Johnson, Frederick v. Enterprise Rent-A-Car , 2019 TN WC 140 ( 2019 )

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
AT MEMPHIS
FREDERICK JOHNSON, ) Docket No. 2018-08-1394
Employee, )
V. )
ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR, ) State File No. 63023-2018
Employer, )
and )
FARMINGTON CASUALTY CO., ) Judge Deana C. Seymour
Carrier. )
EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER
The Court convened an Expedited Hearing on August 30, 2019, to decide Mr.
Johnson’s entitlement to medical and temporary disability benefits. Enterprise denied
benefits, alleging that Mr. Johnson’s injuries resulted from prohibited “horseplay” that
constituted willful misconduct. For the reasons below, the Court holds that Mr. Johnson
is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits and grants his requested benefits. '
History of Claim
Mr. Johnson testified he worked for Enterprise as a service technician. On August
20, 2018, he noticed a dollar coin on the floor of the wash bay. As his co-worker, Brikena
Dimce, backed a van from the bay, Mr. Johnson yelled, “Don’t run over the dollar.” She
stopped and opened her door. Mr. Johnson gestured toward the coin and told Ms. Dimce
that he intended to get the dollar, but then he told her to go on. Before she closed her
door, Ms. Dimce mistakenly “hit the gas” and struck Mr. Johnson.
Upon learning of the accident, Manager DeAnthony Smith went to the wash bay.
He discovered Mr. Johnson somewhat unresponsive, bleeding, and lying four to five feet
from the front driver’s side of the van. He called 9-1-1, and an ambulance transported Mr.
Johnson to Regional One Hospital.
"The parties stipulated to a weekly compensation rate of $155.04.
1
According to hospital records, Mr. Johnson suffered scalp and facial lacerations,
cervical fractures, and disk extrusions at two levels. He received medication and physical
therapy and was discharged on August 29.”
Mr. Johnson followed up twice with Dr. Fredrick Pharr. Dr. Pharr took him off
work from September 20 to October 20, but Mr. Johnson did not resume work until
November 6. He worked until March 16, 2019, when he decided he could no longer do
his job. As a result, Enterprise terminated him for job abandonment.
Enterprise denied Mr. Johnson’s claim, contending that his injuries resulted from
horseplay involving a prank he played on Ms. Dimce as she backed from the wash bay.
He gestured and yelled, “You hit Darla” (their co-worker). According to Enterprise, Mr.
Johnson’s actions panicked Ms. Dimce, and she mistakenly pushed the gas, striking Mr.
Johnson.
Mr. Smith testified that he told Mr. Johnson of Enterprise’s horseplay rule during
orientation. He described Mr. Johnson as a good employee who did his best and liked to
make others laugh. Mr. Smith did not witness the accident. He knew of no other incident
where Mr. Johnson engaged in horseplay, and he did not discipline Mr. Johnson after the
accident. Following the accident, Mr. Smith searched for but could not find the coin Mr.
Johnson described. He admitted someone could have picked up the coin without his
knowledge.
Ms. Dimce testified she began working for Enterprise a month before the accident.
She stated that Albanian was her native language, and she had English language barriers.
Ms. Dimce testified Mr. Johnson was kind, helpful, and never pranked her before the
accident. He helped Ms. Dimce with her English and her driving skills.
Ms. Dimce testified the accident occurred as she began backing from the wash
bay. She understood Mr. Johnson to yell “You hit Darla” and saw him walking toward
the front of the van, pointing behind it. Ms. Dimce panicked, opened her driver’s door to
look behind the van, and accidently hit the gas instead of the brake. The van’s front
driver’s side door hit Mr. Johnson and knocked him into a pole.
At first, Ms. Dimce thought Mr. Johnson was “playing with her” as Darla worked
inside the shop. However, when she visited Mr. Johnson in the hospital, he told her he
was trying to tell her about a dollar coin lying on the ground behind the van. Ms. Dimce
was unsure whether Mr. Johnson said “dollar” or “Darla.” She said she had no reason not
* The emergency physician referred Mr. Johnson to a rehabilitation facility, but Enterprise denied
treatment.
to believe Mr. Johnson said “dollar.” She also agreed the incident was an accident and
nobody meant for it to happen.
Enterprise introduced a statement from Matt Sumler, who was installing a
windshield for Enterprise when the accident occurred. Mr. Sumler reported he saw Ms.
Dimce back from the wash bay and Mr. Johnson yell from the front of her van.
