Court Opinion

ID: 4559620
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-08-26 21:00:48.969778+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:19:12.495093
License: Public Domain

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
                WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD

Louis Garassino                            )   Docket No. 2014-07-0013
                                           )
v.                                         )
                                           )   State File No. 79380-2014
Western Express, Inc., et al.              )
                                           )
                                           )
Appeal from the Court of Workers’          )
Compensation Claims                        )
Joshua Davis Baker, Judge                  )

                   Affirmed in Part, Reversed and Modified in Part,
                   and Certified as Final – Filed November 7, 2016

The employee sought permanent disability benefits as a result of a work-related back
injury. Following a compensation hearing, the trial court awarded permanent disability
benefits based on the impairment rating of the employee’s medical expert, concluding the
employee rebutted the presumption of correctness applicable to the opinion of the
authorized physician. The trial court also awarded the employee discretionary costs,
including costs related to the examination by his medical expert and costs related to
procuring the testimony of his medical expert. The employer did not appeal the
compensation hearing order. However, prior to the expiration of thirty days after
issuance of the compensation hearing order, the employee filed a motion for discretionary
costs and the employer filed a response in opposition to the motion. The trial court
conducted another hearing and issued an order awarding the requested discretionary
costs. The employer has appealed that order. We conclude that the trial court erred in
awarding as discretionary costs the fees of the employee’s medical expert for reviewing
medical records and conducting a physical examination of the employee. Thus, we
affirm in part, reverse and modify in part, and certify as final the trial court’s
compensation hearing order as modified.

Judge Timothy W. Conner delivered the opinion of the Appeals Board in which Judge
Marshall L. Davidson, III, and Judge David F. Hensley joined.

                                           1
D. Andrew Saulters, Nashville, Tennessee, for the employer-appellant, Western Express,
Inc.

Julie A. Reasonover, Nashville, Tennessee, for the employee-appellee, Louis Garassino

                         Factual and Procedural Background

       Louis Garassino (“Employee”), a resident of Stewart County, Tennessee, worked
for Western Express (“Employer”) as a truck driver. On July 3, 2014, he suffered an
injury arising primarily out of and within the course and scope of his employment when
he felt a pop in his low back while turning a crank to lower trailer legs. He received
authorized medical treatment from Dr. Robert Weiss, who assigned a permanent medical
impairment rating of six percent to the whole body. Employee sought an expert medical
opinion from Dr. David West, who reviewed Employee’s medical records, conducted a
physical examination, and assigned a permanent medical impairment rating of thirteen
percent to the whole body.

       Following a compensation hearing, the trial court concluded that Dr. Weiss
incorrectly calculated the impairment rating and that Dr. West’s testimony was more
persuasive on the issue of permanent medical impairment. In its compensation hearing
order, issued on June 3, 2016, the trial court awarded permanent disability benefits based
on Dr. West’s impairment rating and also stated:

      The Court further exercises its discretion pursuant to Tennessee Code
      Annotated section 50-6-239(c)(8) (2015) to award any and all costs related
      to Dr. West’s examination of [Employee] and the costs incurred in securing
      his testimony via deposition.

       Thereafter, Employer satisfied the terms of the compensation order with the
exception of Dr. West’s fees for reviewing medical records and conducting the physical
examination of Employee. On June 15, 2016, Employee filed a motion for discretionary
costs seeking an order compelling Employer to pay Dr. West’s “chart review and IME”
fees in the amount of $1,000.00. On June 20, 2016, Employer filed a response to the
motion, arguing “it is the long established rule in Tennessee that the fee for examination
or review of records is not a recoverable discretionary cost.” After conducting another
hearing on August 2, 2016, the trial court issued an order on August 8, 2016, granting
Employee’s motion for the disputed costs. Employer filed a notice of appeal on August
9, 2016.

