Tennessee Workers' Compensation Appeals Board
Document Info
DocketNumber: 2017-01-0497
Citation Numbers: 2019 TN WC App. 16
Judges: Marshall L. Davidson III, David F. Hensley, Timothy W. Conner
Filed Date: 4/15/2019
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 1/9/2021
-
FILED Apr 15, 2019 02:42 PM(CT) TENNESSEE WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD 7(11(66((%85($82):25.(56¶&203(16$7,21 :25.(56¶&203(16$7,21$33($/6%2$5' 7KRPDV6XVWHUVLF 'RFNHW1R Y 6WDWH)LOH1R /RZH¶V+RPH&HQWHUV,QFHWDO $SSHDOIURPWKH&RXUWRI:RUNHUV¶ &RPSHQVDWLRQ&ODLPV $XGUH\$+HDGULFN-XGJH $IILUPHGDQG&HUWLILHGDV)LQDO±)LOHG$SULO 7KH HPSOR\HH DQ DSSOLDQFH GHOLYHU\ GULYHU DOOHJHG VXVWDLQLQJ D KHUQLD ZKHQ KH DQG D FRZRUNHU OLIWHG D FRRNLQJ UDQJH RQWR WKH EDFN RI D WUXFN 7KH HPSOR\HU GHQLHG WKH FODLP DVVHUWLQJ WKH HPSOR\HH¶V KHUQLD GLG QRW PHHW WKH VWDWXWRU\ UHTXLUHPHQWV IRU D FRPSHQVDEOHKHUQLD7KHHPSOR\HHUHTXHVWHGDQH[SHGLWHGKHDULQJDIWHUZKLFKWKHWULDO FRXUW FRQFOXGHG WKH HPSOR\HH ZDV XQOLNHO\ WR HVWDEOLVK DW WULDO WKDW KH VXIIHUHG D FRPSHQVDEOH KHUQLD $IWHU DGGLWLRQDO PHGLFDO WUHDWPHQW DQG GLVFRYHU\ WKH HPSOR\HH ZDV SODFHG DW PD[LPXP PHGLFDO LPSURYHPHQW DQG ZDV DVVLJQHG DQ LPSDLUPHQW UDWLQJ )ROORZLQJ D WULDO WKH FRXUW IRXQG WKH HPSOR\HH KDG QRW PHW KLV EXUGHQ RI SURRI RI HVWDEOLVKLQJWKDWKHVXIIHUHGDZRUNUHODWHGKHUQLDDQGGHFOLQHGWRDZDUGEHQHILWV7KH HPSOR\HHKDVDSSHDOHG+DYLQJFDUHIXOO\UHYLHZHGWKHUHFRUGZHDIILUPWKHWULDOFRXUW¶V GHFLVLRQDQGFHUWLI\WKHWULDOFRXUW¶VRUGHUDVILQDO -XGJH'DYLG)+HQVOH\GHOLYHUHGWKHRSLQLRQRIWKH$SSHDOV%RDUGLQZKLFK3UHVLGLQJ -XGJH0DUVKDOO/'DYLGVRQ,,,DQG-XGJH7LPRWK\:&RQQHUMRLQHG 0DWWKHZ * &ROHPDQ &OHYHODQG 7HQQHVVHH IRU WKH HPSOR\HHDSSHOODQW 7KRPDV 6XVWHUVLF *DU\ 6 1DSROLWDQ &KDWWDQRRJD DQG &DOOLH . +LQVRQ 1DVKYLOOH 7HQQHVVHH IRU WKH HPSOR\HUDSSHOOHH/RZH¶V+RPH&HQWHUV,QF )DFWXDODQG3URFHGXUDO%DFNJURXQG 7KRPDV 6XVWHUVLF ³(PSOR\HH´ D VL[W\WKUHH\HDUROG UHVLGHQW RI %UDGOH\ &RXQW\ 7HQQHVVHH DOOHJHG VXIIHULQJ D KHUQLD RQ $SULO DIWHU KH DQG D FR HPSOR\HHOLIWHGDFRRNLQJUDQJHZHLJKLQJDSSUR[LPDWHO\SRXQGVRQWRDIODWEHGWUXFN LQ WKH FRXUVH RI KLV HPSOR\PHQW ZLWK /RZH¶V +RPH &HQWHUV ,QF ³(PSOR\HU´ (PSOR\HHWHVWLILHGKHIHOWLPPHGLDWHVWRPDFKSDLQDQGH[SHULHQFHGDIHHOLQJRIKDYLQJWR ³WKURZXS´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¶V GLYHUWLFXOXP ZKLFK KH GHVFULEHGDVDFRQJHQLWDOFRQGLWLRQ'U:RUWKLQJWRQUHSDLUHGERWKKHUQLDVDQGUHVHFWHG (PSOR\HH¶V ERZHO WR FRUUHFW WKH GLYHUWLFXOXP DQG (PSOR\HH ZDV UHOHDVHG IURP WKH KRVSLWDOWZRGD\VODWHU 2Q0D\(PSOR\HHUHWXUQHGWRWKHKRVSLWDOFRPSODLQLQJWKDWWKHVXUJLFDO ZRXQG KDG EHHQ ³RR]LQJ TXLWH D ELW´ $ &7 VFDQ DQG D SK\VLFDO H[DPLQDWLRQ E\ 'U :RUWKLQJWRQUHYHDOHGWKDWWKHLQLWLDOKHUQLDUHSDLUKDGIDLOHG'U:RUWKLQJWRQWHVWLILHG