Woodard, Denny v. Freeman Expositions, LLC

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
AT NASHVILLE
DENNY WOODARD, ) Docket No. 2018-06-2162
Employee, )
)
V. ) State File No. 69647-2018
)
FREEMAN EXPOSITIONS, LLC, )
Employer. ) Judge Joshua D. Baker
EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER
The Court held an expedited hearing on December 19, 2019, to consider whether
Mr. Woodard would likely prevail at a final hearing against Freeman Expositions’s
affirmative defenses of willful misconduct and illegal drug use. For the reasons below,
the Court finds Mr. Woodard is likely to prevail and grants him medical and temporary
disability benefits. The Court reserves the request for an attorney’s fee.
Claim History
Mr. Woodard worked intermittently as a stagehand for Freeman through his union,
the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (the Union). At center stage in
this dispute is a top-heavy cart loaded with four-by-eight sheets of Masonite, Freeman’s
admonition to “push, don’t pull” the cart, and a failed drug test.
On September 11, 2018, Mr. Woodard’s lead, Josh Tafoya, asked him to wheel a
cart loaded with roughly fifteen sheets of Masonite, which is a material used by stage
hands to protect flooring during set-up and dismantling. The cart had a rectangular
bottom, four wheels, and a rail on its right side. Masonite sheets dwarfed the cart in both
height and width, making the cart unstable.
Video of the accident showed Mr. Tafoya following closely behind Mr. Woodard
as he pushed the cart. In the video, Mr. Woodard struggled against the cart’s leftward
trajectory while Mr. Tafoya walked away to take a phone call. While attempting to avoid
obstacles by steering the cart to the right, the Masonite fell over on his left ankle and right
arm.
Mr. Woodard received some authorized treatment from Dr. Samuel Crosby,
including surgery. Dr. Crosby diagnosed and treated arm and leg fractures, taking Mr.
Woodard off work until October 23, 2018. Ata follow-up visit on that date, Dr. Crosby
felt that Mr. Woodard was doing well and transferred him to a short cast. He
recommended follow-up in four weeks for likely transfer into a walking boot. However,
Mr. Woodard received no further care.
Freeman denied Mr. Woodard’s claim in mid-October after a drug test taken at the
hospital the day of the accident was positive for oxycodone and marijuana. Mr. Woodard
denied smoking marijuana on the day of the accident but admitted he smoked it at a
Union picnic days before the test. Concerning oxycodone, Mr. Woodard said he received
Percocet at the hospital to treat his pain, resulting in the positive test result. He
acknowledged a history using pain pills for a prior work injury but stated that in recent
years, due to fears of addiction, he had moved instead to CBD oil for pain treatment. Mr.
Woodard denied being intoxicated on the date of the accident, and three witnesses,
including Mr. Tafoya, testified in depositions that Mr. Woodard did not seem to be under
the influence of drugs that day.
The same witnesses also testified about the cart and about Freeman’s “push, don’t
pull” rule. Timothy Harris, shop steward for the Union, testified frankly after viewing
the video, “It was the wrong material on the wrong cart.” When asked if he would agree
that Mr. Woodard would not have been injured if he had followed the rule, he responded,
“No, I don’t think that made a difference. The cart was dangerous. It would have turned
over no matter what he did.” He also expressed “wonder” that Mr. Woodard “got as far
as he did with [the cart] before it turned over.”
Although Mr. Tafoya thought the cart safe to use, he called it “squirrely” and said
it can only safely be pushed, not pulled. Mike Clark, operations manager for Freeman,
testified that Freeman’s “push, don’t pull” rule applies to “everything we have with
wheels.” However, he acknowledged the Masonite was larger than the cart so moving it
required gripping the Masonite and not the cart or a cart handle. He also said he
“normally” pushed carts of Masonite by himself.
Mr. Tafoya admitted taking a cell phone call just before Mr. Woodard’s accident.’
He said that when he took the call he “had to be close to that timeframe that I, you know,
told him to push [the cart] up there for me.” He also said that when he answered the call,
"Mr. Harris said that taking a cell phone call while working would violate the Union’s “Local 46 Policy.”