                                  Standard of Review

       The standard we apply in reviewing a trial court’s decision is statutorily mandated
and limited in scope. Specifically, “[t]here shall be a presumption that the findings and

                                            2
conclusions of the workers’ compensation judge are correct, unless the preponderance of
the evidence is otherwise.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(7) (2015). The trial court’s
decision may be reversed or modified if the rights of a party “have been prejudiced
because findings, inferences, conclusions, or decisions of a workers’ compensation judge:

      (A)    Violate constitutional or statutory provisions;
      (B)    Exceed the statutory authority of the workers’ compensation judge;
      (C)    Do not comply with lawful procedure;
      (D)    Are arbitrary, capricious, characterized by abuse of discretion, or
             clearly an unwarranted exercise of discretion; or
      (E)    Are not supported by evidence that is both substantial and material
             in the light of the entire record.”

Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-217(a)(3) (2015). As to discretionary costs, a trial court’s
determinations will be upheld unless its decision constitutes an abuse of discretion. “A
court abuses its discretion when it causes an injustice to the party challenging the
decision by (1) applying an incorrect legal standard, (2) reaching an illogical or
unreasonable decision, or (3) basing its decision on a clearly erroneous assessment of the
evidence.” Lee Med., Inc. v. Beecher, 312 S.W.3d 515, 524 (Tenn. 2010).

                                        Analysis

                                  Timeliness of Appeal

        Because the timeliness of this appeal potentially pretermits all other issues, we
address first whether Employer’s August 9, 2016 notice of appeal, filed one day after the
trial court’s issuance of an order granting Employee’s motion for discretionary costs, but
sixty-seven days after the trial court’s issuance of its compensation order, was timely.

        The Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law requires a party seeking to appeal a
compensation order to file a notice of appeal “[w]ithin thirty (30) calendar days after
issuance of” the order. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-217(a)(2)(B) (2016). However, because
hearings conducted in the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims are generally subject
to the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure, see Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(1), there
are certain circumstances enumerated in Rule 59.01 of the Tennessee Rules of Civil
Procedure that can extend the deadline for filing a notice of appeal. Rule 59.01 provides
as follows:

      Motions to which this rule is applicable are: (1) under Rule 50.02 for
      judgment in accordance with a motion for a directed verdict; (2) under Rule
      52.02 to amend or make additional findings of fact, whether or not an
      alteration of the judgment would be required if the motion is granted; (3)
      under Rule 59.07 for a new trial; or (4) under Rule 59.04 to alter or amend

                                            3
       the judgment. These motions are the only motions contemplated in these
       rules for extending the time for taking steps in the regular appellate
       process.

Tenn. R. Civ. P. 59.01 (emphasis added). Therefore, since Employer’s notice of appeal
was not filed until sixty-seven days after the compensation hearing order was issued, this
appeal is not timely unless Rule 59.01 extended the deadline for filing a notice of appeal.

       Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 52.02, which is enumerated in Rule 59.01 as a
basis for extending the deadline to file a notice of appeal, provides that “[u]pon motion of
a party made not later than 30 days after entry of judgment the court may amend its
findings or make additional findings and may amend the judgment accordingly.” In
Meador v. Johnson, No. 03A01-9510-CH-00362, 1997 Tenn. App. LEXIS 72 (Tenn. Ct.
App. Feb. 3, 1997), the Court of Appeals addressed the applicability of this rule and the
timeliness of a notice of appeal. The trial court in Meador entered an order granting
summary judgment in favor of the defendants and dismissed the case. Id. at *3. On the
same day the trial court’s order was entered, the plaintiffs filed a motion asking the court
to make findings of fact and conclusions of law, but did not specify a particular rule of
civil procedure supporting the motion. Id. Upon consideration of this motion, the trial
court ordered the parties to present proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law. Id.
However, prior to the time the trial court acted upon any party’s proposed findings of fact
and conclusions of law, but more than thirty days after entry of the order granting
summary judgment, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal. Id. at *4. The issues on appeal
were twofold: first, was the trial court required to comply with Rule 52.01 and/or Rule
52.02 when granting summary judgment and, (2) if so, was the plaintiffs’ deadline to file
the notice of appeal extended by the filing of the motion asking the court to make
findings of fact and conclusions of law.