WKDWWKHQDWXUHRIWKHIDLOXUHFRQVWLWXWHGDQHPHUJHQF\UHTXLULQJ(PSOR\HH³WRJREDFNWR WKH RSHUDWLQJ URRP ULJKW WKHQ´ (PSOR\HH UHWXUQHG WR 'U :RUWKLQJWRQ LQ WKH PRQWKV IROORZLQJ WKH VHFRQG VXUJHU\ $ VXEVHTXHQW &7 VFDQ ³FRQILUPHG >(PSOR\HH@ KDG EDVLFDOO\UHKHUQLDWHGWKURXJK>WKH@ VHFRQGUHSDLU´$WWKDWSRLQW'U:RUWKLQJWRQ³IHOW KHQHHGHGWRJRVHHD>KHUQLD@VSHFLDOLVW´ (PSOR\HUGHQLHGWKHFODLPLQLWVHQWLUHW\IURPWKHRXWVHW$VDUHVXOW(PSOR\HH ILOHG D 3HWLWLRQ IRU %HQHILW 'HWHUPLQDWLRQ )ROORZLQJ XQVXFFHVVIXO PHGLDWLRQ DQ H[SHGLWHGKHDULQJZDVFRQGXFWHGGXULQJZKLFK(PSOR\HHWHVWLILHGWKDWKLVVWRPDFKKDG EHHQ³YHU\XQHDV\´DQG³KDGEHHQKXUWLQJDOOGD\´EHIRUHOLIWLQJWKHUDQJH+HGHVFULEHG WKH OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW DV ³WKH VWUDZ WKDW EURNH WKH FDPHO¶V EDFN´ (PSOR\HU VXEPLWWHG DQ DIILGDYLWRI'U:RUWKLQJWRQDWWKHKHDULQJZKLFKVWDWHGWKDW(PSOR\HH³GLGQRWSURYLGH DKLVWRU\RIDVSHFLILFZRUNLQMXU\ZKLFKFDXVHGKLVDEGRPLQDOSDLQ´'U:RUWKLQJWRQ¶V DIILGDYLW ZHQW RQ WR VD\ WKDW ³EDVHG RQ >KLV@ H[DPLQDWLRQ RI >(PSOR\HH@ DQG LQ >KLV@ PHGLFDO RSLQLRQ LW LV PRUH OLNHO\ WKDQ QRW WKDW >(PSOR\HH¶V@ KHUQLDV H[LVWHG SULRU WR $SULO´ 0HFNHO¶VGLYHUWLFXOXPLVDFRQJHQLWDOEXOJHLQWKHORZHUSDUWRIWKHVPDOOLQWHVWLQHWKDWLV³DOHIWRYHU´ RI WKH XPELOLFDO FRUG KWWSVP\FOHYHODQGFOLQLFRUJKHDOWKGLVHDVHVPHFNHOVGLYHUWLFXOXP ODVW YLVLWHG$SULO ,Q LWV H[SHGLWHG KHDULQJ RUGHU WKH WULDO FRXUW GHWHUPLQHG WKDW (PSOR\HH ZDV QRW HQWLWOHG WR WKH UHTXHVWHG ZRUNHUV¶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³ILQH´ DIWHU WKH PRVW UHFHQW UHSDLU DQG 'U 0HMLD SODFHG KLP DW PD[LPXP PHGLFDO LPSURYHPHQW RQ 0DUFK ZLWK D DQDWRPLF LPSDLUPHQW (PSOR\HH KDV QRW UHWXUQHGWRZRUNVLQFHWKHOLIWLQJLQFLGHQWDQG(PSOR\HUKDVQRWSURYLGHGDQ\PHGLFDORU WHPSRUDU\GLVDELOLW\EHQHILWVWR(PSOR\HH )ROORZLQJDVHFRQGXQVXFFHVVIXOPHGLDWLRQWKHFDVHZDVWULHGDQG(PSOR\HHZDV WKHRQO\ZLWQHVVWRWHVWLI\LQSHUVRQ(PSOR\HHKDGWHVWLILHGLQWKHH[SHGLWHGKHDULQJWKDW KLV VWRPDFK IHOW ³YHU\ XQHDV\´ DQGKXUW DOO GD\ RQ WKH GD\ RI WKH DOOHJHG LQFLGHQW +H IXUWKHU WHVWLILHG WKDW KLV VWRPDFK SDLQV ZHUH ³VORZO\ EXLOGLQJ XS´ RYHU WKH ³ODVW ZHHN VHYHUDOGD\V´³WRWKHSRLQWWKDW>KH@DVNHG>DPDQDJHU@LIVKHFRXOGKDYHDJX\FRPHRXW WKHUHZLWKDIRUNOLIWWRSXW>WKHUDQJH@RQWKHEDFNRIWKHWUXFN´:KHQVSHFLILFDOO\DVNHG LI KH WROGKLV FDUGLRORJLVW WKDW ³RYHU WKH SDVW ZHHN RU VR WKDW >KLV@ VWRPDFK ZDV JHWWLQJ KDUGZKHQ>KH@H[HUWHG>KLPVHOI@´(PSOR\HHUHVSRQGHGLQWKHDIILUPDWLYHGHVFULELQJWKH OLIWLQJLQFLGHQWDV³WKHVWUDZWKDWEURNHWKHFDPHO¶VEDFN´ $W WULDO KRZHYHU (PSOR\HH WHVWLILHG WKDW WKH V\PSWRPV KH H[SHULHQFHG DIWHU OLIWLQJ WKH VWRYH ZHUH ³GLIIHUHQW´ WKDQ ZKDW KH KDG SUHYLRXVO\ IHOW DV WKH\ ZHUH ³PRUH SDLQIXO´DQG³VXGGHQ´:KHQTXHVWLRQHGIXUWKHUDVWRZKHWKHUKHKDGHYHUH[SHULHQFHG WKDW W\SH RI SDLQ EHIRUH WKH OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW (PSOR\HH UHVSRQGHG ³>Q@R >KH@ KDG QRW´ :KHQ VSHFLILFDOO\ DVNHG RQ FURVVH[DPLQDWLRQ WR FRUURERUDWH KLV SUHYLRXV VWDWHPHQW PDGH WR WKH FDUGLRORJLVW FRQFHUQLQJ WKH V\PSWRPV KH H[SHULHQFHG SULRU WR WKH OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW(PSOR\HHVWDWHGKHGLGQRWUHFDOOPDNLQJWKDWVWDWHPHQW 'U:RUWKLQJWRQWHVWLILHGE\GHSRVLWLRQ+HZDVTXHVWLRQHGH[WHQVLYHO\UHJDUGLQJ ZKHWKHU (PSOR\HH¶V KHUQLD FRXOG KDYH EHHQ FDXVHG E\ KLV ZRUN DFWLYLWLHV 'U :RUWKLQJWRQLQGLFDWHGWKDWDKHUQLDVXFKDVWKDWVXIIHUHGE\(PSOR\HHFRXOGKDYHPDQ\ FDXVHVVRPHRIZKLFKZRXOGEHZRUNUHODWHGDQGVRPHRIZKLFKZRXOGQRW+HVWDWHG 7KHKHUQLDZKHWKHULWZDVWKHUHWZRGD\VEHIRUHRUDZHHNEHIRUHRUD\HDU EHIRUH , GRQ¶W NQRZ:KHWKHU WKDW KHUQLD ZDV DFXWH RU QRW>@ , GRQ¶W NQRZ%XWFHUWDLQO\WKHWKLQJWKDWZDVWKHGULYLQJIRUFHRIKLPFRPLQJLQ ZLWKWKHQDXVHDYRPLWLQJDQGFRQWLQXHGDEGRPLQDOSDLQZDVEHFDXVHWKH ERZHOZDVVWXFNLQ>WKHKHUQLD@ 2Q FURVVH[DPLQDWLRQ 'U :RUWKLQJWRQ ZDV DVNHG WKH IROORZLQJ TXHVWLRQ DERXW WKHKLVWRU\LQWKHFDUGLRORJLVW¶VUHSRUWDQGWKHFDXVHRI(PSOR\HH¶VKHUQLD³>E@DVHGRQ WKDWKLVWRU\RI>WKH@VWRPDFKJHWWLQJKDUGDQGKDYLQJVWRPDFKFUDPSVRYHUWKHODVWZHHN RU VR \RX FDQQRW VD\ ZLWK DQ\ GHJUHH RI PHGLFDO FHUWDLQW\ WKDW WKH OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW RI $SULO QG ZDV WKH FDXVH RI >(PSOR\HH¶V@ KHUQLD"´ 'U :RUWKLQJWRQUHVSRQGHG WKDW KH ³FDQQRW VD\ RQH ZD\ RU WKH RWKHU QR´ $V WR ZKHWKHU (PSOR\HH¶V KHUQLD SUH H[LVWHGWKHOLIWLQJLQFLGHQW'U:RUWKLQJWRQVWDWHG³WKHUH¶VDFKDQFH>LW@FRXOGKDYHEXW WKHUH¶VDFKDQFH>LW@PLJKWQRW$QG>(PSOR\HH@DWWKDWWLPH>GLGQRW@LQGLFDWHWR PHOLIWLQJVRPHWKLQJIHHOLQJDSRSRUVRPHWKLQJOLNHWKDW,WMXVWVRUWRIVWDUWHG´ $OWKRXJK 'U :RUWKLQJWRQ KDG VLJQHG DQ DIILGDYLW LQGLFDWLQJ WKDW (PSOR\HH¶V KHUQLD SUHH[LVWHG WKH ZRUN LQFLGHQW KH H[SODLQHG LQ KLV GHSRVLWLRQ WKDW KH LQWHQGHG WR LQGLFDWH WKDW (PSOR\HH¶V KHUQLD SUHH[LVWHG KLV HYDOXDWLRQ DQG WUHDWPHQW RI (PSOR\HH :KHQ SUHVHQWHG ZLWK D K\SRWKHWLFDO VFHQDULR PLUURULQJ (PSOR\HH¶V KLVWRU\ DQG DVNHG ZKHWKHUWKHKHUQLDZDVZRUNUHODWHGWKHIROORZLQJFROORTX\RFFXUUHG $ , ZRXOG VD\ WKDW WKH KHUQLD DSSHDUHG V\PSWRPDWLF VXGGHQO\ ,Q RWKHU ZRUGVLIKHKDGERZHOVWXFNLQWRWKLVKHUQLDDQGKHZDVDV\PSWRPDWLF EHIRUH , WKLQN WKH DFXWH HYHQW ZKHWKHU WKH KHUQLD DSSHDUHG RXW RI QRZKHUH FHUWDLQO\ , WKLQN WKH ERZHO WKDW ZDV VWXFN LQ WKH KHUQLD KDSSHQHG DFXWHO\ $QG WKDW PLJKW KDYH KDSSHQHG GXH WR MXVW WKH SUHVVXUHRQWKHDUHD,WFRXOG¶YHEHHQGXHWRPD\EHWKHUHZDVDVOLJKW ZLGHQLQJ RI WKH KHUQLD GHIHFW DFXWHO\ ,W¶V KDUG WR UHDOO\ VD\ EXW FHUWDLQO\RQHRUWKHRWKHURUERWKFRXOG¶YHGHILQLWHO\KDSSHQHG 4 2ND\ :LWKRXW WKDW SULRU WUHDWPHQW >RI WKH KHUQLD@ WKHUH¶V QR ZD\ WR WHOOWKDWLWKDG± $1R 4±SUHH[LVWHGWKDWHYHQW $1R 'U:RUWKLQJWRQWHVWLILHGWKDW(PSOR\HH¶VV\PSWRPV³GHYHORSHGVXGGHQO\´DQGWKDWKH KDG ³DFXWH V\PSWRPV´ FODULI\LQJ WKDW ³>W@KH V\PSWRPV