LISA &‘STZ. C I R < IN THE FIFTH COURT OF APPEALS DALLAS, TEXAS

TRENTS. GRIFFIN A pp e ll a n t ,

V. AMERICAN ZURICH INSURANCE COMPANY A pp e ll ee .

On a pp ea l fr o m t h e 101 s t D i s t r i c t C ou r t o f Dallas C oun t y , T e x a s APPELLANT’S BRIEF T r e n t S. Griffin, Sr. 724 M ea nd e r i ng Dr. C e d a r Hill, T e x a s 75104 Tel. 469 - 337 - 0598 TRENT S. GRIFFIN, SR., PRO SE APPELLANT

TRENT S. GRIFFIN, SR. Appellant,

American Zurich Insurance Company, Appellee.

1. Trent S. Griffin, Appellant, Pro se

724 Meandering Drive Cedar Hill, Texas 75104 Tel. 469-337-0598 2. American Zurich Insurance Company, Appellee

Corporation Service Company 211 East 7th Street, 44 620 Austin, Texas 78701-3218

Attorney Todd Richards, Appellee’s Counsel 1015 Providence Towers East 5001 Spring Valley Road Dallas, Texas 75244 Tel. 972-715-1750 Fax 972-715-1759

P a g e I I d e n tit y o f P a r ti e s a nd C oun s e l II T a b l e o f C on t e n t s

ii I ll I nd e x a nd A u t ho r iti e s

i v I V S t a t e m e n t o f C a s e

1 V S t a t e m e n t R e g a r d i ng O r a l A r gu m e n t

2 V I I ss u e s P r e s e n t e d

3 V II S t a t e m e n t o f F ac t s

4 V III S u mm a r y o f A r gu m e n t

9 I X A r gu m e n t

10 A . A “ no e v i d e n ce” p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t w a s g r a n t e d w it hou t no ti ce o f h ea r i ng o r s ub m i ss i on d a t e o f a s u mm a r y j udg m e n t m o ti on by t h e c ou r t o r a pp e ll ee

10 B . A “ no e v i d e n ce” p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t w a s g r a n t e d p r e m a t u r e l y b e f o r e c l o s e o f d i s c ov e r y pu r s u a n t R u l e 190 . 3 ( l e v e l 2 ) o r d e r e d by J udg e M a r ti n L o w y

10 C . A t r a d iti on a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t w a s g r a n t e d w it hou t no ti ce o f t h e h ea r i n g o r s u b m i ss i on d a t e o f a s u m m a r y j udg m e n t m o ti on by t h e c ou r t o r a pp e ll e

10 D . A t r a d iti on a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t w a s g r a n t e d p r e m a t u r e l y b e f o r e t h e c l o s e o f d i s c ov e r y pu r s u a n t R u l e 190 . 3 ( l e v e l 2 ) o r d e r e d by J udg e M a r ti n L o w y

15 E . A pp e ll a n t w a s d e p r i v e d o f a ny r i gh t t o s ee k l ea v e t o f il e

a ff i d a v it s o r o t h e r w r i t t e n r e s pon s e

10

F. Trial court abused its discretion failing to draw every possible inference favorable for appellant on its merits of the claims and try each issue of fact and law in the manner that applies to other civil suits before granting summary judgment

10 C. Appelle failed to conclusively negate all elements of the

appellant’s claims to raise a genuine issue of material fact as a matter of law

10 H. Trial court erred in granting summary judgment, by

allowing appellee to file into record inadmissable evidence, ie. expert testimony, peer review and state action or nature of that action

15 I. Trial court abuse its discretion, failing to follow Texas Labor Codes and Government Codes

15 Trial court abused its discretion granting a “no evidence” partial summary judgment and summary judgment without finding of facts and conclusion of law J.

15 X. Prayer 19 Xl. Appendix attached 21

P a g e C a s e s A ll e n v A & T T r a n s p C o I n c S W 3d 65 T e x A pp T e x a r k a n a p e t d e n i e d

13 A l e x a nd e r v L o c kh ee d M a r ti n C o r po r a ti on S W 3d 348 T e x A pp F o r t h W o r t h 2006 p e t d e n i e d

12 B a do E qu i p m e n t C o I n c v R yd e r T r u c k L i n e s S W 2d 81 C i v A pp H ou s t on t h D i s t n r e

14 B a rr aza v E u r e k a C o S W 3d 225 T e x A pp E I P a s o 2003 no p e t

11 C on ti n e n t a l C a s u a lt y I n s u r a n ce I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny v W illi a m s on S W 2d 108 T e x A pp T y l e r no p e t

12 D e w oody v R i pp l e y S W 2d 935 T e x A pp F o r t h W o r t h 1997 d i s a g r

14 D i c k s on v S t a t e F a r m L l oyd s S W 2d 666 T e x A pp C o r pu s C h r i s ti no w r it

14 G a r c i a v P ee p l e s S W 2d 343 T e x

15 G u e v a r a v F e rr e r S W 3d 662

15 , 16 H a rr ill v A i s W r ec k e r S e r v i ce I n c S W 3d 191 T e x A pp D a II a s p e t d i s m d w o j

11 H il d a go v S u r e t y S a v i ng s a nd L o a n A ss o c i a ti on S W 2d 540 543 n T e x

14 I n r e C o l on i a l P i p e li n e C o S W 2d 938 T e x

15 J a po l e v T ou c hy S W 2d 569 T e x

15 J e t e r v M c G r a w S W 3d 211 T e x A pp B ea u m o n t p e t d e n i e d

1 1 , 1 3 I v K r u e g e r v A t a s c o s a C oun t y S W 3d 614 T e x A pp S a n A n t on i o 2004 no p e t

12 L op ez v Z e n it h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny S W 3d 775 T e x A pp E a s tl a nd 2007 p e t d e n i e d

12 MM P L t d v J on e s S W 2d 59 T e x

11 M a r ti n v M a r ti n M a r ti n & R i c h a r d s I n c W 2d 357 T e x

13 M a y v N ac oqdo c h e s M e m o r i a l H o s p S W 3d 623 T e x A pp T y l e r no p e t

13 M c G i I li a r d v K uh l m a nn S W 2d 694 T e x

15 N o w a k v DA S m v C o r p S W 3d 677 T e x A pp t h D i s t no p e t

11 N i xon b’. M r P r op e r t y M a n a g e m e n t S W 2d 546 T e x

11 O ko li v T e x a s D e p t o f H u m a n S e r v i ce s S W 3d T e x A pp T e x a r k a n a no p e t

13 R i o s v T e x a s B a nk S W 2d 30 n T e x A pp H ou s t on t h D i s t no w r it

13 S c i e n ce S p ec t r u m I n c v M a r ti n ez W 2d 910 T e x

13 S m it hk li n e B eec h a m C o r p v D o e S W 2d 347 T e x 1995

14 T h e R y l a nd G r oup I n c v H ood S W 2d 120 T e x

17 T o m L S c o tt I n c v M c ll h a ny S W 2d 556 T e x

15 U n i r oy a l G ood r i c h T i r e C o v M a r ti n ez S W 2d 328 T e x

15

W a l k e r tc P ac k e r S.W.2d (Tex. William v. Glash, S.W.2d 261, (Tex. 1990)

11 Zurich A m e r i ca n I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny v. Gill, S W 3d 878 (Tex. A pp F o r t h W o r t h p e t d e n i e d

12 A pp ea l s P a n e l D ec i s i on s APPEAL NO.

12 , 18 APPEALS NO.

12 , 18 APPEALS NO. 12 APPEALS NO.

16 APPEALS ND.

17 APPEALS NO

unu s e d APPEALS NO. 12 , 17 , 18 APPEALS NO.

18 , 19 APPEALS NO. 15 , 16 , 18 APPEALS NO.

16 , 18 APPEALS NO.

18 S t a t u t e s GOVT CODE e t s e q

10 , 14 TEX. ADMIN. CODE a 12 TEX. ADMIN. CODE a (a)(2),(c)(2)

