Court Opinion

ID: 6114369
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-01 17:06:28.174912+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:13:35.719115
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                   Jan 31, 2022
                                                                                  03:22 PM(CT)
                                                                                TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                               WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                      CLAIMS

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

 ROBERT GREVE,                             )       Docket No. 2018-07-0621
      Employee,                            )
 v.                                        )
 SOUTHERN INTEGRATED                       )
 SERVS.,                                   )       State File No. 55332-2018
      Employer,                            )
 and                                       )
 BRIDGEFIELD CASUALTY INS.                 )
 CO.,                                      )       Judge Allen Phillips
      Carrier.                             )

             EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER FOR MEDICAL BENEFITS
                           Decision on the record

       This is the second Expedited Hearing at which Mr. Greve requested that the Court
order Southern to pay for a neck surgery. At the first hearing, Southern argued the requested
surgery was not medically necessary. For the following reasons, the Court now holds Mr.
Greve is entitled to the requested surgery.

                                     History of Claim

       On July 20, 2018, Mr. Greve lifted a piece of iron and felt pain in his neck and left
shoulder and arm. He sought treatment on his own from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Raymond
Gardocki, who obtained an MRI that revealed a herniated disc at the C6-7 level. Dr.
Gardocki recommended an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery at
these C5/6 and C6/7 levels.

        Southern then provided a panel of physicians, from which Mr. Greve chose
orthopedic surgeon Dr. Samuel Murrell. He agreed with Dr. Gardocki that the MRI showed
a problem at the C 6/7 level. Dr. Murrell also performed additional testing. He testified in
his first deposition that the MRI and his test findings were “consistent” with Mr. Greve’s

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symptoms. Further, when asked if the need for surgery was “related” to the work incident,
Dr. Murrell replied, “I felt it was given the history and the records provided.”

      Southern requested a Utilization Review of Dr. Murrell’s surgery recommendation
from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Greenberg. He wrote in a report that the ACDF
procedure was neither medically necessary nor appropriate based on his review of Mr.
Greve’s records. Dr. Greenberg extensively quoted the ODG1 guidelines as to why the
ACDF did not meet the criteria supporting the procedure.
       Dr. Murrell disagreed with Dr. Greenberg. He stated his understanding that Dr.
Greenberg does not perform spinal surgery and did not review all of Mr. Greve’s records.
In an office note, Dr. Murrell wrote without elaboration that Dr. Greenberg cited
“indications from the DG [sic] guide which are not relevant but appear to be a cut and paste
process for generic indications.” In his first deposition, Dr. Murrell maintained his
disagreement with Dr. Greenberg and said he would perform the surgery if Mr. Greve still
had the same complaints and wanted to proceed.
       Southern also obtained an evaluation from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bret Sokoloff,
who believed Mr. Greve’s condition was “primarily degenerative in nature.” He said the
pre-existing disease “may have been aggravated by heavy lifting,” but the aggravation was
“not ˃ 51%” related. He thought the surgery should be covered under Mr. Greve’s regular
insurance.
       Southern obtained another evaluation from neurosurgeon Dr. Laverne Lovell, who
agreed with Dr. Sokoloff that Mr. Greve had degenerative changes. Moreover, Dr. Lovell
did not believe the MRI findings were severe enough to cause Mr. Greve’s arm pain and
that Dr. Murrell’s findings on the other testing he ordered were unrelated to the problems
seen on the MRI. Dr. Lovell concluded Mr. Greve did not sustain a work-related injury and
did not need surgery.
       The parties presented that medical evidence at the first Expedited Hearing, and Mr.
Greve testified. He said he was “getting worse” and wanted Dr. Murrell to perform surgery.
He argued Dr. Murrell’s opinion, as a panel physician, was presumed correct under
Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-204(a)(1)(H) (2021) and that section 204(a)(1)(I)
required Southern to rebut the presumption by clear and convincing evidence. He
contended Southern’s evidence did not meet this standard of proof.
       Southern agreed it was required to rebut the presumption of correctness by clear and
convincing evidence and claimed it did. It relied on Dr. Greenberg’s opinion that the
surgery did not comply with the ODG guidelines; Dr. Sokoloff’s opinion that the need for
surgery was unrelated to the injury; and Dr. Lovell’s opinion that surgery was unnecessary.

1
  “ODG” refers to ODG Guidelines published by the Work Loss Data Institute. “Any utilization review of
treatment must apply the ODG Guidelines . . . in determining whether treatment is medically necessary[.]”
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-02-25-.03 (2018).

