Court Opinion

ID: 9941710
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-16 19:39:32.385204+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:46:57.517620
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                Feb 16, 2024
                                                                                01:16 PM(CT)
                                                                            TENNESSEE COURT OF
                                                                           WORKERS' COMPENSATION
                                                                                  CLAIMS

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

  William Tucker,                               )   Docket No. 2023-06-01704
               Employee,                        )
  v.                                            )
  LU, Inc.,                                     )   State File No. 44728-2022
               Employer,                        )
  And                                           )
  Bridgefield Cas. Ins. Co.,                    )   Judge Kenneth M. Switzer
                Carrier.                        )

              EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER GRANTING BENEFITS

       In this multi-faceted case, William Tucker asked that the Court order his employer,
LU, Inc., to pay temporary disability benefits after unauthorized neck surgery. He also
asked that the Court designate the surgeon who performed the procedure, Dr. Margaret
MacGregor, as the authorized treating physician for future treatment.

       LU opposed his requests, asserting that the surgery was neither work-related nor
medically necessary. But its central contention was that Mr. Tucker was not referred to
Dr. MacGregor by another treating physician, so she should not be named the authorized
treating physician.

       After a February 6, 2024 expedited hearing, the Court holds that the surgery was
work-related and reasonably necessary, so Mr. Tucker is entitled to temporary disability
benefits after the procedure. In addition, a valid referral was made, and Dr. MacGregor is
the authorized treating physician.

                                     Claim History

                          The work incident and lay testimony

       Before the work injury, Mr. Tucker underwent an anterior cervical discectomy and
fusion, or “ACDF,” performed by Dr. MacGregor in October 2021. The doctor implanted

                                            1
hardware during the procedure. By January 2022, Mr. Tucker returned to full-time, full-
duty work at LU. He testified that he had no neck pain when he returned to work.

        On June 24, 2022, Mr. Tucker was unloading a truck at work when he lost his
footing and fell, injuring his neck, back, and ribs. LU offered a panel, and Mr. Tucker
started authorized treatment at a clinic. He treated conservatively until late August. At his
final visit, he was referred for specialized treatment.

       LU offered several panels, one of which included Dr. Daniel Burval. At some point,
Mr. Tucker asked the adjuster to see Dr. MacGregor but saw Dr. Burval instead. Although
Mr. Tucker never returned a signed panel memorializing that choice, he saw Dr. Burval
once before returning to Dr. MacGregor, believing he had a referral. Mr. Tucker denied
that he requested to see Dr. MacGregor and maintained Dr. Burval referred him.

       Dr. MacGregor ultimately performed another fusion surgery in November 2023.

        Mr. Tucker testified that he worked without difficulty before the fall. Afterward,
he felt pain in his neck and other body parts. He continued working despite those
symptoms, saying, “I did the best I can at work.” Mr. Tucker also testified that he had
trouble sleeping and “couldn’t do a lot at home like I usually do.” His symptoms improved
after the second surgery, although he still experiences occasional, sharp pain in his neck
and arms, and he remains treating with Dr. MacGregor. He has not worked since the
surgery.

                         Post-fall specialist treatment/evaluation

        At Mr. Tucker’s first visit with Dr. Burval in September 2022, Mr. Tucker told him
about the previous surgery with Dr. MacGregor and his work accident. Dr. Burval took x-
rays and noticed “a little bit of back out of 1 of the caudal screws” from the 2021 surgery.
He did not have previous x-rays, however, for comparison. Dr. Burval did not recommend
surgery. He wrote, “I will contact Worker’s Comp to see that he can be seen by his treating
surgeon[.]” Dr. Burval noted that Dr. MacGregor should compare past and current
diagnostic test results “to see if there is [sic] any anatomical changes. He concluded that
he “highly recommended evaluation and treatment by treating spine surgeon. I wish him
all the best.” (Emphasis added).

