CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Sciame v. Airborne Express, Inc.

This case addresses the application of Workers’ Compensation Law § 15 (6) (a) concerning the maximum weekly benefits a claimant can receive for concurrent schedule and nonschedule awards. The court reaffirms its established precedent that these concurrent payments cannot exceed the statutory cap of $400 per week for 2004 injuries, irrespective of whether the nonschedule award stems from a permanent disability. This principle was also extended to include periodic payments for a schedule loss of use award and nonschedule award payments for temporary disability. The court concluded that the 2009 amendments to Workers’ Compensation Law §§ 15 and 25 did not indicate legislative intent to overturn this longstanding cap. Consequently, the Board's decision, which held that the claimant's receipt of maximum weekly benefits from a nonschedule award precluded additional benefits from a schedule loss of use award, was affirmed.

Workers' Compensation BenefitsBenefit MaximumsConcurrent AwardsSchedule Loss of Use AwardNonschedule AwardStatutory CapJudicial Precedent AffirmationWorkers' Compensation Law Interpretation2009 Amendments AnalysisPermanent Disability Benefits
References
11
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Love v. American Olean Tile Co.

In this workers' compensation action, employee Patricia Love appealed a judgment awarding her permanent total disability benefits to age 65 or until a maximum total benefit, with apportionment between the employer, American Olean Tile Company/Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, and the Second Injury Fund. The Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel affirmed the trial court. The Supreme Court granted review to address the applicability of the maximum total benefit cap to age 65 awards and the correctness of the apportionment. The Court reversed the lower courts' decision to apply the maximum total benefit, ruling that permanent total disability benefits are payable to age 65 without monetary cap. It affirmed the apportionment, holding the employer responsible for 32.5% and the Second Injury Fund for 67.5% under Tenn.Code Ann. § 50-6-208(a).

Permanent Total DisabilityWorkers' CompensationSecond Injury FundBenefit ApportionmentMaximum Benefit CapAge 65 BenefitsCarpal Tunnel SyndromeLow Back StrainPre-existing DisabilityAppellate Review
References
1
Case No. 2014-01-0002
Regular Panel Decision
Oct 16, 2015

Howard, Denita v. US Xpress Enterprises

Denita Howard, a trainee truck driver for USXpress Enterprises, Inc., filed for an expedited hearing seeking medical benefits for emergency treatment after a work injury and temporary partial disability benefits. The alleged injury occurred when her tractor-trailer overturned near Acadia, Louisiana. The Court found Ms. Howard entitled to the requested medical benefits for charges from Jefferson Davis Emergency Group, LLC, as the employer's carrier, Liberty Mutual, had already paid the bill. However, her claim for temporary partial disability benefits from January 7, 2015, to February 18, 2015, was denied, as she was deemed to have reached maximum medical improvement as of December 18, 2014, by Dr. Venugopal Gadipudi. The employer's request for reimbursement of temporary partial disability benefits paid after the MMI date was deferred.

Workers' CompensationExpedited HearingMedical BenefitsTemporary Partial DisabilityMaximum Medical Improvement (MMI)Emergency TreatmentTruck Driver InjuryMotor Vehicle AccidentNeurological CareInsurance Carrier Liability
References
4
Case No. 2017-06-1778
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 11, 2018

Demotte, Julie v. UPS

Julie Demotte sustained a workplace injury involving a broken hip and leg in November 2016 while working for UPS. UPS initially accepted the claim and provided temporary disability benefits. Dr. Jason Evans, the authorized treating physician, placed Ms. Demotte at maximum medical improvement and assigned a three-percent whole-person impairment rating. A compensation hearing was held to determine Ms. Demotte's entitlement to permanent disability, temporary disability, and future medical benefits. The Court ordered UPS to provide lifetime medical benefits for Ms. Demotte's workplace injury, but denied her claims for both temporary and permanent disability benefits. The denial of permanent disability was based on the inadmissibility of Form C-30A as proof of impairment, as Ms. Demotte failed to present admissible evidence. Additionally, the claim for further temporary disability benefits was denied due to an earlier overpayment by UPS that exceeded any subsequent amounts due.

Workplace InjuryFuture Medical BenefitsTemporary Disability BenefitsPermanent Disability BenefitsAdmissibility of Medical ReportsForm C-30AForm C-32Impairment RatingHearsayMaximum Medical Improvement
References
2
Case No. 2016-01-0035 / 67325-2014
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 07, 2017

Findley, Jack v. Volswagen Group of America, Inc.

This case involves an employee, Jack Keith Findley, who sustained a back injury while working for Volkswagen. He sought temporary and additional permanent partial disability benefits, leading to a dispute over his impairment rating, maximum medical improvement date, and the compensability of his condition. The Court of Workers' Compensation Claims sided with Mr. Findley, awarding him the requested disability benefits and future medical care under Dr. Jolley, based on Dr. Hodges' medical opinion regarding his work-related injury and functional limitations. The court also allowed Volkswagen to offset short-term disability payments.

Workers' CompensationPermanent Partial DisabilityTemporary Partial DisabilityMedical BenefitsImpairment RatingMaximum Medical ImprovementVoluntary ResignationMedical Opinion ConflictBack InjuryLumbar Disc Herniation
References
5
Case No. 2020-04-0228
Regular Panel Decision
Jul 29, 2021

Ray, Jr. Kenneth v. Rollins, Inc.

