Lawson, Charles v. Amazon.com Services, LLC

FILED
May 10, 2022
09:13 AM(CT)
TENNESSEE
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
APPEALS BOARD

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD

Charles Lawson ) Docket No. 2021-01-0213
)
v. ) State File No. 56752-2020
)
Amazon.com Services, LLC, et al. )
)
)
Appeal from the Court of Workers’ )
Compensation Claims )
Thomas L. Wyatt, Judge )

Affirmed and Remanded

The employee alleged he injured his back while lifting a case of merchandise from a pallet
to a tote bag. The authorized physician opined that the employee’s injury was not due to a
work incident, and the employer refused to authorize further medical care. The employee
sought treatment with an unauthorized provider, who opined that the employee’s injuries
arose primarily out of his employment and that the employment contributed more than fifty
percent in causing his injuries and need for medical treatment. Following an expedited
hearing, the trial court concluded that, based on its assessment of the competing medical
opinions and the employee’s lay testimony, the opinion of the unauthorized physician was
sufficient to rebut the presumption of correctness afforded to the authorized physician’s
causation opinion. As such, the trial court found that the employee is likely to prevail at
trial in proving the aggravation of his preexisting back condition arose primarily out of and
in the course and scope of his employment. The court designated the employee’s selected
physician as the authorized physician for ongoing care and awarded temporary disability
benefits. Upon careful review of the record on appeal, we affirm the trial court’s order and
remand the case for further proceedings.

Judge Pele I. Godkin delivered the opinion of the Appeals Board in which Presiding Judge
Timothy W. Conner joined.

W. Troy Hart, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the employer-appellant, Amazon.com, LLC

Brent Burks, Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the employee-appellee, Charles Lawson

1
Factual and Procedural Background

This is the second interlocutory appeal in this case. A recitation of the full history
of the litigation is not necessary to address the present appeal, but, for context, we have set
out portions of the factual and procedural background from our earlier decision:

Charles Lawson (“Employee”) worked for Amazon.com Services,
LLC (“Employer”), as a fulfillment associate at one of its distribution centers
in Hamilton County. On August 31, 2020, Employee reported experiencing
low back pain radiating down his left lower extremity while lifting heavy
totes at work. He was initially seen at Employer’s onsite clinic, then selected
Dr. Robert Sass, an osteopathic doctor with Nova Medical Centers, from
Employer’s panel of physicians. During his initial visit with Dr. Sass, which
occurred on the date of the accident, Employee reported having experienced
prior low back problems. According to Dr. Sass’s August 31 report,
Employee described a “history of back problems including a pinched nerve
and has sciatic pain intermittently.” Employee also reportedly told Dr. Sass
of having “back pain once a month,” which he treated with pain medications.
According to Dr. Sass’s report, there was “[n]o specific incident . . . no slip,
trip[,] fall or faulty equipment.” 1 As a result of Dr. Sass’s examination, he
concluded “within a reasonable degree of medical certainty” that Employee
“is experiencing a flare of back pain” due to a “chronic back issue” and that
“no work injury has occurred.” Thereafter, Employer denied Employee’s
claim.

After leaving Dr. Sass’s office, Employee went to a local emergency
room, where he reported “low back pain and burning into his left leg and
foot.” He also reported a “history of spinal stenosis and a disc problem.”
With respect to his pre-existing condition, Employee “describe[d] having [a]
problem years ago [but] never had to have surgery and has not been having
pain since that time.” He reported the work incident as having occurred when
he “lifted some Gatorade and felt pain in his low back and down his left leg.”
A CT of the lumbar spine revealed “spinal stenosis from L3-S1.” Employee
was diagnosed with a lumbar strain, spinal stenosis, left sided sciatica, and
degenerative arthritis. A consultation was sought from Dr. Garrick Cason of
Comprehensive Spine Institute, who recommended Employee take steroidal
medication and undergo physical therapy.