12 TEX. LAB. CODE e t e s q

10 - 19 TEX. LAB. CODE e t s e q

10-19 vi TE X L A B C OD E e t s e q

. 12 , 17 , 18 TE X L A B C OD E e t s e q

10 - 19 R u l e s TE X R C I V P a

12 , 13 TE X R C I V p

5 TE X R C I V P a

10 , TE X R C I V P a c

10 , 11 , 14 TE X R C I V P a g

1 3 TE X R C I V P a i

10 , TE X R C I V P

A pp e ll a n t , T r e n t S . G r i ff i n , p r o s e f il e s t h i s a pp e ll a n t ’ s b r i e f f o r a d ec i s i on a nd f i n a l j udg m e n t o f t h e t r i a l c ou r t T h e ca s e e xp li c itl y i nvo l v e d a T r i a l D e N o vo R e v i e w o f a w o r k i n j u r y s u s t a i n e d by t h e a pp e ll a n t a nd t h e d ec i s i on o f t h e T e x a s D e p a r t m e n t o f I n s u r a n ce D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on h e r ea f t e r r e f e rr e d t o i n t h i s a pp e ll a n t s b r i e f a s t h e A g e n c y a nd A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny A pp e ll ee A pp e ll a n t s ough t t r i a l d e novo r e v i e w o f t h e d ec i s i on A pp e ll a n t i n iti a ll y f il e d h i s s u it a g a i n s t A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a n y a nd t h e A g e n c y E r g o t h e t r i a l c ou r t d i s m i ss e d t h e c l a i m a g a i n s t t h e a g e n c y f o r l ac k o f s ub j ec t m a tt e r j u r i s d i c ti on o r p l ea t o j u r i s d i c ti on M o r e ov e r a pp e ll a n t s c l a i m s s ough t f o r e x t e n t o f i n j u r y w h i c h i n c l ud e d a mm l e f t p a r a m e d i a n p r o t r u s i on h e r n i a t e d d i s c ce r v i ca l r a d i c u liti s r a d i c u l op a t hy a nd no t a t m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t A pp e ll ee A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny f il e d a g e n e r a l d e n i a l d i s pu ti ng t h e e x t e n t o f i n j u r y a nd d e n i e d a ll a ll e g e d f ac t s M o r e ov e r t h e i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r p r e s e n t e d a d e f e n s e c o m p r i s e d o f t h e a g e n c y s p r o ce ss a nd d ec i s i on w it h t h e a ff i r m e d d ec i s i on o f t h e A pp ea l s P a n e l t h a t f a il e d t o ac t on a d ec i s i on a nd o r d e r o f t h e a g e n c y w h e n t h e A pp e l l ee w a i v e d it s r i g h t s t o c o n t e s t c o m p e n s a b i l i t y o f w o r k i n j u r y t h a t w a s acce p t e d a s c o m p e n s a b l e T h i s w a s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e A pp ea l s P a n e l T h e t r i a l c ou r t d i s po s e d o f t h e A pp e ll a n t s c l a i m s by a “ no e v i d e n ce” p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t a nd t r a d iti on a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t T r i a l c ou r t a bu s e d it s d i s c r e ti on i n it s d ec i s i on by f a ili ng t o b e a f i nd e r o f f ac t a nd c on c l u s i on o f l a w a s a m a tt e r o f l a w b a s e d on t h e m e r it s o f t h e c a s e a nd o t h e r c i v il ca s e s s i m il a r i n n a t u r e a nd op e r a ti v e f ac t s T r i a l c ou r t a bu s e d it s d i s c r e ti on by f a ili ng t o d r a w a ll i n f e r e n ce s i n f a vo r o f t h e a pp e ll a n t b e f o r e g r a n ti n g s u mm a r y j u dg m e n t A p p e ll ee f a il e d t o n e g a t e a ll e l e m e n t s o f t h e a pp e ll a n t s c l a i m s A d d iti o n a ll y t h e t r i a l c ou r t a ll o w e d i n a d m i ss a b l e e v i d e n ce a nd t e s ti m on y p r e s e n t e d i n t h e a g e n c y s d ec i s i o n e r go a bu s i n g it s d i s c r e ti on F u r t h e r m o r e t r i a l c ou r t a bu s e d it s d i s c r e ti on by no t f o ll o w i ng t h e T e x a s L a bo r C o d e s a nd l a w s a nd G o v e r n m e n t C o d e s i n r e v i e w o f t h e e rr on e ou s d ec i s i o n by t h e a g e n c y M o r e o v e r t r i a l c ou r t d e p r i v e d t h e a p p e l l a n t T r e n t S G r i f f i n o f a n y o p po r t u n it y t o p r e s e n t s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t e v i d e n ce a ff i d a v it s o r r e s pon s e t o t h e m ov a n t s no e v i d e n ce” s u mm a r y j udg m e n t U pon r ece i p t o f a d ec i s i on a g a i n s t t h e A pp e ll a n t i mm e d i a t e l y a r e qu e s t f o r f i nd i ng o f f ac t a nd c on c l u s i on o f l a w w a s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e t r i a l c ou r t F o ll o w i ng t h e r e qu e s t A pp e ll a n t s ub m itt e d a m o ti on f o r n e w t r i a l a nd a n a ff i d a v it a nd a ny d e f ec t s w e r e no t d e li b e r a t e o r i n t e n ti on a l bu t t h a t o f i n a dv e r t a n ce m i s t a k e o r m i s c h a n ce

A pp e ll a n t s t a t e s it i s no t n ece ss a r y f o r a ny o r a l a r gu m e n t s . T h i s ca s e i s n o t a d i ff i c u l t ca s e t o d ec i d e b a s e d on t h e T e x a s L a b o r C o d e s a n d l a w s t h e ti m i ng a nd p r ox i m a t e ca u s e o f t h e i n j u r y t h e f ac t s t h a t a r e a ll e g e d i n t h e a pp e ll a n t s b r i e f a nd c l e r k s r ec o r d s If t h e C ou r t f i nd it n ece ss a r y f o r t h e a pp e ll a n t t o a pp ea r f o r o r a l a r gu m e n t t o e xp l a i n o r p r e s e n t o r a l a r gu m e n t t h e A pp e ll a n t i s m o r e t h a n w illi ng a nd a b l e T h e C l e r k s r ec o r d a n d t h i s b r i e f i s s u f f i c i e n t i n a p p l i ca t i on o f f i n d i n g o f f ac t s a n d conclusion of law to satisfy judgment in favor of the appellant.

Appellant presents the following issues associated with this case. This case involved liability and compensability issues which include, timely contest by Insurance Carrier(IC), Date of Injury (DCI), compensability! injury (existence), and Extent of Injury (EOI), Income Benefit (IB), Medical Benefits (MB), Procedural, Spinal, Wage, Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), and Impairment Rating (IR) Issues The trial court abused its discretion from the initial filing of the complaint. The appellant filed an affidavit and complaint simultaneously allowing for service of process to the Appellee and agency in accordance with Texas Rules of Civil Procedures. The Agency appeared and Appellee was a no show, as it were in the Benefit Review Conference. The Appellee failed to present an affirmative defense against all elements of the appellant’s claims. The trial court erred by not enforcing or allowing for a signed uniform scheduling order for mediation. Additonally, trial court abused its discretion favorable to the Appellee in discovery, and not allowing an opportunity for discovery for the Appellant. Trial court abused its discretion by allowing inadmissable evidence, ie. peer review, without a request from Agency for newly discovered evidence that was presented after waiving its rights to contest a compensable injury and expert testimony. Additionally, the trial court erroneously granted a “no evidence” partial summary judgment and summary judgment in favor of the appellee without drawing every inference favorable for the Appellant. Further, the Appellee and the trial court failed to notice the Appellant of a notice of hearing date or notice of submission for summary judgment hearing date. Furthermore, the granting of the “no evidence” partial summary judgment and summary judgment deprived the Appellant of any rights to submit affidavits or a response to present a genuine issue of material fact or present summary judgment evidence. Moreover, the trial court erred by not following the Texas Labor Codes and laws, and Government Code in a [tjrial de novo review. Trial court abused its discretion, failing to draw inferences for finding of facts and conclusion of law in favor of the non-movant. The Appellant’s complaint and all alleged facts were to be considered as true, but the trial court erred by granting a “no evidence” partial summary judgment and summary judgment that failed to negate all the elements of each of the Appellant’s claims. Appellee has avoided liablility of the Appellant’s injury for nearly three(3) years, since the late filing of the notice of refused/disputed claim by the insurance carrier, American Zurich Insurance Company.

On May 29th, 2013 Appellant filed his original petition simultaneously submitting an affidavit of indigency [CR 5-14,18-20]. This affidavit was submitted due to the inability to pay. A letter was received contesting the inability to pay, noting the Appellant will be notified of a hearing date [CR 21]. On June 28, 2013 clearly more than twenty days, the Agency filed an affirmative defense plea of jurisdiction for sovereign immunity. On July a plea to jurisdiction was filed by the Agency and a hearing date for submission was set for July 26th, 2013 [CR 28]. An order was singed on July 26th, 2015 granting the agency plea of jurisdiction and dismissing the appellant’s case against the agency [CR 30]. Ergo, the Appellant was not afforded an opportunity to present any material facts or genuine issues because the appellant was informed there was no need to wait until this afternoon. Judge Martin Lowy intended to rule against the Appellant [RR 1-6]. Moreover, Appellee was a no show, and Judge Martin Lowy informed Appellant, “there was improper service upon the Appellee “[RR 4]. Inherently, when an affidavit is filed, the clerk must docket the action, issue citation and provide such other customary services as are provided any party Yet, there was a representative in the court for Appellee and the Agency received service. It was apparent, Judge Martin Lowy had demonstrated abuse of discretion. On August 22, 2013, Appellee filed an answer to the Appellant’s original complaint filed on May 29, 2013 [CR 31-32]. Appellee’s original answer failed to raise a genuine dispute and material of fact to be granted a “no evidence” partial summary judgment and summary judgment. Ergo, the Appellant’s original complaint was filed pursuant “[t]rial de novo review” that prohibits the admission into evidence prior state agency action or the nature of the action [CR 5]. In Appellant’s original complaint, he alleged facts that pertained to his work injury. On February 21, 2012, appellant sustained an injury to the neck and shoulder while performing duties and responsibilities as a Pharmacy Manager and Staff Pharmacist for Walgreens Company [CR 6]. On February t h e a pp e ll a n t c on t ac t e d t h e e m p l oy e r a nd t h e a g e n c y a bou t t h e w o r k r e l a t e d injury [CR 6]. On F e b r u a r y t h e a pp e ll a n t s ough t m e d i ca l a tt e n ti on fr o m a w o r k e r s c o m p e n s a ti on n e t w o r k do c t o r a t t h e d i s c r e ti on o f t h e a g e n c y On s a i d d a t e a pp e ll a n t w a s d i a gno s e d w it h cervical r a d i c u liti s lCD-code a nd 840 s hou l d e r s p r a i n a nd s t r a i n [CR 7]. Trial c ou r t e rr e d in f a ili ng t o i d e n ti f y t h e A pp e ll ee s t a t e d d e f e nd a n t acce p t e d injury as c o m p e n s a b l e a nd i n iti a t e d t e m po r a r y i n c o m e b e n e f it s (TIBs) on F e b r u a r y [CR a nd 76]. Ergo, t h e ti m e t o d i s pu t e t h e i n j u r y h a s b e g un t o r u n a g a i n s t t h e A p p e ll ee On M a r c h A pp e ll a n t und e r w e n t a ce r v i ca l MRI, i d e n ti f y i ng a mm l e f t p a r a m e d i a n d i s c p r o t r u s i on c o m p r e ss i ng t h e v e n t r a l c o r d On May 2, a p ee r r e v i e w w a s p e rf o r m e d b e yond t h e sixty (60) d a y s a ll o w e d t o i nv e s ti g a t e a nd c on t e s t an injury [CR 7, a nd no ti ce o f d i s pu t e d i ss u e s a nd r e f u s a l t o pay b e n e f it s r e nd e r s t h i s r e v i e w i rr e v e l a n t a nd i n a d m i ss a b l e pu r s u a n t “trial d e novo r e v i e w a nd it do e s no t a pp l y t o t h e a pp e ll a n t s ce r v i ca l injury s p ec i f i ca ll y [CR 76, 84]. The s a m e ho l d s t r u e f o r e xp e r t t e s ti m ony o f Richard Suss p r e s e n t e d in p a p e r f o r m w it h a d a t e of N ov e m b e r a nd M a r ti n S t e i n e r e xp e r t t e s ti m ony p r e s e n t e d in p a p e r f o r m d a t e d O c t ob e r t h a t w e r e i n t r o du ce d in t h e c on t e s t e d ca s e h ea r i ng w it hou t t h e a b ilit y t o be c r o s s e x a m i n e d by a pp e ll a n t [CR 84- T h e s e w e r e t h e e x ac t s a m e op i n i on s i n t r odu ce d t o t h e a g e n c y Trial c ou r t e rr e d in a ll o w i ng i n a d m i s s a b l e e v i d e n ce o r e v i d e n ce t h a t p r e s e n t e d i m p a r ti a lit y a nd b i a s w h i c h did no t f o ll o w t h e AMA G u i d e s t h Edition. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e Range o f M o t i o n p r e s e n t e d by A nd r e w Cole, the Appellant had decrease cervical range of motion [CR 581. Plaintiff did not have an injury prior to February 21, 2012. The Appellee did not present any evidence to show the contrary, or establish the Appellant had a pre existing injury. Alternatively, an injury includes aggravation of a pre-existing injury, but the Appellant unequivocally know he has not had a prior injury. Trial court erred in admitting into evidence Dr. Andrew Cole’s Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and Impairment Rating (IR), that which he was only tasked to perform [CR 53-62]. On June 26, 2012 appellee underwent a MRI of the left shoulder, identifying supraspinatus distal tendon attenuation and mild sub deltoid bursitis [CR 8]. On June 28, 2012, Dr. Andrew Cole submitted an incomplete evaluation of the appeflant stating” he was notified and failed to attend appointment on June 26, 2012”ld. That statement is clearly untrue [CR 8, 57]. Trial court clearly erred in admitting into evidence any and all evidence that was used in the the agency’s decision, when the Appellant was deprived of any right to cross examine each witness that presented testimony by paper form [CR 51-74]. It is a clear abuse of discretion by the trial court because it failed to accept all factual allegations as true and to draw all inferences in favor of the Appellant before granting summary judgment. Additionally, it allowed inadmissable evidence, ignored the pleading identifying violations of Texas Labor Codes, laws and Government Codes, proximate cause of injury, notification of first Temporary Income Benefits(TIB) payment, Notice of Disputes and first report of injury to employer and insurance company, diagnosis and supporting scientific evidence. The opinions of the expert testimony clearly was not probative, but conclusory [CR 83-87]. Moreover, AMA Guides 4th Edition clearly define an impairment as TI any loss of abnormality of psycological, physiological, or anatomical structure or function.” More importantly, there are no other medical records to indicate the appellant sustained a prior neck or shoulder injury. The fact remains a compensable injury was sustained and the insurance carrier failed to dispute the claimed injury. Appellant asserted the carrier waived its rights to contest conpensability and stated it was presented to the Appeal Panel referencing Decision No.080730 [CR 11,p.2].

