Court Opinion

ID: 4559036
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-26 20:59:48.368353+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:46:04.934777
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                    November 20, 2014
                                                                                        T~ COURT OF
                                                                                  WORKERS' C OMPE:'\SATIO:'\
                                                                                         CLAIMS

                                                                                        Time: 7:08AM

                   COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS
                     DIVISION OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION

EMPLOYEE: Robert Lindsey Reno                         DOCKET#: 2014-01-0013
                                                      STATE FILE#: 60650-2014
EMPLOYER: Xtreme Concrete                             DATE OF INJURY: July 28, 2014
Pumping, Inc.

CARRIER: Builders Mut. Ins. Co.

     EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER FOR TEMPORARY PARTIAL DISABILITY
                             BENEFITS

       THIS CAUSE came before the undersigned Workers' Compensation Judge upon the
Request for Expedited Hearing filed by Robert Lindsey Reno (Employee). On October 29,
2014, Employee filed a Request for Expedited Hearing with the Tennessee Court of Workers'
Compensation Claims, Division of Workers' Compensation, pursuant to Tennessee Code
Annotated section 50-6-239(d), to determine if the provision of temporary disability benefits is
appropriate.

        A telephonic Expedited Hearing was conducted by the undersigned Workers'
Compensation Judge on November 6, 2014. Employee was represented by Michael Wagner and
Xtreme Concrete Pumping, Inc. (Employer) was represented by Jenny Ebersole-Foster.
Considering the positions of the parties, the applicable law, the evidence introduced at the
hearing, and the entire record in this claim, this Court hereby finds that Employee is entitled to
temporary partial disability benefits for a portion of the period during which he requested said
benefits.

                                            ANALYSIS

                                              Issue

       Whether Employee performed work after the date of his compensable injury which
disqualifies him from receiving temporary partial disability benefits.

                                      Evidence Submitted

       The following witnesses testified:

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                  •   Employee; and
                  •   Allen Hixson, Employer's owner.

       The following exhibits were admitted into evidence by stipulation:

           •   Exhibit 1-First Report of Injury;
           •   Exhibit 2-Wage Statement;
           •   Exhibit 3-Choice of Physician form designating Dr. Todd Bonvallet as
               authorized treating physician; and
           •   Exhibit 4--Medical Records of Spine Surgery Associates/Dr. Todd Bonvallet and
               Fast Access Healthcare, P.L.L.C. (6 pages).

The parties stipulated that the July 28,2014 work injury arose primarily out of and in the course
and scope of his employment by Employer.

       The Court designated the following as the technical record in this claim:

           •   Petition for Benefit Determination filed September 23, 2014;
           •   Dispute Certification Notice filed October 29, 2014;
           •   Employee's Request for Expedited Hearing filed October 29, 2014;
           •   Employee's Request for Initial Hearing filed October 29, 2014; and
           •   Position statement of Employer dated October 7, 2014.

The Court did not consider attachments to the above filings unless admitted into evidence during
the Expedited Hearing. The Court considered factual statements in the above filings as
allegations unless established by the evidence.

                                        History of Claim

       Employee is employed as a truck driver and concrete worker for Employer. On July 28,
2014, Employee injured his back when he bent over to lift a bucket of concrete slurry from the
bed of Employer's truck. Employer stipulates that Employee sustained a compensable injury to
his back on July 28, 2014.

        Employee received authorized treatment from Fast Access Healthcare (Fast Track), a
walk-in clinic, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Todd Bonvallet. On August 28, 2014, a Physician's
Assistant (PA) at Fast Access placed restrictions on Employee's activities. Dr. Bonvallet later
continued the same restrictions. Other than providing light duty work for a total of two (2) or
three (3) hours, Employer has not offered light duty work which accommodates the restrictions.

       Employer refuses to pay temporary disability benefits because it alleges Employee
performed landscaping work after he sustained the compensable injury of July 28, 2014.
Employee filed a Petition for Benefit Determination seeking temporary partial disability benefits
back to the date of injury.

