Willis, Earl D. v. Express Towing , 2016 TN WC 182 ( 2016 )

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
AT NASHVILLE
Earl D. Willis, ) Docket No. 30458-2016
Employee, )
v. ) State File No. 2016-06-0702
)
Express Towing, ) Judge Joshua Davis Baker
Uninsured Employer. )
EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER FOR TEMPORARY DISABILITY
AND MEDICAL BENEFITS
This matter came before the Court on July 19, 2016, on the Request for Expedited
Hearing filed by the employee, Earl D. Willis, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated
section 50-6-239 (2015). The present focus of this case is Mr. Willis’ entitlement to
temporary disability and medical benefits. The central legal issue is his likelihood of
success in proving he suffered an injury in the course and scope of his employment that
completely prevented him from working while he healed. The employer, Express
Towing, did not attend the hearing. The Dispute Certification Notice (DCN) filed by the
mediator raised the issues of compensability, past and ongoing medical and temporary
disability benefits, and permanent disability benefits.
For the reasons set forth below, the Court finds Mr. Willis would likely succeed at
a hearing on the merits in proving his injury occurred in the course and scope of his
employment. The Court also finds Mr. Willis’ injury prevents him from working and,
therefore, holds Express Towing must provide Mr. Willis reasonable and necessary
medical care for treatment of his injury and temporary disability benefits for the period he
is unable to work.1
Claim History
Mr. Willis is a resident of Nashville, Tennessee, who worked for Express Towing
as a tow truck driver. At the hearing, Mr. Willis testified at the time of his injury Express
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A complete listing of the technical record and exhibits admitted at the Expedited Hearing is attached to this Order
as an appendix.
Towing employed him for three weeks and paid him an average of $750.00 per week.
His job required him to be on-call twenty-four hours per day, six days per week. On
March 18, 2016, around one o’clock in the morning, Mr. Willis received a call from
Express Towing’s dispatcher to retrieve a disabled vehicle. After completing his work,
he returned home in Express Towing’s tow truck, which he routinely kept at his residence
when he was on call. While getting out of the truck, Mr. Willis’ left foot caught on the
truck’s step and, as he fell to the ground, his foot and leg twisted and broke his ankle in
two places.
Mr. Willis’ wife drove him to St. Thomas West Hospital where Dr. Christian N.
Anderson diagnosed upper and lower end left fibula fractures. He underwent surgery on
March 25, 2016, and Dr. Anderson took Mr. Willis completely off work “until further
notice due to his recent injury.” Mr. Willis continued sporadic follow-up care with Dr.
Anderson at Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance. (Ex. 1.)
Mr. Willis testified that Express Towing employed approximately ten people. He
testified Mike Copeland is the owner of Express Towing in Nashville, but believes the
business operates in someone else’s name. Mr. Willis called Mr. Copeland and reported
the injury the same day it happened. Mr. Willis stated Mr. Copeland asked him not to
officially report the injury and he would “take care of it.” Two days later, Mr. Copeland
stopped communicating with Mr. Willis. Mr. Willis has not worked since the accident
and Express Towing paid none of his medical bills. He further testified Express Towing
does not have workers’ compensation insurance.
Express Towing offered no testimony, as no representative of the company
attended the expedited hearing. The clerk’s file showed a copy of the notice setting the
expedited hearing was sent to Express Towing via certified mail. Express Towing
accepted the copy of the notice.
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
In order to grant the relief Mr. Willis seeks, the Court must apply the following
legal principles. Mr. Willis bears the burden of proof on all prima facie elements of his
workers’ compensation claim. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(6) (2015); see also
Buchanan v. Carlex Glass Co., No. 2015-01-0012, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd.
LEXIS 39, at *5 (Tenn. Workers’ Comp. App. Bd. Sept. 29, 2015). He need not prove
every element of his claim by a preponderance of the evidence in order to obtain relief at
an expedited hearing. McCord v. Advantage Human Resourcing, No. 2014-06-0063,
2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7- 9 (Tenn. Workers’ Comp. App. Bd. Mar.
27, 2015). At an expedited hearing, Mr. Willis has the burden to come forward with
sufficient evidence from which this Court can determine he is likely to prevail at a
hearing on the merits. Id. As further explained below, the Court finds Mr. Willis carried
his burden of proof and is therefore entitled to medical and temporary disability benefits
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for his workplace injury.
I. Mr. Willis carried his burden of proving a likelihood of success at a hearing
on the merits and is entitled to medical treatment.
The Workers’ Compensation Law defines an “injury” as “an injury by accident . . .
arising primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment, that causes . . . the
need for medical treatment.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-102(14) (2015). Further, an injury
is “accidental” only if the injury is caused by a specific incident, or set of incidents,
arising primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment. Tenn. Code Ann. §
50-6-102(14)(A) (2015). Arising out of employment refers to causation. Reeser v.
Yellow Freight Sys., Inc., 938 S.W.2d 690, 692 (Tenn. 1997). An injury arises out of
employment when there is a causal connection between the conditions under which the
work is required to be performed and the resulting injury. Fritts v. Safety Nat’l Cas.