On August 24, 2012, appellant was [fjully evaluated by a Dr. Andrew Garrett. It was indicated in his Muscle Atrophy Evaluation, appellant had more than “2 centimeters11 difference in circumference of the upper arm indicating moderate and prolonged nerve impairment. Cervical radicu lopathy is limited to atrophy greater than 2 cm or loss of relevant refelxes, verified by EMG/NCS nerve study. Additionally, Dr Martin Steiner did not review the report submitted by Dr Andrew Garrett. Dr. Steiner’s report is nearly two (2) months later [CR 84]. It is clearly he was bias and prejudice in his opinion[CR 84]. More importantly, Dr. Martin Steiner does not mention at all about the “brachial plexus” which consist of CS to C8 nerves, where the nerves come together to form median nerve which corresponds to Dr. Edwin Green’s finding of Radiculopathy, left-mid [CR 8, 9]. On the other hand, Dr. Andrew Cole report was not complete as stated in his report, if it was admissable evidence [CR 150].

This case was based on whether the trial court erred in allowing a “no” evidence partial summary judgment and summary judgment based on inadmissable evidence, without providing notice of the hearing for summary judgment, which deprived Trent S. Griffin of an opportunity to present summary judgment evidence. Additionally, the case was based on abuse of discretion by the trial court granting summary judgment without drawing all inferences in favor of Trent S. Griffin before granting summary judgment. It is very clear that summary judgment was premature or even erroneous based on the meritorious pleading of the Trent S. Griffin. Further, American Zurich Insurance Company did not present an affirmative defense, which was based on the decision and actions of the Texas Department of Insurance-Division of Workers’ Compensation here known as the “Agency”, when there was “trial de novo” review of the case. Furthermore, the trial court erred by not applying other civil cases that were similar in nature before granting summary judgment. American Zurich Insurance Company did not negate any of Trent S. Griffin’s claims in producing inadmissable evidence. Even if the evidence was admissable, American Zurich Insurance Company did not contest the compensability of Trent S. Griffin’s work related injury it accepted as compensable that was presented to the Appeals Panel and they failed to act on the decision and order of the Agency.

G r a n ti n g o f a “ no e v i d e n ce” p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j u dg m e n t a nd s u mm a r y j u dg m e n t w it h ou t no ti ce o f t h e h ea r i n g o r s ub m i ss i on d a t e o f a s u mm a r y j u dg m e n t by t h e C o u r t o r A p p e ll ee d e p r i v e d A p p e ll a n t o f r i gh t s a bu s e d d i s c r e ti on f a ili ng t o d r a w f a vo r a b l e i n f e r e n ce s f a il e d t o n e g a t e on e o r m o r e e l e m e n t s o f eac h c l a i m w it h ou t f i nd i ng o f f ac t a nd c on c l u s i on o f l a w b a s e d on t h e m e r it s o f t h e ca s e

O n J un e 27 , 20 14 , A p p e ll ee f il e d a “ no - e v i d e n ce” m o ti on f o r p a r t i a l s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t t h e n t h i r t y m i n u t e s l a t e r f i l e d a t r a d it i o n a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t CR T e x R C i v P a i a T r i a l c ou r t e rr e d i n g r a n ti ng a “ no e v i d e n ce” p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t a nd a t r a d iti on a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t CR on t h e b a s i s o f no e v i d e n ce” e x t e n t o f i n j u r y b e yond a ce r v i ca l s p r a i n s t r a i n a nd l e f t s hou l d e r s p r a i n s t r a i n CR a nd s t a t u t o r y m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t d a t e o f F e b r u a r y 26 CR A pp e ll a n t s f ili ng o f t h e p e titi on v aca t e d a s t a t e a g e n c y d ec i s i on f o r w h i c h t r i a l d e novo i s t h e m a nn e r o f r e v i e w G o V t C od e b A t r i a l c ou r t i s e m po w e r e d t o g r a n t a m o ti on f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t a nd r e nd e r j udg m e n t f o r t h e m ov a n t w h e n it i s c o n c l u s i v e l y s h o w n t h a t t h e m o v i n g p a r t y i s e n t it l e d t o j u dg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w I t m u s t b e s a ti s f i e d t h a t e it h e r t h e r e a r e no g e nu i n e i ss u e s o f m a t e r i a l f ac t a nd t h e m ov a n t s s u m m a r y j udg m e n t e v i d e n ce e s t a b li s h e s e n titl e m e n t t o j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w o r ( t h e r e i s no e v i d e n ce o f on e o r m o r e e ss e n ti a l e l e m e n t s o f a c l a i m o r d e f e n s e on w h i c h t h e a d v e r s e p a r t y h a s t h e b u r d e n o f p r oo f T e x R C i v P a c i G r ound s f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t t h e m ov a n t s p r oo f m u s t c on c l u s i v e l y e s t a b li s h all e l e m e n t s of its ca u s e of ac ti on as a m a tt e r o f law [Tex. R. Civ. P. a c William v. Glash, 789 S.W.2d 261, 264 (Tex. 1990); Nixon v. Mr. P r op e r t y M a n a g e m e n t S.W.2d 546, 548 (Tex. 1985); J e t e r v. M c G r a w 79 S.W.3d 211, (Tex. A pp B ea u m on t p e t d e n i e d Also s ee MMP, Ltd. v. J on e s S W 2d 59, 60 (Tex. The S up r e m e C ou r t h a s s a i d t h a t s u mm a r y j udg m e n t p r o ce du r e is no t i n t e nd e d t o d e p r i v e liti g a n t s o f t h e i r r i gh t t o a full h ea r i ng on t h e m e r it s on a ny real i ss u e o f f ac t; if t h e r e is s o m e d o ub t as t o f ac t s s u m m a r y j u dg m e n t s h ou l d n o t be r e n d e r e d d e s p it e t h e d e s i r e f o r p r o m p t d i s po s a l of j ud i c i a l bu s i n e ss M o r e ov e r a no- e v i d e n ce m o ti on m u s t c h a ll e ng e a s p ec i f i c e l e m e n t o f t h e oppon e n t s ca s e a nd t h e r e f o r e is no t a pp r op r i a t e t o r a i s e a c h a ll e ng e b a s e d on an a ff i r m a ti v e d e f e n s e on w h i c h it h a s t h e bu r d e n o f p r oo f s ee N o w a k v. DAS mv. Corp., 110 S.W.3d (Tex. A pp H ou s t on t h Dist.] no p e t d e f e nd a n t i m p r op e r l y filed no e v i d e n ce m o ti on on o w n a ff i r m a ti v e d e f e n s e o f li m it a ti on s Also s ee B a rr aza v. E u r e k a Co., 25 S.W.3d 225, (Tex. App.---El P a s o 2000 p e t d e n i e d p a r t y m a y no t u r g e no e v i d e n ce s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on c l a i m s or d e f e n s e s on w h i c h it h a s bu r d e n o f p r oo f) I n s t ea d t h e p a r t y a ss e r t i n g t h e d e f e n s e has t h e bu r d e n o f c on c l u s i v e l y p r ov i ng t h e a ff i r m a ti v e d e f e n s e in o r d e r t o gain s u mm a r y j udg m e n t s ee e g Harrill v. A.J. ‘s W r ec k e r Service, m c 27 S.W.3d 191, (Tex. A pp D a ll a s p e t dism’d w o j (trial c ou r t e rr e d in g r a n ti ng s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on no e v i d e n ce m o ti on b a s e d on a ff i r m a ti v e d e f e n s e o f p r e e m p t i o n [CR 31, 42]. A t r a d i t i o n a l s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t m a y n o t be r e nd e r e d b a s e d on t h e non m ov a n t s d e f a u lt A r e s pon s e i s no t c on s i d e r e d n ece ss a r y t o d e f ea t a t r a d iti on a l m o ti on b eca u s e d e f i c i e n c i e s i n t h e m ov a n t s o w n p r oo f o r l e g a l t h e o r i e s m i gh t d e f ea t t h e m ov a n t s r i gh t t o j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w T r i a l c ou r t e rr e d by g r a n ti ng s u mm a r y j udg m e n t w h e n t h e a pp e ll ee w a i v e d it s r i gh t s t o c on t e s t t h e i n j u r y T e x L a b C od e c A PP E A L NO E r go t h e m ov a n t i s no t ob li g e d t o n e g a t e a ff i r m a ti v e d e f e n s e s r a i s e d by t h e d e f e nd a n t s p l ea d i ng s H o w e v e r t h e m ov a n t s p r oo f it s e l f m a y e s t a b li s h a n a ff i r m a ti v e d e f e n s e s u c h a s t h e d e f e n s e o f l i m i t a ti o n I n t h a t ca s e t h e m ov a n t m u s t n e g a t e t h e d e f e n s e o r i n t h e a pp e ll a n t s ca s e w a i v e r o f r i gh t s t o c on t e s t c o m p e n s a b ilit y o f w o r k i n j u r y e xp i r e d a f t e r s i x t y d a y s a f t e r b e i ng no ti f i e d o f t h e i n j u r y A PP E A L NO T e x L a b C od e s ec ti on 409 c c A l e x a nd e r v L o c kh ee d M a r ti n C o r po r a ti on S W 3d 348 T e x A pp F o r t h W o r t h 2006 p e t d e n i e d A l s o s ee C on ti n e n t a l C a s u a lt y I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny v W illi a m s on S W 2d 108 T e x A pp T y l e r no p e t s ec ti on 401 L op ez v Z e n it h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny S W 3d 775 T e x A pp E a s tl a nd 2007 p e t d e n i e d Z u r i c h A m e r i ca n I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny v G ill W 3d 878 T e x A pp F o r t h W o r t h 2005 p e t d e n i e d T h e a pp e ll ee w a i v e d it s r i g h t s t o c on t e s t c o m p e n s a b i li t y o f t h e a pp e ll a n t s w o r k i n j u r y a nd it w a s r a i s e d b e f o r e t h e a pp ea l s p a n e l e r go t h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d i n g r a n ti ng s u mm a r y j udg m e n t K r u e g e r v A t a s c o s a C oun t y S W 3d 614 T e x A pp S a n A n t on i o 2004 no p e t A PP E A L S NO CR