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                                    Employee's Contentions

         Employee contends that, since the date of injury, his injury has disabled him from
performing physical labor, including the usual work he performed for Employer. He additionally
submits that, except for a single occasion of offering him light duty work for a total of two or
three hours, Employer has not offered work which accommodates the restrictions placed on his
activities by authorized physicians. Employee testified that, since he was injured on July 28,
2014, he has not worked for other employers nor has he earned income in a self-employed
capacity. Employee denies that he performed a landscaping job for an individual named Robert
Hodson. Employee contends that he is entitled to temporary partial disability benefits from July
28, 2014, until he either returns to work or attains maximum medical improvement from his
work injury.

       Employee contends the wages itemized on the Wage Statement (Exhibit 2) do not
represent an accurate statement of the wages Employer paid him during his tenure of
employment. Someone wrote on the Wage Statement stipulated into evidence that Employer
paid Employee net wages totaling $10,022.71. The Court assumed the statement was intended as
Employee's allegation in support of his challenge of the information employer provided in the
Wage Statement.

                                    Employer's Contentions

        Employer contends Employee performed landscaping work for Robert Hodson after the
date he was injured. Employer argues that, since Employee is physically able to perform
landscaping work, he is not disabled to an extent which entitles him to an award of temporary
partial disability benefits under the Tennessee Workers' Compensation Act.

                           Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

                                        Standard Applied

        When determining whether to award benefits, a workers' compensation judge must
decide whether, based on the evidence introduced at the Expedited Hearing, the moving party is
likely to succeed on the merits at the Compensation Hearing. See generally, McCall v. Nat '1
Health Care Corp., 100 S.W.3d 209, 214 (Tenn. 2003). In a workers' compensation action,
Employee shall bear the burden of proving each and every element of the claim by a
preponderance ofthe evidence. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(6).

                                         Factual Findings

        Upon consideration of the testimony of witnesses, the exhibits introduced by the parties,
the argument of the attorneys for the parties, and the entire record in this claim, the Court makes
the following factual findings:

           •   Employee injured his back on July 28, 2014, while lifting a bucket of concrete

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               slurry in the course and scope ofhis employment with Employer;
           •   Other than working two or three hours for which he was paid $25 by Employer,
               Employee has not worked nor earned income from any source since the work
               injury of July 28, 2014;
           •   Since August 28, 2014, the authorized treating providers have restricted
               Employee's activities due to his work injury; and
           •   Employee's average weekly wage is $363.48, resulting in a compensation rate of
               $242.32 per week.

                                     Application ofLaw to Facts

       Tenn. Code Annotated section 50-6-207(2) provides that an injured worker is entitled to
an award of temporary partial disability benefits during the time period in which he is able to
resume some gainful employment in a disabled condition, but has not reached maximum
recovery. The compensation rate for temporary partial disability is sixty-six and two-thirds
percent (66 2/3%) of the difference between the wage ofthe worker at the time ofthe injury and
the wage that the worker is able to earn in his partially disabled condition. Under Tennessee law,
a prima facie case of entitlement to temporary disability benefits is made when an employee
proves: (1) that he is disabled by a compensable injury; (2) that there is a causal connection
between the injury and his inability to work; and (3) the duration of the period of disability.
Simpson v. Satterfield, 564 S.W.2d 953,955 (Tenn. 1978).

        Employee testified that, other than working two (2) or three (3) hours on a single
occasion when Employer offered him light duty, he has not worked nor been physically capable
of working since the July 28, 2014 work injury. Employee denied performing landscaping work
for Robert Hodson. He testified that Mr. Hodson hired his girlfriend, Kathy, to perform a
landscaping job. Employee testified that he accompanied his girlfriend on a single occasion
when she performed stone work at Mr. Hodson's home. He testified that, on this occasion, he sat
either in a chair or in his car and, other than providing instruction, did nothing in furtherance of
the landscaping work. Employee specifically denied lifting any stone.

