Fannie B. Carter v. National Health Care Center, et al.

This workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel of the Supreme Court in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. _ 5-6- 225(e)(3) for hearing and reporting of fact and conclusions of law. In this two-sided appeal, the plaintiff contends that the trial court erred in denying the recovery of incurred medical expenses; the defendant contends the trial court erred in granting the plaintiff temporary total benefits and permanent partial disability benefits. The focus of this dispute is plaintiff's employment application wherein, the defendant contends it was not correctly filled out by the plaintiff, and was materially misleading, and therefore the plaintiff is estopped from claiming benefits. In accordance with T.C.A. _ 56-225(e), the standard of review in this case is de novo upon the record of the trial court, accompanied by a presumption of correctness of the findings. It is the plaintiff's burden to show by the preponderance of the evidence that the evidence is otherwise in relation to the trial court's denial of medical benefits; likewise, it is the burden of the defendant to show that the court erred in granting the Plaintiff both temporary total benefits and permanent partial benefits. The panel concludes that the trial court's judgment approving temporary total benefits and permanent partial benefits was correct and should be affirmed. The panel, however, reverses the trial court in the denial of the medical benefits of two of plaintiff's treating physicians. Plaintiff, age 62 at the time of the trial and a divorced mother of six children has an eighth grade education and vocational training as a nurse's aide. Her first employment was domestic work in the homes of the other people and later in commercial pressing. Subsequently, the plaintiff worked for Genesco where she built and inspected shoes. During her employment with Genesco, plaintiff injured her neck and left her employment there. As a result of this injury at Genesco, plaintiff underwent surgery by Dr. Arthur Cushman for a ruptured disc. At the trial plaintiff testified that Genesco had told her she did not qualify for workman's compensation benefits. Later, however, plaintiff acknowledged that she hired an attorney and brought suit against Genesco for workman's compensation benefits. She was successful in obtaining benefits. 2