According to Mr. Sumler, Ms. Dimce struck Mr. Johnson when he jokingly ran behind
the van and bent over to act like Ms. Dimce hit something.
Mr. Johnson responded with testimony that he did not “prank” Ms. Dimce, and he
understood the importance of prohibiting horseplay for employee safety. He testified Ms.
Dimce misunderstood him and accidently pressed the gas resulting in the accident and his
injuries.
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
Mr. Johnson 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 that 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).
Enterprise does not dispute that the incident occurred and Mr. Johnson was injured
but argues the injury was the result of non-compensable “horseplay.” The Tennessee
Supreme Court characterized horseplay resulting in injury as willful misconduct. Roberts
v. Kroger Co., 832 S.W.2d 538, 541 (Tenn. 1992). Under Tennessee Code Annotated
section 50-6-110(a)(1) (2018), no compensation shall be allowed for an injury due to an
employee’s “willful misconduct.”
In Mitchell v. Fayetteville Pub. Utils., 368 S.W.3d 442, 453 (Tenn. 2012), the high
court outlined the following four-point analysis of willful misconduct: (1) the employee’s
actual, as opposed to constructive notice of the rule; (2) the employee’s understanding of
the danger involved in violating the rule; (3) the employer’s bona fide enforcement of the
rule; and (4) the employee’s lack of a valid excuse for violating the rule.
Applying these factors, the Court finds Mr. Johnson had notice that Enterprise
prohibited horseplay, demonstrated by his own admission and the testimony of his
supervisor. Mr. Johnson also said he understood the danger involved in horseplay at
Enterprise. Although Mr. Smith said he disciplined employees engaged in horseplay, the
Court finds he spoke in generalities and later confirmed he never disciplined Mr. Johnson
for horseplay before or after the incident. Further, common sense dictates that a horseplay
defense does not apply if an employer failed to prove horseplay occurred.
The Court recognizes that credibility is an integral issue in this case and finds Mr.
Johnson, Ms. Dimce, and Mr. Smith credible witnesses. They testified calmly and
confidently and were reasonable and forthcoming. See Kelly v. Kelly, 445 S.W.3d 685,
694-95 (Tenn. 2014). Mr. Sumler’s statement, in contrast, is suspect, as it portrayed a
completely different account from the other witnesses and placed Mr. Johnson behind the
van. None of the other witnesses placed him there. Ms. Dimce and Mr. Johnson described
impact by the driver’s door. Although Mr. Smith did not observe the impact, he located
Mr. Johnson on the bay floor four or five feet to the side of the driver’s door. The Court
finds Mr. Sumler’s statement lacks credibility and gives it no weight.
Based on all the evidence, the Court cannot conclude that Mr. Johnson’s injuries
resulted from horseplay. The evidence established his injuries resulted from Ms. Dimce’s
improper driving and a miscommunication: he said “dollar,” and she thought he said
“Darla.” Enterprise failed to prove Mr. Johnson engaged in willful misconduct. Thus, the
Court finds Mr. Johnson is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits.
Mr. Johnson established entitlement to the medical expenses he incurred for
treatment of his injuries. After his supervisor called 9-1-1, an ambulance transported him
to the hospital, where he remained until August 29. According to his medical records, Mr.
Johnson sustained substantial lacerations to his face and head, fractured vertebrae, and
disk extrusions. The medical records also contain two follow-up visits, September 20 and
October 4, for his work injuries.” The medical expenses Mr. Johnson incurred for his
injuries are justified, reasonable and necessary. The Court finds Mr. Johnson is likely to
prevail at a hearing on the merits regarding entitlement to payment of his medical bills.
To receive temporary disability benefits, Mr. Johnson must show (1) he became
disabled from work due to a compensable injury; (2) a causal connection exists between
the injury and his inability to work; and (3) the specific duration of his disability. Jones v.
Crencor, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 48, at *7 (Dec. 11, 2015).
Here, the medical proof established Mr. Johnson received inpatient care from
August 20 to August 29 and was excused from work from September 20 to October 20
for a total of five weeks and five days. Therefore, the Court holds Mr. Johnson proved
entitlement to $885.95 in temporary total disability at this time. (Five weeks x $155.04 =
$775.20, and five days x $22.15 per day = $110.75 ).*
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED as follows:
* The Court accepted the medical bills submitted by Mr. Johnson for identification only. However, the
Court finds the dates of service correspond with his hospital stay and first follow-up visit. Thus, the Court
allows the bills marked exhibit 3 into evidence for the limited purpose of reconciling the dates of service
to the medical expenses Mr. Johnson claims.
