Court Opinion

ID: 6320907
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-03-07 21:25:13.958885+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:39.417809
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                          Mar 07, 2022
                                                                                          09:01 AM(CT)
                                                                                       TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                                      WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                             CLAIMS

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

    Emad Hanna,                                       )   Docket No. 2019-06-2116
              Employee,                               )
                                                      )
    v.                                                )   State File No. 21526-2019
    Gaylord Opryland, d/b/a Marriott                  )
    International,                                    )
                 Self-insured Employer.               )   Judge Kenneth M. Switzer

                    COMPENSATION ORDER DENYING BENEFITS

       At a March 1, 2022 compensation hearing, Emad Hanna alleged an injury to his
neck, arm and fingers while working at Gaylord Opryland, d/b/a Marriott International.
Mr. Hanna asserted that the essential issue is an aggravation of a preexisting condition..
The Court agrees.

       However, a physician of Mr. Hanna’s choosing found that he aggravated a
preexisting condition, but the aggravation was temporary and resulted in no anatomical
change or permanent impairment. Because of this, the Court must deny his request for
permanent disability benefits. The Court additionally cannot order payment of past
medical treatment because Mr. Hanna did not offer admissible evidence regarding those
sums.1

                                        History of Claim

       Mr. Hanna testified that he works as a banquet server for Marriott. On March 20,
2019, after scooping ice cream for approximately an hour and a half for more than 170
persons, Mr. Hanna felt tingling in his neck down into his right arm and fingers. He said
the ice cream was “frozen like a rock” and hard to scoop. Mr. Hanna reported his
symptoms to Marriott.
1
 Mr. Hanna requested an Arabic interpreter. Hebba Abulsaad interpreted at the hearing and is commended
for her fine work.

                                                  1
        Two days later, Marriott offered a panel of physicians, and Mr. Hanna chose Dr.
Robert Carver.2 Mr. Hanna complained of right-arm pain and hand numbness to Dr.
Carver, who diagnosed a trapezius muscle strain, subacromial bursitis in the right shoulder
joint, and cervical spondylosis without myelopathy. The doctor declined to place him on
restricted duty. Dr. Carver treated Mr. Hanna for approximately two months until placing
him at maximum medical improvement.

        Believing the authorized treatment had concluded, Mr. Hanna began treating on his
own with Dr. Amir Abtahi in April. He ordered an MRI and EMG, and diagnosed neck
pain, right C6 radiculopathy, and a central disc herniation at C5-6 resulting in severe
bilateral foraminal stenosis. Dr. Abtahi treated Mr. Hanna conservatively and saw him
approximately four times through October. At the final visit, Dr. Abtahi noted that Mr.
Hanna no longer had pain in his neck or arm, but the numbness in his fingers remained.
He believed it would heal over time and wrote that Mr. Hanna may return as needed. Dr.
Abtahi placed no permanent restrictions but recommended a functional capacity
evaluation, which never took place.

      After Mr. Hanna filed a petition for benefit determination, Marriott’s attorney
agreed during a status hearing to offer a panel of orthopedic specialists. So, Mr. Hanna
chose Dr. Sean Kaminsky.

        Dr. Kaminsky evaluated him once, where he examined him, performed x-rays, and
reviewed MRI results. In a C-32, he wrote that Mr. Hanna suffered cervical spondylosis
and checked “no” in response to the questions of whether the employment activity, more
likely than not, was primarily responsible for the injury or need for treatment, and whether
the employment was primarily responsible for the present need for treatment of a
preexisting condition.

        Dr. Abtahi also completed a C-32. Marriott objected and deposed the doctor.

       At the deposition, Dr. Abtahi testified that Mr. Hanna aggravated a preexisting
condition. He explained that “the patient had underlying degenerative changes within his
C5-6 disc which were a result of chronic degenerative changes. However, the symptoms
began after this incident at work while scooping ice cream. So this would have represented
an exacerbation of an underlying condition, and the exacerbation is what required
treatment.” Dr. Abtahi then confirmed it was a “temporary aggravation or flare-up of
pain.” He concluded Mr. Hanna had no anatomical change or permanent advancement as
a result of scooping ice cream and assigned a zero-percent impairment rating.

