Benjamin, Leslie v. Conagra Foods Packaged Foods

FILED
Oct 10, 2022
10:54 AM(CT)
TENNESSEE COURT OF
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
CLAIMS
TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
AT GRAY
LESLIE BENJAMIN, ) Docket No. 2021-02-0564
Employee, )
v. )
CONAGRA FOODS PACKAGED )
FOODS, ) State File No. 28099-2021
Employer, )
and )
INDEMNITY INSURANCE )
COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA, ) Judge Brian K. Addington
Carrier. )
EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER
Ms. Benjamin requested medical and temporary disability benefits related to a burn
injury. Conagra argued it provided appropriate medical treatment and Ms. Benjamin was
not entitled to additional treatment for an alleged mental injury related to the burn. It
admitted that it owed Ms. Benjamin two weeks of temporary total disability benefits but
no more. For the reasons below, the Court holds Ms. Benjamin is entitled to part of the
requested temporary disability benefits but no further medical benefits.
Claim History
Ms. Benjamin suffered second-degree burns while rolling up a hose at work on
March 24, 2021. She immediately went to a back room to remove her shirt, experiencing
severe pain and noting blistering on her torso and chest. She reported the injury to her
supervisor and went to the emergency room. After treatment, she was told to return in one
to two days, follow up with a burn clinic, and see her primary care doctor that week.
1
Conagra did not send Ms. Benjamin to the burn clinic, but instead she returned to
the emergency room every other day until April 6, when she was referred to specialized
wound care and to her primary care physician.1
On April 6, Ms. Benjamin’s primary care provider diagnosed anxiety and prescribed
pain medication. Ms. Benjamin testified that because of the burns she was unable to leave
her home during this time because she could not wear a brassiere. As a result, she believes
she developed a phobia of public areas. She testified that she discussed her phobia with her
primary care provider Nurse Melissa Lamb. She has sought counseling at her own expense.
As for her burns, the providers gave her creams that slowly healed her wounds. They
released her back to work and treatment on June 17, though Ms. Benjamin claimed she was
only released from treatment but not to work.
Concerning temporary disability benefits, Ms. Benjamin testified it took the efforts
of her former attorney to get them started. She acknowledged she received some temporary
disability benefits, but she feels she remains unable to work because of her mental status.
She wanted Conagra to provide psychological or psychiatric treatment that she believes
she needs and as discussed with her own provider.
For its part, Conagra admitted that it owed Ms. Benjamin two additional weeks of
temporary total disability benefits but denied that Ms. Benjamin was entitled to treatment
for her alleged mental injury.
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
At this Expedited Hearing, Ms. Benjamin must prove she is likely to prevail at a
hearing on the merits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1) (2021).
As to medical benefits, Ms. Benjamin requested either psychological or psychiatric
treatment. Psychological or psychiatric services are limited to those ordered upon referral
of a physician authorized under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 50-6-204(a)(3). Tenn.
Code Ann. § 50-6-204(h). In short, an employee might receive this treatment if an
authorized physician recommends it. Because Ms. Benjamin has not submitted a referral
for psychological or psychiatric treatment from an authorized physician, the Court holds
she is not likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits that she is entitled to treatment at this
time.2
1
Conagra did not provide a physician panel. Rather, Ms. Benjamin contacted Conagra, and reached an
agreement that Conagra would authorize her primary care provider for treatment.
2
The Court acknowledges that Ms. Benjamin suffered a severe injury. It also acknowledges her sincere and
candid testimony and pleasant demeanor in court; however, she did not present medical evidence to support
her request.
2
As to the temporary disability request, Conagra agreed to pay two additional weeks
for the period of June 3-17, 2021. It did this because it paid her benefits until June 2, but
she was not released until June 17. As for benefits beyond that date, Ms. Benjamin must
show she was totally disabled from work. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-207(1)(a). However,
she has not presented any medical evidence of further work restriction, and the Court holds
she likely would not succeed at a hearing on the merits regarding further benefits.
IT IS ORDERED as follows:
1. The Court denies Ms. Benjamin’s request for psychological or psychiatric
treatment.
2. Conagra shall pay Ms. Benjamin two additional weeks of temporary total
disability benefits, but the Court denies Ms. Benjamin’s request for any further
temporary disability benefits.
3. The Court sets a Status Hearing on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
Eastern Time. The parties must call 855-543-5044 to participate. Failure to call
may result in a determination of the issues without the party’s participation.
4. Unless interlocutory appeal of this Expedited Hearing Order is filed, compliance
with this Order must occur by seven business days of entry of this Order as
required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239(d)(3). The Insurer or
Self-Insured Employer must submit confirmation of compliance by email to
WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov by the compliance deadline. Failure to do so
may result in a penalty assessment for non-compliance.
ENTERED October 10, 2022.
