Court Opinion

ID: 9930616
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-07 14:23:19.289059+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:17:48.879716
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                 Feb 07, 2024
                                                                                 08:01 AM(CT)
                                                                               TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                              WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                     CLAIMS

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

 KIMBERLY HUNT,                               )   Docket No. 2023-07-5702
           Employee,                          )
 v.                                           )   State File No. 42900-2023
 STEVE KIRK, PROPERTY                         )
 MANAGER,                                     )   Judge Robert Durham
           Employer,                          )
 And                                          )
 PLAZA INS. CO.,                              )
           Insurer.                           )

             EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER GRANTING BENEFITS

        This Court held an Expedited Hearing on February 1, 2024. Ms. Hunt asked for
medical and temporary disability benefits after a work-related left-wrist injury. Mr. Kirk
denied benefits, arguing that Ms. Hunt was an independent contractor not an employee.
The Court holds that Ms. Hunt is likely to prove at trial that she was an employee and is
entitled to temporary and future medical benefits. However, she did not establish the
reasonableness and necessity of her unauthorized treatment, so the Court cannot order Mr.
Kirk to pay for it at this time.

                                        History of Claim

       Mr. Kirk first retained Ms. Hunt in June 2022 to assist in renovating rental
properties. She worked full-time, except for a few weeks in September when she was out
of work and looking for other employment. She stopped working for Mr. Kirk in December
due to lack of work and health problems. In January 2023, Mr. Kirk sent her a 1099 tax
form. Ms. Hunt testified she had no idea he planned to do so.

       Ms. Hunt resumed working for Mr. Kirk in April, performing the same duties at the
same pay. On May 16, she fell from a porch while painting and broke her left wrist. Mr.
Kirk took her to a clinic where he paid her co-pay and then to an orthopedic clinic. He also
gave Ms. Hunt $300 to help pay for an MRI. On May 24, orthopedist Michael Dolan took

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her off work.

        Mr. Kirk’s carrier denied her claim on June 2 due to “lack of cooperation” and did
not pay any expenses or temporary disability benefits. Ms. Hunt continued to receive
medical care from Dr. Dolan. He kept her off work until October 11, when he released her
to full duty.

       At the hearing, Ms. Hunt said Mr. Kirk required her to work Monday through Friday
from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a half-hour for lunch; however, she often worked more
than that to finish specific tasks. Her pay was $18 an hour, paid by check every Friday,
with an average weekly wage of $907.43. The checks did not include deductions for tax
or social security withholdings.

       She said Mr. Kirk had full control over the conduct of her work by directing her to
specific projects and telling her how and when to perform the work. Other people also
worked on these projects, and Mr. Kirk hired and supervised them. She further testified
that Mr. Kirk paid for or owned all the supplies, tools, and equipment she used except for
a stool and a ladder she preferred for her comfort and safety. Ms. Hunt said she worked
exclusively for Mr. Kirk and did not have the option of offering her services to others
during the hours he set.

       Mr. Kirk testified by a Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 72 declaration. He
asserted that Ms. Hunt operated as an independent contractor not his employee. He also
noted Ms. Hunt set her own hours, and he did not require a specific start or leave time. He
wrote that she provided her own tools, such as paintbrushes and stools. He agreed he paid
her on an “hourly, weekly basis” but said the pay was “based off” her progress. He also
pointed to the 1099 tax form and said that Ms. Hunt could have worked for others and had
“the right of termination.”

                        Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

       To obtain benefits, Ms. Hunt must show a likelihood of prevailing at a hearing on
the merits. See generally Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1) (2023). The parties agree that
the dispositive issue is whether Ms. Hunt was an employee or an independent contractor
when she broke her wrist. However, since Mr. Kirk does not dispute that an employment
relationship existed at the time of injury, it is his burden to establish that Ms. Hunt was an
independent contractor. Hernandez v. SMS, Inc. d/b/a Master Stucco, 2023 TN Wrk.
Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 30, at *9 (July 6, 2023). The Court holds that he did not meet this
burden.

      Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-102(11)(D)(i) lists the factors the Court
must consider in determining whether Ms. Hunt was an employee:

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       (a)    The right to control the conduct of the work;
       (b)    The right of termination;
       (c)    The method of payment;
       (d)    The freedom to select and hire helpers;
       (e)    The furnishing of tools and equipment;
       (f)    Self-scheduling of working hours; and
       (g)    The freedom to offer services to other entities.

       Although no factor is determinative, “the Tennessee Supreme Court has repeatedly
emphasized the right to control [the conduct of the work].” Hernandez, at *8-9. Ms. Hunt,
who the Court finds provided consistent and credible testimony, emphasized that Mr. Kirk
directed when, where, and how she was to perform her daily tasks. Significantly, Mr. Kirk
did not rebut this in his declaration.

       Further, the right to terminate the employment relationship at will is a “hallmark”
of the employer/employee relationship. Id. at *16. Here, Mr. Kirk did not submit any
evidence of a contract limiting either party’s right to terminate the employment
relationship.

