Scarbrough,Jeffrey v. Right Way Recycling, LLC

2015 TN WC 23
CourtTennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims
DecidedMarch 3, 2015
Docket2014-03-0006
StatusPublished

This text of 2015 TN WC 23 (Scarbrough,Jeffrey v. Right Way Recycling, 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
Scarbrough,Jeffrey v. Right Way Recycling, LLC, 2015 TN WC 23 (Tenn. Super. Ct. 2015).

Opinion

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COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS DIVISION OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION

EMPLOYEE: JEFFREY SCARBROUGH DOCKET#: 2014-03-0006 STATE FILE#: 69072-2014 EMPLOYER: RIGHT WAY RECYCLING, LLC DATE OF INJURY: JULY 23,2014

INSURANCE CARRIER: N/AJNO COVERAGE

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER

THIS CAUSE came before the undersigned Workers' Compensation Judge upon the Request for Expedited Hearing filed by Jeffrey Scarbrough (Employee). Considering the positions of the parties, the applicable law, and all of the evidence submitted, the Court hereby finds as follows:

On January 21, 2015, Jeffrey Scarbrough, through counsel, filed a Request for Expedited Hearing with the Tennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, Division of Workers' Compensation, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239 to determine if the provision of temporary disability and/or medical benefits is appropriate.

ANALYSIS

Issues

• Whether Mr. Scarbrough sustained an injury that arose primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment with Right Way Recycling; • Whether Right Way Recycling must provide a panel of physicians to Mr. Scarbrough; • Whether Right Way Recycling must pay for past medical and/or mileage expenses; • Whether Right Way Recycling must provide Mr. Scarbrough additional medical care as recommended by a physician; • Whether Right Way Recycling must pay Mr. Scarbrough any past or future temporary total disability benefits and if so, in what amount; • Whether Right Way Recycling has adequate grounds to deny Mr. Scarbrough's claim based on the affirmative defenses of willful misconduct.

1 Evidence Submitted

The following witnesses testified in person at the hearing:

o Jeffrey Scarbrough o Kumar Roopchan o Francisco Sebastian o Johnny Munsey

The parties introduced the following exhibits into evidence:

• Exhibit 1: Affidavit of Jeffrey Scarbrough • Exhibit 2: Deposition transcript of Johnny Munsey • Exhibit 3: Deposition transcript of Francisco Sebastian • Exhibit 4: Deposition transcript of Kumar Roopchan • Exhibit 5: Wage Statement with stipulated rate of$360.00 • Exhibit 6: Medical Records and Expenses of: o University of Tennessee Medical Center o Neurosurgical Associates • Exhibit 7: Deposition transcript of Jeffrey Scarbrough • Exhibit 8: Time Cards • Exhibit 9: Jeffrey Scarbrough's employment application

The Court designated the following as the technical record:

o Petition for Benefit Determination filed September 4, 2014 o Dispute Certification Notice filed November 21, 2014 o Request for Expedited Hearing filed January 21, 2015

The Court did not consider documents attached to the above-designated 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.

History of Claim

Mr. Scarbrough worked as a laborer for Right Way Recycling (Right Way) pulling parts off cars and striping wires (Exhibit 7, p. 26). Right Way employees usually arrived at 8:00a.m. In order to open the business each morning, someone had to move the trackhoe/crane (trackhoe), bobcat, and forklift. Francisco Sebastian regularly operated the trackhoe (Exhibit 3, p. 16). On July 23, 2014, Mr. Sebastian did not arrive at opening time (Ex. 3, p. 7). On that date, Mr. Scarbrough attempted to move the trackhoe but could not to start it (Ex. 7, p. 26). Mr. Scarbrough fell while climbing down from.the trackhoe, injuring his head/neck (Ex. 7, p. 38). He received treatment from: UT Medical Center; Dr. Michael Walsh, and Dr. Brian Powell.

