Court Opinion

ID: 6103728
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-14 20:05:07.432192+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:53:39.800481
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                Jan 14, 2022
                                                                               01:48 PM(CT)
                                                                             TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                            WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                   CLAIMS

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

WHITNEY RAE ASBERRY,                        )   Docket No. 2021-04-0171
        Employee,                           )
v.                                          )   State File No. 35868-2021
CUMMINS FILTRATION,                         )
        Self-Insured Employer.              )   Judge Robert Durham

       COMPENSATION ORDER GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT

       The Court held a hearing on January 13, 2022, on Cummins’s Motion for Summary
Judgment. Cummins asserted it is entitled to summary judgment on the issue of causation,
given that the authorized physician gave an opinion that Ms. Asberry’s left-arm symptoms
are not causally related to her employment, and she has not provided any contrary medical
evidence. For the reasons below, the Court holds that Cummins is entitled to summary
judgment.

                                    History of Claim

        Ms. Asberry is employed by Cummins as a production assistant. She alleged that
on March 20, 2021, she engaged in repetitive work with her left arm that included lifting
objects that weighed up to fifty pounds. She awoke the next day with significant pain in
her left elbow, wrist, and hand.

       According to Cummins’s Statement of Undisputed Facts, Ms. Asberry underwent
various diagnostic tests that did not reveal any abnormalities. She received authorized
treatment with orthopedist John Turnbull, who diagnosed her with an elbow strain.
However, he could not say within a reasonable degree of medical certainty that her
symptoms were work-related. After receiving this opinion, Cummins denied Ms.
Asberry’s claim. Ms. Asberry continued to treat with Dr. Turnbull, but he eventually
released her to return to full duty with no restrictions.

      Cummins introduced an affidavit from Dr. Turnbull, in which he gave his opinion
that Ms. Asberry’s alleged left arm injury did not arise primarily out of and in the course

                                            1
and scope of her employment with Cummins, nor did this alleged injury contribute more
than fifty percent in causing disablement or the need for future medical treatment.

      Ms. Asberry did not offer any response to the Statement of Undisputed Facts or any
medical opinions contrary to Dr. Turnbull’s. She also did not attend the motion hearing.

                                   Law and Analysis

       A party moving for summary judgment shall prevail if it: (1) submits affirmative
evidence that negates an essential element of the nonmoving party’s claim; or (2)
demonstrates that the nonmoving party’s evidence is insufficient to establish an essential
element of the nonmoving party’s claim. Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-16-101 (2021). The
burden is on the moving party to “demonstrate that no genuine issues of material fact exist
and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Armstrong v.
Chattanooga Billiard Club, 2020 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 40, at *10 (Jan. 21,
2020).

        Once the moving party has provided grounds for summary judgment, the burden
shifts to the nonmoving party to “demonstrate the existence of specific facts in the record
which could lead a rational trier of fact to find in favor of the nonmoving party.” Id. at
*11. In considering the evidence, the Court “must view the evidence in the light most
favorable to the non-moving party and must also draw all reasonable inferences in favor of
the non-moving party.” Williamson v. Prof’l Care Serv., 2018 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd.
LEXIS 43, at *3,4 (Aug. 18, 2018).
       To prove a compensable injury, Ms. Asberry must show that she sustained an
injury that arose primarily out of and in the course and scope of her employment, and she
must prove this element by expert medical opinion. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-102(14).
She must show to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that her work activities
contributed more than fifty percent in causing her left arm symptoms, considering all
causes. Reasonable degree of medical certainty means “it is more likely than not
considering all causes, as opposed to speculation or uncertainty.” Id.
       Here, the only medical opinion regarding causation is from Dr. Turnbull. He
unequivocally stated in his affidavit that Ms. Asberry’s alleged injury did not meet the
statutory definition of causation under Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-102(14).
Ms. Asberry did not provide any contrary evidence.
       Thus, the Court holds that Cummins met its burden by showing that “no genuine
issues of material fact exist” as to causation and that it is “entitled to a judgment as a
matter of law.” Armstrong, at *10. The Court grants summary judgment in favor of
Cummins, and Ms. Asberry’s claim for benefits is dismissed with prejudice.

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       IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that:

   1. Cummins’s Motion for Summary Judgment is granted, and Ms. Asberry’s claim is
      dismissed with prejudice to its refiling.

   2. Unless appealed, this Order shall become final in thirty days.

   3. The filing fee of $150.00 is taxed to Cummins under Tennessee Compilation Rules
      and Regulations 0800-02-21-.07, to be paid to the Court Clerk and for which
      execution might issue as necessary.

   4. Cummins shall prepare and file the SD-2 with the Court Clerk within ten days of
      this order becoming final.

ENTERED January 14, 2022.

                                     ____________________________________
                                     Robert V. Durham, Judge
                                     Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

       I certify that a copy of this order was sent as indicated on January 14, 2022.
Name                     Certified    Via     Via Service sent to:
                          Mail        Fax    Email
Whitney Asberry                                X   Bluehurricane1989@gmail.com
Frederick R. Baker                             X   fbaker@wimberlylawson.com

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

                                              3
                        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