This case concerns Kenneth Ray, Jr.'s motion to alter or amend a final judgment regarding the amortization of his workers' compensation award and its offset against Social Security disability benefits, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-207. The employer, Rollins, Inc., and the Subsequent Injury Fund had no objections to the proposed amendment. The Court granted the motion, amending the prior order to include details on the calculation of Mr. Ray's lump-sum award of $440,368.02 and its amortized monthly benefit of $863.46. This calculation was based on Mr. Ray's life expectancy of 42.5 years at the time of maximum medical improvement. The amended order clarifies the maximum monthly set-off for Social Security or other disability benefits under the specified Tennessee statute.

Workers' CompensationCompensation HearingBenefitsSocial Security OffsetAmortizationLump-Sum AwardFinal JudgmentMotion to AlterLife ExpectancyMortality Tables
References
0
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Wausau Insurance Co. v. Dorsett

The case involves an interlocutory appeal concerning the duration of temporary total disability (TTD) benefits under Tennessee's Workers' Compensation Act. Employee Vivian Alvina Dorsett suffered a spider bite injury and subsequent chronic conditions, leading Wausau Insurance Company to pay TTD benefits. The trial court ordered continued TTD payments beyond the statutory 400-week cap, as Dorsett had not reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). The Tennessee Supreme Court reversed this decision, affirming that the 400-week "maximum total benefit" limitation explicitly applies to TTD benefits, with permanent total disability being the sole exemption. The Court concluded that it lacks the authority to alter statutory definitions, remanding the case for further proceedings consistent with the 400-week TTD limit.

Temporary Total DisabilityMaximum Medical ImprovementWorkers' Compensation ActStatutory Interpretation400-Week LimitationSpider Bite InjuryGenetic Enzyme DeficiencyPyoderma GangrenosumInterlocutory AppealRemand
References
16
Case No. 2021-08-0034
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 10, 2022

Williams, Linda (by Lawrence Williams, surviving spouse) v. Methodist Lebonheur Healthcare

This death claim involves Lawrence Williams, surviving spouse of Linda Williams, who contracted COVID-19 while employed by Methodist Lebonheur Healthcare. The primary dispute centered on the calculation of the maximum total death benefit. Methodist argued for a benefit capped at $184,918.50, based on Ms. Williams's weekly compensation rate. However, the Court, drawing on the precedent of Reynolds v. Free Serv. Tire Co. and interpretations of Tennessee Code Annotated, determined that the correct maximum total benefit was $447,300.00, calculated as 450 weeks times the state's average weekly wage. The Court found the reasoning in Reynolds persuasive, despite Methodist's objections regarding its citation status. Consequently, the Court ordered Methodist to pay Mr. Williams the higher death benefits.

Death ClaimWorkers' CompensationCOVID-19Surviving SpouseMaximum Total BenefitAverage Weekly WageStatutory InterpretationTennessee LawBenefit CalculationCase Precedent
References
5
Case No. 2021-08-0034
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 29, 2022

Williams, Lawrence v. Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare

This case concerns an appeal by Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare regarding the calculation of death benefits for Lawrence Williams, the surviving spouse of Linda Williams, a healthcare worker who died from COVID-19. The parties initially agreed on a settlement, but the trial court, presided over by Judge Deana C. Seymour, rejected it due to an inconsistent calculation of the 'maximum total benefit.' The trial court concluded that the maximum total benefit should be calculated by multiplying the state’s average weekly wage by 450 weeks, as per Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-102(15)(D). The Appeals Board, led by Presiding Judge Timothy W. Conner, affirmed the trial court’s decision, clarifying that while the weekly benefit rate is tied to the deceased employee's wages, the overall duration of payments is capped by an across-the-board limitation based on the state’s average weekly wage.

Workers' CompensationDeath BenefitsCOVID-19Maximum Total BenefitStatutory InterpretationState Average Weekly WageSurviving SpouseAppellate ReviewSettlement RejectionHealthcare Worker
References
5
Case No. 2020 NY Slip Op 06433 [188 AD3d 1401]
Regular Panel Decision
Nov 12, 2020

Matter of Minichiello v. New York City Dept. of Homeless Servs.

Claimant Thomas Minichiello appealed an amended decision by the Workers' Compensation Board regarding the applicability of the total disability provision in Workers' Compensation Law § 35 (2). After sustaining a back injury in 2009 and being awarded permanent partial disability benefits for a maximum of 350 weeks, claimant sought to be classified with a total industrial disability upon exhausting his benefit weeks. The Workers' Compensation Board denied his request, concluding that Workers' Compensation Law § 35 does not contemplate continuing awards beyond the statutorily capped weeks unless for extreme hardship under § 35 (3). The Appellate Division, Third Department, reversed the Board's decision, holding that the plain language of Workers' Compensation Law § 35 (2) allows claimants to apply for total industrial disability status at any time, irrespective of having exhausted maximum benefit weeks under § 15 (3) (w), and that this right is not exclusively tied to the extreme hardship provision of § 35 (3). The case was remitted to the Board for further proceedings.

Workers' Compensation LawTotal Industrial DisabilityPermanent Partial DisabilityStatutory InterpretationBenefit CapExtreme HardshipWage-Earning CapacityAppellate ReviewLegislative IntentWorkers' Compensation Board
References
9
Showing 1-10 of 10,837 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational