Womble, Michael v. Uncle Dave’s Auto Repair, Inc.

2018 TN WC 146
CourtTennessee Court of Workers' Compensation Claims
DecidedSeptember 14, 2018
Docket2018-08-0022
StatusPublished

This text of 2018 TN WC 146 (Womble, Michael v. Uncle Dave’s Auto Repair, Inc.) 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
Womble, Michael v. Uncle Dave’s Auto Repair, Inc., 2018 TN WC 146 (Tenn. Super. Ct. 2018).

Opinion

FILED Sep 14, 2018 08:42 AM(CT) TENNESSEE COURT OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS

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

Michael Womble, ) Docket No. 2018-08-0022 Employee, ) v. ) Uncle Dave’s Auto Repair, Inc., ) State File No. 29188-2017 Employer, ) And ) Benchmark Insurance Co., ) Judge Deana Seymour Carrier. )

EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER

This case came before the Court on August 17, 2018, upon Michael Womble’s Request for Expedited Hearing. The central legal issue is whether Mr. Womble is likely to succeed at a hearing on the merits in proving entitlement to temporary disability benefits. The Court holds he is entitled to temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits from September 29, 2017, to April 8, 2018.

History of Claim

Mr. Womble worked as a tow truck operator for Uncle Dave’s. 1 On April 16, 2017, he kicked a car tire with his right foot, and his left knee popped and buckled. An emergency room physician diagnosed him with a left-knee strain a week later. Uncle Dave’s offered an orthopedist panel, and Mr. Womble chose Dr. Tyler Cannon as his authorized treating physician.

Dr. Cannon diagnosed a left-knee meniscus tear and restricted him to sedentary work. Uncle Dave’s provided work within the restrictions, earning less than his usual wages. Dr. Cannon surgically repaired Mr. Womble’s knee on May 11 and restricted him

1 Mr. Womble appeared by telephone for this hearing since he lives in Texas and was recovering from recent knee surgery.

1 from all work for one week. Mr. Womble returned to sedentary work with no driving until June 19, when Dr. Cannon removed all restrictions at his request.

The following week, Mr. Womble made a service call to tow a disabled van. His wife rode with him. The stranded driver and his passenger could not ride together in the truck cab, since Mr. Womble and his wife occupied two of the three seats. He gave them a choice: call someone to pick them up, or ride in their vehicle on the back of the tow truck. According to Mr. Womble, they chose the latter, so they rode in their disabled van attached to Uncle Dave’s tow truck. While doing so, the passengers videoed the ride.

Dave Steward, owner of Uncle Dave’s, saw the video, which went viral. He fired Mr. Womble on July 3 for misconduct and negative publicity. Mr. Womble’s temporary total disability (TTD) benefits ended when Dr. Cannon released him at maximum medical improvement (MMI) without restrictions on July 18 at Mr. Womble’s request.

The next day, Mr. Womble moved to Texas. He continued to have knee problems that prevented him from working, so Uncle Dave’s provided a Texas panel of physicians from which he selected orthopedist Dr. Marvin Van Hal.

During his first visit on September 29, Mr. Womble told Dr. Van Hal that he could not work because of left- and right-knee pain. Dr. Van Hal thought he “[was] not at MMI as he is needing further care.” Mr. Womble complained of right-knee swelling, which Dr. Van Hal attributed more than fifty percent to his left-knee injury. Dr. Van Hal restricted him from kneeling, squatting, climbing and repetitive standing and walking. He recommended a repeat left-knee arthroscopy.

Dr. Van Hal performed the arthroscopy on April 9, 2018, and restricted Mr. Womble from work. Uncle Dave’s resumed weekly TTD payments of $594.73 and continued payments through the date of the Expedited Hearing. 2

At the hearing, Mr. Womble testified that Uncle Dave’s had no written policy prohibiting him from transporting the stranded motorists as he did. He further stated that he did not break the law. Mr. Womble testified that Uncle Dave’s unwritten policy required him to remove personal passengers from the truck to allow paying customers to ride in the cab. He stated he had room for one paying customer but did not know he had to provide a seat for the non-paying customer. The paying customer refused to ride in the cab without his passenger, so he gave them his best options.

2 The parties stipulated that the correct weekly compensation rate was $605.24 rather than $594.73. Uncle Dave’s asked for a credit for overpayment of TTD paid before July 18, 2017, against a PPD award or settlement.

2 Mr. Steward agreed Mr. Womble did not violate the law transporting the customers as he did. However, Uncle Dave’s argued that Mr. Womble was aware of its unwritten policy to provide customers priority seating. Mr. Steward testified that he notified his employees, including Mr. Womble, of Uncle Dave’s policy to provide customers priority seating in the cab of their truck and to ensure the safety of its customers.

Contested Issues

The parties disagreed on Mr. Womble’s entitlement to temporary disability benefits from the day he moved to Texas, July 19, 2017, until he underwent the second knee surgery and Uncle Dave’s reinstated TTD on April 9, 2018. Mr. Womble argued that even though Dr. Cannon released him at MMI without restrictions on the day before he moved to Texas, his knee pain continued. In late September, Dr. Van Hal determined Mr. Womble had not reached MMI. Mr. Womble also argued that Mr. Steward unjustly fired him. He contended that he did not violate the law and complied with customary towing practices.

Uncle Dave’s contended Mr. Womble was not entitled to TTD since no physician totally restricted him from work during the period for which he requested benefits. Uncle Dave’s argued Dr. Cannon released Mr. Womble at MMI on July 18 without restrictions. He was not medically restricted again until Dr. Van Hal restricted his activities on September 29. Uncle Dave’s accommodated his work restrictions until his termination and would have continued to do so but for his termination.

Uncle Dave’s also requested a credit for overpaid TTD. Mr. Womble worked four weeks as a dispatcher for less pay after his injury. During that time, Uncle Dave’s paid temporary total disability benefits and requested a credit under Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-207(1)(B) (2017) for the overpayment.

Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

Standard Applied

Mr. Womble must prove the essential elements of his claim. Scott v. Integrity Staffing Solutions, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 24, at *6 (Aug. 18, 2015). He must present sufficient evidence for the Court to determine he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits. McCord v. Advantage Human Resourcing, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 6, at *9 (Mar. 27, 2015).

3 Temporary Disability Benefits

An injured worker is eligible for temporary total disability benefits if: (1) the worker became disabled from working due to a compensable injury; (2) there is a causal connection between the injury and the inability to work; and (3) the worker established the duration of the period of disability. Jones v. Crencor Leasing and Sales, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 48, at *7 (Dec. 11, 2015).

Mr. Womble presented no medical proof to establish total disability during the dates at issue, July 19, 2017, to April 29, 2018. To the contrary, Dr. Cannon released him at MMI with no restrictions on July 18, 2017. Thus, the Court finds Mr. Womble was not entitled to the requested TTD. However, Dr. Van Hal restricted Mr. Womble to sedentary work from September 29, 2017, to April 9, 2018, which may entitle him to TPD benefits. 3

TPD, distinct from TTD, is available when the temporary disability is not total. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-207(1)-(2). Specifically, “[t]temporary partial disability refers to the time during which the injured employee is able to resume some gainful employment but has not reached maximum recovery.” Jones, at *7.

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Related

§ 50-6-207
Tennessee § 50-6-207(1)

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Bluebook (online)
2018 TN WC 146, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/womble-michael-v-uncle-daveas-auto-repair-inc-tennworkcompcl-2018.