Court Opinion

ID: 4696964
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-06-18 16:11:05.405481+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:05:43.496497
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                               Jun 18, 2021
                                                                                              10:32 PM(CT)
                                                                                           TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                                          WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                                 CLAIMS

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

    LISA MILLSAPS,                                   ) Docket No. 2020-05-0636
             Employee,                               )
    v.                                               )
                                                     )
    LUIS ARELLANO d/b/a/                             ) State File No. 39889-2020
    LOS ALAMOS RESTAURANT                            )
            Uninsured Employer.                      ) Judge Dale Tipps
                                                     )

               EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER GRANTING BENEFITS

        This case came before the Court on June 15, 2021, for a second Expedited Hearing.
The issues this time are whether Ms. Millsaps is entitled to temporary disability benefits
and payment of her medical bills.1 For the reasons below, the Court holds that Ms. Millsaps
is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits that she is entitled to additional temporary
disability benefits. However, she has not shown at this time that she is entitled to payment
of her medical bills.

                                          History of Claim

      The Court previously found Ms. Millsaps is likely to prove at a Compensation
Hearing that she suffered a broken hip while working for Mr. Arellano, the owner of Los
Alamos Restaurant. Therefore, it will not restate the facts underlying that finding.

       In this hearing, Ms. Millsaps provided records that show she was hospitalized after
her accident from May 24 through June 1, 2020. Records from the office of her orthopedic
surgeon, Dr. Bryce Cunningham, show that she had to use a walker after she left the
rehabilitation facility and was unable to return to work as a server while she had to use the
walker. A February 23, 2021 record notes that her fracture appears to be healed, but she
needs a hip replacement operation to address arthritic pain that has worsened since the

1
 The first hearing resulted in an order requiring Mr. Arellano to provide a medical panel and treatment, as
well as a small amount of temporary disability benefits.
                                                    1
accident.2

       Ms. Millsaps testified that she cannot walk without her walker and has not worked
since the accident. She believes she will be unable to return to work until she has the hip
replacement. Ms. Millsaps also reported that Mr. Arellano has not provided the panel or
any medical treatment. She was unable to receive assistance through the Uninsured
Employers Fund for medical care and cannot afford to pay for it herself, so it is unclear
whether she will ever be able to return to work.3

       Mr. Arellano did not appear at the hearing, file any briefs, or submit any evidence.

                             Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

       For the Court to grant Ms. Millsaps’s request, she must prove she is likely to prevail
at a hearing on the merits. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1) (2020); McCord v.
Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-8, 9 (Mar.
27, 2015). The Court previously held that Ms. Millsaps appears likely to prove a
compensable injury. Therefore, the question is whether she has shown she is entitled to
the additional requested benefits.

                                   Payment of Medical Bills

        Ms. Millsaps requested payment of several newly submitted medical bills.
However, even though the bills were admitted into evidence, she still must prove that any
treatment not authorized by the employer is reasonable and medically necessary.
McClendon v. Food Lion, LLC, 2014 Tenn. LEXIS 518, at *8 (Tenn. Workers’ Comp.
Panel July 11, 2014). The Court cannot order payment of those bills at this time because
it has no expert proof of the reasonableness and necessity of her treatment. This does not
prevent Ms. Millsaps from presenting the requisite proof at a later hearing.

                                Temporary Disability Benefits

        Ms. Millsaps also requested temporary disability benefits. To receive temporary
total disability benefits, she must prove (1) she became disabled from working due to a
compensable injury; (2) a causal connection between her injury and her inability to work;
and (3) her period of disability. For temporary partial disability benefits, Ms. Millsaps
must show that her treating physician returned her to work with restrictions that Mr.
Arellano either could not or would not accommodate. See Jones v. Crencor Leasing and
Sales, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 48, at *7, 8 (Dec. 11, 2015).

2
  The orthopedic notes were generated by a physician assistant, but Ms. Millsaps testified that Dr.
Cunningham confirmed these findings and recommendations with her.
3
  The Uninsured Employers Fund decisions are discretionary. See Tenn. Code Ann.§ 50-6-802 (e)(1).
                                                2
       Ms. Millsaps was in the hospital and rehabilitation facility for several days after the
accident and was unable to work at that time. Therefore, she appears likely to prove
entitlement to temporary total disability benefits for that period.

