Court Opinion

ID: 6354113
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-24 19:11:48.013051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:59:48.844845
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                              Jun 20, 2022
                                                                             03:38 PM(CT)
                                                                           TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                          WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                 CLAIMS

           TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
          IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
                           AT MEMPHIS

 LAUNDELL MOSS,                      )      Docket No.: 2021-08-0362
           Employee,                 )
 v.                                  )
 NATIONWIDE SURPLUS, LLC,            )      State File No.: 4797-2020
            Employer,                )
 And                                 )
 TRAVELERS CASUALTY &                )      Judge Deana C. Seymour
 SURETY COMPANY,                     )
            Carrier.                 )
 ____________________________________________________________________________

           COMPENSATION ORDER GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT

       The Court heard Nationwide Surplus’s Motion for Summary Judgment on June 15,
2022. Nationwide contends Mr. Moss filed his Petition for Benefit Determination outside
the one-year statute of limitations. For the reasons below, the Court grants the motion.

                                         Facts

      Mr. Moss claimed a back injury after lifting at work on November 12, 2019.
According to Mr. Moss, he timely reported his injury to Nationwide and completed
workers’ compensation paperwork. However, he never received a panel of physicians, so
he sought treatment on his own.

       Mr. Moss treated with neurosurgeon Dr. Fereidoon Parsioon, who diagnosed a
ruptured disc and performed surgery. Nationwide’s workers’ compensation carrier denied
the claim and made no payments. On April 6, 2021, Mr. Moss filed a Petition for Benefit
Determination.

      Nationwide filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, along with a statement of
undisputed material facts summarized as follows:

          • Mr. Moss seeks benefits arising out of an incident at work on November 12,
            2019;

                                           1
            • No payments were made on the claim; and
            • Mr. Moss filed his petition on April 6, 2021.

Nationwide contends it is entitled to summary judgment because Mr. Moss waited more
than one year after his alleged date of injury before filing his petition. Thus, his filing falls
outside the one-year statute of limitations.

      Mr. Moss did not respond to the motion as required by Tennessee Rule of Civil
Procedure 56.03. 1

                                                Analysis

       Summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there
is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment
as a matter of law.” Tenn. R. Civ. P. 56.04 (2021).

       As the moving party, Nationwide must do one of two things to prevail on its motion:
(1) submit affirmative evidence that negates an essential element of Mr. Moss’s claim, or
(2) demonstrate that his evidence is insufficient to establish an essential element of his
claim. Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-16-101 (2021); see also Rye v. Women’s Care Ctr. of
Memphis, MPLLC, 477 S.W.3d 235, 264 (Tenn. 2015). If Nationwide is successful in
meeting this burden, Mr. Moss must then establish that the record contains specific facts
upon which the Court could base a decision in his favor. Id. at 265.

      Since Mr. Moss did not respond to Nationwide’s statement of undisputed facts, the
Court finds the facts undisputed. The issue then is whether summary judgment is
“appropriate” under Rule 56.06.

       Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-203, an employee’s right to recover
compensation is forever barred unless the employee files a petition within one year after
the accident resulting in injury. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-203(b)(1).

       Here, the undisputed facts show that a petition was not filed until April 6, 2021,
which was more than one year from Mr. Moss’s date of injury on November 12, 2019.
Thus, Nationwide met its burden of negating an essential element of the claim – filing
within a year of the date of injury.

1
 While Mr. Moss did not file a response, he did appear at the hearing and reiterated the argument he made
during his Expedited Hearing that he did not receive any medical bills, which led him to believe Nationwide
paid for his treatment. He also mentioned that he thought he had one year from either the denial, the last
payment made, or his return to work.

                                                    2
        The burden shifts to Mr. Moss to show that the record contains specific facts upon
which the Court could find a factual dispute on that issue. Since Mr. Moss did not provide
these facts, the Court holds that Nationwide is entitled to summary judgment as a matter
of law.

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:

   1. Nationwide Surplus’s Motion for Summary Judgment is granted, and Mr. Moss’s
      claim is dismissed with prejudice to its refiling.