1
We note, however, that earlier in the same paragraph of his August 31 report, Dr. Sass noted Employee
had described an incident on 8/31/2020 at 7:40 a.m. “while moving an item” in which Employee “developed
low back pain and left leg pain.”
2
Thereafter, Employee sought treatment on his own from Dr. Cason,
who he first saw on October 1, 2020. Employee reported that he “was injured
at work on 8/31/2020 picking up an item” and described “immediately
[feeling] pain in his lower back and down either side of his [left lower
extremity].” Dr. Cason noted that the “[c]ausative event at the time of
symptom onset [was] reported as picking up [an] item at work.” Under “past
medical history,” Dr. Cason indicated Employee had reported a history of
osteoarthritis, but there was nothing in his report indicating Employee had
described prior low back injuries or any significant treatment to the lumbar
spine.

Diagnostic scans ordered by Dr. Cason were interpreted as revealing
“retrolisthesis” at L4 through S1 and “neuroforaminal stenosis” at L4-S1.
Dr. Cason described these findings as “mild degenerative disc arthritis at L5-
S1” and “facet joint degenerative arthritis at L4-L5, moderate left and mild
right.” Dr. Cason diagnosed degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, as
well as “[l]umbar [r]adiculopathy on the left.” He opined that “[b]ased on
the patient’s history and clinical evaluation, the current problem is consistent
with the accident described by the patient.” Dr. Cason also signed a form on
October 1 indicating that Employee “is temporarily and totally disabled from
any gainful employment at the present time.” Later, Dr. Cason signed an
affidavit in which he stated, “within a reasonable degree of medical certainty,
and considering all causes, that Mr. Lawson’s lumbar injuries and the
aggravation of his pre-existing lumbar spine conditions, which he suffered
while lifting and moving a large . . . box on August 31, 2020, arose primarily
out of and in the course and scope of his employment.”

Employee filed a request for hearing and attached medical records,
Employee’s affidavit, and the affidavit from Dr. Cason. Prior to the hearing,
Employer filed a motion in limine seeking to exclude from evidence Dr.
Cason’s records and affidavit. In support of its motion, Employer asserted
Dr. Cason’s medical opinions were “fundamentally untrustworthy” because
Employee had failed to explain to Dr. Cason the extent and nature of his prior
injuries and pre-existing condition, as well as his chronic, intermittent low
back symptoms and his use of medications to treat those symptoms.

In its order denying Employer’s motion, the trial court noted that rules
governing the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims provide that medical
records and “letters or written statements addressing medical causation
signed by a physician” are admissible at an expedited hearing. See Tenn.
Comp. R. & Regs. 0800-02-21-.15(2) and -.16(2)(b). The trial court then
determined that the objections raised by Employer go to the weight but not
the admissibility of the evidence in question.

3
Employer appealed, and we affirmed the trial court’s order on December 27, 2021,
agreeing with the trial court that Dr. Cason’s records and affidavit were admissible at the
expedited hearing, and remanded the case. Following our remand, Employee sought
medical and temporary disability benefits for his back injury, and the trial court held an
expedited hearing on February 15, 2022. In support of its denial of additional benefits,
Employer relied on the opinion of Dr. Sass, the authorized treating physician, who opined
Employee’s condition was not work-related. Employee relied on a competing causation
opinion from Dr. Cason. After the hearing, the trial court concluded Employee was likely
to prevail at trial in proving the aggravation of his preexisting back condition arose
primarily out of and in the course and scope of his employment. Specifically, the court
noted that Dr. Sass had only seen Employee on one occasion and that his opinion was
inconsistent, in part, because it was “based on factors contrary to and outside the statutory
definition of an injury by accident.” Conversely, the court observed that Dr. Cason
followed Employee over several months and formed his opinion with the benefit of
objective studies and “knowledge of [Employee’s] condition after receiving spinal
injections and therapy.” After considering these factors along with Employee’s testimony,
which it found credible, the trial court concluded that Dr. Cason’s causation opinion offered
the more probable explanation and was sufficient to overcome the presumption of
correctness afforded to Dr. Sass’s causation opinion as the authorized treating provider.
The trial court ordered Employer to provide additional medical benefits, designated Dr.
Cason as the treating physician for ongoing care, and awarded past due temporary disability
benefits. Employer has appealed.