        The Court of Appeals in Meador first concluded that a trial court is not required to
make findings of fact and conclusions of law at the summary judgment stage. Id. at *7.
Despite reaching that conclusion, however, the Court of Appeals considered whether, if a
trial court were required to make such findings at the summary judgment stage, the filing
of the plaintiffs’ motion extended the deadline for filing the notice of appeal. Id. at *8.
The Court first analyzed whether the plaintiffs’ motion, though not citing a specific rule,
was more properly considered a motion under Rule 52.01, which does not extend the
deadline for the filing of a notice of appeal, or Rule 52.02, which does extend the appeal
deadline. Id. at *8-9. The Court noted that “it is well-settled law that on motions, the
court will ‘look to substance rather than form.’” Id. at *9 (quoting Bemis Co., Inc. v.
Hines, 585 S.W.2d 574, 576 (Tenn. 1979)). It then concluded that the motion fell within
the purview of Rule 52.01, which did not extend the plaintiffs’ deadline for filing a notice
of appeal, and dismissed the appeal as untimely. Id.

                                             4
       In the present case, the trial court entered its compensation hearing order on June
3, 2016, requiring the employer to pay, among other things, “any and all costs related to
Dr. West’s examination of Mr. Thomas [sic] and the costs incurred in securing his
testimony via deposition.”1 However, the phrase “any and all costs related to Dr. West’s
examination” is ambiguous given that it does not address whether Employee was entitled
to Dr. West’s fee for reviewing medical records in preparation for his examination of
Employee, which is a specific item of cost sought by Employee.

        This ambiguity is further evidenced by the fact that a dispute arose soon after the
compensation order was issued concerning the amount of costs recoverable under the
terms of the trial court’s order. It is undisputed that Employer satisfied the terms of the
compensation order with the exception of certain costs. Within thirty days after issuance
of the trial court’s order, Employee filed a motion for discretionary costs, alleging he was
entitled to Dr. West’s fees for “chart review and IME” in the amount of $1,000.00.

       On June 20, 2016, still within the thirty-day period following entry of the
compensation hearing order, Employer filed a response to the motion, arguing that Dr.
West’s fees for review of medical records and his physical examination of Employee
were not recoverable discretionary costs under Tennessee’s Workers’ Compensation Law
and/or Rule 54.04. Thereafter, the trial court scheduled a hearing on Employee’s motion
for discretionary costs, which was conducted on August 2, 2016. It then issued an order
containing additional findings of fact and conclusions of law as to why it believed
Employee was entitled to recover Dr. West’s fees for reviewing medical records and
completing a physical examination of Employee as part of discretionary costs.

       Under these circumstances, and looking to substance over form, we conclude that
Employee’s motion for discretionary costs and Employer’s response in opposition to this
motion sought additional findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule 52.02
concerning whether Dr. West’s fees for reviewing medical records and conducting a
physical examination of Employee were recoverable costs. Both the parties and the trial
court treated the issue as unresolved, and a subsequent hearing was conducted to address
the dispute. The trial court then issued another order that included additional findings of
fact and conclusions of law not contained in the previous order. Having concluded that
Employee’s motion was filed in accordance with Rule 52.02, the deadline for filing a
notice of appeal was extended until after the issuance of the trial court’s order resolving
the motion as provided for in Rule 59.01. Thus, Employer’s August 9, 2016 notice of
appeal was timely.

1
    The trial court inadvertently referred to Employee as “Mr. Thomas” in this paragraph of the order.
                                                      5
                            Recoverable Discretionary Costs

       There are several provisions in the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law and
the Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure addressing fees and costs of physicians, hospitals,
court reporters, and attorneys, as well as other discretionary costs. Two such provisions
are relevant to the present case. First, Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239(c)(8)
authorizes a trial court, in its discretion, to “assess discretionary costs including
reasonable fees for depositions of medical experts against the employer upon
adjudication of the employee’s claim as compensable.” (Emphasis added.) Second,
Tennessee Rule of Civil Procedure 54.04 provides:

      Costs not included in the bill of costs prepared by the clerk are allowable
      only in the court’s discretion. Discretionary costs allowable are:
      reasonable and necessary court reporter expenses for depositions or trial,
      reasonable and necessary expert witness fees for deposition (or stipulated
      reports) and for trials, reasonable and necessary interpreter fees . . ., and
      guardian ad litem fees; travel expenses are not allowable discretionary
      costs.