   2. Unless appealed, this order shall become final thirty days after entry.

   3. The Court taxes the $150.00 filing fee to Nationwide Surplus under Tennessee
      Compilation Rules and Regulations 0800-02-21-.06 (February, 2022), payable to
      the Clerk within five days of this order becoming final.

   4. Nationwide Surplus shall prepare and submit the SD-2 with the Clerk within ten
      days of the date of judgment.

ENTERED June 20, 2022.

                                  ____________________________________
                                  Judge Deana C. Seymour
                                  Court of Compensation Claims

                                            3
                          CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

    I certify that a copy of this Order was sent as indicated on June 20, 2022.

Name                      Certified     U.S.     Via Service sent to:
                           Mail         Mail    Email
Laundell Moss,               X           X        X   3097 Waynoka Ave. #4
Employee                                              Memphis, TN 38111
                                                      dellmossjr81@gmail.com

Paul Nicks,                                       X     pnicks@travelers.com
Employer’s Attorney

                                       _____________________________________
                                       Penny Shrum, Court Clerk
                                       Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
                                       WC.CourtClerk@tn.gov

                                          4
                   For notices of appeal filed on or after July 1, 2022.

                          Compensation Order Right to Appeal:
     If you disagree with this Compensation Order, you may appeal to the Workers’
Compensation Appeals Board. To do so, you must:
   1. Complete the enclosed form entitled “Notice of Appeal” and file it with the Clerk
      of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims within thirty calendar days of the
      date the Compensation Order was filed. When filing the Notice of Appeal, you must
      serve a copy upon the opposing party (or attorney, if represented).

   2. You must pay, via check, money order, or credit card, a $75.00 filing fee within ten
      calendar days after filing the Notice of Appeal. Payments can be made in-person
      at any Bureau office or by U.S. mail, hand-delivery, or other delivery service. In
      the alternative, you may file an Affidavit of Indigency (form available on the
      Bureau’s website or any Bureau office) seeking a waiver of the filing fee. You must
      file the fully-completed Affidavit of Indigency within ten calendar days of filing
      the Notice of Appeal. Failure to timely pay the filing fee or file the Affidavit of
      Indigency will result in dismissal of your appeal.

   3. You are responsible for ensuring a complete record is presented on appeal. The
      Court Clerk will prepare the technical record and exhibits for submission to the
      Appeals Board, and you will receive notice once it has been submitted. If no court
      reporter was present at the hearing, you may request from the Court Clerk the audio
      recording of the hearing for a $25.00 fee. A licensed court reporter must prepare a
      transcript, and you must file it with the Court Clerk within fifteen calendar days of
      filing the Notice of Appeal. Alternatively, you may file a statement of the evidence
      prepared jointly by both parties within fifteen calendar days of filing the Notice of
      Appeal. The statement of the evidence must convey a complete and accurate
      account of the testimony presented at the hearing. The Workers’ Compensation
      Judge must approve the statement of the evidence before the record is submitted to
      the Appeals Board. If the Appeals Board must review testimony or other proof
      concerning factual matters, the absence of a transcript or statement of the evidence
      can be a significant obstacle to meaningful appellate review.

   4. After the Workers’ Compensation Judge approves the record and the Court Clerk
      transmits it to the Appeals Board, a docketing notice will be sent to the parties. You
      have fifteen calendar days after the date of that notice to file a brief to the Appeals
      Board. See the Rules governing the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board on the
      Bureau’s website
For self-represented litigants: Help from an Ombudsman is available at 800-332-2667.
If neither party timely files an appeal with the Appeals Board, the trial court’s Order
will become final by operation of law thirty calendar days after entry. Tenn. Code
Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(7).

For self-represented litigants: Help from an Ombudsman is available at 800-332-2667.
                        Compensation Hearing Order Right to Appeal:
     If you disagree with this Compensation Hearing Order, you may appeal to the Workers’
Compensation Appeals Board or the Tennessee Supreme Court. To appeal to the Workers’
Compensation Appeals Board, you must:
   1. Complete the enclosed form entitled: “Notice of Appeal,” and file the form with the
      Clerk of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims within thirty calendar days of the
      date the compensation hearing order was filed. When filing the Notice of Appeal, you
      must serve a copy upon the opposing party (or attorney, if represented).

