Privette, Vestal v. Privette Construction

2015 TN WC 74
CourtTennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims
DecidedJune 30, 2015
Docket2014-02-0013
StatusPublished

This text of 2015 TN WC 74 (Privette, Vestal v. Privette Construction) 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
Privette, Vestal v. Privette Construction, 2015 TN WC 74 (Tenn. Super. Ct. 2015).

Opinion

COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS DIVISION OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION

EMPLOYEE: Vestal Privette DOCKET #: 2015-02-0013 STATE FILE#: 6007-2015 EMPLOYER: Privette Construction DATE OF INJURY: October 14,2014

INSURANCE CARRIER: Amtrust

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER

THIS CAUSE came before the undersigned Workers' Compensation Judge on June 17, 2015, upon the Request for Expedited Hearing filed by Vestal Privette (Mr. Privette), the employee, on June 4, 2015, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239 to determine if the employer, Privette Construction (PCON), is obligated to provide temporary disability and medical benefits.

Considering the applicable law, testimony of the witness, documentary evidence, argument of counsel and the technical record, this Court finds that Mr. Privette is entitled to the requested disabiliy and medical benefits.

ANALYSIS

Issues

1. Whether Mr. Privette suffered an injury that arose primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment with PCON. 2. Mr. Privette's correct average weekly wage and compensation rate. 3. Whether Mr. Privette is entitled to past or future medical benefits. 4. Whether Mr. Privette is entitled to past or future temporary disability benefits.

Evidence Submitted

Mr. Privette testified telephonically.

The Court designated the following as the technical record:

• Petition for Benefit Determination • Dispute Certification Notice • Request for Expedited Hearing.

1 The Court did not consider attachments to the above filings unless admitted into evidence during the Expedited Hearing. The Court considered factual statements in the above filings as allegations unless established by the evidence.

The Court admitted the following into evidence:

• Exhibit 1: First Reports oflnjury (2 pages) • Exhibit 2: Wage Statement (2 pages) • Exhibit 3: Job Description (1 page) • Exhibit 4: Medical Bills (4 pages)-marked for identification only • Exhibit 5: Letter from Defense Counsel to Dr. Ariel Spencer (2 pages) • Exhibit 6: Statement of Mr. Larry Privette (2 pages). • Exhibit 7: Laughlin Memorial Hospital Medical Records (11 pages) • Exhibit 8: 2014 W-2 form for Mr. Privette's work for PCON (1 page) • Exhibit 9: Pay checks (6 pages) • Exhibit 10: ESTU Physicians Medical Records (10 pages) • Exhibit 11: Bank Envelopes (31 pages) marked only for identification • Exhibit 12: Affidavit ofVestal Privette (4 pages) • Exhibit 13: Affidavit of Larry Privette (2 pages).

History of Claim

Mr. Privette worked as a saw man 1 for PCON. Larry Privette, Mr. Privette's brother, owns PCON.

On December 10, 2014, Mr. Privette worked all day cutting plywood for PCON. As he lifted a sheet of plywood into the rafters of the project home, he almost dropped the sheet. When Mr. Privette reached for the sheet, he felt pain in his abdomen. He finished his shift and went home but the pain continued.

Mr. Privette worked the next day and the pain worsened. That night at home, Mr. Privette's girlfriend noticed a lump in his groin. Mr. Privette worked the following day but experienced severe pain.

Mr. Privett, following his shift on December 12,2015, told his brother that he was going to the hospital for his injury. His brother told him to go to the hospital but that it was too late to file a workers' compensation claim. Mr. Privette did not go to the hospital that day.

On December 14, 2014, Larry Privette called Mr. Privette and told him that he did not need him for work anymore. Mr. Privette reminded his brother that he needed medical treatment. Larry Privette told Mr. Privette to get medical attention, but he did not offer to pay for the treatment.

1 A saw man cuts boards and sheets of wood to length. 2 On January 5, 2015, Mr. Privette called his brother and informed him he was going to the hospital and wanted his treatment paid for by workers' compensation. Larry Privette told Mr. Privette to go to the hospital but advised him it was too late to file a workers' compensation claim. January 5, 2015, was the last time the brothers spoke.

Mr. Privette sought medical treatment at Laughlin Memorial Hospital on January 5, 2015. Mr. Privette reported an injury at work lifting plywood. Dr. Annett Thomas diagnosed a left inguinal hernia and advised Mr. Privette to see his personal physician (Ex. 7, page 3).

Mr. Privette sought medical treatment with Dr. Ariel Spencer with ETSU Physicians on March 11, 2015. Dr. Spencer diagnosed a left inguinal hernia. He related the hernia to Mr. Privette's lifting incident in December 20 14. Dr. Spencer recommended surgery to repair the hernia (Ex. 10, page 9).

On March 17, 2015, Attorney Fred Baker, defense counsel, wrote Dr. Spencer and requested his opinions on causation and Mr. Privette's work status following the injury (Ex. 5).

On April 9, 2015, Dr. Spencer replied to Attorney Baker's letter as follows:

Based on the history I obtained from the patient and on physical exam I performed as his physician, I affirm within a reasonable degree of medical certainty that Vestal Privette suffered an injury by accident primarily out of and in the course and scope of his employment resulting in an inguinal hernia; and that this hernia appeared suddenly; and that this hernia was accompanied by pain; and that his hernia immediately followed the accident, and that his hernia did not exist prior to the accident for which compensation is claimed.

In my opinion, Mr. Privette's hernia would have significantly affected his ability to work from the time of his injury to the present. Specifically, it would have limited his ability to lift any objects greater than 10 lbs [sic], and would have prevented any pushing, pulling lifting, bending, or stooping that involved strenuous exertion. He may have been able to work under restricted duty conditions that would not require any lifting> 10 lbs [sic], or any pushing, pulling, lifting, bending, or stooping that could involve strenuous exertion (Ex. 10, page 1).

Dr. Spencer further added that Mr. Privette's hernia would continue to limit his ability to work " ... until it is surgically repaired." !d.

Mr. Privette testified that in the spring of2014 he worked for his brother on several jobs for cash. He testified that his brother gave him the cash in bank envelopes but he did not know any of the dates PCON paid him cash. According to Larry Privette's affidavit, Mr. Privette worked for other individuals during 2014 as well. PCON submitted a wage statement for Mr. Privette showing that Mr. Privette only worked for PCON for eleven (11) weeks in 2014 and earned three thousand

3 nine-hundred thirty-eight dollars and eighty cents ($3, 93 8 .80). The wage statement included days in which Mr. Privette worked after his injury. According to the wage statement, Mr. Privette worked ten (1 0) weeks prior to the injury and earned three thousand four hundred and eighteen dollars and thirty-five cents ($3,418.30). Mr. Privette's 2014 W-2 from PCON shows he earned three thousand four hundred ninety-eight dollars ($3,498.00).

Mr. Privette's Petition for Benefit Determination (PBD) requested medical and temporary disability benefits. The parties did not reach an agreement on the issues.

Mr. Privette's Contentions

Mr. Privette contends that he suffered a hernia at work on December 10, 2014, and that he continues to suffer from related symptoms. He asserts that PCON should pay for his treatment at Laughlin and with Dr. Spencer. Further, PCON should be required to pay for the surgery as recommended by Dr. Spencer.

Mr. Privette requests temporary disability benefits from December 16, 2014, to the present.

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Related

McCall v. National Health Corp.
100 S.W.3d 209 (Tennessee Supreme Court, 2003)
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612 S.W.2d 157 (Tennessee Supreme Court, 1981)

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2015 TN WC 74, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/privette-vestal-v-privette-construction-tennworkcompcl-2015.