Tenn. R. Civ. P. 54.04 (emphasis added). The term “discretionary costs” is defined in
neither the definitions section of the Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Law found at
Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-102, nor the Bureau of Workers’
Compensation’s Mediation and Hearing Procedures, Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-02-
21 (2015). Thus, we must look to other applicable law to define this term. Because
Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239(c)(1) specifies that the Tennessee Rules of
Civil Procedure “shall govern proceedings at all hearings” in the Court of Workers’
Compensation Claims, the description of discretionary costs contained in Rule 54.04 is
controlling.

        Simply put, neither Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239(c)(8) nor Rule
54.04 includes within the enumeration of recoverable discretionary costs the fees of a
non-treating physician for reviewing medical records or conducting a physical
examination of an employee for the purpose of offering expert opinion testimony. It is
not the role of the courts to expand the ordinary meaning of or add to the plain language
of the statute or rules. Shore v. Maple Lane Farms, LLC, 411 S.W.3d 405, 420 (Tenn.
2013). If the legislature had intended for a prevailing employee to be able to recover
physicians’ fees for reviewing medical records and conducting physical examinations for
the purpose of offering expert opinion testimony, it could have included such language in
the statute. Accepting Employee’s position that the trial court correctly awarded the costs
at issue would require us to read provisions into the law that are not there. This we
cannot do. See Keen v. State, 398 S.W.3d 594, 604 (Tenn. 2012) (“The Court will
decline to ‘read in’ language into [a] statute that the General Assembly did not place
there.”).

                                            6
        The trial court determined that “[a]n employee’s only avenue to challenge an
inaccurate rating lies in securing contrary expert medical proof,” and that the examination
of an employee by his or her chosen medical expert “is an integral part of securing the
rating.” It then concluded that to require an employee to pay for the medical records
review and examination fees of its own expert would “place an unfair burden on the
employee,” a rationale Employee echoes on appeal. However, such arguments,
regardless of how reasonable or unreasonable they may be, are better suited for the
legislature, for it is the role of the legislature, not the courts, to enact laws effectuating
public policy. By contrast, our role, when the language of a statute or rule is clear and
unambiguous, is to construe and apply the statute or rule as written. Lind v. Beaman
Dodge, Inc., 356 S.W.3d 889, 895 (Tenn. 2011). Thus, we conclude the trial court erred
in awarding the fees of Employee’s medical expert for reviewing medical records and
conducting a physical examination.

                                        Conclusion

        We conclude pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-217(a)(3) that
the trial court exceeded its statutory authority and abused its discretion in awarding fees
of Employee’s medical expert for reviewing medical records and conducting a physical
examination. Consequently, the trial court’s August 8, 2016 order granting Employee’s
motion for discretionary costs is reversed, and the trial court’s compensation hearing
order is modified consistent with this opinion. All other findings of the trial court as
reflected in its June 3, 2016 compensation order are affirmed and the compensation order,
as modified, is certified as final.

                                              7
                       TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
                         WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD

Louis Garassino                                          )   Docket No. 2014-07-0013
                                                         )
v.                                                       )
                                                         )   State File No. 79380-2014
Western Express, Inc., et al.                            )

                                     CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the Appeals Board’s decision in the
referenced case was sent to the following recipients by the following methods of service
on this the 7th day of November, 2016.
 Name                    Certified   First Class   Via   Fax      Via     Email Address
                         Mail        Mail          Fax   Number   Email

 Julie A. Reasonover                                                 X    julie@jstillman.com
 D. Andrew Saulters                                                  X    dsaulters@ortalekelley.com
 Joshua Davis Baker,                                                 X    Via Electronic Mail
 Judge
 Kenneth M. Switzer,                                                 X    Via Electronic Mail
 Chief Judge
 Penny Shrum, Clerk,                                                 X    Penny.Patterson-Shrum@tn.gov
 Court of Workers’
 Compensation Claims

Jeanette Baird
Deputy Clerk, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
220 French Landing Dr., Ste. 1-B
Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone: 615-253-0064
Electronic Mail: Jeanette.Baird@tn.gov