Court Opinion

ID: 9385845
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-04-10 14:22:08.671708+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:47.555330
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                               Apr 10, 2023
                                                                              08:25 AM(CT)
                                                                            TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                           WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                  CLAIMS

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

 EMMA KESEL,                               ) Docket No. 2022-05-0937
         Employee,                         )
 v.                                        )
                                           )
 BIG FLUFFY DOG RESCUE,                    ) State File No. 62442-2020
 INC.,                                     )
          Employer,                        )
 And                                       )
 MARKEL INS. CO.,                          ) Judge Dale Tipps
          Carrier.                         )

          EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER DENYING BENEFITS
                     (Decision on the Record)

        The Court considered this case on April 6, 2023, for an Expedited Hearing
on the record. The threshold issue is whether Ms. Kesel’s claim is barred by the
statute of limitations. For the reasons below, the Court holds Ms. Kesel is unlikely
to prove at a hearing on the merits that she timely filed her claim. Therefore, she is
not entitled to benefits at this time.

                                 History of Claim

       Ms. Kesel filed a Petition for Benefit Determination on September 20, 2022.
She alleged that she injured her left leg while walking a dog at work on August 24,
2020. She received a panel of physicians and selected Dr. David West. Although
she complained of continuing symptoms of swelling and pain, he released her with
no restrictions on December 14. Ms. Kesel wrote in the petition and her Rule 72
Statement that she then sought treatment from an unauthorized doctor for chronic
regional pain syndrome, which she claimed resulted from her work injury.

       Ms. Kesel filed a Request for Expedited Hearing seeking a hearing on the
record. Specifically, she sought additional medical treatment and physical therapy.
       Big Fluffy Dog presented a Rule 72 statement from Melissa Gazerro, the
adjuster for this claim. She stated that the last date any benefits were paid to or on
behalf of Ms. Kesel was January 27, 2021. Among its other arguments, Big Fluffy
Dog contended that the statute of limitations bars Ms. Kesel’s claim. It asked the
Court to deny her request.

                        Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

       To grant Ms. Kesel’s request, she must show she is likely to prevail at a
hearing on the merits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1) (2022); McCord v.
Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-8,
9 (Mar. 27, 2015).

       Tennessee’s workers’ compensation law states in relevant part that when the
employer has voluntarily paid workers’ compensation benefits, the case must be
filed within one year after the accident resulting in injury or within one year from
the date of the last authorized treatment. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-203(b)(2).
Further, the employer has the burden to prove the facts it asserts bar the claim, such
as the expiration of the statute of limitations, and when it does so, the burden shifts
to the plaintiff to demonstrate a recognized exception. Cloyd v. Hartco Flooring
Co., 274 S.W.3d 638, 647 (Tenn. 2008).

       Ms. Kesel admitted that Dr. West discharged her from his care and that she
sought treatment on her own. The last medical payment made by her employer was
January 27, 2021. Ms. Kesel then did not file her Petition for Benefit Determination
until September 20, 2022, approximately twenty months later. Because she did not
file within one year of the last authorized treatment or demonstrate a recognized
exception, the Court must hold that Ms. Kesel is not likely to prevail at a hearing on
the merits.

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:

   1. Ms. Kesel’s claim against Big Fluffy Dog Rescue, Inc. is denied at this time.

   2. This case is set for a Scheduling Hearing on June 7, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. You
      must call toll-free at 855-874-0473 to participate. Failure to call might result
      in a determination of the issues without your further participation. All
      conferences are set using Central Time.

       ENTERED April 10, 2023.
                                  _____________________________________
                                  Judge Dale Tipps
                                  Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                  APPENDIX

Exhibits:
   1. Ms. Kesel’s Rule 72 Declaration
   2. Documents submitted to the mediator by Ms. Kesel (dated 11-8-22 on TN
      Comp)
   3. Documents submitted to the mediator by Big Fluffy Dog Rescue (dated 11-
      8-22 on TN Comp)
   4. Rule 72 Declaration of Melissa Gazerro

Technical record:
   1. Petition for Benefit Determination
   2. Dispute Certification Notice
   3. Request for Expedited Hearing on the Record
   4. Employer’s Position Statement

                        CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I certify that a copy of the Order was sent as indicated on April 10, 2023.

 Name                      Certified Fax         Email    Service sent to:
                           Mail
 Emma Kesel                X                     X        Emma Kesel
                                                          2411 Tinnell Court
                                                          Murfreesboro, TN 37129
                                                          Emlorekes44@gmail.com
 Lee Anne Murray,                                X        leeamurray@feeneymurray.com
 Employer’s Attorney

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