Mr. Woodard said “he got it” in reference to pushing the cart.” Mr. Woodard denies this.
Concerning notice and enforcement of the rule, signs in the Freeman warehouse
read, “SAFETY FIRST, PUSH don’t pull hand trucks.” Mr. Tafoya testified he warned
others to be careful with the cart that injured Mr. Woodard, instructing them to “push
don’t pull.” Further, Mr. Harris said he emphasized the rule in his speeches and corrected
workers every time he saw them pulling rather than pushing a cart. He also testified that
two people should have been moving the cart that injured Mr. Woodard. Mr. Woodard
received no formal discipline for his alleged violation of the rule and testified he has still
not been formally disciplined.
Regarding Mr. Woodard’s earnings at Freeman, the parties filed a wage
statement. The statement showed that he earned $4,932.12 over the fifty-two weeks just
before the accident. In that time, Mr. Woodard received pay from Freeman during
fifteen, nonconsecutive weeks. In those weeks, his wages varied widely from a
maximum of $656.00 per week to a minimum of $82.00. The wage statement listed his
average weekly wage as $94.85 per week.
When asked about the sporadic nature of his work schedule and pay, Mr. Woodard
said he worked “every time [the Union] called me,” but he was not called to work every
week. On this issue, Mr. Harris characterized Union work as part-time employment. Mr.
Tafoya agreed that Union workers have no control over how often they can work for
Freeman.
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
To prevail at an expedited hearing, Mr. Woodard must provide sufficient evidence
to show that he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-
6-239(d)(1) (2019). The Court finds he carried that burden.
Mr. Woodard got hurt when a cart carrying Masonite fell over on his left ankle and
right arm while working for Freeman. He broke his ankle in the fall. The Court holds his
injury arose primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment.
Freeman, however, contended Mr. Woodard’s injury was not compensable
because it resulted from illegal drug use and willful misconduct, specifically violation of
a safety rule. Workers’ Compensation Law provides that “no compensation shall be
allowed for an injury ... due to [an] employee’s willful misconduct [or] ... illegal drug
* Freeman also had a safety rule requiring two people to work as a team when moving “heavy
equipment.” The rule, however, did not define heavy equipment.
use.” Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-110(a)(1) and (a)(3). As these are affirmative defenses,
Freeman has the burden of proving its defenses.
To show Mr. Woodard engaged in willful misconduct by violating a safety rule,
Freeman must prove: (1) that Mr. Woodard had actual, as opposed to constructive, notice
of the rule; (2) that he understood the danger involved in violating the rule; (3) that
Freeman practiced bona fide enforcement of the rule; and (4) that Mr. Woodard lacked a
valid excuse for violating the rule. Mitchell v. Fayetteville Pub. Utilities, 368 S.W.3d
442, 452-53 (Tenn. 2012).
In the Court’s view, Mr. Woodard did not violate the push, don’t-pull rule. The
video shows, and his testimony corroborated, that he pushed the Masonite forward and to
the right using his hands. The video does not show him pulling on a handle or pulling the
Masonite toward himself. The Court agrees with Mr. Harris’s testimony that the accident
happened because the wrong material was on the wrong cart not because of Mr.
Woodard’s actions.
Furthermore, evidence that Freeman enforced the push, don’t-pull rule was scant.
While Mr. Tafoya said he warned people to be careful with this cart and Mr. Harris said
he emphasized the rule in his safety speeches and corrected violations whenever he saw
them, there was no evidence that Freeman disciplined anyone for breaking the rule. This
included Mr. Woodard. The Court concludes Freeman is not likely to prevail on
establishing a willful misconduct defense.
Concerning Freeman’s illegal drug-use defense, Freeman acknowledged it is not
entitled to the presumption under Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-110(c) that the proximate
cause of this injury was illegal drugs. Without that presumption, Freeman must prove
Mr. Woodard’s drug use was the proximate cause of his injury.
Without expert testimony interpreting and explaining Mr. Woodard’s drug test
results and how those drugs could have caused this accident, the Court accepts Mr.
Woodard’s testimony and the testimony of the three other witnesses that he was not
impaired. Thus, the affirmative defense of intoxication fails. Because both defenses
failed, the Court holds Mr. Woodard would likely succeed at a hearing on the merits in
proving compensability of his injuries and orders Freeman to provide treatment with Dr.