T h e c o u r t m u s t g i v e n o t i ce o f t h e h ea r i n g o r s u b m i s s i o n d a t e o f a

1 2 summary judgment motion see Martin v. Martin, Martin & Richards, Inc., 989 S.W.2d 357, 359 (Tex. 1998); Okoli v. Texas Dept of Human Services, 117 S.W.3d 477, 479 (Tex. App.---Texarkana 2003, no pet.) (notice by a party that summary judgment would be presented to court was not noticed of hearing date). Even though an actual hearing may not occur, because it is within the trial judge’s discretion whether to hold a hearing, a hearing date must be set and specified in a notice to the parties in order to set the filing deadlines see Martin v. Martin, Martin & Richards, Inc., 989 S.W.2d 357, 359 (Tex. 1998). Additionally, when a party is given no notice at all of a summary judgment hearing or when a party is deprived of the right to seek leave to file additional affidavits or other written response to the summary judgment the party may preserve error in a post-trial motion see May v. Nacogdoches Memorial Hosp., 61 S.W.3d 623, 626-627 (Tex. App.---Tyler 2001, no pet.) (when amended motion for summary judgment was served two days before hearing, party had adequate time to file written objection and waived right to object by failing to do so); Rios v. Texas Bank, 948 S.W.2d 30, 32-33, n.4 (Tex. App.---Houston [14th Dist.] 1997, no writ); Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(g).

A party resisting a claim may establish that no genuine issue of fact exists, justifying a “take-nothing” judgment as a matter of law, by negating at least one of the key elements of each of the claimant’s theories of recovery see Science Spectrum, Inc. v. Martinez, 941 S.W.2d 910, 911 (Tex. 1997); AlIen v. A & T Transp. Co. Inc., 79 S.W.3d 65, 68 (Tex. App.-— Texarkana 2002, pet.denied); Jeter v. McGraw, 79 S.W.3d 211, 214 (Tex. App.---Beaumont 2002, pet. denied). Ergo, to prevail on a motion claiming entitlement to summary judgment as a matter of law, the movant must offer [a]dmissible evidence proving that no genuine issue of material fact exists and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law on the issues expressly set out in the motion or in an answer or any other response to the motion Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Gov. Code, section 2001.173. Additionally, a movant need not negate all conceivable theories on which the claimant might recover, rather, the movant is only required to negate the theories raised by the pleadings see Smithkline Beecham Corp. tic Doe, 903 S.W.2d 347, 355 (Tex. 1995) (claimant may defeat summary judgment by raising issue of fact as to claim assertable under general language of petition); Dickson v. State Farm Lloyds, 944 S.W.2d 666, 667 (Tex. App.--- Corpus Christi 1997, no writ); Also see Dewoody v. Rippley, 951 S.W.2d 935, 943-944 (Tex. App.---Forth Worth 1997, dis. agr.) movant failed to amend

raised in amended petition filed after motion).

In a civil action, pleadings admit claimant’s entitlement to judgment. A plaintiff (or litigant asserting a claim for affirmative relief) may be entitled to summary judgment on the pleadings in certain cases. For example, in an action on a sworn account, the failure of the opposing party to deny the truth of the account properly may entitle the claimant to judgment because the answer does not raise any issue of material fact.Tex. R. Civ. P. 185; see Hidalgo v. Surety Savings and Loan Association, 452 S.W.2d 540, 543 n.1 (Tex. 1971); Bado Equipment Co., Inc. v. Ryder Truck L i n e s S W 2d 81 C i v A pp H ou s t on t h D i s t r e f n r e w h e n s u it m ee t s r e qu i r e m e n t o f T e x R C i v P a nd d e f e nd a n t s a n s w e r do e s no t m ee t r e qu i r e m e n t s o f t h a t r u l e p l a i n ti ff’ s m o ti on f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t n ee d on l y s t a t e t h a t d e f e nd a n t s a n s w e r do e s no t r a i s e a ny i ss u e o f m a t e r i a l f ac t G r a n ti ng o f no e v i d e n ce” p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t a nd s u mm a r y j udg m e n t w a s p r e m a t u r e l y g r a n t e d t o a pp e ll ee a bu s e o f d i s c r e ti on f a ili ng t o a ll o w d i s c ov e r y a nd i n a d m i ss a b l e e v i d e n ce f il e d i n t o r ec o r d