WKDW >KH@ HOLFLWHG IURP >(PSOR\HH@EHLQJWKHQDXVHDDQGYRPLWLQJDVZHOODVWKHDEGRPLQDOSDLQ>ZHUH@IRUWKH WRKRXUV>SULRUWR(PSOR\HH¶VYLVLWWRWKHKRVSLWDO@´$OVRKHDJUHHGWKDWLWZDV ³YHU\OLNHO\´WKDW(PSOR\HHEHJDQWRH[SHULHQFHWKRVHV\PSWRPVGXULQJWKDWWLPHIUDPH WKDWWKRVHV\PSWRPVZHUH³WKHUHVXOWRI>(PSOR\HH¶V@H[HUWLRQ´DQGWKDWWKH³>V@WRPDFK FUDPSLQJ DQG VWXII OLNH WKDW WKDW ZDV JRLQJ RQ IRU D ZHHN RU VHYHUDO ZHHNV EHIRUHKDQGPD\RUPD\QRWKDYHKDSSHQHG´ $WWULDO(PSOR\HHWHVWLILHGWKDWZKLOHKHKDGLQGLFDWHGWRWKHFDUGLRORJLVWWKDWKH KDG EHHQ H[SHULHQFLQJ VRPH VWRPDFK GLVFRPIRUW DQG KDUGQHVV KH EHOLHYHG WKRVH V\PSWRPVWREHIOXUHODWHG7KLVWHVWLPRQ\ZDVLQDSSDUHQWFRQWUDGLFWLRQWR(PSOR\HH¶V WHVWLPRQ\DWWKHH[SHGLWHGKHDULQJWKDWWKHOLIWLQJLQFLGHQWZDVWKH³VWUDZWKDWEURNHWKH FDPHO¶VEDFN´DQGWKDWKHKDGDQ³XQHDV\´VWRPDFKWKDWGD\$WWULDO(PSOR\HHIXUWKHU GHVFULEHGWKHSDLQIROORZLQJWKHOLIWLQJLQFLGHQWDVGLIIHUHQWVXGGHQDQGVHYHUH 7KHWULDOFRXUWFRQFOXGHG(PSOR\HHIDLOHGWRHVWDEOLVKE\DSUHSRQGHUDQFHRIWKH HYLGHQFH WKDW KLV KHUQLD DURVH SULPDULO\ RXW RI DQG LQ WKH FRXUVH DQG VFRSH RI KLV HPSOR\PHQW6SHFLILFDOO\WKHFRXUWGHWHUPLQHGWKDWQHLWKHUWKHPHGLFDOHYLGHQFHQRU'U :RUWKLQJWRQ¶VRSLQLRQRQFDXVDWLRQZDVVXIILFLHQWWRVXSSRUWDILQGLQJRIDFRPSHQVDEOH LQMXU\KDYLQJIDLOHGWRVDWLVI\IRXURIWKHILYHFULWHULDUHTXLUHGE\VHFWLRQ D IRU KHUQLDFODLPV(PSOR\HHKDVDSSHDOHG 6WDQGDUGRI5HYLHZ 7KH VWDQGDUG ZH DSSO\ LQ UHYLHZLQJ D WULDO FRXUW¶V GHFLVLRQ SUHVXPHV WKDW WKH FRXUW¶VIDFWXDOILQGLQJVDUHFRUUHFWXQOHVVWKHSUHSRQGHUDQFHRIWKHHYLGHQFHLVRWKHUZLVH See 7HQQ &RGH $QQ F :KHQ WKH WULDO MXGJH KDV KDG WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR REVHUYH D ZLWQHVV¶V GHPHDQRU DQG WR KHDU LQFRXUW WHVWLPRQ\ ZH JLYH FRQVLGHUDEOH GHIHUHQFH WR IDFWXDO ILQGLQJV PDGH E\ WKH WULDO FRXUW Madden v. Holland Grp. of Tenn., Inc. 6:G 7HQQ +RZHYHU ³>Q@R VLPLODU GHIHUHQFHQHHGEHDIIRUGHGWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VILQGLQJVEDVHGXSRQGRFXPHQWDU\HYLGHQFH´ Goodman v. Schwarz Paper Co.1R:6&5:&7HQQ/(;,6DW 7HQQ :RUNHUV¶ &RPS 3DQHO -DQ 6LPLODUO\ WKH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ DQG DSSOLFDWLRQRIVWDWXWHVDQGUHJXODWLRQVDUHTXHVWLRQVRIODZWKDWDUHUHYLHZHGde novoZLWK QR SUHVXPSWLRQ RI FRUUHFWQHVV DIIRUGHG WKH WULDO FRXUW¶V FRQFOXVLRQV See Mansell v. Bridgestone Firestone N. Am. Tire, LLC 6:G 7HQQ :H DUH DOVR PLQGIXO RI RXU REOLJDWLRQ WR FRQVWUXH WKH ZRUNHUV¶ FRPSHQVDWLRQ VWDWXWHV ³IDLUO\ LPSDUWLDOO\ DQG LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK EDVLF SULQFLSOHV RI VWDWXWRU\ FRQVWUXFWLRQ´ DQG LQ D ZD\WKDWGRHVQRWIDYRUHLWKHUWKHHPSOR\HHRUWKHHPSOR\HU7HQQ&RGH$QQ $QDO\VLV (PSOR\HH UDLVHV WKUHH LVVXHV RQ DSSHDO WKH ILUVW WZR RI ZKLFK ZH FRPELQH DQG UHVWDWH DV ZKHWKHU WKH WULDO FRXUW HUUHG LQ GHWHUPLQLQJ WKDW (PSOR\HH GLG QRW SUHVHQW 7KH WULDO