       At Mr. Tucker’s first post-injury visit with Dr. MacGregor, which LU authorized,
she compared x-rays taken after his fall with his pre-injury x-rays and noticed changes to
his hardware. Dr. MacGregor wrote:

       I reviewed his cervical spine x-rays that were completed at TOA [after the
       fall], and compared those to his last images performed at the hospital as part
       of routine follow up after his ACDF. He has a clear change in position of his

                                             2
       hardware, with some backing out of one of his screws, and fracture through
       his fusion mass at both levels, and his plate is anteriorly displaced when
       compared with imaging performed previously, now evident also subtle
       listhesis at C45 and C56.

        Later that month, a claims adjuster sent Dr. MacGregor a letter asking several
detailed causation questions, and Dr. MacGregor’s responded that she “agreed” that the
fall at work was the cause of his neck pain and changes to his hardware. She further agreed
that “the neck pain with left arm pain Mr. Tucker is experiencing is due to the backing out
of the caudal screw.” Dr. MacGregor disagreed that Mr. Tucker’s condition was “at least
50% related to pre-existing issues,” noting that “patient [was] without complaints and
working fulltime fullduty [sic] at time of injury.”

       After a CT scan in January 2023, Mr. Tucker returned to Dr. MacGregor with
worsening neck pain, and Dr. MacGregor recommended surgery. She noted that she
disagreed with a radiologist’s interpretation of CT images and wrote that Mr. Tucker had
“hardware failure after a work related injury, and has developed progressive change in
position of his hardware from his pre-fall (i.e. pre work -related injury) postopimaging.”

       LU requested utilization review, and the reviewing physician concluded that the
surgery was not necessary. Mr. Tucker appealed to the Bureau’s medical directors, who
upheld the denial. They wrote that Dr. MacGregor should confer with the radiologist to
discuss the CT scan results and issue a joint amended report, followed by a new treatment
plan.

       After the utilization review in April, Dr. MacGregor wrote a letter stating that after
the original ACDF in 2021, Mr. Tucker sustained a new injury while working in June 2022.
X-rays after the fall showed “a definite change in the position of the hardware. There is
greater than 50% certainty that this is due to the work injury[.]”

       Around that same time, Mr. Tucker asked LU to authorize another visit with Dr.
MacGregor, so she could follow the medical directors’ instructions. LU declined. It
asserted that Dr. Burval was the authorized treating physician, and Mr. Tucker should
return to him instead.

       Mr. Tucker complied and saw Dr. Burval in May, who also reviewed the CT images
from January and noticed the hardware changes. He wrote that the CT showed “the LEFT
C-6 screw is loose (lucency) with collapse through the endplate into the C6-7 spondylotic
disc space. The RIGHT C6 screw is backed out about 2 mm but has not penetrated the
endplate or disc space. The 5-6 cage is pushed down into the C6 endplate consistent with
endplate collapse.”

                                             3
        Dr. Burval also questioned his further involvement in the case, and he gave an
opinion on causation and the need for surgery. He wrote that he did not know why the
“original spine surgeon” was not allowed to treat Mr. Tucker, and he planned to request
digital copies of x-rays taken after the fall to verify if changes in his spine occurred after
the work incident. He concluded, “Once these pre-fall x-rays are confirmed to be his, it
will be with a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the implant/hardware
failure/loosening was more than 50% related to the reported work related fall in [June]
2022 and a revision of his C4-6 anterior instrumentation and fusing C6-7 is medically
sound and indicated.” (Emphasis in original). On a WorkLink Physician Report, Dr.
Burval wrote, “Patient must follow up with Dr. MacGregor as his treating physician.” The
report also stated that Mr. Tucker may return as needed and “[n]o follow up [appointment]
required.”

       Mr. Tucker’s attorney sent a letter to Dr. Burval in June clarifying if he made a
referral for Mr. Tucker to see Dr. MacGregor as his treating physician for the work-related
June 2022 accident. He responded “yes” and explained that “[p]ost 6/24/22 x-rays show
hardware collapse[.]”

       Counsel forwarded the letter to LU’s attorney in July, who responded by sending a
panel of specialists that did not include Dr. MacGregor. Mr. Tucker declined to select a
physician from the list.