2
 Mr. Hanna testified on direct examination that he could not remember being given a choice, but on cross-
examination, he acknowledged that it appeared to be his signature on the Choice of Physician Form C-42.
                                                   2
        Mr. Hanna asked the Court to award compensation for his permanent disability and
to order payment of past medical bills. Regarding the latter request, on Marriott’s
objection, the Court excluded the bills because they did not meet the requirements of
Tennessee Compilation Rules and Regulations 0800-02-21-.16(2)(b) (February, 2022)
(medical bills are self-authenticating and admissible when signed by a physician or
accompanied by a form signed by a medical provider or records custodian certifying that
the bills are true and accurate); and see Eaves v. Ametek, Inc., 2018 TN Wrk. Comp. App.
Bd. LEXIS 53, at *8-9 (Sept. 14, 2018) (medical bills must be accompanied by proof that
they are reasonable, necessary, and causally-related to the work accident to be admitted
into evidence).

     Marriott countered that the injury did not arise out of work, relying on Dr.
Kaminsky’s opinion.

                       Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

       Mr. Hanna bears the burden of proving entitlement to workers’ compensation
benefits by a preponderance of the evidence. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(6) (2021);
Panzarella v. Amazon.com, Inc., No. E2017-01135-SC-R3-WC, 2018 Tenn. LEXIS 244,
at *8 (Tenn. Workers’ Comp. Panel May 16, 2018).

       Here, Mr. Hanna was a forthright and credible witness. The Court finds he injured
his neck, right arm and fingers while scooping ice cream at work for Marriott, and his
finger numbness remains. However, his testimony alone is not enough to prove work-
relatedness, because “causation must be established by expert medical evidence, except in
the most obvious cases.” Id. Moreover, work-relatedness is the threshold issue, and an
award of permanent disability benefits is appropriate only when a physician has placed a
permanent impairment rating. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-207(3)(A) (permanent partial
disability is calculated by multiplying the employee’s impairment rating by 450 weeks).

        As to causation, the Workers’ Compensation Law states that an aggravation of a
preexisting condition is not compensable “unless it can be shown to a reasonable degree of
medical certainty that the aggravation arose primarily out of and in the course and scope
of employment.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-102(14)(A). An employee can satisfy the
burden of proving a compensable aggravation if: “(1) there is expert medical proof that the
work accident contributed more than fifty percent (50%) in causing the aggravation, and
(2) the work accident was the cause of the aggravation more likely than not considering all
causes.” Barnes v. Jack Cooper Transp., 2020 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 16, at *7
(Mar. 24, 2020).

      This case offers two different expert opinions on causation. When faced with
competing expert medical opinions, “trial courts are granted broad discretion in choosing
which opinion to accept[.]” Id. at *8.

                                            3
       Looking first at the authorized physician’s responses on the C-32, Dr. Kaminsky
concluded that the employment activity did not primarily cause the injury or need for
treatment, nor was it primarily responsible for the present need for treatment of a
preexisting condition. Because he was chosen from a panel, Dr. Kaminsky’s causation
opinion is presumed correct. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-102(14)(E). Dr. Kaminsky
examined Mr. Hanna once before reaching his conclusion.

        In contrast, Dr. Abtahi saw him four times and followed Mr. Hanna’s progress for
approximately six months. As the Supreme Court observed, “It seems reasonable that the
physicians having greater contact with the Plaintiff would have the advantage and opportunity
to provide a more in-depth opinion, if not a more accurate one.” Orman v. Williams Sonoma,
Inc., 803 S.W.2d 672, 677 (Tenn. 1991). The Court places greater weight on Dr. Abtahi’s
opinion. Dr. Abtahi testified, and the Court finds, that scooping ice cream aggravated Mr.
Hanna’s underlying degenerative changes.

      But this does not end the analysis. As to past medical expenses, in Miller v. Lowe’s
Home Center, Inc., 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 40, at *18 (Oct. 21, 2015), the
Appeals Board held that an award of medical benefits is appropriate, where an injured
worker alleges an aggravation of a preexisting condition and offers evidence that the
aggravation arose primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment. Further, an
aggravation or exacerbation need not be permanent for an injured worker to qualify for
medical treatment reasonably necessitated by the aggravation. In this case, however, Mr.
Hanna did not offer admissible proof of the past medical expenses he incurred, so the Court
cannot rely on Miller to order Marriott to pay them.