FRXUW DOVR PDGH DOWHUQDWLYH ILQGLQJV LQ WKH HYHQW LWV GHWHUPLQDWLRQ UHJDUGLQJ FRPSHQVDELOLW\ ZDVUHYHUVHGRQDSSHDO VXIILFLHQWHYLGHQFHWRHVWDEOLVKKHVXIIHUHGDFRPSHQVDEOHKHUQLD(PSOR\HH¶VWKLUGLVVXH LV ZKHWKHU WKH WULDO FRXUW HUUHG LQ LWV DOWHUQDWLYH ILQGLQJV E\ FRQFOXGLQJ LQ WKH HYHQW (PSOR\HH¶V KHUQLD LV GHHPHG FRPSHQVDEOH (PSOR\HH LV QRW HQWLWOHG WR WHPSRUDU\ GLVDELOLW\EHQHILWV%HFDXVHZHDIILUPWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VFRQFOXVLRQWKDW(PSOR\HH¶VKHUQLD LVQRWFRPSHQVDEOH(PSOR\HH¶VWKLUGLVVXHLVSUHWHUPLWWHG 8QOLNHRWKHUW\SHVRILQMXULHVKHUQLDVDUHJRYHUQHGE\DVSHFLILFVWDWXWHDSSOLFDEOH RQO\ WR KHUQLDV ZKLFK LGHQWLILHV ZKDW DQ LQMXUHG ZRUNHU PXVW SURYH WR HVWDEOLVK D FRPSHQVDEOHZRUNUHODWHGKHUQLD ,QDOOFODLPVIRU FRPSHQVDWLRQIRUKHUQLDRUUXSWXUHUHVXOWLQJIURPLQMXU\ E\ DFFLGHQW DULVLQJ SULPDULO\ RXW RI DQG LQ WKH FRXUVH DQG VFRSH RI WKH HPSOR\HH¶VHPSOR\PHQWLWPXVWEHGHILQLWHO\SURYHQWRWKHVDWLVIDFWLRQRI WKHFRXUWWKDW 7KHUHZDVDQLQMXU\UHVXOWLQJLQKHUQLDRUUXSWXUH 7KHKHUQLDRUUXSWXUHDSSHDUHGVXGGHQO\ ,WZDVDFFRPSDQLHGE\SDLQ 7KHKHUQLDRUUXSWXUHLPPHGLDWHO\IROORZHGWKHDFFLGHQW DQG 7KHKHUQLDRUUXSWXUHGLGQRWH[LVWSULRUWRWKHDFFLGHQWIRU ZKLFKFRPSHQVDWLRQLVFODLPHG 7HQQ&RGH$QQ D 7KLV VWDWXWH GLIIHUV RQO\ VOLJKWO\ IURP WKH RULJLQDO VWDWXWH ZKLFK ZDV HQDFWHG LQ $V RULJLQDOO\ HQDFWHG WKH VWDWXWH UHTXLUHG WKH ILYH FULWHULD WR EH ³GHILQLWHO\ SURYHQ´ WR WKH VDWLVIDFWLRQ RI WKH FRXUW LQ DOO FODLPV ³UHVXOWLQJ IURP LQMXU\ E\ DFFLGHQW DULVLQJRXWRIDQGLQWKHFRXUVHRIWKHHPSOR\HH¶VHPSOR\PHQW´3XEOLF$FWV&K %\ FRQWUDVW WKH VWDWXWH DSSOLFDEOH LQ WKLV FDVH UHTXLUHV WKH ILYH FULWHULD EH ³GHILQLWHO\SURYHQ´WRWKHVDWLVIDFWLRQRIWKHFRXUWLQDOOFODLPV³UHVXOWLQJIURPLQMXU\E\ DFFLGHQW DULVLQJ primarily RXW RI DQG LQ WKH FRXUVH and scope RI WKH HPSOR\HH¶V HPSOR\PHQW´7HQQ&RGH$QQ D HPSKDVLVDGGHG 7KHILUVWUHSRUWHG7HQQHVVHH6XSUHPH&RXUWRSLQLRQDGGUHVVLQJWKHVWDWXWHLV LQVWUXFWLYH,QMatthews v. Hardaway Contracting Co.6:G 7HQQ WKH 7HQQHVVHH 6XSUHPH &RXUW DGGUHVVHG WKH UHDVRQV IRU WKH SDVVDJH RI WKLV VWDWXWH DQG WKH GLIILFXOW\SUHVHQWHGLQGHWHUPLQLQJZKHQDKHUQLDLVFDXVHGE\DQLQMXU\VWDWLQJ %\ HPSKDVL]LQJ ³DQG VFRSH´ ZH GR QRW VXJJHVW WKH SKUDVH DOWHUV WKH PDQQHU LQ ZKLFK D ZRUNHUV¶ FRPSHQVDWLRQFDVHLVWREHDQDO\]HGUDWKHULWUHSUHVHQWVODQJXDJHWKDWZDVQRWSUHVHQWXQWLODGGHGE\WKH 5HIRUP$FWRISeeNavyac v. Universal Health Servs.1R71:UN&RPS $SS%G/(;,6DW 7HQQ:RUNHUV¶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¶VHPSOR\PHQWKHLV QRWHQWLWOHGWRFRPSHQVDWLRQ7KHGLIILFXOWLHVLQILQGLQJWKHWUXWKLQVXFKD VLWXDWLRQ KDYH JLYHQ ULVH WR WKH HQDFWPHQW RI VWDWXWHV LQ VHYHUDO 6WDWHV VLPLODUWRRXURZQVWDWXWH &KDSWHU$FWVRI :HWKLQNLWZDVWKH REMHFW DQG SXUSRVH RI RXU RZQ /HJLVODWXUH DV ZHOO DV WKH OHJLVODWXUHV RI RWKHU 6WDWHV WR UHPRYH WKH LVVXH DV