       As for the other factors, the Court finds the evidence favors Ms. Hunt. She testified,
and the checks support this testimony, that Mr. Kirk paid her at an hourly rate every Friday.
She additionally testified that Mr. Kirk hired and supervised other people working on the
same projects, and she did not have the right to do so. Mr. Kirk provided all supplies, tools,
and equipment other than a stool and a ladder she used for her personal safety and comfort.

       Mr. Kirk expected her to work Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. through 4:30
p.m. with a half-hour lunch break, although if necessary, she often worked longer or on
weekends to finish specific tasks. The paychecks corroborate her testimony that she never
worked fewer than forty hours a week and often worked more, thus confirming that she
could not have worked for others while working for Mr. Kirk.

        Finally, the Court gives little weight to the facts that Mr. Kirk did not deduct
withholdings from her checks and issued a 1099 tax form to Ms. Hunt in 2023. “The fact
that a company did not deduct social security or income taxes is not a controlling factor in
deciding whether and employer-employee relationship existed.” Hernandez, at *9.

       Thus, the Court holds that the factors in Section 50-6-102(11)(D)(i) support Ms.
Hunt’s contention that she was Mr. Kirk’s employee, despite Mr. Kirk’s brief, unsupported
testimony to the contrary.

       As for medical benefits, the undisputed evidence established that Ms. Hunt suffered
a work-related left-wrist fracture. Mr. Kirk did not offer any medical treatment as required
by statute, so Ms. Hunt sought it on her own with Dr. Dolan. By failing to authorize

                                              3
treatment, Mr. Kirk risked being responsible for Dr. Dolan’s care. Young v. Young Elec.
Co., 2016 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 24, at *16 (May 25, 2016). Thus, the Court
holds that Mr. Kirk shall authorize Dr. Dolan to give any further reasonable, necessary,
and related treatment Ms. Hunt may require.

      The law also requires that in most circumstances, an employee must prove that any
past unauthorized treatment was reasonable and necessary. See Lentz v. Coca-Cola
Consol., Inc., 2023 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 34, at *16 (July 19, 2023). Because
Ms. Hunt did not produce any evidence as to the reasonableness and necessity of past
medical expenses, she is not entitled to reimbursement for past expenses at this time.

      Regarding temporary total disability benefits, the undisputed evidence established
that Ms. Hunt’s broken wrist totally disabled her from May 24 through October 11. Given
Ms. Hunt’s compensation rate of $604.95, the Court holds Mr. Kirk must pay her
$12,099.05 in disability benefits under section 50-6-207(1).

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED THAT:

      1. Mr. Kirk shall authorize reasonable, necessary, and related medical treatment
         with Dr. Dolan for Ms. Hunt’s left-wrist fracture. Mr. Kirk is not ordered to
         reimburse Ms. Hunt for past medical expenses at this time.

      2. Mr. Kirk shall pay Ms. Hunt $12,099.05 in temporary total disability benefits.
         Ms. Hunt’s counsel is awarded 20% attorney’s fees totaling $2,419.81.

      3. Unless interlocutory appeal of the Expedited Hearing Order is filed, compliance
         with this Order must occur no later than seven business days from the date of
         entry of this Order as required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-
         239(d)(3). The Insurer or Self-Insured Employer must submit confirmation of
         compliance with this Order to the Bureau by email to
         WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov no later than the seventh business day after
         entry of this Order. Failure to submit the necessary confirmation within the
         period of compliance might result in a penalty assessment for non-compliance.
         For questions regarding compliance, please contact the Workers’ Compensation
         Compliance Unit via email at WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov.

      4. This case is set for a Scheduling Hearing on March 13, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
         Central Time. The parties must call 615-253-0010. Failure to appear might
         result in a determination of the issues without the party’s participation.

      ENTERED February 7, 2024.

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                                  _____________________________________
                                  ROBERT DURHAM, JUDGE
                                  Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                      APPENDIX

Technical Record:
   1. Petition for Benefit Determination
   2. Dispute Certification Notice
   3. Request for Expedited Hearing
   4. Ms. Hunt’s Pre-Hearing Statement
   5. Mr. Kirk’s Pre-Hearing Statement
   6. Ms. Hunt’s Witness and Exhibit List
   7. Mr. Kirk’s Witness and Exhibit List

Exhibits:
   1. Ms. Hunt’s Affidavit
   2. Mr. Kirk’s Declaration
   3. Ms. Kristen Wigant’s Declaration
   4. Dr. Dolan’s records
   5. Paychecks
   6. First Report of Injury
   7. Insurance documents
   8. Notice of Denial
   9. 1099 Tax Form

                           CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I certify that a copy of the Order was sent as indicated on February 7, 2024.

 Name                   Mail      Email     Service sent to:
 Jeffrey P. Boyd                   X        jboyd@borenandboyd.com
 Karlyn Hilliard                   X        Karlyn.Hilliard@Libertymutual.com

                                          _____________________________________
                                          PENNY SHRUM, Court Clerk
                                          WC.CourtClerk@tn.gov

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                                              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