        Employer's owner, Allen Hixson, testified that, on an occasion prior to July 28, 2014,
Employee told him Mr. Hodson had inquired into the possibility of Employee building a rock
wall at Mr. Hodson's residence. Mr. Hixson stated Employee told him that he intended to look
into the project and it was his understanding that Employee built the wall. He asserted he went
to Mr. Hodson's residence to look at the wall. Mr. Hixson testified that Employee was not at Mr.
Hodson's residence when he looked at the wall. He further admitted that he never observed
Employee working at Mr. Hodson's residence.

        Employee and Mr. Hixson were the only witnesses who testified. Mr. Hixson's
testimony that he did not see Employee perform the work at Mr. Hodson's residence, but
understood he did so, is insufficient to rebut Employee's testimony that he did not perform the
work in question. No evidence was presented that diminished Employee's credibility. The
stipulated medical records support Employee's testimony that his work-related spine injury
limits his capacity to perform work. The same records contain histories of injury which

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corroborate the testimony Employee gave at the hearing. Based on the above-described
testimony and the medical records admitted into evidence, the Court finds at this time that, other
than on the single occasion when Employer paid him $25 for light duty work, Employee is likely
to prevail in his assertion that he has neither performed work nor earned income since he was
injured in the course and scope of his employment on July 28, 2014. See McCall v. Nat'! Health
Care Corp., supra.

        The stipulated medical records indicate that, on August 28, 2014, the PA at Fast Access
placed Employee on restrictions of no lifting, pushing or pulling greater than fifteen (15) pounds
and no bending or squatting. Employer later authorized orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Todd Bonvallet,
to treat Employee. In his New Patient Consult note of September 8, 2014, Dr. Bonvallet, with
the benefit of an MRI, diagnosed Employee with moderate spondylosis and a small central disk
protrusion at the L4-5 level of the spine. Dr. Bonvallet recommended that Employee "continue
previous light duty restrictions if available." When the above-described evidence is combined
with Employee's testimony, the Court is persuaded at this time that Employee is likely to prevail
in his position that he is entitled to an award of temporary partial disability benefits beginning
August 28,2014. See McCall v. Nat'! Health Care Corp., supra.

         The Court is mindful that Employee is seeking temporary partial disability benefits back
to July 28, 2014, the date of injury. Under Tennessee law, the injured worker must prove each
and every element of his case. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(6); Humphrey v. David
Witherspoon, Inc., 734 S.W.2d 315 (Tenn. 1987). The stipulated medical records contain no
evidence that limitations were placed on Employee's activities prior to August 28, 2014. At this
time, there is no medical evidence before the Court establishing that Employee's activities were
restricted, or that he was otherwise disabled by his work injury, from the date of injury until
August 28, 2014. Accordingly, the Court finds at this time that Employee's period of temporary
partial disability began August 29, 2014 and will continue until he returns to work; is released to
return to work without restrictions; or attains maximum medical improvement from the subject
work injury.

        The Court is aware that Employee challenges the average weekly wage documented in
the Wage Statement (Exhibit 2). However, no evidence was introduced at the Expedited Hearing
which rebutted the accuracy ofthe wages documented in the Wage Statement. Accordingly, the
Court finds that Employee's average weekly wage is $363.48 and his compensation rate is
$242.32 per week. Employee testified that Employer paid him $25 for light duty work on an
unspecified date. If Employer paid the above amount after August 28, 2014, Employee is
entitled to temporary partial disability benefits in the amount of $225.66 for the week in which
the wages were paid.

       IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:

   1. Temporary partial disability benefits shall be paid by Employer or its workers
      compensation carrier at the rate of $242.32 per week based on Employee's average
      weekly wage of$363.48.

