Court Opinion

ID: 4559972
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-26 21:01:19.545293+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:27:40.046643
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                             _-ovember30~2017

                                                                              TN COURTOF
                                                                          WORKI.R S' C01JJPINS.ATIO
                                                                                   CL.:\IMS

                                                                                  Time 9':01 AM
           TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION
          IN THE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS
                           AT KINGSPORT

EDUARDO CARRERA AVILA,                       )   Docket Number: 2017-02-0141
        Employee,                            )
v.                                           )   State File Number: 18030-2017
TLG MOTORS, LLC,                             )
        Uninsured Employer.                  )   Judge Brian K. Addington

                       COMPENSATION HEARING ORDER

       This matter came before the Court on November 28, 2017, for a Compensation
Hearing. The central legal issue is the compensability of Mr. Avila's claim for an injury,
which occurred when he attempted to use a hand tool at TLG Motors. The Court finds
Mr. Avila failed to prove he worked for an employer as defined by the Workers'
Compensation Law and to timely file a Petition for Benefit Determination. Therefore, the
Court denies his claim.

                                    History of Claim
      Mr. Avila knew the owner of TLG Motors, Mr. Ted Georgio, through Mr.
Georgio's mother, a restaurant owner. Mr. Avila normally worked for Ms. Georgio.
When she could not provide him with work, Mr. Avila occasionally cleaned cars at TLG
Motors.

       Mr. Avila injured his right middle finger while cleaning cars at TLG Motors on
August 16, 2014. He went to the hospital and later underwent surgery. Ms. Georgio paid
for his surgery, but the initial treatment remains unpaid. Mr. Avila was unsatisfied with
the surgical results and requested additional treatment, which Ms. Georgio denied.

       Mr. Georgio testified that he did not have any employees, while Mr. Avila testified
Mr. Georgio employed workers at more than one location. Bureau Compliance Specialist
Rene Gallardo conducted an investigation and concluded that TLG Motors employed
three persons.

     Mr. Avila did not file a Petition for Benefit Determination until March 13, 2017.
When the parties were unable to reach an agreement, this Court conducted an Expedited
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Hearing and determined TLG Motors did not meet the definition of employer under the
Workers' Compensation Law. Mr. Avila did not appeal that decision but chose to
proceed to a Compensation Hearing.
       Mr. Avila argued that he wanted his finger "fixed," compensation for his injury
and temporary benefits. Mr. Avila did not present any physician notes concerning his
injury but did submit an unpaid medical bill. He focused his testimony on complaints
about Mr. and Ms. Georgia's lack of credibility.
       TLG Motors appeared without an attorney. The Court did not allow Mr. Georgio
to enter any exhibits, make any objections or ask questions, but it did allow him testify.
                       Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
       Mr. Avila bears the burden of proof on all essential elements of his claim. Scott v.
Integrity Staffing Solutions, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 24, at *6 (Aug. 18,
20 15). He must establish by a preponderance of the evidence that he is entitled to the
requested benefits. Willis v. All Staff, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 42, at *18
(Nov. 9, 2015); see also Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(6) (2017) ("[T]he employee
shall bear the burden of proving each and every element of the claim by a preponderance
of the evidence."). This burden begins with proof that he worked for an employer as
defined by the Workers' Compensation Law.

       The Workers' Compensation Law requires all "employers" to provide workers'
compensation coverage for their "employees." See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-405(a)
(2014). According to Tennessee Code Annotated 50-6-102(12)(A), "an employee
includes every person ... in the service of an employer[.]" An employer is defined as
"any individual ... using the services of not less than five (5) persons for pay[.]" Tenn.
Code Ann.§ 50-6-102(13).

        To succeed, Mr. Avila must prove that TLG Motors is an employer as defined in
the statute. The Court finds that TLG Motors employed three persons as did Bureau
Specialist Gallardo. This number is not the required minimum of five to mandate
workers' compensation insurance coverage. Thus, it does not meet the statutory
definition of employer. As such, this Court does not have jurisdiction over TLG Motors.

       Even if Mr. Avila proved TLG Motors were a covered employer, he failed to file
his Petition for Benefit Determination within one year of the date of his injury. See Tenn.
Code Ann. § 50-6-203(b)(1 ). The proof verifies that Ms. Georgio paid for his surgery,
which may have prolonged the statute of limitations if she did so on behalf of TLG
Motors. However, Mr. Avila did not prove Ms. Georgio's connection, if any, to TLG
Motors.

       IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED that Mr. Avila's claim is denied on the grounds
that TLG Motors is not a covered employer and Mr. Avila did not timely file a Petition

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for Benefit Determination. The Court does not tax a filing fee for this case as TLG
Motors is not a covered employer. If no appeal is taken, the order shall become final
after thirty days.

               ENTERED this the 30th day of November, 2017.

                                       Is/ Brian K. Addingt n
                                       BRIAN K. ADDINGTON, JUDGE
                                       Court of Workers' Compensation Claims

                                        APPENDIX

      Evidence
      1. Affidavit of Susana Man cera
      2. Affidavit of Balthazar Ramirez
      3. Affidavit of Jesus Barragano
      4. Medical Bill-Franklin Woods Hospital
      5. Expedited Request for Investigation Report
      6. Collective Exhibit-Photographs

      Technical Record
      1. Petition for Benefit Determination
      2. Dispute Certification Notice
      3. Request for Expedited Hearing
      4. Expedited Hearing Order
      5. Scheduling Hearing Order

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                            CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the Compensation Hearing Order
was sent to the following recipients by the following methods of service on this the 30th
day ofNovember, 2017.

          Name              Certified   Via      Via              Service Sent to:
                             Mail       Fax     Email
                                                        1200 Maryland Ave.,
Eduardo Carrera Avila,          X                X      Bristol, TN 37620
Employee                                                cd uurclocarrera2008{tt"i.ll otm ui l.com

TLG Motors,                     X                       2121 Volunteer Parkway,
Employer                                                Bristol, TN 37620

                                         PE~A±~RK
                                         Court of W r, ers' Compensation Claims
                                         WC. CourtClerk@tn.gov

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