Ferrell, Michael v. Wade Norris Logging, LLC

2019 TN WC 44
CourtTennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims
DecidedMarch 13, 2019
Docket2017-07-0828
StatusPublished

This text of 2019 TN WC 44 (Ferrell, Michael v. Wade Norris Logging, 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
Ferrell, Michael v. Wade Norris Logging, LLC, 2019 TN WC 44 (Tenn. Super. Ct. 2019).

Opinion

FILED Mar 13, 2019 03:33 PM(CT) TENNESSEE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS On July 11, 2015, Mr. Ferrell sustained injuries in a work-related truck wreck. WNL accepted the claim and provided medical treatment with Dr. John Brophy for a neck injury. Mr. Ferrell reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) for the neck injury on July 28, 2016. He received authorized treatment from Dr. Christopher Hall for an inner-ear injury and reached MMI for that injury on February 13, 2017.

WNL denied Mr. Ferrell's alleged back injury, so he sought treatment from Dr. Raymond Gardocki and reached MMI for his back on February 20, 2018. He did not return to work for WNL or any other employer.

Mr. Ferrell received TTD benefits for eighty-four weeks through February 13, 2017, at the compensation rate of $402.23. WNL paid advance permanent benefits in the amount of $2,585.90, for which WNL is entitled to a credit against any award.

Trial Testimony

Mr. Ferrell testified to his job history before working as a log-truck driver for WNL. Besides commercial truck driving, he worked as a carpet installer, owner of a convenience store, computer technician, and as a manager/safety compliance officer for a trucking company. He also ran a trucking business where he was the owner/operator of a truck.

Mr. Ferrell described his past carpet-installation work as "extremely physical." His work at his family-owned convenience store involved some physical work, including lifting, sweeping, and mopping. He also purchased products and maintained inventory. Regarding his computer work, Mr. Ferrell is self-taught on computers, worked in a computer store, and performed some freelance work on computers. He has no certification or formal computer training. He worked an office-job as a manager for a trucking company, which involved managing loads and drivers, doing paperwork, maintaining the drivers' DOT certifications, and dispatching drivers and loads. Also at that job, he served as a safety compliance officer, which involved conducting safety training meetings for drivers and making sure drivers were complying with DOT regulations.

Turning to his work injury, Mr. Ferrell testified that as he drove on a curvy road, he noticed a car crossing over into his lane. He jerked the wheel to the right to avoid an accident, drove off the roadway, and his truck overturned. Mr. Ferrell alleged injuries to his neck, back, and inner ear resulting from the accident. He had no prior problems with his neck or inner ear but did have a prior back injury and surgery at L5-S 1 in the early nineties. He had no subsequent problems with his back beyond general aches and pains until the work injury.

The trauma of the wreck rendered Mr. Ferrell unconscious, and when he awoke,

2 he found himself hanging by the seatbelt between the driver and passenger seats. He got out of the truck and immediately called his employer and his wife. He did not call an ambulance; however, one arrived from Bolivar-Hardeman County Ambulance Service. Mr. Ferrell allowed the first responder to look at him but declined the ambulance ride because he did not want to go to Bolivar Hospital. His location was closer to Jackson, and he preferred his wife take him to Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. Mr. Ferrell later received a $300 bill from the ambulance service and requested WNL satisfy the bill. WNL terminated Mr. Ferrell shortly after the injury.

Following his medical treatment, detailed below, Mr. Ferrell testified he still experiences pain and tingling in his left arm from his neck injury. He stated his back surgery helped his left leg pain, but he still experiences "a little" pain now. He described residual pain in his back, trouble sitting or standing, and ongoing dizziness. While not prescribed by a doctor, he walks with a cane to help his balance and to take weight off his left leg. Mr. Ferrell's adult son currently lives with him and assists with cooking and cleaning. His son also takes care of bush-hogging his farm. Mr. Ferrell stated he tries not to drive much.

Due to his ongoing symptoms, Mr. Ferrell did not renew his commercial driver's license because he could not pass the physical. He testified he is currently unable to sit for long periods of time and experiences dizziness. He testified both of these issues would hinder his ability to work. He stated he cannot perform past jobs with his dizziness, his inability to sit, or the physical demands of the jobs. He admitted he has not applied for any other employment and knows of no other work for which he is qualified. He currently seeks treatment at the VA for pain management and his preexisting anxiety and depression. He takes Seroquel, an anti-depressant; Xanax, for anxiety; and Vicodin for pain.

Regarding the compensation rate, Mr. Ferrell testified he disagreed with WNL's wage statement calculation. WNL divided the total wages of $3,016.75 reflected on the wage statement by five weeks, which provided an average weekly wage of $603.35 and compensation rate of $402.23. WNL paid Mr. Ferrell's TTD at this rate. Mr. Ferrell argued this was not an accurate or fair reflection of his wages because he did not work five full weeks. He stated he only worked one day the first week because it was the end of a pay period. He agreed with including weeks two and three. However, he only worked one day on week-four because they were rained out the rest of the week, and he only worked two full days in week-six before he was injured on the third day.

Mr. Ferrell further testified regarding WNL's wage statements from his former coworkers, Larry Adkisson and Greg Rainey, whom WNL considered similar employees. Mr. Ferrell agreed Mr. Rainey was a similar employee. However, he disagreed that Mr. Adkisson's wages were similar because Mr. Adkisson was drawing Social Security Retirement, so he limited his work hours to not impact his retirement benefits. Mr.

3 Norris, owner of Wade Norris Logging, also testified on this issue and agreed that Mr. Rainey was more comparable to Mr. Ferrell than Mr. Adkisson.

Medical Treatment and Physicians' Testimony a. Neck tnjury

The parties stipulated Mr. Ferrell sustained a compensable neck injury. Thus, the disputed issue was the degree of permanent impairment. The parties introduced the depositions of Dr. Brophy, his treating physician, and Dr. Chung, his IME physician, regarding the competing ratings. Dr. Brophy

Mr. Ferrell saw Dr. Brophy around three weeks after his injury. Regarding his neck, Mr. Ferrell reported symptoms to Dr. Brophy of left neck and trapezius pain that extended to the scapula. After Mr. Ferrell's cervical symptoms persisted, Dr. Brophy ordered a MRI, which demonstrated a broad based left C5-6 HNP associated with some osteophyte and cord compression with significant narrowing of the left C6 foramen and signal changes in the cord. He recommended surgery.

Dr. Brophy performed a C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion on May 3, 2016. He testified Mr. Ferrell improved following surgery and ordered a work conditioning program. Following work-conditioning, Mr. Ferrell reported his neck pain had not improved significantly. Dr. Brophy stated his upper extremity strength was normal and sensory light touch was intact. As of July 27, 2016, Dr. Brophy concluded Mr. Ferrell's cervical radiculopathy had resolved. Specifically, he no longer had arm pain or numbness and his strength remained normal. Dr. Brophy testified from a neurosurgical standpoint that Mr. Ferrell reached MMI and could return to work at full duty without restriction on July 28, 2016. Dr. Brophy assigned no permanent restrictions. During his treatment, Dr. Brophy testified Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
2019 TN WC 44, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ferrell-michael-v-wade-norris-logging-llc-tennworkcompcl-2019.