______________________________________
BRIAN K. ADDINGTON, JUDGE
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
3
APPENDIX
Exhibits:3
1. Rule 72 Declaration of Ms. Benjamin
2. Photos
3. Medical bills (collective)
4. Affidavit of Travis Wedel
5. Newport Medical Center medical records
6. Rural Medical Services medical record (ID only)
7. Ballad Health Wound Care medical records
8. Affidavit of Toni Lane (ID only)
9. Affidavit of Veronica Benjamin (ID only)
10. First Report of Injury
Technical record:
1. Petition for Benefit Determination
2. Dispute Certification Notice
3. Hearing Request
4. Employer’s Position Statement
5. Employer’s Exhibit List
6. Employer’s Witness List
7. Notice of Filing Medical Record
8. Employee’s Amended Witness and Exhibit List
9. Employer’s Motion to Exclude
3
Before the hearing, Conagra filed a motion to exclude Ms. Benjamin’s amended witness and exhibit list
on the basis that the amended lists were filed outside the deadline of Tennessee Compilation Rules and
Regulations 0800-02-21-,16(2)(a). The witness issue resolved itself, as Ms. Benjamin only brought one
witness, who did not testify. The Court took the exhibit issue under advisement and asked Ms. Benjamin
the reason for her failure to timely file the documents. She stated that she did not know when she needed
to file them. As to these documents, the Court holds Ms. Benjamin did not provide good cause for their late
filing and excludes them from the record.
4
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of this Order was sent on October 10, 2022.
Name Certified Fax Email Service sent to:
Mail
Leslie Benjamin, X X 445 Lennon Circle
Employee Newport, TN 37821
lesliebenjamin24@gmail.com
Leslie Bishop, X lbishop@lewisthomason.com
Employer’s Attorney swaltman@lewisthomason.com
rlee@lewisthomason.com
______________________________________
PENNY SHRUM, COURT CLERK
wc.courtclerk@tn.gov
5
Expedited Hearing Order Right to Appeal:
If you disagree with this Expedited Hearing Order, you may appeal to the Workers’
Compensation Appeals Board. To appeal an expedited hearing order, you must:
1. Complete the enclosed form entitled: “Notice of Appeal,” and file the form with the
Clerk of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims within seven business days of the
date the expedited hearing order was filed. When filing the Notice of Appeal, you must
serve a copy upon all parties.
2. You must pay, via check, money order, or credit card, a $75.00 filing fee within ten
calendar days after filing of the Notice of Appeal. Payments can be made in-person at
any Bureau office or by U.S. mail, hand-delivery, or other delivery service. In the
alternative, you may file an Affidavit of Indigency (form available on the Bureau’s
website or any Bureau office) seeking a waiver of the fee. You must file the fully-
completed Affidavit of Indigency within ten calendar days of filing the Notice of
Appeal. Failure to timely pay the filing fee or file the Affidavit of Indigency will
result in dismissal of the appeal.
3. You bear the responsibility of ensuring a complete record on appeal. You may request
from the court clerk the audio recording of the hearing for a $25.00 fee. If a transcript of
the proceedings is to be filed, a licensed court reporter must prepare the transcript and file
it with the court clerk within ten business days of the filing the Notice of
Appeal. Alternatively, you may file a statement of the evidence prepared jointly by both
parties within ten business days of the filing of the Notice of Appeal. The statement of
the evidence must convey a complete and accurate account of the hearing. The Workers’
Compensation Judge must approve the statement before the record is submitted to the
Appeals Board. If the Appeals Board is called upon to review testimony or other proof
concerning factual matters, the absence of a transcript or statement of the evidence can be
a significant obstacle to meaningful appellate review.
4. If you wish to file a position statement, you must file it with the court clerk within ten
business days after the deadline to file a transcript or statement of the evidence. The
party opposing the appeal may file a response with the court clerk within ten business
days after you file your position statement. All position statements 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.
For self-represented litigants: Help from an Ombudsman is available at 800-332-2667.
NOTICE OF APPEAL
Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
www.tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/
wc.courtclerk@tn.gov | 1-800-332-2667
Docket No.: ________________________
State File No.: ______________________
Date of Injury: _____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Employee
v.
___________________________________________________________________________
Employer
Notice is given that ____________________________________________________________________
[List name(s) of all appealing party(ies). Use separate sheet if necessary.]
appeals the following order(s) of the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims to the
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (check one or more applicable boxes and include the date file-
stamped on the first page of the order(s) being appealed):
□ Expedited Hearing Order filed on _______________ □ Motion Order filed on ___________________
□ Compensation Order filed on__________________ □ Other Order filed on_____________________
issued by Judge _________________________________________________________________________.
Statement of the Issues on Appeal
Provide a short and plain statement of the issues on appeal or basis for relief on appeal:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Parties
Appellant(s) (Requesting Party): _________________________________________ ☐Employer ☐Employee
Address: ________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________
Email: __________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: ______________________________________________ BPR#: _______________________
Attorney’s Email: ______________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellant *
LB-1099 rev. 01/20 Page 1 of 2 RDA 11082
Employee Name: _______________________________________ Docket No.: _____________________ Date of Inj.: _______________
Appellee(s) (Opposing Party): ___________________________________________ ☐Employer ☐Employee
Appellee’s Address: ______________________________________________ Phone: ____________________
Email: _________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: _____________________________________________ BPR#: ________________________
Attorney’s Email: _____________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellee *
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, _____________________________________________________________, certify that I have forwarded a
true and exact copy of this Notice of Appeal by First Class mail, postage prepaid, or in any manner as described
in Tennessee Compilation Rules & Regulations, Chapter 0800-02-21, to all parties and/or their attorneys in this
case on this the __________ day of ___________________________________, 20 ____.
______________________________________________
[Signature of appellant or attorney for appellant]
LB-1099 rev. 01/20 Page 2 of 2 RDA 11082