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        After the first Expedited Hearing, the Court found, contrary to the parties’ focus on
the presumption, that the dispositive question was whether Dr. Murrell’s testimony was
sufficient to show the work contributed more than fifty percent to the need for surgery. The
Court found it was insufficient because Dr. Murrell testified only that the surgery was
“related” to the work, not that the work contributed more than fifty percent to the need for
surgery. See Joiner v. UPS, 2018 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 54, at *23 (Sept. 24,
2018). Thus, the Court held Mr. Greve did not show he likely would prevail at trial and
denied his request for surgery.
        After that denial, Mr. Greve deposed Dr. Murrell again. At that deposition, Mr.
Greve’s counsel asked Dr. Murrell to read the statutory definition of injury in Tennessee
Code Annotated section 50-6-102(14)(A)-(D). Counsel then asked Dr. Murrell to read Mr.
Greve’s description of his injury from his deposition, specifically that his pain began when
lifting a piece of iron. Counsel then asked Dr. Murrell the questions below, to which he
gave the following answers:
          • “Do you have an opinion as to whether or not that incident that’s described
            fits in the definition of accidental injury that you just read from the Tennessee
            Code Annotated?”
              “[I]t would fit in that it does describe the specific event.”
          • “Do you have an opinion . . . whether that injury that he described was the
            primary cause for the findings of that MRI?”

              “I don’t have another reason to or another event to assign to that finding.”

          • “And so is it your opinion that that incident, lifting that channel iron, was
            more than 50 percent the cause of the herniated disc he sustained and that is
            shown by the MRI?”

              “I believe so.”

          • “And is it your opinion to, within a reasonable degree of medical certainty as
            defined by the Tennessee Code Annotated 50-6-102, that the anterior cervical
            discectomy and fusion that you’ve recommended at two levels is reasonable
            and necessary and causally connected to the lifting incident that is described
            in his deposition?”
              “I believe so and know of no other incident that led to that.”

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       Counsel asked Dr. Murrell if his surgery recommendation was “the last resort”
under the ODG Guidelines, recommended only after conservative treatment failed, and Dr.
Murrell replied it was.2
        On cross-examination, Southern had Dr. Murrell confirm that Mr. Greve had
degenerative changes in his cervical spine, not just a herniated disc. Southern then asked
Dr. Murrell whether, in light of those degenerative changes, he could say to a reasonable
degree of medical certainty if the need for surgery was related to the injury. Dr. Murrell
said it was his “understanding . . . that [Mr. Greve] wasn’t having symptoms beforehand;
that afterwards he did have symptoms” and, based on testing, there “does appear to be some
sort of change or advancement.” He said that he “believed” that change or advancement
was more than fifty percent responsible for the need for surgery. He elaborated that his
opinion was formed “[i]n the absence of you giving me some, you know, new information
that suggests there is something else that, that led to that or that he didn’t have an injury.”
       After deposing Dr. Murrell, Mr. Greve requested this Expedited Hearing and asked
for a decision on the record. Southern did not object. The Court then entered a Docketing
Notice giving the parties time to submit additional evidence or argument.

        Mr. Greve submitted Dr. Murrell’s second deposition and a brief, in which he
argued that Dr. Murrell had now provided an opinion that the need for surgery was greater
than fifty percent related to his work injury. He contended the other medical evidence did
not rebut that opinion by a clear and convincing standard.

       Southern submitted a brief in which it relied on the same medical evidence as before
and reiterating its argument that it rebutted the presumption attached to Dr. Murrell’s
opinion under either a clear and convincing standard or a preponderance standard.

                           Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

      Mr. Greve must prove he likely would prevail at a hearing on the merits that the
work incident caused the need for the surgery. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1).

      At the first Expedited Hearing, the Court found that the result turned on Dr.
Murrell’s insufficient causation opinion. Here, the Court finds Dr. Murrell’s opinion
expressed in his second deposition is sufficient. He testified that the work incident Mr.
Greve described contributed more than fifty percent in causing the need for the
recommended surgery.

2
  Southern objected to Mr. Greve exhibiting Dr. Gardocki’s records to Dr. Murrell’s deposition on grounds
that Dr. Murrell did not rely upon the records in formulating his opinions. Given the basis for its holding,
the Court need not address the objection.

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       However, this finding does not end the inquiry. Unlike at the first hearing, the Court
must now determine if Southern rebutted the presumption of correctness attached to Dr.
Murrell’s opinion under section 50-6-204(a)(1)(H) through the opinions of the other
physicians.

       In so doing, the Court first must determine the standard by which Southern must
rebut the presumption. In Morgan v Macy’s, 2016 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 39, at
*17-18 (Aug. 31, 2016), the Appeals Board held the presumption may be rebutted under
two potential standards. First, if the authorized physician recommended treatment but did
not explicitly follow the ODG Guidelines, then the employer need only rebut the
presumption by a preponderance of the evidence. But, if the authorized physician explicitly
follows the Guidelines, then the employer must rebut the presumption by clear and
convincing evidence.

        Dr. Murrell said his surgical recommendation followed the ODG Guidelines, but he
offered no supporting testimony other than saying surgery was the last resort. The Court
finds that testimony is insufficient to show that Dr. Murrell followed the ODG Guidelines,
and it holds Southern must only rebut the presumption by a preponderance of the evidence.