C a s e l a w m a k e s i t p l a i n t h a t t h e d i s c o v e r y s y s t e m ’ s u l ti m a t e pu r po s e i s t o r e v ea l t h e t r u t h s o t h a t d i s pu t e s m a y b e d ec i d e d by t h e f ac t s t h a t a r e r e v ea l e d no t t h e f ac t s t h a t a r e c on cea l e d s ee I n r e C o l on i a l P i p e li n e C o S W 2d 938 T e x T o m L S c o tt I n c v M c ll h a ny S W 2d 556 T e x G a r c i a v P ee p l e s S W 2d 343 T e x J a po l e v T ou c hy W 2d 569 TE x d i s a pp r ov e d on o t h e r g r ound s W a l k e r v P ac k e r S W 2d 833 T e x O r d i n a r il y t h e t e s ti m ony o f a n e xp e r t w it n e ss do e s no m o r e t h a n r a i s e a n i ss u e t o b e d e t e r m i n e d by t h e t r i e r o f f ac t; it u s u a ll y do e s no t e s t a b li s h a ny f ac t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w s ee U n i r oy a l G ood r i c h T i r e C o v M a r ti n ez S W 2d 32 T e x M c G il li a r d v K u h l m a n n S W 2d 69 T e x A n e xp e r t s op i n i on m u s t b e b a s e d on r e li a b l e f ound a ti on a m oun ti ng t o m o r e t h a n a n un s uppo r t e d s p ec u l a ti on o r s ub j ec ti v e b e li e f E xp e r t t e s ti m ony e v i d e n ce m u s t b e p r ob a ti v e a nd no t c on c l u s o r y a nd b e b a s e d on r ea s on a b l e m e d i ca l p r ob a b ilit y t o b e a d m i ss a b l e i n t o e v i d e n ce A PP E A L N O G u e v a r a v F e r r e r W d 6 T e x I n Texas Supreme Court in Crump, announced a general rule that causation requires expert medical evidence. However, there are exceptions to the general rule. In Guevara v. Ferrer, the Court stated,” [t]ype of eveidence establishing a sequence of events which provides a strong, logically, traceable connection between the event and the “condition” could suffice to support a causation finding:” 1) are within the common knowledge and experience of a layperson; 2) did not exist before accident; 3) appeared after and close in time to the accident, and; 4) are within the common knowledge and experience of laypersons a work injury. The Texas Supreme Court, later noted non-expert evidence alone is sufficient to support a finding of causation in limited circumstances where [both] the occurences and condition complained of are such that the general experience and common sense of laypersons are sufficient to evaluate the conditions and whether they were caused by the occurences. Id. Additionally, every expert opinion must : 1) be based on accurate facts; 2) state an opinion in a reasonable medical probability (not speculation, conjecture or possibility); 3) Include an explanation of causation and it may not be merely conclusory; and 4) discuss and eliminate alternate possible causes if relying on differential diagnosis. Furthermore, in Crump, does not require injured worker to present expert medical evidence using (differential diagnosis method). Moreover, it does [n]ot require medical evidence when claimant was diagnosed with condition on date of injury. Appellant sought medical attention in less than eighteen (18) hours from the time of injury [APPEAL NO. 120253, 120383; 032608; CR 16 Upon a doctor visit with his PCP lesst t h a n 24 hou r s a pp e ll a n t w a s p r ov i d e d m i n i m a l s e r v i ce b eca u s e h e s u ff e r e d a w o r k i n j u r y a nd w a s g i v e n t w o w ee k s w o r t h o f m e d i ca ti on un til h e w a s a b l e t o s ee a w o r k e r s c o m p e n s a ti on n e t w o r k do c t o r a s s t a t e d by h i s P C P A pp e ll a n t s P C P no t e d l e f t s hou l d e r l e f t t r a p ez i u s m u s c l e t e nd e r n ec k m u s c l e t e nd e r a t t r a p ez i u s a nd ac u t e m yo s iti s CR F u r t h e r m o r e a n ec k i n j u r y ca n m a s qu e r a d e a s a s hou l d e r i n j u r y A PP E A L NO M o r e ov e r A pp ea l s N o is a s it u a ti on t h a t i s n ea r l y t h e e x ac t s a m e ca s e w it h a d i ff e r e n ce o f l e f t a nd r i gh t s i d e a nd t h e ca rr i e r acce p t e d t h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y o f s h ou l d e r s t r a i n s p r a i n a n d ce r v i ca l r a d i c u li t i s a n d t h e i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r f il e d no ti ce o f d i s pu t e d i ss u e s a nd r e f u s a l t o p a y b e n e f it s on M a y 9 w h i c h i s no t w it h i n 60 d a y s o f F e b r u a r y 21 2012 o r on o r b e f o r e A p r ill A PP E A L NO T hough t h e r e w a s i n a d m i ss a b l e e v i d e n ce o r a lt e r n a ti v e l y i f t h e e v i d e n ce w a s a d m i ss a b l e it d i d no t ov e r c o m e t h e f ac t o f s ec ti on 409 c w a i v e r o f r i gh t t o d i s pu t e ce r v i ca l r a d i c u liti s mm l e f t p a r a m e d i a n p r o t r u s i on h e r n i a t e d d i s c a nd l e f t s hou l d e r s t r a i n s p r a i n T h e a dd iti on a l s c i e n ti f i c e v i d e n ce by E M G N C S n e r v e s t udy a nd M R I o f l e f t s hou l d e r i d e n ti f i e d t h e und e r l y i ng ca u s e s o f t h e r a d i c u l a r p a i n a nd p a r a t h e s i a nu m bn e ss ti ng li ng s p a s m s a nd e t c D r A n d r e w C o l e s e v a l u a ti on o f t h e a pp e ll a n t e v e n i f h i s e v i d e n ce w a s a d m i ss a b l e d i d no t d i s pu t e t h e f ac t o f t h e i n j u r y bu t t h a t i n h i s e s ti m a ti on t h e “ i n j u r y w a s c h r on i c a nd p r e e x i s ti ng [CR T h e R y l ond G r oup I n c v. H ood S W 2d 120 T e x 1996 In a “ d i ff e r e n ti a l d i a gno s i s m e t hod it w a s p e rf o r m e d by D r C o l e i nd i ca ti ng a d ec r ea s e i n s e n s a t i o n o n t h e u l n a r a s p ec t o f t h e l e f t h a nd a n d d ec r ea s e i n s e n s a t i o n b e l o w t h e e l bo w on t h e vo l a r s u rf ace o f t h e a r m For t h e Cervical S p i n e it w a s no t e d d ec r ea s e o f f l e x i on a nd e x t e n s i on A dd iti on a ll y t h e Dr. Cole s t a t e d [I] am ob t a i n i ng s hou l d e r MRI a nd EMC a nd c on s u lt t o fully e v a l u a t e e x a i m i n ee [CR Ergo, h e p r ov i d e d an e v a l u a ti on t h a t w a s c on c l u s o r y p r e s e n t e d w it h c on j ec t u r e po ss i b iliti e s a nd s p ec u l a ti on s a nd no t p r ob a ti v e in n a t u r e T h e s a m e ho l d s t r u e f o r t h e P ee r Review by Dr Phillip O s bo r n e E xp e r t Review a nd O p i n i on s o f Dr. M a r ti n S t e i n e r a nd Dr. Richard Suss. N e it h e r of t h e e xp e r t s c ou l d p r ov i d e a m ea n s of m e d i ca l p o s s i b il i t i e s o f ca u s a t i o n n o r c o u l d t h e y p r o du ce a n y e v i d e n ce t o e s t a b l i s h a p r e e x i s ti ng i n j u r y a nd t h a t t h e i n j u r y w a s no t w it h i n t h e c ou r s e a nd s c op e of e m p l oy m e n t M o r e ov e r t h e i n j u r i e s w e r e acce p t e d as c o m p e n s a b l e a nd t h e i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r did no t d i s pu t e w it h i n t h e sixty d a y s of no ti f i ca ti on a nd e r go w a i v i ng t h e r e r i gh t s t o c o m p e n s a b ilit y a nd liability f o r t h e i n j u r i e s s u ff e r e d by t h e a pp e ll a n t [APPEAL NO. TEX. LAB. CODE SECTION C SECTION Based on t h e e v i d e n ce of Dr. A nd r e w Cole a ss i g m e n t o f MMI/IR, h e no t e d on his cervical f l e x i on e x t e n s i on l a t e r a l f l e x i on a nd r o t a ti on s t hough h e p r ov i d e d a ze r o p e r ce n t I m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng a t t h a t ti m e i m p a i r m e n t w a s a t l ea s t i m p a i r m e n t f o r t ho s e m ea s u r e m e n t s a nd D i a gno s i s R e l a t e d e s ti m a t e d DRE C a t e go r y Ill: R a d i c u l op a t hy a nd a n unop e r a t e d i n t e r v e r t e b r a l disk is e s ti m a t e d a t 4%. Dr. A nd r e w Cole, if e v i d e n ce w a s a d m i ss a b l e s t a t e d a pp e ll a n t h a d a ze r o p e r ce n t i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng Clearly, t h a t w a s no t b a s e d on a n y f i n d i n g s o f p r ob a t i v e n a t u r e T h e MRI e v i d e n c e p r e s e n t e d a herniated disc and he was diagnosed with cervical radiculitis

The issues are whether American Zurich Insurance Company presented summary judgment material evidence to negate all the claims asserted by the Appellant Tren S. Griffin, Sr., whether the evidence was admissible and even if it was, did trial court abuse its discretion by granting a “no evidence” partial summary judgment, then a summary judgment when at least one or more elements of all the claims were not negated, trial court erred by allowing evidence based on the agency’s intervening actions or decision in a “trial de novo” review. Additionally, did the trial court abuse its discretion by depriving the Appellant of an opportunity to present summary judgment evidence and without providing notice of a summary judgment hearing that was scheduled without notice from the court or the Appellee. In the final analysis, the evidence presented by American Zurich is inadmissable, expert testimony, peer review and agency’s actions and decisions are devoid. Furthermore, American Zurich Insurance Company did not present an affirmative defense, when it presented a response that was based on the actions or decision of the agency. Moreover, it is clear American Zurich Insurance Comapny waived its rights to contest the compensability of the injury and their liability. For these reasons stated in the brief, Trent S. Griffin, Sr. asks the Court to reverse the trial court’s judgment, and render judgment for Trent S. Griffin, Sr., or in the alternative, to reverse the trial court’s judgment and remand the case for new trial.

TRENT S. GRIFFIN, SR., Appellant,

AMERICAN ZURICH INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellee

Xl. APPEllANT’S APPENDIX 1. No-evidence Partial Summary Judgment dated August 15, 2014 Clerks Record 156 Tab 1 2. Summary Judgment dated August 15, 2014 Clerks Record 157 Tab 2 3. Plaintiffs Original Complaint dated Mat 29, 2013 Clerks Record 5 Tab 3 4. American Zurich Insurance Company Original Answer dated August 13, 2014. Clerks Record 31-33 Tab 4 5. 101st District Uniform Schduling Order (Level 2) dated September 17, 2013 Clerks Record 35 Tab 5

dated September 19, 2013 Clerks Record 38 Tab 6 7. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE Letter dated August 21, 2013 Clerks Record 40 Tab 7 8. Defendant’s No-Evidence Motion For Partial Summary Judgment dated June 27, 2014 Clerks Record 41 -45 Tab 8 9. Defendant’s Motion For Summary Judgment dated June 27, 2014 Clerks Record 46 Tab 9 10. Business Records Affidavit dated September 17, 2013 Clerks Record 52 Tab 10 11. Certfication of Instrument(s) dated September 17, 2013 Clerks Record 64- 70 Tab 11 12. Affidavit of Richelle Cabrales dated June 19, 2014 Clerks Record 76 Tab 12 13. Dr. Martin Seiner’s Report dated October 19, 2012 Clerks Record 84 Tab 13 14. Dr. Richard Suss’s Report dated November 26, 2012 Clerks Record Tab 14 15. Dr. Phillip Osborne’s Report dated May 2, 2012 Clerks Record 125 Tab 15 16. Request For Findings of Fact and Conclusion of Law dated September 3, 2014 Clerks Record 161- Tab 16 17. Motion for New Trial dated September 5, 2014 Clerks Record 164- 170 Tab 17 18. Affidavit dated September 4, 2014 Clerks Record 171 Tab 18

Respectfully submitted, T 4 t . àrt4Y iro se 7frj Meandefing Dr. Cedar Hill, TX 75104 469-337-0598[NEW]

I certify that a true copy of the above Motion for AppellantTs Brief and Appellant’s Brief has been sent by certfied mail by depositing it enclosed in a postpaid, properly addressed wrapper in a post office or official depository under the care and custody of the United States Postal Service to attorney Todd Richards, The Silvera Firm, 1015 Providence Towers East, 5001 Spring Valley Road, Dallas, Texas 75244, attorney of record for American Zurich Insurance Company at Corporation Service Company, 211 East 7th Street #620 Austin, Texas, Travis County, Texas. SIGNED on March 30, 2015.

t ( -‘ vv 2

FiLED IN 5TH COUP1 OF APPEALS CAUSE NO. 0S-14-01510-CV71115 APR 2L1 PH q: QQ

TRENT S. GRIFFIN Appellant,

AMERICAN ZURICH INSURANCE COMPANY Appellee.