Standard of Review

The standard we apply in reviewing a trial court’s decision presumes that the court’s
factual findings are correct unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. See
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(7) (2021). When the trial judge has had the opportunity
to observe a witness’s demeanor and to hear in-court testimony, we give considerable
deference to factual findings made by the trial court. Madden v. Holland Grp. of Tenn.,
Inc., 277 S.W.3d 896, 898 (Tenn. 2009). However, “[n]o similar deference need be
afforded the trial court’s findings based upon documentary evidence.” Goodman v.
Schwarz Paper Co., No. W2016-02594-SC-R3-WC, 2018 Tenn. LEXIS 8, at *6 (Tenn.
Workers’ Comp. Panel Jan. 18, 2018). Similarly, the interpretation and application of
statutes and regulations are questions of law that are reviewed de novo with no presumption
of correctness afforded the trial court’s conclusions. See Mansell v. Bridgestone Firestone
N. Am. Tire, LLC, 417 S.W.3d 393, 399 (Tenn. 2013). We are also mindful of our
obligation to construe the workers’ compensation statutes “fairly, impartially, and in
accordance with basic principles of statutory construction” and in a way that does not favor
either the employee or the employer. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-116 (2021).

4
Analysis

On appeal, Employer asserts “the trial court erred in determining that Employee
overcame the presumption of correctness afforded to the authorized treating physician.”
Employee contends the presumption of correctness afforded to Dr. Sass was properly
rebutted and maintains Employer’s appeal is frivolous. Employee further asserts
Employer’s brief on appeal should not be considered because it was not filed within ten
(10) business days after the filing of its notice of appeal pursuant to Tenn. Comp. R. and
Regs. 0800-02-22-.05(2).

With respect Employee’s objection to Employer’s brief, Rule 0800-02-22-.05(2)
provides, in pertinent part:

The appellant shall file a brief with the clerk of the court of workers’
compensation claims within ten (10) business days of the filing of a transcript
or joint statement of the evidence. If no transcript or statement of the
evidence is filed or if a dispute regarding a statement of the evidence or the
contents of the record is submitted to the trial court, the appellant shall file a
brief within ten (10) business days of the expiration of the time to file a
transcript or statement of the evidence or within ten (10) business days of the
date the trial court enters an order resolving any dispute concerning the
contents of the record or a joint statement of the evidence, whichever is later.

Employer timely filed its notice of appeal on February 28, 2022. The deadline for
Employer to file a transcript or a statement of the evidence was March 14, 2022, and
Employer’s brief was due, at the latest, on March 28, 2022. Employer did not timely file
a transcript, statement of the evidence, or a motion for an extension of time by the March
14 deadline. Instead, Employer filed a motion for an extension of time to file the technical
record on March 31, 2022, seventeen days after the March 14 deadline for filing a
transcript, citing problems obtaining the transcript. Because the responsibility for filing
the technical record rests with the Clerk of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
rather than the parties, we denied Employer’s motion for an extension of time on April 5,
2022. Employer submitted its brief, which was due on or before March 28, on April 8.
The brief was not accompanied by a motion for an extension of time, and no appropriate
motion had previously been filed. Because Employer failed to file a brief or an appropriate
motion for an extension within the timeframe set forth in Tenn. Comp. R. and Regs. 0800-
02-22-.05(2), we decline to consider its brief on appeal, as it is not properly before us. 2

2
In its order, the trial court designated Employee’s selected physician, Dr. Cason, to be the authorized
physician for continuing medical care. Because this issue was not raised directly by Employer in its notice
of appeal or brief, which we declined to consider, we need not address it here.