       Once Ms. Millsaps left those facilities, Dr. Cunningham noted that, as long as she
needed to use a walker, she was unable to work as a server. It appears Mr. Arellano would
not or could not accommodate these restrictions, so Ms. Millsaps is likely to prevail on her
claim for temporary partial disability benefits. The question then is, what is the extent of
this period of disability?

       Ms. Millsaps was still using the walker when she went to Dr. Cunningham’s office
on February 23. Therefore, the Court finds she is entitled to temporary partial disability
benefits through that date. Thus, the total disability period is 276 days, minus the two days
of temporary total disability awarded in the previous Expedited Hearing Order. At Ms.
Millsaps’s compensation rate of $193.33, 274 days of benefits is $7,567.49.

        It is possible that Ms. Millsaps might be entitled to temporary disability benefits for
the period since February 23. However, the record from that date says that her fracture
appears to be healed, and it appears that the need for her hip replacement is related to
arthritic pain. To be entitled to temporary disability for her current complaints, Ms.
Millsaps must present medical proof showing an “aggravation of a preexisting disease,
condition, or ailment” that constitutes an “injury” as defined in Tennessee Code Annotated
section 50-6-102(14)(A). As the medical proof presented to date does not address this
question, the Court cannot order additional temporary disability benefits at this time.

       Finally, because Mr. Arellano was uninsured, the Court considers whether Ms.
Millsaps is eligible to apply for benefits from the Bureau’s Uninsured Employer’s Fund.
Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-802(e)(1), the Bureau has discretion to pay
limited benefits to Ms. Millsaps if she proves the following:

        1) She worked for an employer who failed to carry workers’ compensation
insurance;
        2) She suffered an injury arising primarily in the course and scope of employment
on or after July 1, 2015;
        3) She was a Tennessee resident on the date of injury;
        4) She provided notice to the Bureau of the injury and of the failure of the employer
to secure the payment of compensation within a reasonable period of time, but in no event
more than sixty days after the date of the injury.

       The Court finds that Ms. Millsaps worked for an uninsured employer, Luis Arellano,
and that she is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits that she suffered an injury arising
primarily from employment on May 23, 2020. She was a Tennessee resident on that date,

                                               3
and she provided notice to the Bureau of her injury and Mr. Arellano’s lack of insurance
within sixty days. Therefore, Ms. Millsaps satisfied all the requirements of section 50-6-
802(e)(1). She may complete the enclosed form for consideration of a discretionary
payment through the Uninsured Employers Fund.

                                         Penalty

       As noted above, Mr. Arellano has not provided a panel of physicians and medical
treatment. For this blatant failure to comply with the Court’s February 4, 2021 Order, the
Court refers this case to the Compliance Program for investigation and assessment of a
civil penalty. Upon its issuance, a copy of this Order will be sent to the Compliance
Program. See Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-02-24-.03.

IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:

   1. Mr. Arellano shall provide Ms. Millsaps with a panel of physicians and medical
      treatment made reasonably necessary by her May 23, 2020 injury under Tennessee
      Code Annotated section 50-6-204.

   2. Mr. Arellano shall pay Ms. Millsaps temporary disability benefits in the amount of
      $7,567.49.

   3. Ms. Millsaps satisfied the requirements of Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-
      6-802(e)(1) and thus is eligible to request temporary disability and medical benefits
      from the Uninsured Employers Fund at the Administrator’s discretion. To do so,
      she must complete and file the attached form.

   4. This case is set for a Status Hearing on September 1, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Please 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.

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

                                            4
      ENTERED June 18, 2021.

                                  _____________________________________
                                  Judge Dale Tipps
                                  Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

                                       APPENDIX

Exhibits:
   1. Affidavit of Lisa Millsaps
   2. Medical Record and Bills
   3. Exhibits admitted in the January 26, 2021 Expedited Hearing

Technical record:
   1. Petition for Benefit Determination
   2. Dispute Certification Notice
   3. Request for Expedited Hearing

                            CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

       I certify that a copy of the Expedited Hearing Order was sent as indicated on June
18, 2021.

  Name                     Certified       Email   Service sent to:
                           Mail
  Lisa Millsaps                            X       Lisamillsaps83@gmail.com
  Luis Arellano                            X       louivalentino@gmail.com
  Amanda Terry                             X       Amanda.Terry@tn.gov
  LaShawn Pender                           X       lashawn.pender@tn.gov
  Compliance Program                       X       WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov

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

                                               5
                                              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