*Mr. Johnson did not prove work status from August 30 until September 19.
4
. Enterprise shall pay for reasonable and necessary medical care Mr. Johnson
incurred for inpatient treatment from August 20 to August 29, 2018, and two
follow-up visits on September 20 and October 4 under Tennessee Code Annotated
section 50-6-204.
. Enterprise shall provide Mr. Johnson a panel of physicians from which he may
select an authorized treating physician for reasonable and necessary treatment of
his work-related injuries under Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-
204(a)(1)(A).
. Enterprise shall pay Mr. Johnson temporary total disability benefits of $885.95
under Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-207(1)(A).
. This case is set for a Status Hearing on November 4, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. Central
Time. You must call 615-532-9550 or toll-free at 866-943-0014 to participate
in the Hearing. Failure to call might result in a determination of the issues
without your participation.
. Unless interlocutory appeal of the Expedited Hearing Order is filed, compliance
with this Order must occur no later than seven business days from the date of entry
of this Order as required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239(d)(3).
The Insurer or Self-Insured Employer must submit confirmation of compliance
with this Order to the Bureau by email to WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov no
later than the seventh business day after entry of this Order. Failure to submit the
necessary confirmation within the period of compliance might result in a penalty
assessment for non-compliance. For questions regarding compliance, please
contact the Workers’ Compensation Compliance Unit via email at
WCCompliance.Program @tn.gov.
ENTERED September 25, 2019.
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JUDGE DEANA C. SEYMOUR
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
Exhibits:
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Appendix
Regional One medical records
Regional One record dated September 20, 2018
Regional One bills (Collective) (UD only/limited purpose)
Drawing of car and scene from Mr. Johnson’s deposition
Drawing of car and scene from Ms. Dimce’s deposition
Declaration of Matt Sumler
Mr. Johnson’s responses to Enterprise’s Request for Admissions
Technical Record:
1. Petition for Benefit Determination
2. Dispute Certification Notice
3. Request for Expedited Hearing with Mr. Johnson’s Affidavit
4. Agreed Order Continuing Expedited Hearing Date
6. | Employer’s Tenn. Comp. R & Regs. 0800-02-21-.14(b) Disclosures
7. Employer’s Expedited Hearing Brief
8. | Employee’s Pre-Expedited Hearing Submissions
9. Order on Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Motion to Compel Discovery
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify a copy of this Order was sent to the parties as indicated on September 25,
2019.
Name Certified | Via Via_ | Service sent to:
Mail Fax | Email
Emily Bragg, x ebragg @ forthepeople.com
Employee’s attorney
Chris Rowe, 4 cgrowe @mijs.com
Employer’s attorney
/) { /
7 Lip Xd etn
Peniy Shrain, Court Clerk
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
we.CourtClerk @tn.gov
Expedited Hearing Order Right to Appeal:
If you disagree with this Expedited Hearing Order, you may appeal to the Workers’
Compensation Appeals Board. To appeal an expedited hearing order, you must:
1. Complete the enclosed form entitled: “Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal,” and file the
form with the Clerk of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims within seven
business days of the date the expedited hearing order was filed. When filing the Notice
of Appeal, you must serve a copy upon all parties.
2. You must pay, via check, money order, or credit card, a $75.00 filing fee within ten
calendar days after filing of the Notice of Appeal. Payments can be made in-person at
any Bureau office or by U.S. mail, hand-delivery, or other delivery service. In the
alternative, you may file an Affidavit of Indigency (form available on the Bureau’s
website or any Bureau office) seeking a waiver of the fee. You must file the fully-
completed Affidavit of Indigency within ten calendar days of filing the Notice of
Appeal. Failure to timely pay the filing fee or file the Affidavit of Indigency will
result in dismissal of the appeal.
3. You bear the responsibility of ensuring a complete record on appeal. You may request
from the court clerk the audio recording of the hearing for a $25.00 fee. If a transcript of
the proceedings is to be filed, a licensed court reporter must prepare the transcript and file
it with the court clerk within ten business days of the filing the Notice of
Appeal. Alternatively, you may file a statement of the evidence prepared jointly by both
parties within ten business days of the filing of the Notice of Appeal. The statement of
the evidence must convey a complete and accurate account of the hearing. The Workers’
Compensation Judge must approve the statement before the record is submitted to the
Appeals Board. If the Appeals Board is called upon to review testimony or other proof
concerning factual matters, the absence of a transcript or statement of the evidence can be
a significant obstacle to meaningful appellate review.