       As to permanency, Dr. Abtahi said the aggravation was temporary and resulted in
no anatomical change. The Appeals Board has held that, “in cases where the employee
alleges an aggravation of a pre-existing condition, evidence of a mere increase in pain
caused by a work accident, with no accompanying evidence that the work accident
advanced the severity of the pre-existing condition or caused an anatomic change in that
condition, is insufficient to support a finding of compensability.” Barnes, at *9. Dr. Abtahi
determined that Mr. Hanna’s aggravation of a preexisting condition did not advance its
severity or result in an anatomical change.

        Therefore, neither physician’s opinion supports the relief Mr. Hanna seeks, and their
opinions are the only medical proof before this Court. Stated another way, Mr. Hanna has
offered no medical evidence that his current condition arose primarily out of his
employment with Marriott, or that he suffered a permanent impairment. He has not
satisfied his burden to show by a preponderance of the evidence that his claim for
permanent partial disability is compensable.

                                             4
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:

   1. Mr. Hanna’s claim for benefits is denied.

   2. Costs of $150.00 are assessed against Marriott under Tennessee Compilation Rules
      and Regulations 0800-02-21-.06, to be paid to the Court Clerk within five business
      days of this order, and for which execution may issue as necessary.

   3. Marriott shall file a completed Form SD-2 within ten days after this order becomes
      final.

   4. Unless appealed, the order shall become final thirty days after issuance.

      ENTERED March 7, 2022.

                                  _____________________________________
                                  JUDGE KENNETH M. SWITZER
                                  Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                      APPENDIX

Exhibits:
   1. First Report of Injury
   2. Form C-42 Choice of Physician-Dr. Carver
   3. Form C-42 Choice of Physician-Dr. Kaminsky
   4. Wage Statement and attachments
   5. Deposition transcript, Dr. Abtahi
   6. Exhibits to Dr. Abtahi’s Deposition
   7. C-32, Dr. Kaminsky, and attachments
   8. Dr. Carver’s medical records
   9. Medical bills (Identification only)

Technical record:
   1. Petition for Benefit Determination
   2. Dispute Certification Notice, February 28, 2020, and Employer’s Amendments
   3. Show Cause Order
   4. Employer’s Motion to Dismiss
   5. Request for Expedited Hearing
   6. Order on Show Cause Hearing
   7. Order on Status Conference, June 30, 2020

                                            5
   8. Order on Status Conference, August 10, 2020
   9. Employer’s Expedited Hearing Position Statement
   10. Expedited Hearing Order
   11. Status Hearing Order, November 30, 2020
   12. Status Hearing Order, February 8, 2021
   13. Status Hearing Order, March 30, 2021
   14. Order, March 30, 2021
   15. Status Hearing Order, April 27, 2021
   16. Status Hearing Order, May 12, 2021
   17. Notice of Intent to Rely on C-32
   18. Status Hearing Order, July 27, 2021
   19. Dispute Certification Notice, July 29, 2021, and Employer’s Amendments
   20. Notice of Objection to the Use of C-32
   21. Employer’s Motion to Continue Compensation Hearing
   22. Order Granting Continuance
   23. Motion Objecting to Deposition
   24. Employer’s Response in Opposition to Employee’s Motion Objecting to Deposition
   25. Order Denying Motion Objecting to Deposition
   26. Status Hearing Order, November 8, 2021
   27. Dispute Certification Notice, January 4, 2022, and Mediation Violation
   28. Employer’s Compensation Hearing Position Statement
   29. Employer’s Witness and Exhibit List

                            CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

        I certify that a copy of the Compensation Order was sent as indicated on March 7,
2022.

Name                   Certified   Regular       Email   Sent to
                       Mail        mail
Emad Hanna, self-         X                        X     taimour2008@yahoo.com
represented                                              5016 Millpond Court
employee                                                 Mt. Juliet TN 37122
Travis Ledgerwood,                                 X     tledgerwood@morganakins.com
employer’s attorney                                      plunny@morganakins.com

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

                                             6
                        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