On appeal from the 101st District Court of Dallas County, Texas

Trent S. Griffin, Sr. 724 Meandering Dr. Cedar Hill, Texas 75104 Tel. 469-337-0598

T R E N T S . G R I FF I N , S R ., A pp e ll a n t ,

A M E R I C AN Z U R I C H I N S U R AN C E C O M P ANY , A pp e ll ee

N o e v i d e n ce P a r ti a l S u mm a r y J udg m e n t d a t e d A ugu s t C l e r k s R ec o r d 156

T a b 1 S u mm a r y J udg m e n t d a t e d A ugu s t C l e r k s R ec o r d 157

T a b 2 P l a i n ti ff s O r i g i n a l C o m p l a i n t d a t e d M a t C l e r k s R ec o r d 5 A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny O r i g i n a l A n s w e r d a t e d A ugu s t

T a b 3 C l e r k s R ec o r d

T a b 4 s t D i s t r i c t U n i f o r m S c hdu li ng O r d e r L e v e l d a t e d S e p t e m b e r C l e r k s R ec o r d 35

T a b 5 F O R M NO C I T A T I ON T H E S T A TE O F TE XA S d a t e d S e p t e m b e r C l e r k s R ec o r d 38

. T a b 6 UN I TE D S T A TE S P O S T A L S E R V I C E L e tt e r d a t e d A ugu s t C l e r k s R ec o r d 40

T a b 7 D e f e nd a n t s N o E v i d e n ce M o ti on F o r P a r ti a l S u mm a r y J udg m e n t d a t e d J un e C l e r k s R ec o r d T a b B D e f e nd a n t s M o ti on F o r S u mm a r y J udg m e n t d a t e d J un e C l e r k s R ec o r d

T a b 9 B u s i n e ss R ec o r d s A f f i d a v it d a t e d S e p t e m b e r C l e r k s R ec o r d 52

T a b 10 C e r t f i ca ti on o f I n s t r u m e n t s d a t e d S e p t e m b e r C l e r k s R ec o r d 64

T a b 11 A ff i d a v it o f R i c h e ll e C a b r a l e s d a t e d J un e C l e r k s R ec o r d 76

T a b 12 D r M a r ti n S e i n e r’ s R e po r t d a t e d O c t ob e r C l e r k s R ec o r d 84 D r R i c h a r d S u ss s R e po r t d a t e d N ov e m b e r C l e r k s R ec o r d 113 D r P h i ll i p O s b o r n e s R e p o r t d a t e d M a y C l e r k s R e c o r d 125

T a b 13 T a b 14 T a b 15 R e qu e s t F o r F i nd i ng s o f F a c t a nd C on c l u s i on o f L a w d a t e d S e p t e m b e r C l e r k s R e c o r d 161

T a b 16 M o t i on f o r N e w T r i a l d a t e d S e p t e m b e r C l e r k s R ec o r d 164

. T a b 17 A ff i d a v it d a t e d S e p t e m b e r C l e r k s R ec o r d 171

T a b 18 R e s p ec t f u ll y s ub m itt e d ,

i f I g D r C e d a r H ill , T X 75104 469 - 337 - 0598 [ N E W ]

i 000341

T R E N T S. G R W F N § N T h E D II C T C OU R T

P 1 a i nd •

i O l J UD I C A L D I S T R I C T v.

§ § § §

D t hnd a DA LL A S C OUN T Y , TE XA S O R D E R ON D R P NDA M I’ S NO -f l ’I D E N C E M O T I ON YO R P A R T I A L S T h I M A f t y J UDG M E N T

On t h i s d a t e , ca n i e on t o b e c on s i d e r e d t h e N o - E v i d e n ce M o ti on t h r P e r t h ! S u mm a r y J udg m e n t o f D e knd w it A m e r i ca Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny a nd t h e C o w l h a v i ng c on s i d e r e d s a i d m o ti on e v i d e n ce a nd a r gu m e n t s o f c oun s e l is o f t h e op i n i on t h a t s a i d m o ti on s hou l d b e granted.

It is, t h e r e f o r e , O R D E R f l AD J UDG E D , AND D E CR EE D t h a t D e f t nd a n t ’ s N o - E v i d e n ce M o ti on f o r P a r ti a l S w n m a i y J udg m e n t is h e r e by G R A n TE D

- S I GN E D , t h i s o f . 2014 .

o a n ow D r ww i f l N o E V m UK I M O f l ON FORPAMIALSUh WARY S UDG M rf l PACK 1 i 43 E

T R E N T S G R i f F I N P l a i nd f i

§ § N T H E D I S T R I C T C OU R T

§ § §

D e f e nd a n t

DA l L A S C OUN T Y , TE XA S O R D E R ON D E n NDANV S M O T I ON F O R S U MM A R Y J UDG M F R F O n t h i s d a t e ca m e on t o b e c on s i d e r e d t h e M o t i o n f i r S w n m w y J u dg m e n t o f D e f e nd a n t A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny a nd t h e C ou r t h a v i ng c on s i d e r e d s a i d m o ti on e v i d e n ce a nd a r gu m e n t s o f c oun s e l i s o f t h e op i n i on t h a t s a i d m o ti on s hou l d b e g r a n t e d

I t i s , t h e r e f o r e , O R D E R E D , AD J UDG E D , AND D E CR EE D t h a t D e f e nd a n t ’ s M o ti on f o r S u mm a r y J udg m e n t i s h e r e h3 R A I TE D

S I GN E D , t h i s / 1 d a y o f ________________

O z w u onnn e h r f l M O T I O N P K S U M M A R Y J U DG M E N T P A G E T n

__ A FF I DAV I T I NA B I L I t Y T O P AY

- V c 13 — 05893 NO . _____________

‘ 3 T r e n t S G r i ff i n p l a i n4 f t

} }

•

A M E R I C AN Z U R I C H I N S U R AN C E C O M P ANY d e f e nd a n tl } ) ) I

T O T H E HONO R A B LE C OU R T T r a it S G r i ff i n p l a i n ti f i c o m p l a i n s o f T e x a s D e p a r t m e n t o f I n s u r a n ce D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on h e r ea f t e r r e f e rr e d t o i n t h i s p e titi on a s t h e a g e n c y a nd A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny d e f e nd a n t a nd by t h i s p e titi on s ee k s t r i a l d e novo r e v i e w o f a d ec i s i on o f a g e n c y pu r s u a n t t o G ov e r n m e n t C od e a nd a s g r ound s f o r r e v i e w s ho w s

T h e p l a i n ti ff i s e m p l oy e d a s a ph a r m ac i s t w it h W a i g r ee n s C o m p a ny r e s i d i ng i n D a ll a s C oun t y T e x a s A g e n c y i s a s t a t e c o m m i ss i on h a v i ng s t a t e w i d e j u r i s d i c ti on a nd s e r v i ce o f p r o ce ss m a y b e h a d by s e r v i ng C h i e f C l e r k P r o cee d i ng s T e x a s D e p a r t m e n t o f I n s u r a n ce D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on P O B ox 17787 A u s ti n T e x a s a nd P L A I N T i f F S O R I G I NA L P ET I T I ON T O S EE K T R I A L D E N OV O P A G E A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny it s a tt o r n e y T odd R i c h a r d s a t T h e S il v e r a F fr m I O S P r ov i d e n ce T o w e r s E a s t S p r i ng V a ll e y R o a d D a ll a s T e x a s D a ll a s C oun t y ç T e x a s o r it s r e g i s t e r e d a g e n t f o r s e r v i ce o f p r o ce ss C o r po r a ti on S e r v i ce C o m p a ny E a s t t h S t r ee t A u s ti n T e x a s T r a v i s C oun t y T e x a s A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny a ll e g e s e x t e n t o f i n j u r y t o i n c l ud e ce r v i ca l a nd s hou l d e r s pxü i/ s t r a i n w it h a m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t d a t e o f A p r il a nd a n i m p a i r m e n t r a t i ng o f ze r o p e r ce n t T h i s p e titi on i s ti m e l y i f i e d i n t h e a p p r o p r i a t e c o u r t i n acc o r d a n ce w it h 410 252 o f t h e T e x a s L a bo r C od e no t l a t e r t h a n t h e t h d a y a f t e r w h i c h t h e d i v i s i on m a il e d t h e d ec i s i on o f t h e a pp ea l s p a n e l w it h t h e m a ili ng d a t e c on s i d e r e d t o b e t h e f i f t h d a y a f t e r t h e d a t e o f A p r il t h e d a t e o f t h e a pp ea l s p a n e l d ec i s i on a nd t h e c oun t y w h e r e t h e e m p l oy ee r e s i d e d a t t h e ti m e o f i n j u r y P l a i n ti ff p l ea d s t h a t d i s c ov e r y s hou l d b e c ondu c t e d i n acc o r d a n ce w it h a t a il o r e d d i s c ov e r y c on t r o l p l a n und e r C i v il P r o ce du r e R u l e