        Turning to whether Southern did so, it is well-established that a trial judge has the
discretion to determine which testimony to accept when presented with conflicting expert
opinions. Smith v. TrustPoint Hospital, LLC, 2021 TN Wrk Comp App Bd LEXIS 1, at
*20 (Jan. 6, 2021). Thus, the Court must choose which view to believe and is allowed,
among other things, to consider the qualifications of the experts, the circumstances of their
examination, the information available to them, and the evaluation of the importance of
that information by other experts. Id. at *21.

       Applying those factors, the Court finds nothing that elevates the qualifications of
any of the experts over the others.

       As to the circumstances of their evaluations, the Court finds Dr. Murrell had the
most contact with Mr. Greve. “It seems reasonable that the physicians having greater
contact with [an employee] would have the advantage and opportunity to provide a more
in-depth opinion, if not a more accurate one.” Bass v. The Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 2017
TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 36, at *14 (May 26, 2017). Thus, this factor supports Dr.
Murrell’s opinion.

       As to information available, all the physicians had access to the same information,
elevating none of them above the others.

       Regarding the fourth factor, the importance of the information to other physicians,
the Court considers that Dr. Greenberg did not believe the ODG Guidelines supported the
surgery recommendation. Conversely, Dr. Sokoloff agreed Mr. Greve needed surgery but

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disagreed as to why. Notably, his opinion that the aggravation of Mr. Greve’s degenerative
condition by his work was not greater than 51% is an incorrect standard. Dr. Lovell
believed Mr. Greve was not injured and did not need surgery.

        The Court finds this last factor the most important in its analysis. Dr. Murrell was
made aware of all of the other physician’s opinions but maintained he would perform the
surgery if Mr. Greve’s condition remained the same. Moreover, Dr. Murrell saw Mr. Greve
more often, performed more testing, and was the only physician who attached importance
to the fact that Mr. Greve had no problems before the work incident.

        The Appeals Board noted in Smith that a court should consider the above factors,
among “other things.” Tennessee law has long held that the employee’s own assessment of
his physical condition and resulting disability is competent testimony not to be disregarded.
Orrick v. Bestway Trucking, Inc., 184 S.W.3d 211, 217 (Tenn. 2006). Mr. Greve testified
at the first hearing that his problems began when he lifted the iron. This history is consistent
with Dr. Murrell’s opinion, and he pointed out that Southern did not provide any
countervailing history to consider.

       Based on these findings, the Court holds Mr. Greve likely would prevail at trial that
the surgery is medically necessary and causally related to his injury. Because Dr. Murrell
said he would perform surgery if Mr. Greve has the same complaints, the Court orders that
Southern provide a return appointment with Dr. Murrell.

       IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

   1. Southern shall authorize a return appointment with Dr. Murrell. If Dr. Murrell
      believes the surgery remains necessary, Southern shall pay for it.

   2. The Court sets a Status Hearing on Monday, April 25, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. Central
      Time. The parties must call 731-422-5263 or toll-free at 855-543-5038 to
      participate in the Hearing. Failure to call might result in a determination of any issue
      without the party’s participation.

   3. Unless an 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 may result in a penalty assessment for
      non-compliance. For questions regarding compliance, please contact the Workers’
      Compensation Compliance Unit by email at WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov.

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      ENTERED January 31, 2022.

                                        ______________________________________
                                        JUDGE ALLEN PHILLIPS
                                        Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                     APPENDIX

Exhibits
   1. First Deposition of Dr. Samuel Murrell
   2. Deposition of Dr. Laverne Lovell
   3. Medical records of Dr. Bret Sokoloff
   4. Collective medical records of Dr. Lovell, EMG report, Dr. Murrell, Utilization
      Review Denial, and Dr. Sokoloff report
   5. Second Deposition of Dr. Murrell

Technical record
   1. Petition for Benefit Determination
   2. Dispute Certification Notice
   3. Request for Expedited Hearing
   4. Transfer Order
   5. Notice of Expedited Hearing
   6. Employee’s Pre-Hearing Brief
   7. Employer’s Pre-Hearing Brief
   8. Employer’s Exhibit List
   9. Employee’s Exhibit List
   10. Employer’s Additional Exhibit List
   11. Expedited Hearing Order
   12. Second Request for Expedited Hearing
   13. Docketing Notice
   14. Employer’s Objection to Dr. Gardocki’s Records
   15. Employee’s response to Objection
   16. Employer’s Trial Brief for Second Hearing
   17. Employee’s Trial Brief for Second Hearing

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                        CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

  I certify that a copy of this Order was sent as indicated on January 31, 2022.
       Name              Via Email                 Service Sent To:

Jeffrey P. Boyd,             X         jboyd@borenandboyd.com
Employee’s Attorney                    scallison@borenandboyd.com
Meredith Weaver,             X         meredith.weaver@petersonwhite.com
Employer’s Attorney                    beverly.uphoff@petersonwhite.com

                                     ______________________________________
                                     Penny Shrum, Court Clerk
                                     Wc.courtcler@tn.gov

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