Corp., 163 S.W.3d 673, 678 (Tenn. 2005). “An injury occurs in the course of
employment if ‘it takes place within the period of the employment, at a place where the
employee reasonably may be, and while the employee is fulfilling work duties or engaged
in doing something incidental thereto.’” Hubble v. Dyer Nursing Home, 188 S.W.3d 525,
534 (Tenn. 2006) (citing Blankenship v. Am. Ordnance Sys., LLC, 164 S.W.3d 350, 354
(Tenn. 2005)).
Here, Mr. Willis credibly testified he stepped out of Express Towing’s vehicle,
caught his left foot on the step-down of the truck, resulting in two fractures to his ankle.
No Express Towing representative appeared at the hearing to contradict Mr. Willis’
testimony regarding his injury, which the medical records support. The Court finds Mr.
Willis’ testimony and the medical records sufficient to demonstrate he would likely
succeed at a hearing on the merits in proving he suffered an injury arising primarily out
of and in the course and scope of his employment for Express Towing.
Turning to the requested relief, the Court holds that under Tennessee Code
Annotated section 50-6-204(a)(1)(A) (2015) Express Towing must provide Mr. Willis
past and continuing reasonable and necessary medical treatment with Dr. Anderson,
whom the Court appoints as the authorized treating physician. The Court finds treatment
with Dr. Anderson appropriate because Express Towing failed to provide Mr. Willis
medical care, thereby requiring him to seek treatment on his own. See Young v. Young
Electric, No. 2015-06-0860, 2016 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 24 Tenn. Workers’
Comp. App. Bd. May 25, 2016).
II. Mr. Willis carried his burden of proving a likelihood of success at a hearing
on the merits and is entitled to past and ongoing temporary disability
benefits.
Mr. Willis additionally seeks temporary disability benefits. In Jones v. Crencor,
No. 2015-06-0332, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 48, at *7 (Tenn. Workers’
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Comp. App. Bd. Dec. 11, 2015), the Appeals Board held:
An injured worker is eligible for temporary disability benefits if: (1) the
worker became disabled from working due to a compensable injury; (2)
there is a causal connection between the injury and the inability to work;
and (3) the worker established the duration of the period of disability.
Simpson v. Satterfield, 564 S.W.2d 953, 955 (Tenn. 1978).
Here, Mr. Willis submitted a letter from his surgeon, Dr. Anderson. The letter,
dated April 4, 2016, stated, “Earl Willis is currently under my medical care. Please
excuse him from work until further notice due to his recent injury.” Dr. Anderson
recommended physical therapy and a boot for weight bearing as tolerated with
instructions to return in four weeks to transition into a lace-up ankle brace. Nothing in
this medical record indicated Mr. Willis reached maximum medical improvement or
returned to work without restrictions.
Based on these facts, the Court finds Mr. Willis carried his burden of proving he
would likely succeed at a hearing on the merits on the issue of temporary total disability
benefits. The Court holds Express Towing must pay Mr. Willis accrued temporary total
disability benefits for the period March 18, 2016, to August 2, 2016, at his compensation
rate of $500.03 per week, equaling $9,857.14. The Court further holds Express Towing
must continue these temporary disability payments until Mr. Willis is no longer eligible
to receive them.
III. Mr. Willis is eligible to apply for benefits pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated
section 50-6-801 et seq.
Although this Court holds Express Towing must provide Mr. Willis temporary
disability and medical benefits, it is unclear whether payment will be forthcoming, as
Express Towing did not have workers’ compensation insurance at the time of the
accident. Under Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-802(e)(1) (2015), however, the
Bureau has discretion to pay limited temporary disability and medical benefits to
employees who have established medical causation of their injury and meet the following
criteria:
(1) The employee worked for an employer who failed to carry workers’
compensation insurance;
(2) The employee suffered an injury primarily arising in the course and scope
of employment after July 1, 2015;
(3) The employee was a Tennessee resident on the date of the injury; and
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(4) The employee provided notice to the Bureau of the injury and the
employer’s failure to provide workers’ compensation insurance no more
than sixty days after the injury occurred.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-801(d)(1)-(4) (2015).
Here, Mr. Willis established that he broke his leg while stepping from a tow truck
and underwent surgery to repair the condition. His unrefuted testimony and the medical
records are sufficient to establish that a work-related incident occurred and that the
incident resulted in him suffering a broken leg. Accordingly, the Court finds Mr. Willis
is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits in proving he suffered a compensable work-
related injury.
Concerning the remaining criteria, the Court finds Mr. Willis successfully
established the criteria through his testimony. Mr. Willis testified that Express Towing
employed more than five persons yet failed to provide workers’ compensation insurance
for its employees. Mr. Willis stated he suffered an injury on March 18, 2016, so his
injury meets the requirement of the second criterion. Mr. Willis resided in Tennessee at
the time of his injury. Finally, Mr. Willis filed a Petition for Benefit Determination on
April 22, 2016, stating he suffered an injury on March 18, 2016, and that Express Towing
had no workers’ compensation insurance. The Court, therefore, holds Mr. Willis meets
all the criteria to qualify as an eligible employee under Tennessee Code Annotated
section 50-6-801 et seq.