   2. You must pay, via check, money order, or credit card, a $75.00 filing fee within ten
      calendar days after filing of the Notice of Appeal. Payments can be made in-person at
      any Bureau office or by U.S. mail, hand-delivery, or other delivery service. In the
      alternative, you may file an Affidavit of Indigency (form available on the Bureau’s
      website or any Bureau office) seeking a waiver of the filing fee. You must file the fully-
      completed Affidavit of Indigency within ten calendar days of filing the Notice of
      Appeal. Failure to timely pay the filing fee or file the Affidavit of Indigency will
      result in dismissal of your appeal.

   3. You bear the responsibility of ensuring a complete record on appeal. You may request
      from the court clerk the audio recording of the hearing for a $25.00 fee. A licensed court
      reporter must prepare a transcript and file it with the court clerk within fifteen calendar
      days of the filing the Notice of Appeal. Alternatively, you may file a statement of the
      evidence prepared jointly by both parties within fifteen calendar days of the filing of the
      Notice of Appeal. The statement of the evidence must convey a complete and accurate
      account of the hearing. The Workers’ Compensation Judge must approve the statement
      of the evidence before the record is submitted to the Appeals Board. If the Appeals
      Board is called upon to review testimony or other proof concerning factual matters, the
      absence of a transcript or statement of the evidence can be a significant obstacle to
      meaningful appellate review.

   4. After the Workers’ Compensation Judge approves the record and the court clerk transmits
      it to the Appeals Board, a docketing notice will be sent to the parties. The appealing
      party has fifteen calendar days after the date of that notice to submit a brief to the
      Appeals Board. See the Practices and Procedures of the Workers’ Compensation
      Appeals Board.
To appeal your case directly to the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Compensation Hearing
Order must be final and you must comply with the Tennessee Rules of Appellate
Procedure. If neither party timely files an appeal with the Appeals Board, the trial court’s
Order will become final by operation of law thirty calendar days after entry. See Tenn.
Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(7).

For self-represented litigants: Help from an Ombudsman is available at 800-332-2667.
                                              NOTICE OF APPEAL
                                      Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
                                        www.tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/
                                        wc.courtclerk@tn.gov | 1-800-332-2667

                                                                                  Docket No.: ________________________

                                                                                  State File No.: ______________________

                                                                                  Date of Injury: _____________________

         ___________________________________________________________________________
         Employee

         v.

         ___________________________________________________________________________
         Employer

Notice is given that ____________________________________________________________________
                         [List name(s) of all appealing party(ies). Use separate sheet if necessary.]

appeals the following order(s) of the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims to the
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (check one or more applicable boxes and include the date file-
stamped on the first page of the order(s) being appealed):

□ Expedited Hearing Order filed on _______________ □ Motion Order filed on ___________________
□ Compensation Order filed on__________________ □ Other Order filed on_____________________
issued by Judge _________________________________________________________________________.

Statement of the Issues on Appeal
Provide a short and plain statement of the issues on appeal or basis for relief on appeal:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________

Parties
Appellant(s) (Requesting Party): _________________________________________ ☐Employer ☐Employee
Address: ________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________
Email: __________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: ______________________________________________ BPR#: _______________________
Attorney’s Email: ______________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
                           * Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellant *

LB-1099 rev. 01/20                              Page 1 of 2                                              RDA 11082
Employee Name: _______________________________________ Docket No.: _____________________ Date of Inj.: _______________

Appellee(s) (Opposing Party): ___________________________________________ ☐Employer ☐Employee
Appellee’s Address: ______________________________________________ Phone: ____________________
Email: _________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: _____________________________________________ BPR#: ________________________
Attorney’s Email: _____________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
                              * Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellee *

                                             CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, _____________________________________________________________, certify that I have forwarded a
true and exact copy of this Notice of Appeal by First Class mail, postage prepaid, or in any manner as described
in Tennessee Compilation Rules & Regulations, Chapter 0800-02-21, to all parties and/or their attorneys in this
case on this the __________ day of ___________________________________, 20 ____.

                                                           ______________________________________________
                                                            [Signature of appellant or attorney for appellant]

LB-1099 rev. 01/20                                 Page 2 of 2                                        RDA 11082