      Around that same time, Mr. Tucker’s attorney sent a letter requesting Dr.
MacGregor’s opinions on causation and the proposed surgery. Counsel asked, “Is it your
opinion within a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the neck surgery you
recommended for Mr. Tucker is medically necessary and 51% or more related to his work
accident on June 24, 2022 while employed with LU, Inc.?” Dr. MacGregor checked “yes.”

       In late July, Mr. Tucker attended an employer’s examination with Dr. Douglas
Mathews, who concluded that his condition did not relate to the fall and that surgery was
unnecessary. Rather, he attributed his symptoms to Mr. Tucker’s preexisting condition.
He acknowledged loosening and backout of the C6 screw, but it “caused an exacerbation
of a pre-existing condition and not an aggravation.” Specifically, Dr. Mathews wrote: “To
a reasonable degree of medical certainty, Mr. Tucker’s 06/24/2022 injury caused an
exacerbation of his history of chronic cervicalgia and non-verifiable cervical radicular
complaints. Therefore, his current cervical spine condition, which does not require surgical
intervention, is less than 50% related to his 06/24/2022 work injury.”

       In August, Mr. Tucker requested an evidentiary hearing seeking an order that LU
authorize surgery. The parties deposed Drs. MacGregor and Mathews in preparation for
the hearing.

                                              4
         Dr. MacGregor testified that her opinions had not changed regarding causation and
the necessity of surgery since the June letter. She stated: “[I]t’s more likely than not . . .
51 percent or greater, that his condition was caused by the fall. I would say that absent the
fall, I would not have expected this condition of his cervical spine.”

      As for Dr. Mathews, his opinions were somewhat inconsistent.                  On direct
examination, he testified as follows:

       Q: Would you agree or disagree that if Mr. Tucker would need surgery in the
       future, that that need for surgery was not caused by the June 24th, 2022,
       injury?

       A: I agree. I think it’s way more likely than not that it would not. Is it
       possible that the screw could back out further? It could, but it’s not likely to.
       And that would be an indication. If there’s motion of—further migration of
       the screw, then that would be an indication for surgery. And that would be
       related to the injury.

       On redirect, Dr. Mathews agreed that Mr. Tucker’s current need for medical
treatment was “primarily due to the pre-existing condition of his spine.” He added that, in
the “rare circumstance” that the screw migrated further, that would be a consideration for
surgery.

       The parties did not depose Dr. Burval, but they sent him another letter seeking his
opinions. He disagreed that his recommendation to return to Dr. MacGregor related to
spine treatment occurring before the work injury, noting “[p]t has collapsed hardware after
6/24/2022 fall.” He wrote that he was not declining to treat Mr. Tucker.

       Mr. Tucker sought emergency treatment in late October. He underwent further
diagnostic testing, which revealed “[q]uestioned loosening of the right C6 screw which was
not definitely present on prior CT or radiographs.” Dr. MacGregor wrote a few days later,
“[S]crew position on 10/30 chest x-ray has changed position/unscrewed since last images.”

       On November 8, the morning of the date of the scheduled expedited hearing, Mr.
Tucker’s counsel notified the Court that Dr. MacGregor had recommended emergency
surgery, so the hearing was continued. That same day she performed a second ACDF,
finding that the right C6 screw was not engaged in the plate any longer and was protruding
a distance of over eight millimeters.

       After the surgery in January 2024, Mr. Tucker’s attorney sent another letter to Dr.
MacGregor seeking her opinions on causation and the necessity of the ACDF. Counsel
asked whether it was her opinion within a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the
surgery she performed on November 8, 2023, was medically necessary and 51% or more

                                              5
related to his work accident. Dr. MacGregor responded “yes.” Counsel additionally asked
whether Mr. Tucker was taken off work or given restrictions since the surgery. Dr.
MacGregor checked “off work.”

                       Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

        Mr. Tucker must prove a likelihood of prevailing at a hearing on the merits that he
is entitled to the requested benefits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1) (2023); McCord v.
Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-8, 9 (Mar.
27, 2015).

