TWCA reviews whether an employee's injury was caused by her employment at a factory

MARIE AKINS v. WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION (TWCA February 1, 2012)

Pursuant to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 51, this workers' compensation appeal has been referred to the Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel for a hearing and a report of findings of fact and conclusions of law. Marie Akins ("Employee") alleges that she developed carpal tunnel syndrome in her left wrist while employed as a factory worker by Whirlpool Corporation ("Employer"), prior to the closure of Employer's plant in August 2008. Employer denies that Employee's carpal tunnel syndrome in her left wrist was caused by her employment with it.

The trial court found that Employee's left-wrist carpal tunnel syndrome was not caused by her employment with Employer and that Employer therefore is not liable for this injury. Employee has appealed, contending both that the evidence preponderates against the trial court's finding and that Employer is estopped from denying liability based on delay in the diagnosis of Employee's carpal tunnel syndrome in her left wrist. We affirm the trial court's judgment.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/2012/akinsm_020112.pdf