Court Opinion

ID: 9963380
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-25 14:01:27.182401+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:24:47.924796
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                 Apr 25, 2024
                                                                                 08:48 AM(CT)
                                                                              TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                             WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                    CLAIMS

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

 KENNETH M. JONES,                                   )        Docket No.: 2022-08-1014
         Employee,                                   )
 v.                                                  )
 VALERO MEMPHIS REFINERY,                            )
         Employer,                                   )        State File No.: 15005-2022
 And                                                 )
 ACE AMERICAN INS. CO.,                              )
          Carrier.                                   )
                                                     )        Judge Shaterra R. Marion

              EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER GRANTING BENEFITS
                               IN PART

       The Court held an expedited hearing on April 18, 2024, on Mr. Jones’s request for
medical benefits for his wrist and hand injury. He also requested temporary disability
benefits despite the fact he has not missed work due to his alleged injury. Valero argued
that Mr. Jones received all treatment that the law affords for his injury.

       Upon consideration of the evidence and the positions of the parties, the Court grants
Mr. Jones’s request to return to the doctor but denies his request for temporary disability
benefits.

                                    History of Claim

       Mr. Jones alleged he injured his wrists and hands when he fell at work on May 16,
2021. After the injury, he stopped doing any sort of outside or physical work. However, a
few months after the injury, when picking up bags at home, he testified that he felt
symptoms in his hands. He knew then that he had a problem stemming from his work-
related injury.

       Mr. Jones requested medical treatment, and Valero provided a panel from which he
selected Dr. Christian Fahey. Dr. Fahey ordered x-rays that showed no objective evidence

                                             1
of injury. He diagnosed a hand and wrist contusion and recommended home exercises. He
also placed Mr. Jones at maximum medical improvement in February 2022 and noted that
he could return “PRN.”

      Mr. Jones testified he then saw a Dr. Weller on his own. 1 He stated Dr. Weller
performed two injections and ordered an MRI.

      Mr. Jones also testified that Dr. Weller referred him back to Dr. Fahey, but Valero
would not authorize the visit. According to Mr. Jones, he still experiences pain in his hands
and wrists.

      Dr. Fahey testified that he has not seen Mr. Jones since releasing him and does not
have any additional treatment to offer him. Further, he does not anticipate Mr. Jones
needing any future medical care. Therefore, Valero argued that Mr. Jones received all the
medical benefits he is entitled for his work injury.

        As to temporary disability benefits, Mr. Jones testified that he did not miss work
after his injury.

                             Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

       Mr. Jones has the burden of proving he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits
on his claim for medical and temporary benefits for an alleged wrist and hand injury. Tenn.
Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(6) (2023); McCord v. Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN
Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-8, 9 (Mar. 27, 2015).

       On the issue of medical benefits, Valero argued that Mr. Jones did not establish
entitlement to additional treatment because Dr. Fahey testified he had nothing more to offer
him. In other words, Valero seeks a ruling that Mr. Jones has no further right to medical
benefits.

        By law, parties may settle the issue of future medical benefits if a judge reviews and
approves the settlement. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-240(d). But “[u]nless a court terminates
an employee’s entitlement to medical benefits or approves a settlement in which the parties
reach a compromise on the issue of future medical benefits, an injured worker remains
entitled to reasonable and necessary medical treatment causally-related to the work injury.”
Limberakis v. Pro-Tech Sec., Inc., 2017 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 53, at *7 (Sept.
12, 2017). This is especially true for interlocutory hearings and where the employer
accepted the claim as compensable. Id. at *9.

1
    The parties did not submit Dr. Weller’s records into evidence.
                                                       2
       Here, the Court has not terminated Mr. Jones’s benefits by approval of a settlement
between the parties. Further, this hearing seeks interlocutory relief. Although Dr. Fahey
stated that he has no additional treatment to offer Mr. Jones, his opinions are based on
diagnostic testing and an examination dating back two years. Mr. Jones credibly testified
that he has continuing pain from his work injury. “An employee’s assessment as to his or
her own physical condition is competent testimony that is not to be disregarded.” Id. at *6.

        Therefore, Mr. Jones showed that he will likely prevail at trial is establishing his
entitlement to reasonable and necessary medical treatment causally related to his work
injury, which includes a return visit to his authorized treating physician, Dr. Fahey.

       Turning now to Mr. Jones’s claim to temporary disability benefits, the Appeals
Board laid out the requirements for eligibility for these benefits in Jones v. Crencor Leasing
and Sales, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 48, at *7 (Dec. 11, 2015). One of those
requirements is that the employee show “the duration of the period of disability.” Id.

       Here, Mr. Jones testified he did not miss any time from work. Thus, he is not eligible
for temporary disability benefits.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED as follows:

   1. Mr. Jones’s request for a return visit to Dr. Fahey is granted.

   2. Mr. Jones’s request for temporary disability benefits is denied.

   3. The Court sets a status conference for June 25, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Central Time.
      The parties must call (866) 943-0014 to participate. Failure to call might result in a
      determination of the issues without the party’s participation.

   4. 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
      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 confirmation within seven business days
      may result in a penalty assessment for non-compliance. For questions as to
      compliance, contact the Workers’ Compensation Compliance Unit by email at
      WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov.

                                              3
ENTERED April 25, 2024.

                                 ________________________________________
                                 Judge Shaterra R. Marion
                                 Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                     APPENDIX
Exhibits:
   1. Deposition of Dr. Christian Fahey, with exhibits
   2. Wage Statement
   3. Choice of Physician Form
   4. First Report of Injury
   5. Referral to hand physical therapy

Marked for Identification Only:
  6. Single page medical record without physician signature
  7. Fit for duty evaluation

Technical Record:
   1. Petition for Benefit Determination
   2. Dispute Certification Notice
   3. First Request for Expedited Hearing, with affidavit
   4. Second Request for Expedited Hearing, with affidavit
   5. Jan. 23, 2024, Status Order
   6. Employer Witness and Exhibit List
   7. Employer Response to Hearing on the Record
   8. April 10, 2024, Status Order

                                           4
                             CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

       I certify that a copy of this Order was sent as indicated on April 25, 2024.

Name                      Regular     Email Sent to
                          Mail
Kenneth Jones,               X          X        6639 Olivia Forest Road
Employee                                         Memphis, TN 38141
                                                 kmjoneschamp@gmail.com
Donna Wilkerson,                        X        dwilkerson@wimberlylawson.com
Employer’s Attorney                              bcopeland@wimberlylawson.com

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

                                             5
                                          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