TWCA reviews the credibility of an employee's testimony and whether the injury arose out of the course of employment

KIEWIT-ACT, A JOINT VENTURE v. CHRIS JONES and CHRISTOPHER BRYON JONES v. KIEWIT-ACT, A JOINT VENTURE and ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY (TWCA May 20, 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.

The employee has appealed the trial court’s denial of benefits for injuries to his right shoulder purportedly caused by a fall at work. The trial court denied the claim based on a finding that the employee’s testimony was not credible and that he failed to establish that his injury arose out of and in the course of his employment. The employee has also challenged the trial court’s award of $3,245.25 in discretionary costs to the employer. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.

Opinion available at:
https://www.tba.org/sites/default/files/kiewitact_051012.pdf

TWCA reviews whether an employee was eligible for benefits in spite of his being a poor witness

TETON TRANSPORTATION, INC. v. TODD WHITE (TWCA February 7, 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. The employee alleged that he injured his back at work. His employer denied the claim.

While the trial court found that the employee was not a credible witness, it found that he had sustained a compensable injury based upon the testimony of an independent lay witness and the treating physician. The trial court awarded 78% permanent partial disability benefits. The employer has appealed, asserting that the evidence preponderates against the trial court's finding of compensability. We affirm the judgment.

Opinion available at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TSC_WCP/2012/teton_020712.pdf

Court reviews summary judgment ruling in favor of a physician on the grounds of a patient's credibility.

TERESA L. WEAVER, ET AL. v. TRAVIS K. PARDUE, M.D., ET AL. (Tenn. Ct. App. November 1, 2010)

This appeal arises out of a primary care physician's alleged negligent and tortious treatment of a longtime patient. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the physician, questioning the credibility of the patient's allegations and holding in part that the physician's alleged conduct could not support a cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress. We reverse and remand.

Opinion may be found at:
http://www.tba2.org/tba_files/TCA/2010/weavert_110110.pdf