IDU DV SRVVLEOH IURP WKH ILHOG RI FRQMHFWXUHDQGVSHFXODWLRQ Id.DW )XUWKHUWKH6XSUHPH&RXUWVWDWHGLQMatthewsWKDW³>W@KH7HQQHVVHH$FWH[SUHVVO\ SURYLGHVLQVXEVHFWLRQWKDWLWPXVWEHGHILQLWHO\SURYHQµWKDWWKHKHUQLDRUUXSWXUHGLG QRWH[LVWSULRUWRWKHDFFLGHQWIRUZKLFKFRPSHQVDWLRQLVFODLPHG¶´Id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d. $QLQMXUHGZRUNHUKDVWKHEXUGHQRISURRIRQHYHU\HVVHQWLDOHOHPHQWRIKLVRUKHU FODLP 7HQQ &RGH $QQ F /LNHZLVH WKH EXUGHQ UHVWV RQ WKH HPSOR\HH WR ³GHILQLWHO\´ SURYH WR WKH VDWLVIDFWLRQ RI WKH FRXUW HDFK RI WKH ILYH FULWHULD LGHQWLILHGLQVHFWLRQ D (PSOR\HH DVVHUWV RQ DSSHDO WKDW WKH WULDO FRXUW HUUHG LQ FRQFOXGLQJ KH GLG QRW VXIIHUDFRPSHQVDEOHKHUQLD(PSOR\HHILUVWDUJXHVWKHWULDOFRXUWHUUHGLQLWVPHWKRGRI DQDO\]LQJ WKH VWDWXWRU\ FULWHULD QHFHVVDU\ WR HVWDEOLVK D FRPSHQVDEOH KHUQLD +H DUJXHV WKDWZKHQGHWHUPLQLQJZKHWKHUWKHILUVWFULWHULRQZDVPHWZKHWKHUWKHUH³ZDVDQLQMXU\ UHVXOWLQJ LQ KHUQLD RU UXSWXUH´ WKH FRXUW HUURQHRXVO\ LQFOXGHG WKH UHTXLUHPHQW WKDW WKH KHUQLD PXVW KDYH UHVXOWHG ³IURP LQMXU\ E\ DFFLGHQW DULVLQJ SULPDULO\ RXW RI DQG LQ WKH FRXUVH DQG VFRSH RI WKH HPSOR\HH¶V HPSOR\PHQW´ (PSOR\HH DUJXHV WKLV ³HIIHFWLYHO\ GHIHDWVWKHHQWLUHSXUSRVHRIWKHILYHVWHSDQDO\VLVDQGUHQGHUVDGGUHVVLQJWKHRWKHUIRXU VWHSVLUUHOHYDQW´(PSOR\HHFRQWHQGVWKDW³>Z@KDWWKH&RXUWGLGLVDGGUHVVWKHILUVWVWHS DQGWKHQGHPDQGWKDWLWDORQHHVWDEOLVKWKDWWKHLQMXU\ZDVZRUNUHODWHG´:HGLVDJUHH ZLWK(PSOR\HH¶VLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRIWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VDQDO\VLVRIVHFWLRQ)RUDQ HPSOR\HH WR UHFRYHU EHQHILWV IRU D KHUQLD RU UXSWXUH VHFWLRQ VSHFLILFDOO\ FRQWHPSODWHVWKDWWKHHPSOR\HHPXVWSURYHDQLQMXU\E\DFFLGHQWDULVLQJSULPDULO\RXWRI DQG LQ WKH FRXUVH DQG VFRSH RI WKH HPSOR\PHQW and PXVW ³GHILQLWHO\´ SURYH WR WKH VDWLVIDFWLRQRIWKHFRXUWHDFKRIWKHILYHFULWHULDVHWRXWLQWKHVWDWXWH +HUHWKHUHLVQRGLVSXWHWKDW(PSOR\HHH[SHULHQFHGV\PSWRPVIROORZLQJWKH$SULO OLIWLQJLQFLGHQWDQGWKHUHLVQRGLVSXWHWKDW(PSOR\HHVXIIHUHGYHQWUDOKHUQLDV 7KHSDUWLHVDJUHHGWKDWWKUHHVXUJHULHVZHUHUHTXLUHGWRUHSDLUWKHKHUQLDV+RZHYHUZH DJUHHZLWKWKHWULDOFRXUW¶VFRQFOXVLRQWKDWWKHPHGLFDOSURRIIDLOHGWRHVWDEOLVKWKDWWKH KHUQLD GLG QRW H[LVW SULRU WR WKH $SULO OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW $OWKRXJK 'U :RUWKLQJWRQ WHVWLILHG WKH KHUQLD could have GHYHORSHG DV D UHVXOW RI (PSOR\HH¶V ZRUN DFWLYLWLHVRQ$SULOKHDOVRWHVWLILHGWKHKHUQLDFRXOGKDYHEHHQSUHVHQWSULRUWR WKDWGDWH :KHQ IDFHG ZLWK D K\SRWKHWLFDO VFHQDULR PLUURULQJ WKH IDFWV VXUURXQGLQJ (PSOR\HH¶VZRUNDQGWKHOLIWLQJLQFLGHQWDQGDVNHGZKHWKHU(PSOR\HH¶VKHUQLDDSSHDUHG VXGGHQO\ 'U :RUWKLQJWRQ WHVWLILHG WKDW ³WKH KHUQLD DSSHDUHG V\PSWRPDWLF VXGGHQO\´ +H WHVWLILHG WKDW ³LI >(PSOR\HH@ KDG ERZHO VWXFN LQWR WKLV KHUQLD DQG KH ZDV DV\PSWRPDWLF EHIRUH , WKLQN WKH DFXWH HYHQW ZKHWKHU WKH KHUQLD DSSHDUHG RXW RI QRZKHUH FHUWDLQO\ , WKLQN WKH ERZHO WKDW ZDV VWXFN LQ WKH KHUQLD KDSSHQHG DFXWHO\´ +RZHYHUKHVDLG³WKDWPLJKWKDYHKDSSHQHGGXHWRMXVWSUHVVXUHRQWKLVDUHD,WFRXOG¶YH EHHQGXHWRPD\EHWKHUHZDVDVOLJKWZLGHQLQJRIWKHKHUQLDGHIHFWDFXWHO\,W¶VKDUGWR UHDOO\VD\EXWFHUWDLQO\RQHRUWKHRWKHURUERWKFRXOG¶YHGHILQLWHO\KDSSHQHG´ ,Q KLV GHSRVLWLRQ 'U :RUWKLQJWRQ ZDV TXHVWLRQHG DW OHQJWK E\ (PSOR\HH¶V DWWRUQH\ FRQFHUQLQJ WKH VLJQV DQG V\PSWRPV RI VRPHRQH GHDOLQJ ZLWK D KHUQLD +RZHYHU'U:RUWKLQJWRQ¶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³LWZDVPRUHOLNHO\WKDQQRWWKH>(PSOR\HH¶V KHUQLD@ H[LVWHG SULRU WR >WKH $SULO OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW@´ +H WHVWLILHG WKHUH ZDV QR PHQWLRQLQHLWKHUKLVUHFRUGVRULQWKHUHFRUGRIDFDUGLRORJLVW¶VSUHVXUJHU\FRQVXOWDWLRQ RI (PSOR\HH KDYLQJ OLIWHG D UDQJH DW ZRUN +H DFNQRZOHGJHG WKH UHSRUW RI WKH FDUGLRORJLVW¶V FRQVXOWDWLRQ LQGLFDWHG (PSOR\HH UHSRUWHG ³RYHU WKH SDVW ZHHN RU VR´ KH ³IHOWWKDWKLVVWRPDFKZDVJHWWLQJKDUGDQGZKHQHYHUKHZRXOGH[HUWKLPVHOIKHZRXOG KDYHVWRPDFKFUDPSV´%DVHGXSRQWKDWKLVWRU\'U:RUWKLQJWRQZDVDVNHGZKHWKHUKH FRXOG VD\ ³ZLWK DQ\ GHJUHH RI PHGLFDO FHUWDLQW\ WKDW WKH OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW RI $SULO QG ZDVWKHFDXVHRI>(PSOR\HH¶V@KHUQLD´DQGKHUHVSRQGHG³,FDQQRWVD\RQHZD\RU WKH RWKHU´ $VNHG VSHFLILFDOO\ DERXW (PSOR\HH¶V DFXWH V\PSWRPV DQG ZKHWKHU WKH V\PSWRPV LQGLFDWHG (PSOR\HH¶V KHUQLDV H[LVWHG SULRU WR $SULO 'U :RUWKLQJWRQ VWDWHG³,FDQ¶WVD\RQHZD\RUWKHRWKHUZKHQWKHKHUQLDZDVIRUPHG´$VNHGZKHWKHUKH FRXOG VD\ (PSOR\HH¶V KHUQLD ³ZDV D UHVXOW RI OLIWLQJ D UDQJH RQ $SULO 'U :RUWKLQJWRQUHVSRQGHG³,FDQQRWVD\WKDWVSHFLILFDOO\QR´ ,Q KLV UHGLUHFW WHVWLPRQ\ 'U :RUWKLQJWRQ ZDV DVNHG DERXW KLV DIILGDYLW DQG ZKHWKHUKH³ZDVFRPIRUWDEOHZLWKWKHODQJXDJHWKDWLWLVPRUHOLNHO\WKDQQRWWKDWWKH KHUQLDH[LVWHGSULRUWR$SULO´$OWKRXJKH[SUHVVLQJGLVFRPIRUWZLWKWKHODQJXDJH KHDJDLQFRQFOXGHGKHGLGQRWNQRZZKHQWKHKHUQLDFDPHLQWRH[LVWHQFH ,ZRXOGVD\DWWKHWLPH>,VLJQHGWKHDIILGDYLW@P\LQWHQWZDV,PHDQWKDW, ZDVEDVLFDOO\VD\LQJ,GRQ¶WNQRZ,NQRZQRWKLQJRIKLPSULRUWRZKHQ, VDZ KLP DQG WKHKLVWRU\KHJDYH PH DERXW WKH KRXUV OHDGLQJ XS WR WKH HYHQW $V IDU DV ZKHWKHU WKH KHUQLD H[LVWHG EHIRUH RU DIWHU WKDW WLPH , ZRXOG VD\ WKHUH ZDV OLNHOLKRRG WKDW WKH KHUQLD H[LVWHG VRPHWLPH EHIRUH , VDZKLPREYLRXVO\$QGDVIDUDVWKDWZDVEHIRUHWKHPRQWKRI$SULOZKHQ ,VDZKLP,VDLGLWFRXOGEHEXWUHDOO\,GRQ¶WNQRZ $OWKRXJK'U:RUWKLQJWRQWHVWLILHGLWZDV³YHU\OLNHO\´WKHV\PSWRPV(PSOR\HH H[SHULHQFHG LQ WKH WR KRXUV EHIRUH KH VDZ (PSOR\HH UHVXOWHG IURP WKH OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW KH QHYHU WHVWLILHG WKDW WKH OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW UHVXOWHG LQ WKH KHUQLD DQG QHYHU WHVWLILHG WKDW WKH