5
Turning to the issue raised by Employer in its notice of appeal, Employer contends
Employee failed to overcome the presumption of correctness afforded to Dr. Sass as the
authorized treating physician. The trial court found Dr. Cason’s opinion was sufficient to
rebut the presumption of correctness afforded to Dr. Sass’s opinion, and the trial court’s
conclusion is presumed correct unless the preponderance of the evidence is otherwise. See
Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(7) (“There shall be a presumption that the findings and
conclusions of the workers’ compensation judge are correct, unless the preponderance of
the evidence is otherwise.”). After a careful review of the record on appeal, we conclude
that the evidence does not preponderate against the trial court’s decision.

It is well-settled that, when faced with competing expert opinions, a “trial judge has
the discretion to determine which testimony to accept.” Payne v. UPS, No. M2013-02363-
SC-R3-WC, 2014 Tenn. LEXIS 1112, at *18 (Tenn. Workers’ Comp. Panel Dec. 30, 2014).
In doing so, the trial court can consider, among other things, “the qualifications of the
experts, the circumstances of their examination, the information available to them, and the
evaluation of the importance of that information by other experts.” Bass v. The Home
Depot U.S.A., Inc., No. 2016-06-1038, 2017 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 36, at *9
(Tenn. Workers’ Comp. App. Bd. May 26, 2017). When a trial court evaluates expert
medical proof of causation, it must give the opinion of an authorized treating physician a
presumption of correctness, but this presumption can be rebutted by a preponderance of
the evidence. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-102(14)(E) (2021).

Here, we cannot conclude that that trial court erred in accrediting the opinion of Dr.
Cason over that of Dr. Sass in determining Employee will likely prevail at a hearing on the
merits. The judge considered both medical opinions and accorded the causation opinion
of Dr. Cason greater weight. In doing so, the court noted that Employee was seen only
once by Dr. Sass, whose report was inconsistent in stating that Employee provided a history
of pain while moving an item at work but later indicated that “no specific incident
occurred.” The court also assigned little weight to Dr. Sass’s opinion because he “based
his opinion on factors contrary to and outside the statutory definition of an injury by
accident.”

In contrast, the court noted that Dr. Cason followed Employee over the course of
several months and provided his medical opinion with the benefit of diagnostic studies and
“knowledge of [Employee’s] condition after receiving spinal injections and therapy.” In
addition, the court also considered Employee’s testimony to be credible with regard to his
medical history and mechanism of injury. After considering these factors in conjunction
with Employee’s credible lay testimony, the court concluded Dr. Cason’s opinion was
sufficient to overcome the presumption of correctness afforded to Dr. Sass’s causation
opinion. Under the circumstances, we conclude that the preponderance of the evidence
supports the trial court’s determinations.

6
Finally, Employee has asked that we deem Employer’s appeal frivolous and award
attorneys’ fees and costs. Under the circumstances presented in this case, we conclude
Employer’s appeal is not frivolous, and we decline to award attorneys’ fees and costs.

Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s decision and remand the case
for further action as may be necessary. Costs on appeal are taxed to Employer.

7
TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION APPEALS BOARD

Charles Lawson ) Docket No. 2021-01-0213
)
v. ) State File No. 56752-2020
)
Amazon.com Services, LLC, et al. )
)
)
Appeal from the Court of Workers’ )
Compensation Claims )
Thomas L. Wyatt, Judge )

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the Appeals Board’s decision in the referenced
case was sent to the following recipients by the following methods of service on this the 10th day
of May, 2022.

Name Certified First Class Via Via Sent to:
Mail Mail Fax Email
W. Troy Hart X wth@mijs.com
dmduignan@mijs.com
Brent Burks X brentburks@mcmahanlawfirm.com
katiereed@mcmahanlawfirm.com
Thomas L. Wyatt, Judge X Via Electronic Mail
Kenneth M. Switzer, Chief Judge X Via Electronic Mail
Penny Shrum, Clerk, Court of X penny.patterson-shrum@tn.gov
Workers’ Compensation Claims

Olivia Yearwood
Clerk, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
220 French Landing Dr., Ste. 1-B
Nashville, TN 37243
Telephone: 615-253-1606
Electronic Mail: WCAppeals.Clerk@tn.gov