Court Opinion

ID: 9955326
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-28 12:55:14.584476+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:15:33.662676
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                             Mar 28, 2024
                                                                                             07:38 AM(CT)
                                                                                          TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                                         WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                                CLAIMS

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

    LANELL MCMILLAN,                                )   Docket No. 2021-02-0554
            Employee,                               )
    v.                                              )
    ULG COMPANIES, LLC,                             )
            Employer,                               )   State File No. 81115-2021
                                                    )
    And                                             )
    UNITED WISCONSIN INS., CO.,                     )
             Carrier.                               )   Judge Brian K. Addington
                                                    )

             COMPENSATION ORDER GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT

       ULG filed a motion for summary judgment contending no genuine issues of material
fact exist as to whether Mr. McMillan suffered an injury that caused a medical impairment
or requires additional medical treatment. The Court agrees in part and grants the motion.

                                            Claim History

         ULG filed a statement of undisputed material facts, some of which are summarized
         1
below.

         1. Mr. McMillan injured his left ankle and leg while working for ULG on
            September 18, 2021.
         2. Dr. Paul Kerner was the authorized physician.
         3. Dr. Kerner evaluated Mr. McMillan multiple times.
         4. Mr. McMillan reached maximum medical improvement on July 19, 2022.
         5. Dr. Kerner found that Mr. McMillan did not sustain a permanent impairment.
1
 ULG alleges other facts, but the Court disagrees that some of the facts listed are “material.” “A fact is
material if it must be decided in order to resolve the substantive claim or defense at which the motion is
directed.” Burke v. Steve Towers Enterprises, LLC,, 2023 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 53, at *11
(Nov. 15, 2023).

                                                    1
          6. Mr. McMillan has no permanent work restrictions.

       ULG supports these facts by citation to the record and with the C-32 signed by Dr.
Kerner. As required by statute, ULG provided Mr. McMillan with a 20-day notice that it
intended to rely on Dr. Kerner’s report at the hearing.

        Mr. McMillan’s deadline to respond to the motion was March 18. On March 11, he
filed a C-32 signed by a physician assistant. Then on March 19, he filed his response to
ULG’s Statement of Undisputed Facts and disputed all facts except for 1 and 3. He filed
employment badges and also resubmitted the March 11 C-32 but with an additional
signature.2

                                            Law and 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 a judgment
as a matter of law.” Tenn. R. Civ. P. 56.04 (2023).

       As the moving party, ULG must accomplish one of two things to prevail on its
motion: (1) submit affirmative evidence that negates an essential element of Mr.
McMillan’s claim, or (2) demonstrate that the evidence is insufficient to establish an
essential element of Mr. McMillan’s claim. Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-16-101 (2023); see also
Rye v. Women’s Care Ctr. of Memphis, MPLLC, 488 S.W.3d 235, 264 (Tenn. 2015).

      If ULG does either or both, Mr. McMillan must respond by producing specific facts
showing a genuine issue for trial. Id.; Tenn. R. Civ. P. 56.06.

       ULG argues the Court should grant summary judgment because it demonstrated that
Mr. McMillan did not sustain a permanent impairment, and he no longer needs medical
treatment for his injury per Dr. Kerner. Since Dr. Kerner is the only qualified expert to
offer evidence, ULG is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.

       For his part, Mr. McMillan submitted a C-32, but a physician assistant signed it.
Section 50-6-235(c)(1) requires that the report be signed by a physician. It was not, so it is
inadmissible as evidence that can be considered at a summary judgment hearing. The other
documents he submitted were not filed by the deadline. But even if they had been, they
were not sufficient to establish an issue of material fact.

      Thus, the undisputed facts show Mr. McMillan suffered an injury that did not cause
permanent impairment. ULG negated an essential element of Mr. McMillan’s claim: that

2
    The additional signator did not identify himself as a physician.

                                                       2
he suffered an injury that caused permanent impairment. ULG’s motion for summary
judgment is granted.

       However, as to future medical treatment, this Court cannot look into the future to
determine whether Mr. McMillan may or may not need treatment for his compensable
injury. Further, an employee who suffers a compensable injury is entitled to any
reasonable, necessary, and work-related medical treatment. Tenn. Code. Ann. § 50-6-
204(a)(1)(A). This Court in the future may determine whether ULG is responsible for
medical treatment Mr. McMillan seeks for his compensable injury. Reynolds v. Liberty
Mut. Ins. Co., No. 02S01-9203-CH-00027, 1992 Tenn. LEXIS 620, at *2-6 (Tenn.
Workers’ Comp. Panel Oct. 7, 1992).

      It is ORDERED as follows:

      1. ULG is entitled to summary judgment concerning the payment of permanent
         disability benefits.

      2. ULG shall furnish reasonable and necessary future medical benefits under
         Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-204.

      3. The Court taxes the $150.00 filing fee to ULG, to be paid to the Court Clerk
         under Tennessee Compilation Rules and Regulations 0800-02-21-06 (2023)
         within five business days of this order becoming final.

      4. ULG shall file Form SD-2 with the clerk within ten business days after this order
         becomes final.

      5. Unless appealed, this Order shall become final 30 days after entry.

             ENTERED March 28, 2024.

                                          /s/ Brian K. Addington
                                         ______________________________________
                                         BRIAN K. ADDINGTON, JUDGE
                                         Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                           3
                        CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

          I certify that a copy of this Order was sent on March 28, 2024.

        Name              First    Fax       Email            Service sent to:
                          Class
                          Mail
Lanell McMillan,           X                  X      lanellmcm27@gmail.com
Employee                                             3210 Farmers Union Rd.
                                                     Clarkstown, NC 28433
Ben Norris,                                   X      bnorris@ericlides.com
Allen Grant,                                         agrant@ericlides.com
Employer’s Attorneys

                                      ______________________________________
                                      PENNY SHRUM, COURT CLERK
                                      wc.courtclerk@tn.gov

                                         4
                                          Right to Appeal:
      If you disagree with the Court’s 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 before the expiration of the deadline.
               If the order being appealed is “expedited” (also called “interlocutory”), or if the
                 order does not dispose of the case in its entirety, the notice of appeal must be filed
                 within seven (7) business days of the date the order was filed.
               If the order being appealed is a “Compensation Order,” or if it resolves all issues
                 in the case, the notice of appeal must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days of
                 the date the Compensation Order was filed.
      When filing the Notice of Appeal, you must serve a copy on 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. 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. If you choose to submit a transcript as part of your
      appeal, which the Appeals Board has emphasized is important for a meaningful review of
      the case, a licensed court reporter must prepare the transcript, and you must file it with the
      Court Clerk. The Court Clerk will prepare the record for submission to the Appeals Board,
      and you will receive notice once it has been submitted. For deadlines related to the filing of
      transcripts, statements of the evidence, and briefs on appeal, see the applicable rules on the
      Bureau’s website at https://www.tn.gov/wcappealsboard. (Click the “Read Rules” button.)

   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.
      If neither party timely files an appeal with the Appeals Board, the Court Order
      becomes enforceable. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(3) (expedited/interlocutory
      orders) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(7) (compensation orders).

       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