KHUQLD GLG QRW H[LVW SULRU WR WKH OLIWLQJ LQFLGHQW ,W LV FOHDU IURP 'U :RUWKLQJWRQ¶VWHVWLPRQ\WKDWKHKHOGWKHRSLQLRQWKHV\PSWRPV(PSOR\HHGHVFULEHGWR ERWKWKHKRVSLWDODQGKLPUHVXOWHGIURPWKHOLIWLQJLQFLGHQW+RZHYHUKHQHYHUWHVWLILHG WKDWWKHherniaitself UHVXOWHGIURPWKHOLIWLQJLQFLGHQW:KDWKHGLGFOHDUO\H[SUHVVZDV WKDWKHFRXOGQRWVD\³RQHZD\RUWKHRWKHU´DQGWKDWWRGRVRZRXOGEH³VSHFXODWLRQ´ 0RUHRYHULQUHDFKLQJLWVGHFLVLRQWKHWULDOFRXUWFRQVLGHUHGWKHWHVWLPRQ\JLYHQ E\ (PSOR\HH DW WKH H[SHGLWHG KHDULQJ DQG DW WULDO DQG FRQFOXGHG WKDW (PSOR\HH¶V ³DWWHPSW WR PRGLI\ KLV WHVWLPRQ\ DW WKH FRPSHQVDWLRQ KHDULQJ >ZDV@ XQSHUVXDVLYH´ (PSOR\HHWHVWLILHGDWWKHH[SHGLWHGKHDULQJWKDWKHKDGH[SHULHQFHGVWRPDFKSDLQVLQWKH ZHHNSULRUWRWKHOLIWLQJLQFLGHQWDQGWKDWWKHOLIWLQJLQFLGHQWRQ$SULOZDVWKH ³VWUDZ WKDW EURNH WKH FDPHO¶V EDFN´ +RZHYHU DW WULDO KH WHVWLILHG KH WKRXJKW WKRVH V\PSWRPVZHUHSRVVLEO\UHODWHGWRWKHIOXDQGWKDWKLVV\PSWRPVDIWHUOLIWLQJWKHUDQJH ZHUHGLIIHUHQWVXGGHQDQGVHYHUH :KHQ WKH WULDO MXGJH KDV VHHQ DQG KHDUG WKH ZLWQHVVHV ZH JLYH FRQVLGHUDEOH GHIHUHQFH WR WKH FRXUW¶V FUHGLELOLW\ DQG IDFWXDO GHWHUPLQDWLRQV See Tryon v. Saturn Corp.6:G 7HQQ ,QDGGLWLRQ³>W@KHUHVKDOOEHDSUHVXPSWLRQ WKDWWKHILQGLQJVDQGFRQFOXVLRQVRIWKHZRUNHUV¶FRPSHQVDWLRQMXGJHDUHFRUUHFWXQOHVV WKH SUHSRQGHUDQFH RI WKH HYLGHQFH LV RWKHUZLVH´ 7HQQ &RGH $QQ F &RQVLGHULQJ WKH WRWDOLW\ RI WKH FLUFXPVWDQFHV DQG WDNLQJ LQWR DFFRXQW LWV DVVHVVPHQW RI (PSOR\HH¶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¶VILQGLQJV$FFRUGLQJO\ZHDIILUPWKHWULDO FRXUW¶V FRQFOXVLRQ WKDW (PSOR\HH GLG QRW HVWDEOLVK WKH VWDWXWRU\ IDFWRUV QHFHVVDU\ WR SURYHDFRPSHQVDEOHKHUQLD &RQFOXVLRQ )RUWKHIRUHJRLQJUHDVRQVZHDIILUPWKHGHFLVLRQRIWKHWULDOFRXUWDQGFHUWLI\WKH WULDOFRXUW¶VRUGHUDVILQDO 7(11(66((%85($82):25.(56¶&203(16$7,21 :25.(56¶&203(16$7,21$33($/6%2$5' 7KRPDV6XVWHUVLF 'RFNHW1R Y 6WDWH)LOH1R /RZH¶V+RPH&HQWHUV,QFHWDO $SSHDOIURPWKH&RXUWRI:RUNHUV¶ &RPSHQVDWLRQ&ODLPV $XGUH\$+HDGULFN-XGJH &(57,),&$7(2)6(59,&( , KHUHE\ FHUWLI\ WKDW D WUXH DQG FRUUHFW FRS\ RI WKH $SSHDOV %RDUG¶V GHFLVLRQ LQ WKH UHIHUHQFHGFDVHZDVVHQWWRWKHIROORZLQJUHFLSLHQWVE\WKHIROORZLQJPHWKRGVRIVHUYLFH RQWKLVWKHWKGD\RI$SULO 1DPH &HUWLILHG )LUVW 9LD )D[ 9LD 6HQWWR 0DLO &ODVV )D[ 1XPEHU (PDLO 0DLO 0DWWKHZ*&ROHPDQ ; PFROHPDQ#ORJDQWKRPSVRQODZFRP *DU\1DSROLWDQ ; JDU\QDSROLWDQ#OHLWQHUILUPFRP %HQ5HHVH EHQUHHVH#OHLWQHUILUPFRP 5RE&DUGHQ UREFDUGHQ#OHLWQHUILUPFRP $XGUH\$+HDGULFN-XGJH ; 9LD(OHFWURQLF0DLO .HQQHWK06ZLW]HU&KLHI-XGJH ; 9LD(OHFWURQLF0DLO 3HQQ\6KUXP&OHUN&RXUWRI ; SHQQ\SDWWHUVRQVKUXP#WQJRY :RUNHUV¶&RPSHQVDWLRQ&ODLPV --HDQHWWH%DLUG HDQHWWH%DLUG 'HSXW\&OHUN:RUNHUV¶&RPSHQVDWLRQ$SSHDOV%RDUG )UHQFK/DQGLQJ'U6WH% 1DVKYLOOH71 7HOHSKRQH (OHFWURQLF0DLO:&$SSHDOV&OHUN#WQJRY
Copyright © 2025 by eLaws. All rights reserved.