S U MM A R Y O F C A S E O n F e b r u a r y 21 t h e p l a i n ti ff s u s t a i n e d a n i n j u r y t o t h e n ec k a nd s hou l d e r w h il e p e rf o r m i ng du ti e s a nd r e s pon s i b iliti e s a s a P h a r m ac y M a n a g e r a nd S t a ff P h a r m ac i s t f o r W a l g r ee n s C o m p a ny O n F e b r u a r y 22 t h e p l a i n ti ff c on t ac t e d t h e e m p l oy e r a nd t h e a g e n c y a bou t t h e w o r k r e l a t e d i n j u r y A t r u e c opy o f E M P L OY E R S P L A I N T W E S O R I G I NA L P n TL i ON T O S EE K T h I A L D E NOVO P AG E F I R S T R E P O f l O P I N J U R Y O R I LL N E SS i s a tt ac h e d a s E xh i b it A a nd i n c o r po r a t e d by r e f e r e n ce T h e p l a i n ti ff on t h e s a i d d a t e s ou gh t m e d i ca l a tt e n ti on fr o m h i s p r i m az y ca r e ph y s i c i a n A t r u e c op y o f P R I M A R Y C A R E P HY S I C I A r C HA R T NO TE i s a tt ac h e d a s E xh i b it B a nd i n c o r po r a t e d by r e f e r e n ce e m ph a s i s a dd e d O n F e b r u a r y t h e p l a i n ti ff s ou gh t m e d i ca i a tt e n ti on fr o m a w o r k e r s c o m p e n s a ti on n e t w o r k do c t o r a t t h e d i s c r e ti on o f t h e a g e n c y T h e p l a i n ti ff b e g a n t r ea ti ng w it h do c t o r R D H o l d e r D C D o c t o r H o l d e r on s a i d d a t e p e r f o r m e d a phy s i ca l e x a m a nd no t e d t h e r e w a s a d ec r ea s e r a ng e o f m o ti on w it h t e nd e r n e ss o f t h e l e f t s hou l d e r a nd a P O S I T I V E SP U R L I NG S TE S T D r H o l d e r d i a gno s e d t h e p l a i n ti ff w it h l C D c od e s ce r v i ca l r a d i c u li f i s a nd 840 s p r a i n a nd s t r a i n o f l e f t s hou l d e r e m ph a s i s a dd e d O n M a r c h 29 t h e p l a i n ti ff und e r w e n t a ce r v i ca l M R I a nd t h e f i nd i ng s w e r e c o r d no r m a l o ss e ou s s t r u c t u r e s no r m a l d i s c s p ace s no r m a l a nd no d i s c d i s ea s e i d e n ti f i e d T h e M R I i d e n ti f i e d a l e f t p a r a m e d i a n d i s c mm p r o t r u s i on m il d l y c o m p r e ss i ng t h e v e n t r a l c o r d D r J a m e s P i ko s i m p r e ss i on w a s t h i s m a y acc oun t f o r t h e s y m p t o m s o f l e f t upp e r e x t r e m it y p a r e s t h e s i a e m ph a s i s a dd e d

O n M a y 2 a P EE R R E V I E W w a s p e rf o r m e d by D r P h illi p O s bo r n e M D T h i s p ee r r e v i e w w a s b e yond t h e 60 d a y s a ll o w e d t o i nv e s ti g a t e a nd c on t e s t a n i n j w y e m ph a s i s a dd e d O n J un e t h e p l a i n ti ff und e r w e n t a phy s i ca l e x a m by a D e s i gn a t e d D o c t o r D r A nd r e w C o l e D r A nd r e w C o l e s phy s i ca l P L A I N T i f FS O R I G I NA L P ET i T I ON T O S EE K T R I A L W N OV O P A G E e x a m i n a ti on w a s i m p a r ti a l a nd p r e j ud i ce D r C o l e d i d no t p e rf o r m a t ho r ough e x a m o f t h e p l a i n ti ff D r C o l e w a s t a s k e d t o d e t e r m i n e m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t a nd i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng w it h a n a dd iti on a l t e s t o f t h e l e f t kn ee I n D r C o l e s d e s i gn a t e d do c t o r e v a l u a ti on D r C o l e i nd i ca t e d a s h ou l d e r M a nd E M G c o n s u lt w e r e n ee d e d t o f li H y e v a l u a t e t h i s e x a m i n ee A t h i e c opy o f D r C o l e s D e t e r m i n a ti on O f M a x i m u m M e d i ca l I m p r ov e m e n t MM a nd I m p a i r m e n t R a ti ng (I R i s a tt ac h e d a s E x h i b it C a nd i n c o r po r a t e d by r e f e r e n ce e m pb a s i s a dd e d

O n J un e U , 2012 t h e p l a i n ti f f und e r w e n t a I v W I o f t h e l e f t s hou l d e r . D r J a m e s P i ko s i m p r e ss I on i nd i ca t e d s up r a s p i n a w s d i M s t e ndon a tt e nu a ti on w it hou t a ny t ea r i d e n ti f i e d a nd m il d s ub d e lt o i d bu r s iti s

O n J un e 28 , 2012 , D r . A nd r e w C o l e c o m p l e t e d t h e T h i R E P O R T O F M E D I C A L E VA L UA T I ON w it hou t f u ll y e v a l u a ti ng t h e e x a m i n ee D r C o l e d i d no t r e v i e w t h e l e f t s hou l d e r M E l a nd d i d no t ob t a i n t h e c on s u lt f o r t h e E M G N C S n e r v e s m dy e m ph a s i s a dd e d O n J u l y 20 t h e p l a i n ti f f und e r w e n t a n E M G N C S n e r v e s t udy T h i s t e s t w a s p e rf o r m e d by a phy s i c i a n t h a t i s s p ec i a ll y t r a i n e d i n E DX m e d i c i n e a nd t h e d a t a w a s p r ov i d e d t o a n i nd e p e nd e n t e xp e r t t o r e v i e w t h e m a t e r i a L f o r a n i nd e p e nd e n t i n t e r p r e t a ti on D r E d w i n G r ee n e l ec t r o d i a gno s ti c i m p r e ss i on i nd i ca t e d m il d ea r l y l e f t s i d e d m i d ce r v i ca l r a d i c u l op a h W H e s ugg e s t e d s t r ong c li n i ca l c o rr e l a ti on w it h t h e ce r v i ca l s p i n e M EL D r G r ee n p r i m a r y d i a gno s i s w a s C e r v i ca l R a dku l op a t hy l e f t m i d e m ph a s i s a dd e d O n A ugu s t D r A nd r e w G a rr e tt B o a r d C e r ti f i e d f o r f v ff v f l a nd W f u ll y e v a l u a t e d t h e p l a i n ti ff a nd ce r ti f i e d t h e e x a m i n ee d i d no t r eac h P L A I N T I FF S O R I G I NA L P ET I T I ON T O S EE K T R I A L D E NOVO P AG E

m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t D r G a rr e tt i nd i ca t e d i n h i s M u s c l e A t r o ph y E v a l u a ti on t h e e x a m i n ee h a d m o r e t h a n a ce n ti m e t e r s d i ff e r e n ce i n c i r c u m f e r e n ce o f t h e upp e r a nn i nd i ca ti ng m od e r a t e a nd p r o l on g e d n e r v e i m p a i r m e n t I n D r G m r e W s T r ea t m e n t P l a n t h e p l a i n ti ff h a s m e t a U c r it e r i a f o r a t r i a l o f E p i dun l S t e r o i d I n j ec ti o n s E S I) O n N o v e m b e r a s c h e d u l e d b e n e f it r e v i e w c on f e r e n ce w a s i m p r op e r l y c on du c t e d T h e a g e n c y no r t h e a g e n c y s r e p r e s e n t a ti v e a pp ea r e d i n p e r s on t o p r op e dy d i s c u ss t h e d i s pu t e s a nd e x c h a ng e o f do c u m e n t s T h e B RC w a s i m p a r t i a l a n d p r e j ud i ce O n N ov e m b e r t h e a g e n c y no ti f i e d t h e p l a i n ti ff t o a pp ea r b e f o r e it a nd s ho w ca u s e w hy t h e p l a i n ti ff’ s e x t e n t o f i n j m y i n c l ud e d ce r v i ca l C l e f t p a n m e d i a n p r o t r u s i on a nd r a d i c u liti s C r a d i c u l op a t hy a nd m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t no t a t MM L

a D E C I S I ON AND O R D E R O n J a nu a i y 24 t h e a g e n c y r e nd e r e d it s d ec i s i on a nd r e ff i s e d t o g r a n t t h e p l a i n ti ff’ s a pp li ca ti on f o r e x t e n t o f i n j u r y t o i n c l ud e t h e l e f t p a n m e d i a n p m m i s i on h e r n i a t e d d i s c ce r v i ca l r a ff i c u l op a t hy r a d i c u lit s a nd no t a t m a x i m u m m e d i c a l i m p r ov e m e n t T h e p l a i n ti f f ti m e l y f il e d a n a pp ea l a nd t h e A pp ea l s P a n e l R e v i e w o f t h e H ea r i ng s O ff i c e r’ s D ec i s i on a nd O r d e r b eca m e f i n a l on t h e d a t e A p r il w i d e r t h e p r ov i s i on 410 204 o f t h e T e x a s L a bo r C od e A ll c ond iti on s p r ece d e n t h a v i ng b ee n P L A I N T i f FS O R I G I NA L P ET I T I ON T O S EE K T R I A L D E N OV O P A G E p e rf o r m e d o r h a v i ng o cc u rr e d t h e p l a i n ti ff i s e n titl e d t o t r i a l d e novo i n acc o r d a n ce w it h a nd 410 252 o f t h e T e x a s L a bo r C od e a nd S ec ti on o f t h e G ov e r n m e n t C od e