Crosby.
Mr. Woodard also seeks temporary total disability benefits from his injury date to
October 23, 2018, a period of six weeks. To establish entitlement to temporary disability
benefits, Mr. Woodard must show a compensable injury disabled him from working, a
causal connection exists between his injury and inability to work, and the duration of his
disability. Jones v. Crencor, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 48, at *7 (Dec. 11,
2015). Mr. Woodard met this burden as he will likely prevail at a hearing on the merits,
4
and Dr. Crosby took him off work for six weeks because of the injury. The Court,
therefore, holds Freeman must pay him temporary total disability benefits for six weeks.
Because temporary total disability benefits are owed, the Court must determine
Mr. Woodard’s compensation rate. Freeman argued that his recovery is limited to the
minimum compensation rate as he earned an average wage of $94.85 per week over the
fifty-two weeks before his injury. Mr. Woodard argued he should receive benefits at the
rate of $219.21 per week as he worked for Freeman only fifteen weeks over those fifty-
two weeks. The Court agrees with Mr. Woodard.
The wage statement showed that Mr. Woodard worked an irregular schedule for
Freeman in the year before his accident. During that time, he worked only fifteen weeks
earning a total of $4,932.12. He had no control over when Freeman offered him work
and testified without contradiction that he worked whenever they called him. Based on
his testimony and the wage statement, the Court finds Mr. Woodard worked as a part-
time or intermittent employee for Freeman. The average weekly wage of a part-time
employee “should be determined by dividing the total actual wages of the 52-week period
by the number of weeks in which the employee received wages.” Russell v. Genesco,
651 S.W.2d 206, 208 (Tenn. 1983) (citing McKinney v. Feldspar Corp., 612 S.W.2d 157
(Tenn. 1981); Gaw v. Raymer, 553 S.W.2d 576 (Tenn. 1977)). This calculation results
in an average weekly wage of $328.81 and a compensation rate of $219.21. At this rate
for fifteen weeks, the Court holds Freeman must pay Mr. Woodard $3,288.15 in
temporary total disability benefits.
Attorney's Frees
Mr. Woodard also requested attorney’s fees. Attorneys’ fees at an expedited
hearing should only be awarded in “extremely limited circumstances.” Thompson
v.Comcast Corporation (2018 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 1), at *27. The best
practice is to award fees after litigation is concluded when the parties and the Court “no
longer face uncertainties over future developments.” Jd. While Mr. Woodard is claiming
a wrongful denial, the Court’s view of whether that denial was wrongful could
conceivably change if Freeman produced expert testimony concerning the proximate
cause of this injury. The Court, therefore, reserves the request for an attorney’s fees.
It is ORDERED as follows:
1. Freeman shall provide Mr. Woodard reasonable, necessary, and related medical
treatment with Dr. Crosby.
2. Freeman shall pay Mr. Woodard $3,288.15 in temporary total disability benefits.
3. Mr. Woodard’s request for attorney’s fees is held in abeyance pending a
Compensation Hearing.
4. Absent an appeal to the Appeal’s Board, Freeman shall comply with this order
within seven business days.
5. This matter is set for a status conference on Monday, March 30, 2020, at 9:00
a.m. (CDT). You must call 615-741-2113 to participate in the Hearing.
Failure to call may result in a determination of issues without your further
participation
ENTERED JANUARY 15, 2020.
C- a
Joshaa Davis Baker, Judge
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
APPENDIX
Exhibits:
9
CI AMBWN SE
Medical Records
Mr. Woodard’s Affidavit
First Report of Injury
Wage Statement
Mr. Harris’s Deposition Transcript
Mr. Tafoya’s Deposition Transcript
Mr. Clark’s Deposition Transcript
Video No. |
Video No. 2
10. Defense Counsel Letter—October 10, 2018
11. Defense Counsel Letter—October 18, 2018
12. Settlement Agreement from 2008 Injury
13. Photographs
14. Union Labor Agreement
15.Mr. Woodard’s Interrogatory Responses
16. Freeman’s Interrogatory Responses
17. Drug Test Results
18. Excerpts from Mr. Woodard’s Deposition
Technical Record:
FwWN SP
Petition for Benefit Determination
Dispute Certification Notice
Request for Expedited Hearing
Request for Admissions Responses
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of this Order was sent as indicated on January 15, 2020.