                                        The surgery

       The threshold question is whether Mr. Tucker’s neck condition and need for
treatment are related to the work incident, as Dr. MacGregor and Dr. Burval believe, or
preexisting chronic cervicalgia and non-verifiable cervical radicular complaints, as Dr.
Mathews believes.

        Section 50-6-102(12) defines an “injury” as one that “arises primarily out of and in
the course and scope of employment,” resulting in “disablement or the need for medical
treatment.” Further, an employee must show “to a reasonable degree of medical certainty
that [the work incident] contributed more than fifty percent (50%) in causing the . . .
disablement or need for medical treatment, considering all causes.” “Shown to a
reasonable degree of medical certainty” means that, in the opinion of the treating physician,
it is more likely than not considering all causes as opposed to speculation or possibility.
Id. at -102(12)(A)-(D). Moreover, section 50-6-204 requires an employer to furnish
reasonable and necessary treatment for all conditions that fall within the above definition
of “injury.”

      Here, three well-qualified specialists have seen Mr. Tucker, examined him, and
considered diagnostic test results from before and after the fall at work.

      But of all of them, Dr. MacGregor’s opinion, mirrored by Dr. Burval’s, is the most
persuasive regarding causation for several reasons.

         First, Dr. MacGregor followed Mr. Tucker’s progress for three months after the
initial surgery in 2021. She saw him twice after the work accident before the second ACDF
and has seen Mr. Tucker once afterward. Longstanding Tennessee case law states, “It
seems reasonable that the physicians having greater contact with the Plaintiff would have
the advantage and opportunity to provide a more in-depth opinion, if not a more accurate
one.” Orman v. Williams Sonoma, Inc., 803 S.W.2d 672, 677 (Tenn. 1991).

                                             6
       Second, Dr. MacGregor reviewed the chest x-ray taken immediately before the
emergency surgery; Dr. Mathews did not. While performing the surgery, she directly
observed the condition of his hardware, documenting that the screw had migrated
substantially. Where a physician had the benefit of seeing the employee’s condition,
confirming pre-operative diagnoses, and that doctor had followed the employee as a patient
and saw a lack of progress with conservative care firsthand, the trial court correctly
accepted that physician’s testimony as to medical necessity and the primary cause of the
need for additional surgery. Smith v. Trustpoint Hosp., LLC, 2021 TN Wrk. Comp. App.
Bd. LEXIS 1, at *21 (Jan. 6, 2021).

        Third, Dr. MacGregor expressed her opinion repeatedly and with great certainty.
She first believed that Mr. Tucker’s condition was caused by the fall at the November 2022
visit and has staunchly maintained that position since. At her deposition, she explained her
disagreement with almost every one of Dr. Mathews’s enumerated conclusions. She did
not waver on her position despite vigorous cross-examination. She repeated that opinion
in her response to the January 2024 causation letter. This is the most recent of all of the
opinions given in this case.

        Fourth, Dr. Burval backed her initial conclusion at the May 2023 visit. He noted,
“[I]t will be with a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the implant/hardware
failure/loosening was more than 50% related to the reported work related fall in [June]
2022[.]” He repeated this in the September 2023 causation letter. Dr. Burval also had the
advantage of seeing Mr. Tucker twice for treatment.

       Dr. Mathews wrote a detailed report and thoroughly explained how he reached his
conclusions during his deposition.      Occasionally his testimony was somewhat
contradictory, however. And it bears repeating that he saw Mr. Tucker once, for
approximately one hour, and for purposes of an examination, while the other doctors saw
him more often and for treatment.

       Weighing all of the above, the Court finds that Drs. MacGregor and Burval gave the
more plausible explanation—that the June 2022 fall at work was the primary cause for Mr.
Tucker’s need for surgery. He is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits that the surgery
was related to the fall at work.

