s medical bills to date and continue to provide
medical benefits made reasonably necessary by the injury of October 20, 2016.
The Court designates Dr. Dolan as the authorized treating physician.

2. The Court denies Mr. Kizer’s request for temporary disability benefits.

3. This matter is set for a Status Hearing on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.
Central Time. The parties must call 731-422-5263 or toll-free 855-543-5038 to

participate in the Status Hearing.

ENTERED this the 9" day of February, 2018.

   

 

Allen Philly ge
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
APPENDIX
Exhibits:

Deposition of Dr. Kenneth Ferslew

Deposition of Dr. Michael Dolan

Deposition of Dr. Mario Figueroa

TOSHA Investigative Report

Joint Submission of Medical Records

Affidavit of Brock Wilson with attached Pinnacle investigative report
Wage Statement

Drug Test Results

Deposition of Jared Kizer

CON DAARWN

Technical record:

Petition for Benefit Determination

Dispute Certification Notice

Request for Expedited Hearing

Joint Pre-Hearing Stipulations of the Parties

Express’ Pre-Hearing Witness and Exhibit List

Express’ Pre-Hearing Brief

Mr. Kizer’s Motion to Continue Expedited Hearing

Order Granting Motion to Continue and Resetting Expedited Hearing

PAHAARYNE

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of this Expedited Hearing Order was sent
to the following recipients by the following methods of service on this the 9" day of
February, 2018.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name Via Email Service Sent To:

Spencer Barnes, Esq., x spence(@morrisonandbarnes.com
Attorney for Employee mbwcparalegal@morrisonandbarnes.com
Peter Frech, Esq., xX pfrech(@mijs.com

Attorney for Employer

 

Li A dam

Pen ny Shr rum, Clerk of Court
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
WC.CourtClerk@tn.gov