Nicole Bowlin v. Servall, LLC, et al.

Nicole Bowlin ("Employee") filed a workers' compensation claim against Servall, LLC ("Employer") alleging injuries suffered in a work-related motor vehicle accident. Employer initially denied the claim. After an expedited hearing, the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims ("trial court") ordered Employer to pay Einployee's medical expenses and awarded attorney's fees under Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-226(a)(1). The Workers' Coinpensation Appeals Board ("Appeals Board") vacated the award of attorney's fees as premature and rernanded the case. The parties settled the case as to all issues except for attorney's fees. The trial court approved the settlement agreement but declined to order Employer to pay the attorney's fees authorized by section 50-6-226(a)(1). The Appeals Board affirmed. Employee appealed. The appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel for a hearing and a report of findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 51. We affirm the judgment of the Appeals Board and adopt its opinion as set forth in the attached Appendix.