        As for medical necessity, again, Dr. MacGregor frequently said the surgery was
warranted. Dr. Burval echoed this at Mr. Tucker’s last visit with him, writing that “a
revision of his C4-6 anterior instrumentation and fusing C6-7 is medically sound and
indicated.” Mr. Tucker, for his part, credibly testified to disabling neck pain before the
second procedure that improved afterward. “The Supreme Court has consistently held that
an employee’s assessment as to his or her own physical condition is competent testimony
that is not to be disregarded.” Limberakis v. Pro-Tech Sec., Inc., 2017 TN Wrk. Comp.
App. Bd. LEXIS 53, at *7 (Sept. 12, 2017).

                                              7
       Four experts disagreed on the surgery’s medical necessity. But even Dr. Mathews
acknowledged that in the “rare circumstance” that the screw migrated further, that would
be a consideration for surgery. And although the utilization review doctor and the medical
directors disputed the medical necessity of the proposed surgery, again, they based their
opinions on record reviews only that were very early in the process and without information
about the substantial movement of the questioned screw. Dr. MacGregor actually observed
the movement of the screw during the procedure. Thus, the Court similarly finds that the
surgery was medically necessary and reasonable to treat Mr. Tucker's work-related
condition. He is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits on this issue, too.

                                           Benefits

        Given the previous rulings, the question becomes to which benefits Mr. Tucker is
entitled.

       First, he seeks temporary total disability benefits beginning after the November 8
2023 surgery. To qualify for temporary total disability benefits, “an employee must
establish: (1) that he or she became disabled from working due to a compensable injury;
(2) that there is a causal connection between the injury and the inability to work; and (3)
the duration of the period of disability.” Smith, at *21-22.

       Applying this framework, the Court finds that Mr. Tucker became disabled from
work due to the need for treatment—surgery—caused primarily by the fall at work. The
treatment is causally connected to his inability to work. Dr. MacGregor wrote in a January
2024 letter that she took Mr. Tucker off work after the November 8 procedure. He remains
off work. The Court finds he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits that he is entitled
to these benefits.

      Therefore, the Court holds that LU must pay temporary total disability of
$13,698.12, from November 8 through the date of the expedited hearing. In addition, LU
must pay weekly benefits in the amount of $1,065.41 until Mr. Tucker “reaches [maximum
medical improvement] or is able to return to work.” Smith, at *22.

       The more difficult question deals with medical benefits; which doctor should
continue to provide authorized treatment?

       Mr. Tucker argued that Dr. MacGregor became his authorized physician as early as
October 2023, when Dr. Burval referred him to Dr. MacGregor. Mr. Tucker contended
that Dr. Burval made two later direct referrals as well, in May and June 2023. LU
disagreed, maintaining that no referral was made, so Dr. Burval remains the authorized
treating physician.

                                               8
       Section 50-6-204(a)(3)(A)(ii) states, “When necessary, the treating physician
selected in accordance with this subdivision (a)(3)(A) shall make referrals to a specialist
physician, surgeon, or chiropractor.”

       LU argued that the phrase “when necessary” means that “not all referrals transfer
ATP status, only necessary referrals.” According to LU, because Dr. Burval remained
willing to treat Mr. Tucker, this referral was not “necessary.” It cited Ledford v. Mid-
Georgia Courier, Inc., 2018 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 28 (June 4, 2018).

       LU’s reliance is misplaced. In Ledford, an authorized treating physician similarly
did not use the words “refer” or “referral” in the medical records. Among the doctor’s
observations were that he “felt he had nothing further to offer,” and a “second opinion”
physician would, “if appropriate, have the option to assume Employee’s care.” Id. at *7.
In ruling that he made a referral, the Board did not conclude that an authorized treating
physician must have no additional treatment to offer for a valid referral to be made, as LU
suggests. Rather, the Board simply held, in a memorandum opinion, that under those
particular circumstances, the authorized physician made a referral, considering the doctor’s
statements as a whole to discern his intention—to transfer care. Notably, the Board did not
examine the meaning of the phrase “when necessary” in its discussion.

       In the alternative, LU contended that no referral took place because Dr. Burval did
not intend to refer Mr. Tucker for “treatment” but merely for Dr. MacGregor to compare
past and current diagnostic test results “to see if there is [sic] any anatomical changes.”