Name Certified | Via | Via Service sent to:
Mail Fax | Email
Denty Cheatham, xX xX Cheatham, Palermo, & Garrett
Employee’s Attorney 43 Music Square West
Nashville, TN 37203
dcheatham.cpg @ gmail.com
Daniel Todd, xX dan @dantoddlaw.com
Employer’s Attorney
ff ) if
/ Lyre PUY hn
Peimy Shri/nj, Clerk
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
WC.CourtClerk @tn.gov
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: “Expedited Hearing 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.
LB-1099
EXPEDITED HEARING NOTICE OF APPEAL
Tennessee Division of Workers’ Compensation
www. tn.gov/labor-wid/weomp.shtml
wce.courtclerk@tn.gov
1-800-332-2667
Docket #:
State File #/YR:
Employee
Vv.
Employer
Notice
Notice is given that
[List name(s) of all appealing party(ies) on separate sheet if necessary]
appeals the order(s) of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims at
to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals
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Statement of the Issues
Provide a short and plain statement of the issues on appeal or basis for relief on appeal:
Additional Information
Type of Case [Check the most appropriate item]
L] Temporary disability benefits
L] Medical benefits for current injury
LC Medical benefits under prior order issued by the Court
List of Parties
Appellant (Requesting Party): At Hearing: LJEmployer LJEmployee
Address:
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Attorney's Name: BPR#:
Attorney’s Address: Phone:
Attorney's City, State & Zip code:
Attorney’s Email:
* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellant *
rev. 10/18 Page 1 of 2 RDA 11082
Employee Name: SF#: DOI:
Appellee(s)
Appellee (Opposing Party): At Hearing: L]JEmployer LJEmployee
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I,
Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal by First Class, United States Mail, postage prepaid, to all parties
and/or their attorneys in this case in accordance with Rule 0800-02-22.01(2) of the Tennessee Rules
of Board of Workers’ Compensation Appeals on this the day of , 20
, certify that | have forwarded a true and exact copy of this
[Signature of appellant or attorney for appellant]
LB-1099 rev. 10/18 Page 2 of 2 RDA 11082
Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
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Nashville, TN 37243-1002
800-332-2667
AFFIDAVIT OF INDIGENCY
I, , having been duly sworn according to law, make oath that
because of my poverty, | am unable to bear the costs of this appeal and request that the filing fee to appeal be
waived. The following facts support my poverty.
1. Full Name: 2. Address:
3. Telephone Number: 4. Date of Birth:
5. Names and Ages of Ail Dependents:
Relationship:
Relationship:
Relationship:
Relationship:
6. lam employed by:
My employer’s address is:
My employer’s phone number is:
7. My present monthly household income, after federal income and social security taxes are deducted, is:
$
8. | receive or expect to receive money from the following sources:
AFDC $ per month beginning
ssl $ per month beginning
Retirement $ per month beginning
Disability $ per month beginning
Unemployment $ per month beginning
Worker's Comp.$ per month beginning
Other $ per month beginning
LB-1108 (REV 11/15) RDA 11082
9. My expenses are:
Rent/House Payment $ permonth Medical/Dental $ per month
Groceries $ per month Telephone $ per month
Electricity $ per month School Supplies $ per month
Water $ per month Clothing $ per month
Gas $ per month Child Care $ per month
Transportation $ per month Child Support $ per month
Car $ per month
Other $ per month (describe: )
10. Assets:
Automobile $ (FMV)
Checking/Savings Acct. $
House $ __ (FMV)
Other $ Describe:
11. My debts are:
Amount Owed To Whom
| hereby declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing answers are true, correct, and complete
and that I am financially unable to pay the costs of this appeal.
APPELLANT
Sworn and subscribed before me, a notary public, this
day of , 20
NOTARY PUBLIC
My Commission Expires:
LB-1108 (REV 11/15) RDA 11082