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:
1. Medical care for Mr. Willis’ injuries, including services already received, shall be
paid and Dr. Christian N. Anderson shall serve as the authorized treating
physician. Medical bills for Mr. Willis’ past and ongoing care shall be furnished
to Express Towing by Mr. Willis or the medical providers.
2. Mr. Willis is entitled to receive temporary disability benefits from March 18,
2016, until August 2, 2016, in the amount of $9,857.14, and going forward at a
compensation rate of $500.03 per week until the time he reaches maximum
medical improvement or is no longer entitled to temporary disability benefits
according to workers’ compensation law.
3. This matter is set for an initial hearing on September 12, 2016, at 9:30 a.m. (CDT).
4. Mr. Willis is eligible to receive temporary disability and medical benefits from the
Uninsured Employer’s Fund pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-
801 et seq. The clerk shall forward a copy of this order to the Administrator for
consideration of payment.
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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)
(2015). 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 may result in a penalty assessment for non-compliance.
6. For questions regarding compliance, please contact the Workers’ Compensation
Compliance Unit via email WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov or by calling (615)
253-1471.
ENTERED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2016.
________________________________________
Judge Joshua Davis Baker
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
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Initial Hearing:
An Initial (Scheduling) Hearing has been set for September 12, 2016, at 9:30 a.m.
(CDT) with Judge Joshua Davis Baker, Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims.
You must call 615-741-2113 or toll free at 855-874-0474 to participate in the Initial
Hearing.
Please Note: You must call in on the scheduled date/time to participate. Failure to
call in may result in a determination of the issues without your further
participation. All conferences are set using Central Time (CT).
Right to Appeal:
Tennessee Law allows any party who disagrees with this Expedited Hearing Order
to appeal the decision to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. To file a Notice of
Appeal, you must:
1. Complete the enclosed form entitled: “Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal.”
2. File the completed form with the Court Clerk within seven business days of the
date the Workers’ Compensation Judge entered the Expedited Hearing Order.
3. Serve a copy of the Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal upon the opposing party.
4. The appealing party is responsible for payment of a filing fee in the amount of
$75.000. Within ten calendar days after the filing of a notice of appeal, payment
must be received by check, money order, or credit card payment. Payments can be
made in person at any Bureau office or by United States mail, hand-delivery, or
other delivery service. In the alternative, the appealing party may file an Affidavit
of Indigency, on a form prescribed by the Bureau, seeking a waiver of the filing
fee. The Affidavit of Indigency may be filed contemporaneously with the Notice
of Appeal or must be filed within ten calendar days thereafter. The Appeals Board
will consider the Affidavit of Indigency and issue an Order granting or denying
the request for a waiver of the filing fee as soon thereafter as is practicable.
Failure to timely pay the filing fee or file the Affidavit of Indigency in
accordance with this section shall result in dismissal of the appeal.
5. The parties, having the responsibility of ensuring a complete record on appeal,
may request, from the Court Clerk, the audio recording of the hearing for the
purpose of having a transcript prepared by a licensed court reporter and filing it
with the Court Clerk within ten calendar days of the filing of the Expedited
Hearing Notice of Appeal. Alternatively, the parties may file a joint statement of
the evidence within ten calendar days of the filing of the Expedited Hearing
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Notice of Appeal. The statement of the evidence must convey a complete and
accurate account of what transpired in the Court of Workers’ Compensation
Claims and must be approved by the workers’ compensation judge before the
record is submitted to the clerk of the Appeals Board.
6. If the appellant elects to file a position statement in support of the interlocutory
appeal, the appellant shall file such position statement with the Court Clerk within
five business days of the expiration of the time to file a transcript or statement of
the evidence, specifying the issues presented for review and including any
argument in support thereof. A party opposing the appeal shall file a response, if
any, with the Court Clerk within five business days of the filing of the appellant’s
position statement. All position statements pertaining to an appeal of an
interlocutory order should include: (1) a statement summarizing the facts of the
case from the evidence admitted during the expedited hearing; (2) a statement
summarizing the disposition of the case as a result of the expedited hearing; (3) a
statement of the issue(s) presented for review; and (4) an argument, citing
appropriate statutes, case law, or other authority.
APPENDIX
Exhibits:
1. Medical Records of Earl D. Willis
2. Affidavit of Earl D. Willis
Technical record:2
1. REH filed June 30, 2016
2. DCN filed May 18, 2016
3. PBD filed April 2, 2016
2
The Court did not consider attachments to Technical Record filings unless admitted into evidence during the
Expedited Hearing. The Court considered factual statements in these filings or any attachments to them as
allegations unless established by the evidence.
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was sent to the
following recipients by the following methods of service on this the 9th day of August
2016.
Name Certified First Class Via Fax Via Email Address
Mail Mail Fax Number Email
Earl D. Willis X 514 Scholarship Drive
Nashville, TN 37209
Express Towing X 625 Cornelia Court
Nashville, TN 37217
_______________________________________
Penny Shrum, Court Clerk
Wc.courtclerk@tn.gov
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