       The plain language of section 50-6-204(a)(3)(A)(ii) does not state that a referral
must be made for “treatment.” LU argued that Tapley v. National Transport, 2017 TN
Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 64 (Oct. 19, 2017) stands for this proposition. In Tapley, the
Board concluded that when an authorized treating physician recommended a “consult” with
another physician to confirm his diagnosis, “he did not intend, as of that date, to end active
treatment or transfer Employee's care to another physician.” Therefore, no referral was
made under subsection 204(a)(3)(A)(ii). Id. at *7-8. As in Ledford, the Board looked to
the authorized doctor’s intentions and considered his statements as a whole. The Board
did not hold that a referral must be made for “treatment.”

      But even if the Board had reached that conclusion, Mr. Tucker pointed out that Dr.
Burval also wrote: “I will contact Worker’s Comp to see that he can be seen by his treating
surgeon[,]” and he “highly recommended evaluation and treatment by treating spine
surgeon. I wish him all the best.” (Emphasis added).

       The Court agrees that these statements are compelling proof of Dr. Burval’s intent.
He specifically called for “evaluation and treatment” by Dr. MacGregor and concluded
with well wishes—words typically expressed when parting company, i.e. ending his
treatment. In sum, the entirety of this record suggests that Dr. Burval intended to transfer

                                              9
Mr. Tucker’s care in October 2022. He made a direct referral to another specialist as
contemplated by the statute at that time.

       LU apparently agreed, albeit briefly, since it authorized a visit with Dr. MacGregor
in November. Notably, it was not until she recommended surgery that LU started to
question whether a valid referral took place and if she was the authorized treating
physician.

       On LU’s insistence that she was not the authorized physician, Mr. Tucker returned
to Dr. Burval in May 2023. At that visit Dr. Burval questioned why the carrier had not
permitted further treatment with Dr. MacGregor. He also wrote on a WorkLink Physician
Report, “Patient must follow up with Dr. MacGregor as his treating physician.” His
meaning is unequivocal.

       Presumably to allay any lingering doubts, in June Mr. Tucker sent Dr. Burval a letter
asking about his intentions, which he made crystal clear in his response. Mr. Tucker’s
attorney asked if he made a referral for Mr. Tucker to see Dr. MacGregor as his treating
physician; he responded “yes.”

       LU argued that it did not receive a copy of his response to this letter until mid-July,
and upon its receipt, it offered a panel within two days—therefore, it complied with the
law. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-204(a)(3)(A)(ii) (employer is deemed to have accepted
a direct referral, unless within three business days it provides the employee a panel of three
specialists).

       This argument is disingenuous. As discussed above, LU knew or should have
known from the entirety of Dr. Burval’s records in October and May that he made a direct
referral to Dr. MacGregor. This panel was too late, and Mr. Tucker was not obligated to
choose a specialist from it.

        The Court is also unpersuaded by LU’s assertion that Mr. Tucker asked Dr. Burval
to refer him to Dr. MacGregor and that Dr. Burval did so to “appease” him. Mr. Tucker
testified, without contradiction, that he did not ask that of Dr. Burval, merely the adjuster.
But even if Mr. Tucker had asked Dr. Burval to return him to Dr. MacGregor, it strains
credulity to assert that the doctor would do so without exercising his independent medical
judgment to make the referral. Importantly, LU cited no case law to support this argument.

       Rather, the Court deems LU to have accepted Dr. Burval’s direct referral to Dr.
MacGregor from its inaction in both October 2022 and May 2023. Therefore, the Court
finds that Mr. Tucker has satisfied his burden and is likely to prevail at a hearing on the
merits that Dr. Burval referred him to Dr. MacGregor. The Court designates her as the
authorized treating physician for future treatment.