4. If you wish to file a position statement, you must file it with the court clerk within ten
business days after the deadline to file a transcript or statement of the evidence. The
party opposing the appeal may file a response with the court clerk within ten business
days after you file your position statement. All position statements should include: (1) a
statement summarizing the facts of the case from the evidence admitted during the
expedited hearing; (2) a statement summarizing the disposition of the case as a result of
the expedited hearing; (3) a statement of the issue(s) presented for review; and (4) an
argument, citing appropriate statutes, case law, or other authority.
For self-represented litigants: Help from an Ombudsman is available at 800-332-2667.
LB-1099
EXPEDITED HEARING NOTICE OF APPEAL
Tennessee Division of Workers’ Compensation
www. tn.gov/labor-wid/weomp.shtml
wce.courtclerk@tn.gov
1-800-332-2667
Docket #:
State File #/YR:
Employee
Vv.
Employer
Notice
Notice is given that
[List name(s) of all appealing party(ies) on separate sheet if necessary]
appeals the order(s) of the Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims at
to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals
Board. [List the date(s) the order(s) was filed in the court clerk’s office]
Judge
Statement of the Issues
Provide a short and plain statement of the issues on appeal or basis for relief on appeal:
Additional Information
Type of Case [Check the most appropriate item]
L] Temporary disability benefits
L] Medical benefits for current injury
LC Medical benefits under prior order issued by the Court
List of Parties
Appellant (Requesting Party): At Hearing: LJEmployer LJEmployee
Address:
Party’s Phone: Email:
Attorney's Name: BPR#:
Attorney’s Address: Phone:
Attorney's City, State & Zip code:
Attorney’s Email:
* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellant *
rev. 10/18 Page 1 of 2 RDA 11082
Employee Name: SF#: DOI:
Appellee(s)
Appellee (Opposing Party): At Hearing: L]JEmployer LJEmployee
Appellee’s Address:
Appellee’s Phone: Email:
Attorney’s Name: BPR#:
Attorney’s Address: Phone:
Attorney’s City, State & Zip code:
Attorney’s Email:
* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellee *
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I,
Expedited Hearing Notice of Appeal by First Class, United States Mail, postage prepaid, to all parties
and/or their attorneys in this case in accordance with Rule 0800-02-22.01(2) of the Tennessee Rules
of Board of Workers’ Compensation Appeals on this the day of , 20
, certify that | have forwarded a true and exact copy of this
[Signature of appellant or attorney for appellant]
LB-1099 rev. 10/18 Page 2 of 2 RDA 11082
Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
220 French Landing Drive, I-B
Nashville, TN 37243-1002
800-332-2667
AFFIDAVIT OF INDIGENCY
I, , having been duly sworn according to law, make oath that
because of my poverty, | am unable to bear the costs of this appeal and request that the filing fee to appeal be
waived. The following facts support my poverty.
1. Full Name: 2. Address:
3. Telephone Number: 4. Date of Birth:
5. Names and Ages of Ail Dependents:
Relationship:
Relationship:
Relationship:
Relationship:
6. lam employed by:
My employer’s address is:
My employer’s phone number is:
7. My present monthly household income, after federal income and social security taxes are deducted, is:
$
8. | receive or expect to receive money from the following sources:
AFDC $ per month beginning
ssl $ per month beginning
Retirement $ per month beginning
Disability $ per month beginning
Unemployment $ per month beginning
Worker's Comp.$ per month beginning
Other $ per month beginning
LB-1108 (REV 11/15) RDA 11082
9. My expenses are:
Rent/House Payment $ permonth Medical/Dental $ per month
Groceries $ per month Telephone $ per month
Electricity $ per month School Supplies $ per month
Water $ per month Clothing $ per month
Gas $ per month Child Care $ per month
Transportation $ per month Child Support $ per month
Car $ per month
Other $ per month (describe: )
10. Assets:
Automobile $ (FMV)
Checking/Savings Acct. $
House $ __ (FMV)
Other $ Describe:
11. My debts are:
Amount Owed To Whom
| hereby declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing answers are true, correct, and complete
and that I am financially unable to pay the costs of this appeal.
APPELLANT
Sworn and subscribed before me, a notary public, this
day of , 20
NOTARY PUBLIC
My Commission Expires:
LB-1108 (REV 11/15) RDA 11082