Court Opinion

ID: 4560379
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-26 21:02:07.349447+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:17:31.517436
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                   May 30, 2019
                                                                                   07:15 AM(CT)
                                                                                TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                               WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                      CLAIMS

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

WENDY NEAL,                                   )
        Employee,                             ) Docket No. 2017-06-1025
                                              )
v.                                            )
                                              )
MOORE CONSTRUCTION CO.,                       ) State File No. 36505-2017
INC.,                                         )
        Employer,                             )
                                              )
and                                           ) Judge Joshua Davis Baker
BRENTWOOD SERVICES,                           )
       Carrier.                               )

                 COMPENSATION HEARING ORDER GRANTING
                    MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

       This case came before the Court on Moore Construction’s motion for summary
judgment in which it asserted material facts showing Ms. Neal’s condition arose
primarily from degenerative conditions unrelated to the workplace accident. Thus, it
argued the Court should grant summary judgment because she lacks proof of medical
causation.    Moore set the motion for a hearing. Thereafter, Ms. Neal filed a response
where she agreed to all material facts and acceded not to oppose Moore’s motion. The
Court therefore finds that no hearing is necessary; that there are no issues of material fact;
and that Moore is entitled to summary judgment. See Tenn. R. Civ. P. 56.04.

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:
  1. The Court grants Moore’s motion for summary judgment and dismisses Ms.
     Neal’s claim with prejudice to its refiling.

  2. Absent an appeal to the Appeals Board, this order shall become final in thirty
     days.

  3. The Court assesses the $150.00 filing fee against Moore under Tennessee
     Compilation Rules and Regulations 0800-02-21-.07, for which execution may
     issue as necessary.

  4. Moore shall pay the filing fee within five business days of the order becoming
     final.

  5. Moore shall file form SD-2 with the clerk, via email at wc.courtcleerk@tn.gov,
     within ten business days of this order becoming final.

ENTERED ON MAY 29, 2019.

                                     _____________________________________
                                     Joshua Davis Baker, Judge
                                     Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                        2
                          CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

       I certify that a true and correct copy of this order was sent to the following
                                                   May 30th
recipients by the following methods of service on ____________, 2019.

Name                     Certified Via Via        Service sent to:
                         Mail      Fax Email
William Poland,                          X        whpoland@clarksvillelawyers.com
Employee’s Attorney                               rebecca@clarksvillelawyers.com
Duane Willis,                                X    dwillis@morganakins.com;
Employer’s Attorney                               plunny@morganakins.com

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

                                         3
                                 II
                                  I                                                       'I

                          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: "Compensation Hearing 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 ofthe 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 lndigency 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.
II                                                                                                                      I.
 '                                                                                                                       I

                                    Tennessee Bureau of Workers' Compensation
                                           220 French Landing Drive, 1-B
                                             Nashville, TN 37243-1002
                                                      800-332-2667

                                               AFFIDAVIT OF INDIGENCY

     I,                                                , having been duly sworn according to law, make oath that
     because of my poverty, I am unable to bear the costs of this appeal and request that the filing fee to appeal be
     waived. The following facts support my poverty.

     1. Full Name:_ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __                       2. Address: - - - - - - - -- - - --

     3. Telephone Number: - - - - - - - - -                   4. Date of Birth: - - - - -- - - -- -

     5. Names and Ages of All Dependents:

             - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - Relationship: - - - - - - -- - - -- -

             - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- --                  Relationship: - - - - - -- - - -- - -

             - - - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - Relationship: - - - -- - -- - - - - -

             - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -                 Relationship: - - - - - - -- - - -- -

     6. I am employed by: - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - - - -- - - -- - -

             My employer's address is: - - - - -- - - - -- - - - - - -- - -- - - - -

             My employer's phone number is: - - - -- - - - -- - - - - - -- - - -- - -

     7. My present monthly household income, after federal income and social security taxes are deducted, is:

     $ _ _ _ _ _ __

     8. I receive or expect to receive money from the following sources:

             AFDC            $            per month           beginning
             SSI             $            per month           beginning
             Retirement      $            per month           beginning
             Disability      $            per month           beginning
             Unemployment $               per month           beginning
             Worker's Camp.$              per month           beginning
             Other           $            per month           beginning

     LB-1108 (REV 11/15)                                                                               RDA 11082
9. My expenses are:     ! ~                                                      li
                                                                                  I
                          '

        Rent/House Payment $              per month     Med icai/Dental $ _ _ ___ per month

        Groceries       $           per month           Telephone       $ _ __ _ _ per month
        Electricity     $           per month           School Supplies $ _ _ _ _ _ per month
        Water           $           per month           Clothing        $ _ _ _ _ _ per month
        Gas             $           per month           Child Care      $ _ _ _ _ _ per month
        Transportation $            per month           Child Support   $ _ _ _ _ _ per month
        Car             $            per month
        Other           $           per month (describe:

10. Assets:

        Automobile              $ _ _ _ __
                                                        (FMV) - - - - - - - - - -
        Checking/Savings Acct. $ _ _ _ __
        House                   $ _ _ __
                                                        (FMV) - - - - - - - - - -
        Other                   $ _ _ _ __              Describe:_ _ _ _ __ _ __ __

11. My debts are:

        Amount Owed                     To Whom

I hereby declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing answers are true, correct, and complete
and that I am financially unable to pay the costs of this appeal.

APPELLANT

Sworn and subscribed before me, a notary public, this

____ dayof _____________________ , 20_ __

NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires:_ _ _ _ _ _ __

LB-1108 (REV 11/15)                                                                          RDA 11082