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    2. Employer or its workers' Compensation carrier shall pay Employee past due temporary
       partial disability benefits in the amount of $2,907.84 for the period from August 28, 2014
       to November 19,2014, a total oftwelve (12) weeks. Ifthe week in which Employer paid
       Employee $25 occurred in the above-described time period, Employer shall pay
       Employee $2,891.18 in past due temporary partial disability benefits.

    3. Employer or its workers' compensation insurance carrier shall continue to pay to
       Employee temporary partial disability benefits in regular intervals until Employee is no
       longer eligible for those benefits by reaching maximum medical improvement; by
       returning to work; or by release without restrictions by the authorized treating physician.
       Employer's representative shall notify the Division, Employee and Employee's counsel,
       if any, in writing immediately by filing Form C-26 of Employer's intent to terminate
       temporary disability benefits, citing the basis for the termination.

    4. This matter is set for Initial Hearing on December 2, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard
       Time.

    5. Unless interlocutory appeal of the Expedited Hearing Order is filed, compliance
       with this Order must occur no later than seven (7) 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    Division    by    email    to
       W     omoliance.P•·ogram@tn.gov no later than the seventh (7th) 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.

   6. For questions regarding compliance, please contact the Workers' Compensation
      Compliance Unit via email W    mpliance.Pr gram@tn.g v or by calling (615) 253-
      1471 or (615) 532-1309.

Initial Hearing:

       An Initial Hearing has been set with Judge Thomas Wyatt, Court of Workers
Compensation Claims, on December 2, 2014, at 1:00 p .m. Eastern Standard Time. You must
call615-741-2051 or toll free at 855-747-1721 to participate in the Initial Hearing.

       Please Note: You must call in on the scheduled date and time to participate. Failure to
call in may result in a determination of the issues without your further participation. All
conferences are set using Eastern Time (ET).

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     ISSUED AND FILED WITH THE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION
CLAIMS ON THE 20TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2014.

                                                            Judge Thomas Wyatt
                                                            Tennessee Court of Workers'
                                                            Compensation Claims
                                                            540 McCallie Avenue, Suite 600
                                                            Chattanooga, TN 37402

Right to Appeal:

    Tennessee Law allows any party who disagrees with this Expedited Hearing Order to appeal
the decision to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. To file a Notice of Appeal, you
must:

   1. Complete the enclosed form entitled: "Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal".

   2. File the completed form with the Court Clerk within seven (7) business days of the date
      the Expedited Hearing Order was entered by the Workers' Compensation Judge.

   3. Serve a copy of the Request for Appeal upon the opposing party.

   4. The parties, having the responsibility of ensuring a complete record on appeal, may
      request from the Court Clerk the audio recording of the hearing for the purpose of having
      a transcript prepared by a licensed court reporter and filing it with the Court Clerk within
      ten (1 0) calendar days of the filing of the Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal.
      Alternatively, the parties may file a statement of the evidence within ten (10) calendar
      days of the filing of the Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal. The statement of the
      evidence must be approved by the Judge before the record is submitted to the Clerk of the
      Appeals Board.

   5. If the appellant elects to file a position statement in support of the interlocutory appeal,
      the appealing party shall file such position statement with the Court Clerk within three (3)
      business days of the filing of the Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal, specifying the
      issues presented for review and including any argument in support thereof. If the
      appellee elects to file a response in opposition to the interlocutory appeal, appellee shall
      do so within three (3) business days ofthe filing of the appellant's position statement.

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                                   CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

         I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the Expedited Hearing Order was sent to
 the following recipients by the following methods of service on this the 20th day of November,
 2014.

Name                   Certified   First   Via   Fax       Via     Email Address
                       Mail        Class   Fax   Number    Email
                                   Mail
Michael Wagner,                                            X       maw@wagnerinjury .com
Atty.
Jenny      Ebersole-                                       X       Jebersole-
Foster, Atty.                                                      foster@morganakins.com

                                                      liOliDlSWiatt
                                                     Workers' Compensation Judge

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