The Court convened an Expedited Hearing on February 3, 2015. Attorney Chris Beavers represented Mr. Scarbrough and attorney Joshua Wolfe represented Right Way. The following witnesses provided live

2 testimony at the hearing: Jeffrey Scarbrough; Kumar Roopchan; Francisco Sebastian; and Johnny Munsey.

Mr. Scarbrough's Contentions

Attorney Beavers argued that the Right Way employees were required to move the heavy equipment in order to open the business. Mr. Sebastian usually moved the trackhoe but he was not at work on July 23, 2014. Mr. Scarbrough stated that Mr. Roopchan yelled at everyone to "Get the damn place open so they started moving equipment, cars, and trucks (Ex. 7, p. 33). He testified that Right Way never told him he could not operate the heavy equipment (Ex. 7, p.36). Mr. Scarbrough tried to start the trackhoe, but it failed to start and he fell while climbing down. He testified that he told Mr. Roopchan that he fell and Mr. Roopchan said, "It's just a scrape. Go back to work" (Ex.7, p. 41). Mr. Scarbrough testified thatthe medical providers took him off work from July 24 until September 24, 2014.

Mr. Beavers averred Right Way did not have an official policy or safety rule prohibiting Mr. Scarbrough from operating the trackhoe. Further, there was nothing inherently dangerous about moving the trackhoe since Mr. Scarbrough had previously operated heavy equipment. Mr. Scarbrough did not have actual knowledge that Right Way prohibited him from operating the trackhoe. Mr. Beavers further averred that Right Way did not enforce the alleged policy and Mr. Roopchan did not discipline Mr. Scarbrough when he allegedly violated it. Mr. Beavers stated Mr. Scarbrough did not benefit from his attempt to move the trackhoe but, if successful, his actions would have benefited Right Way. Finally, Mr. Beavers noted that Mr. Scarbrough committed an error in judgment but did not willfully or intentionally fail to follow a safety policy. Right Way, therefore, failed to establish that Mr. Scarbrough engaged in willful misconduct. Accordinlgy, Right Way must pay Mr. Scarbrough's medical expenses and also pay him temporary total disability benefits from July 24 through September 24, 2014.

Right Way's Contentions

Mr. Wolfe stated that the employees knew that only Mr. Sebastian and Mr. Roopchan had authorization to move the trackhoe. Right Way told Mr. Scarbrough not to operate the trackhoe but he willfully and intentionally ignored the standing order. Mr. Roopchan, Mr. Sebastian, and Mr. Munsey testified that the Right Way employees were told that no one other than Mr. Roopchan and Mr. Sebastian were allowed to operate the trackhoe (Ex. 4, p.22.; Ex. 3, pp. 11, 12; Ex. 2, pp. 15, 16). They also testified that when Mr. Scarbrough came to pick up his final check, he acknowledged that he should not have been on the trackhoe (Ex. 4, pp. 2, 27; Ex. 3, pp. 25, 26; Ex. 3, pp. 18, 19). Mr. Roopchan also stated that they never need to enforce the policy because no employee had ever broken it (Ex. 4, p. 39). Mr. Wolfe averred that Mr. Scarbrough engaged in willful misconduct and, as a result, his claim is not compensable. Further, Mr. Wolfe argued that the definition of injury has changed and, because moving the trackhoe was not part of Mr. Scarbrough's job duties, the injury did not arise primarily in the course and scope of his employment.

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

Standard Applied

When determining whether to award benefits, the Judge must decide whether the moving party is likely to succeed on the merits at trial given the information available. See generally, McCall v. Nat 'l Health

3 Care Corp., 100 S.W. 3d 209,214 (Tenn. 2003). In a workers' compensation action pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239(c)(6), the employee shall bear the burden of proving each and every element of the claim by a preponderance of the evidence. Employee must show the injury arose primarily out of and in the course and scope of employment. Tenn.

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Bluebook (online)
2015 TN WC 23, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scarbroughjeffrey-v-right-way-recycling-llc-tennworkcompcl-2015.