Deaguila, Enrique v. Pods Enterprises, LLC

2021 TN WC 249
CourtTennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims
DecidedDecember 8, 2021
Docket2020-02-0367
StatusPublished

This text of 2021 TN WC 249 (Deaguila, Enrique v. Pods Enterprises, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Deaguila, Enrique v. Pods Enterprises, LLC, 2021 TN WC 249 (Tenn. Super. Ct. 2021).

Opinion

FILED Dec 08, 2021 02:57 PM(CT) TENNESSEE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS AT GRAY

ENRIQUE DEAGUILA, ) Docket No.: 2020-02-0367 Employee, ) v. ) PODS ENTERPRISES, LLC, ) State File No.: 35113-2019 Employer, ) And ) LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE ) Judge Brian K. Addington CORPORATION, ) Carrier. )

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER

The Court held an expedited hearing on December 1, 2021, on Enrique Deaguila’s request for additional medical and temporary disability benefits, and attorney fees. PODS disputed Mr. Deaguila’s entitlement to additional benefits. The Court finds that Mr. Deaguila would likely succeed in part at a hearing on the merits and is entitled to some of the requested benefits, but not attorney fees. History of Claim Mr. Deaguila worked as a delivery driver for PODS. On May 9, 2019, he fell in loose gravel, injuring his right knee and arm.1 PODS later offered a panel of physicians, and he chose Dr. Michael Wells. Mr. Deaguila first saw Dr. Wells on July 12. Dr. Wells primarily focused on Mr. Deaguila’s knee and determined he tore his meniscus. At the next appointment, Dr. Wells examined his right wrist and shoulder, and he diagnosed a torn labrum in the shoulder. Dr. Wells deferred shoulder surgery because Mr. Deaguila wanted some time for his shoulder to “cool off.” Dr. Wells also referred him to Dr. Kent Lord for the wrist injury.2

1 Mr. Deaguila had significant pre-existing injuries to his right knee, shoulder, and wrist. 2 Dr. Wells restricted Mr. Deaguila from work as of October 29.

1 Dr. Wells continued to treat Mr. Deaguila’s knee and shoulder. He again recommended shoulder surgery, but PODS did not authorize it. Dr. Wells later determined that the fall exacerbated Mr. Deaguila’s shoulder condition but believed most of his shoulder symptoms were related to pre-existing degenerative problems. He placed Mr. Deaguila at maximum medical improvement regarding as to the shoulder on June 19, 2020. As for the knee, Dr. Wells ultimately performed surgery and released Mr. Deaguila at maximum medical improvement on June 19. He placed permanent restrictions of limited weight-bearing and no crawling, stooping, or climbing. As to the wrist, Dr. Lord initially treated it conservatively. Later, he recommended a thumb CMC arthroplasty because he believed the fall aggravated pre-existing arthritis in the CMC joint of the thumb. He determined that the fall was the primary cause of the aggravation and Mr. Deaguila is not at maximum medical improvement. He set temporary work restrictions of no use of the right hand.3 PODS did not approve the surgery, although a peer review by Dr. Andrew Farber found it medically necessary. Independent Medical Examinations Both parties obtained independent medical evaluations, consulting with equally qualified experts. PODS obtained its evaluation from Dr. Leslie Whitman, who examined Mr. Deaguila in September 2020. Dr. Whitman noted Mr. Deaguila’s significant past medical history that included knee surgeries and a 2016 automobile accident in which he injured the right side of his body. Dr. Whitman determined Mr. Deaguila had arthritis because of his previous knee surgeries and that Dr. Wells’s treatment was appropriate to address the aggravation. However, he also determined that any lingering problems were due to the pre-existing arthritis and not the 2019 work injury. Concerning the shoulder, Dr. Whitman did not have access to a prior 2016 MRI. He found that Mr. Deaguila did not have significant anatomic change within the shoulder, and there was no need for further treatment. Regarding the wrist and thumb, Dr. Whitman stated that Mr. Deaguila’s pain was initially in the wrist, but Dr. Lord found the problem to be the CMC thumb joint. Dr. Whitman felt Mr. Deaguila’s original wrist pain was not associated with the CMC joint pain, which occurred later and involved two separate body parts. He felt that because the injections Dr. Lord provided were not helpful, the CMC arthroplasty was not necessary.