                                             10
        As to the remaining matters, the parties argued extensively about who is responsible
for payment of the surgery. Mr. Tucker submitted bills for past unauthorized treatment
with Dr. MacGregor. However, they were not admitted into evidence. See Eaves v.
Ametek, 2018 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 53, at *8 (Sept. 14, 2018) (Medical bills
must be accompanied by proof that they are “reasonable, necessary, [and] causally-related
to the work accident” to be admissible). The Court cannot order their payment at this time.
Likewise, the Court will not rule on Mr. Tucker’s request for attorney’s fees at this time.
See Thompson v. Comcast, 2018 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 1, at *29 (Jan. 30, 2018)
(A decision to award attorney’s fees at an interlocutory stage of a case should be made only
in extremely limited circumstances). Mr. Tucker may raise both issues at the compensation
hearing.

       Finally, Mr. Tucker requested that the Court refer LU to the Compliance Program
for the potential imposition of penalties. LU raised a vigorous defense. But at this time,
the Court finds no grounds for a referral and declines.

       IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED:

   1. LU shall pay past temporary total disability in a lump-sum totaling $13,698.12, from
      November 8 through the date of the expedited hearing. In addition, LU must pay
      weekly benefits in the amount of $1,065.41 until Mr. Tucker reaches maximum
      medical improvement or is able to return to work. Mr. Tucker’s counsel is entitled
      to 20% of these awards as attorney’s fees.

   2. LU shall furnish additional treatment with Dr. MacGregor as the authorized treating
      physician.

   3. The Court defers ruling on Mr. Tucker’s requests for payment of past medical bills
      and attorney’s fees.

   4. A status hearing is set for April 29, 2024, at 9:15 a.m. Central Time. You must
      call 615-532-9552 or 866-943-0025 to participate.

   5. 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 regarding
      compliance, contact the Workers’ Compensation Compliance Unit via email at
      WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov.

                                            11
ENTERED February 16, 2024.

________________________________________
JUDGE KENNETH M. SWITZER
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims

       12
                               Appendix

     Technical Record

  1. Petition for Benefit Determination
  2. Dispute Certification Notice and additional issues from both parties
  3. Hearing Request
  4. Employer’s Objection to Employee’s Request for an Expedited Hearing
  5. Status Hearing Order
  6. Employer’s Motion to Extend Deadline for Submission
  7. Employee’s Response
  8. Employer’s Pre-Expedited Hearing Statement
  9. Employer’s Witness and Exhibit List
  10. Order (Granting Extension)
  11. Employer’s Pretrial Brief for Expedited Hearing and attachments
  12. Employee’s Expedited Hearing Brief
  13. Employer’s Witness and Exhibit List, October 31, 2023 (Amended)
  14. Employee’s Witness and Exhibit List
  15. Employer’s Motion in Limine
  16. Employee’s Motion to Extend
  17. Employer’s Response
  18. Notice of Appearance
  19. Employee’s Reply
  20. Order Continuing Expedited Hearing
  21. Amended Employee’s Witness List
  22. Employer’s Supplemental Witness and Exhibit List
  23. Employer’s Amended Pretrial Brief for Expedited Hearing
  24. Employee’s Amended Expedited Hearing Brief

Evidence

  1. Declaration of William Tucker
  2. Joint Medical Proof
  3. Wage Statement
  4. Deposition Transcript, Dr. MacGregor
  5. Deposition Transcript, Dr. Mathews
  6. Employee’s Updated Table of Contents of Medical Records
  7. Dr. MacGregor letter, response dated January 19, 2024
  8. Employee’s Attachments to Brief, Winter 2024
  9. Employer’s Attachments to Briefs, Fall 2023 and Winter 2024

                                        13
                            CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

       I certify that a copy of this Order was sent as indicated on February 16, 2024.

Name                   Certified   Regular        Email   Sent to
                       Mail        mail
Julie Reasonover,                                   X     julie@reasonoverlaw.com
employee’s attorney                                       kat@reasonoverlaw.com
Greg Fuller,                                        X     ghfuller@mijs.com
Houston Gunn,                                             hgunn@mijs.com
employer’s attorneys                                      kaceicys@mijs.com

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

                                             14
                                              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