3 PODS paid temporary disability benefits until September 24, 2020 but stopped them based on Dr. Whitman’s IME opinion that Mr. Deaguila’s CMC problems were not work-related.

2 Mr. Deaguila obtained an evaluation from Dr. William Kennedy in February 2021. Dr. Kennedy determined the fall at work was the primary cause of the torn meniscus and worsening of the pre-existing arthritis. He felt that if Mr. Deaguila had undergone gradual worsening of the knee before the fall at work, then he would have needed treatment before the fall. But that did not occur, as he had worked without restrictions. Concerning the shoulder, Dr. Kennedy felt the fall was the primary cause of the worsened tearing in Mr. Deaguila’s glenoid labrum in his shoulder. He believed the arthroscopic surgery recommended by Dr. Wells was medically necessary. As for the right wrist, Dr. Kennedy determined that the problem was the CMC joint, and the fall at work was the primary cause of the worsening and instability of the joint. Mr. Deaguila’s testimony Mr. Deaguila testified that he continues to have pain in his knee, shoulder, and thumb. He said his knee pops and swells, that his shoulder has limited movement, and his CMC joint is painful and must be braced. He further testified that although he had pre- existing conditions, he was able to work without restrictions before the injury but has not been able to obtain any work with his current restrictions. Mr. Deaguila wanted continuing medical benefits for his injuries, including the surgeries recommended by Dr. Wells and Dr. Lord. He also argued that he was not at maximum medical improvement and is entitled to temporary partial disability benefits because he cannot work. He further requested that the Court order PODS to pay his attorney fees for wrongly terminating his benefits. PODS argued that, at most, Mr. Deaguila aggravated pre-existing conditions, and the aggravations have now resolved. PODS further argued that the CMC joint was not injured in the fall, but that Mr. Deaguila merely sustained a wrist contusion. Finally, PODS argued that Mr. Deaguila was not entitled to any additional medical benefits, and it was entitled to a credit for overpaid temporary disability benefits. Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law Mr. Deaguila must prove he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(1) (2021); McCord v. Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *7-8, 9 (Mar. 27, 2015). Because Dr. Wells is Mr. Deaguila’s authorized physician, his causation opinion is presumed correct, subject to rebuttal by a preponderance of the evidence. See Tenn. Code Ann.§ 50-6-102(14)(E). Dr. Wells concluded that Mr. Deaguila’s knee injury was primarily work related. Nevertheless, PODS terminated Mr. Deaguila’s treatment for the knee, based on Dr. Whitman’s opinion. Dr. Kennedy agreed with Dr. Wells that the fall exacerbated Mr.

3 Deaguila’s knee condition. The Court finds the opinions of Drs. Wells and Kennedy more persuasive. The Court holds that Mr. Deaguila is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits in proving his knee injury is causally related to his work. He may return to Dr. Wells for additional treatment.

Dr. Wells also stated that Mr. Deaguila exacerbated his pre-existing shoulder condition, but his current shoulder complaints were not primarily work related. Dr. Whitman shared this opinion. Dr. Kennedy disagreed, but instead felt Mr. Deaguila aggravated his pre-existing condition, and that the aggravation was primarily related to the work. Considering these opinions and presuming Dr.

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Related

§ 50-6-102
Tennessee § 50-6-102(14)(E)
§ 50-6-204
Tennessee § 50-6-204
§ 50-6-207
Tennessee § 50-6-207(2)
§ 50-6-226
Tennessee § 50-6-226(d)(1)(B)
§ 50-6-239
Tennessee § 50-6-239(d)(1)

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Bluebook (online)
2021 TN WC 249, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/deaguila-enrique-v-pods-enterprises-llc-tennworkcompcl-2021.