T h e p l a i n ti ff w ill s ho w t h a t t h e a g e n c y s f i nd i ng s i n f e r e n ce s c on c l u s i o n s a nd d ec i s i o n s a r e un l a w f l A a nd i m p r op e r b eca u s e o f on e o r m o r e o f t h e f o ll o w i ng 1 . T h e a g e n c y s d ec i s i on i s no t r ea s on a b l y s uppo r t e d by s ub s t a n ti a l e v i d e n ce i n v i e w o f t h e r e li a b l e a nd p r ob a ti v e e v i d e n ce i n t h e r ec o r d a s a w ho l e I n t h i s c onn ec ti on t h e p l a i n ti ff w ill s ho w t h a t t h e e x t e n t o f i n j u r y f o r c o m p e n s a b ilit y i s m o r e t h a n a ce r v i ca l a nd l e f t s hou l d e r s p r a i n s t r a i n i n t h e f i nd i ng o f f ac t nu m b e r I F t h a t it i s s o l ac k i ng i n e v i d e n ti a i y s uppo r t t h a t r ea s on a b l e m i nd s c ou l d no t h a v e r eac h e d t h a t c on c l u s i on T h e p l a i n ti ff p l ea d t h e u s e o f t h e A M A G u i d e s t h e d i f i s i p r i o r t o h j m y fr i m a t y ca r e phy s i c i a n s m e d i ca l r ec o r d s w o r k s c h e du l e s w a g e ea r n i ng s t a t e m e n t s c u rr e n t m e d i ca l r ec o r d s e m a il s w it n e ss t e s ti m ony do c t o r’ s t e s ti m ony v i d e o p r e s c r i p t i o n r ec o r d s a nd a ny o t h e r f ac t f i nd i ng s a nd c on c l u s i on s o f l a w t o p l ea d t h e p l a i n ti ff’ s ca s e T h e a g e n c y ’ s d ec i s i on d e n i e s p l a i n ti ff du e p r o ce s s o f l a w a nd t h e r i gh t t o e qu a l p r o t ec ti on o f t h e l a w a s gu a r a n t ee d by t h e C on s tit u ti on o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s a nd t h e S t a t e o f T e x a s i n t h a t it u s e s t h e l a w s t o m a n i pu l a t e P I S A I N F W PS O R I G I NA L P E un ON T O S EE K T R I A L b E NOVO P AG E

i n j u r e d w o r k e r s t h a t ca n h a v e s e r i ou s c o m p li ca ti on s a nd po t e n ti a ll y l ea d t o l o ss o f li fr o r li m b T h e d ec i s i o n s a r e i m p a r ti a l a nd p r e j u d i ce t h e y l ac k t h e r ea l m ea n i ng o f t h e w o r d s t r u t h h e l d t o b e s e l f e v i d e n t I n acc o r d a n ce w it h a nd 409 022 o f t h e T e x a s L a bo r C od e t h e ca rr i e r w a i v e d it s r i gh t s t o c on t e s t c o m p e n s a b ilit y f ili ng a d i s pu t e p a ss e d t h e 60 d a y s T h e H ea r i ng O ff i ce r v a li d a t e d t h e d e s i gn a t e d do c t o r a nd a lt e r n a ti v e ph y s i c i a n s c r e d e n ti a l s t o e x a m i n e a n i n j u r e d w o r k e r s c o m p e n s a b ilit y bu t f a il e d t o v e r i f y t h e v a li d it y o f t h e d i s pu t e T h e l a t e f ili ng o f d i s pu t e w a s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e a p p ea l s p a n e l r e k r w i c i n g A pp ea l N o 3 . T h e a g e n c y s d ec i s i on s e x cee d s it s s t a t u t o r y a u t ho r it y i n t h a t f t m a k e s li f e a nd d ea t h d ec i s i on s r e g a r d i ng i n j u r e d w o r k e r’ s T h e i n j u r e d w o r k e r’ s ca n b ec o m e a m e n ace t o s o c i e t y b a s e d on i m p r op e r d ec i s i on s o f t h e a g e n c y T ho s e d ec i s i on s ca n ca u s e f a m ili e s t o s u ff e r i mm e n s e l y phy s i ca ll y e m o ti on a ll y a nd f i n a n c i a ll y T h e s e p r o cee d i ng s ca n t a k e t o l ong ti m e a nd i n t h e m ea n w h il e a n i n j u r e d w o r k e r i s c on s t a n tl y s u ff e r i ng du e t h e m e d i ca l n ece ss it y p r i o r a u t ho r i za ti on s r e qu i r e d t o t r ea t i n j u r i e s

4 . T h e a g e n c y ’ s d ec i s i on w a s m a d e on un l a w f lil p r o ce du r e i n t h a t t h e p l a i n ti ff w a s c r o ss e x a m i n e d a nd t h e d e f e n s e h a d no on e p r e s e n t t o b e c r o ss e x a m i n e d T h e O m bud s m a n m a k e s a n op e n i ng s t a t e m e n t a nd t h e p l a i n ti ff i s qu e s ti on e d fr o m bo t h s i d e s w it h on e go a l t o g e t on e s i d e o f t h e s t o r y on r ec o r d T h e r e w a s a l ac k o f i n t e r e s t i n w h a t a no t h e r do c t o r s a y s a bou t t h e t r ea t m e n t o f a n i n j u r e d w o r k e r on l y on e do c t o r h a s m o r e w e i gh t e v e n w it h a p r e pond e r a n ce o f e v i d e n ce t o s ho w t h e c on t r a r y T h e p r o ce ss w it h T D I D W C i s a f a m e P L A I N T i f F S O R I G I NA L P m n ON T O s n C T R I A L D E NOVO P AG E

I i T h e a g e n c y s d ec i s i on i gno r e d t h e e v i d e n ce a nd i n s t ea d t h e a g e n c y r u l e d a s a r e s u lt n e t w o r k i ng i n t h e S t a t e o f T e x a s A cc o r d i ng l y t h e a g e n c y s d ec i s i on i s a r b i n j y ca p r i c i ou s a nd c h a r ac t e r i ze d by a n a bu s e o r c l ea r l y un w a n t e d e x e r c i s e o f d i s c r e ti on A ny ti m e it i s s t a t e d a n a pp ea l i s uph e l d o f t h e H ea r i ng O ff i ce r’ s D ec i s i on s on l y o f t h e ca s e s a r e a ll o w e d t h r ough T h i s i s e v i d e n ce a t it s b e s t f o r b i a s a nd i m p a r ti a l r u li ng s r e g a r d l e ss o f t h e e v i d e n ce f o r i n j u r e d w o r k e r’ s

A s a r e s u lt o f t h e un l a w f u l a nd i m p r op e r ac ti on a s d e s c r i b e d a bov e T h e p l a i n ti ff h a s s u ff e r e d h a r m a nd p r e j ud i ce t o s ub s t a n ti a l r i gh t s I n t h i s c onn ec ti on t h e p l a i n ti ff w ill s ho w t h a t p a i n a nd s u ff e r i ng d e p r e ss i on d i s t r e ss a nd a nx i e t y l o ss o f w a g e s l o ss o f e n j oy m e n t o f li f e li f e e xp ec t a n c y f u t u r e m e d i ca l phy s i ca l s t r u c t u r e d a m a g e j ob i n a b ilit y t o ca r e p r op e r l y f o r c h il d r e n l o ss o f bu s i n e ss e ff o r t s i n a b ilit y t o w o r k ov e r ti m e i n a b ilit y t o m a i n t a i n ho m e a nd ca r s

W H E R E F O R E t h e p l a i n ti ff r e qu e s t t h a t t h e a g e n c y a nd t h e d e f e nd a n t b e c it e d t o a pp ea r a nd a n s w e r t h a t t h e a g e n c y b e r e qu i r e d t o p r ov e it s a ll e g a ti on s a g a i n s t t h e p l a i n ti ff a nd t h a t on f i n a l t r i a l t h e p l a i n ti ff h a v e j udg m e n t o f t h e C ou r t: P L A I N T i f FS O R I G I NA L P E n U O N T O s a k T R I A L D E NOV P A G E 1 . R e v e r s i ng t h e d ec i s i on o f t h e a g e n c y , a nd o r d e r i ng t h a t t h e a g e n c y a nd d e f e nd a n t t a k e no t h i ng by it s s u it

2 . Aw a r d i n g t h e p l a i n f i ff c o s t s i n c u rr e d , t og e t h e r w it h a ll o t h e r r e li e f t o w h i c h t h e p l a i n ti ff m a y b e j u s tl y e n titl e d

R e s p ee t h ill y s u . 7 Y B y T r e n G r i h1 & fff l ] 72 C 972 - 291 - 9569 ( h ) 2 l 4418 - 9609 ( c )

d e n H f f l , T e x a s l S l o 4 P L A I N T I FF S o m c i a P n T i i ON T O S EE K T h I A L D E NOVO P AG E

I h e r e by ce rff l t h a t a t r u e c op y o f t h e a bo v e P l a i n ti ff’ s O r i g i n a l P e titi o n h a v e on t h i s t h d a y o f M a y b ee n s e n t by t h e U n it e d S t a t e s P o s t a l S e r v i ce f o r C e r ti f i e d M a il R ece i p t C h i e f C l e r k O f P r o cee d i ng s T e x a s D e p a r t m e n t o f I n s u r a n ce D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on P O B o x A u s t i n T e x a s

T odd R i c h a r d s T h e S il v e n F i r m P r ov i d e n ce T o w e r s E a s t S p r i ng V a ll e y R o a d D a ll a s T e x a s

P L A I N T i f FS O R I G I NA L P E U I O N T O S EE K T R I A L D E N OV O P A G E i j I a q t a

t i I

U r I • 1

9 1

a p a 0 p . a p

p

3 e v Q 9$ t j W 8 I a l a

S I S ONO l Q

I p

, p V 1

. S t W l d

5 ••

ZZZZ z E z 1 z : zzz r . z? r / % - ZZZ i T p A j & Z ’ t rf l

— - Z _1 t n c rr U n

- Z

. r + e? . Q S c r D _ c S & r n a - m 1 f l

91.

M C -I M e d G i p p a g e 6

£ ê 1 i W 4 C . T r a t s G d ff i n P a g e O n J p4p f l o O F W f l U M M E D i C A L a w R o r ’r L S M N T R A f l P I a m o aa l n l ng s a dd e r u r n m i E M O a nd a w a it t o M y e vdu b v i e a P r e i mm a y t o t h i s a b a k i g ob t a i n e d m y ti d i ng m e c onq4 l bb w it h s o f t I i s f l f l t o t h e n e d c e nd e fr i dd e r a e t g i d S c J m p r ee s i g d e g i n e m i w c ond l uo m o f t h e s hou l d e r a nd n ec k p r ee n s yn ç t m t A s a r e s u lt t h e p a ti e n t l a a t MM I w it h a O w h a l e p e m on knp a l r n w m M a t e d t o t h e w a h j u r y T h e d a i s c i M W WW b e p l ace d a t M W t h e d a t e o f v i a l t o O r W a l s i d s c i I ce w h i c h no t e d no s l gn l c s d r g a i s a pp m ön t a l y t w o m a r t s fr o m d i e d a t e o f iji s y a nd I s f u R y c w np e tl b l s w it h m e du ff on o f eac h t ti e m i e f li n t I w i N b e a b bk i i g a n E M G a i d s hou l d e r M R S e nd w p r ov i d e a n a t h l s ndu m a f t e r V i n e a r e i n c e i m e n t I w i s o no ti f y i i a tt a i n e d t h e a dd e ndu m

i f t h e y t e d m y d ec i s i on — t o M W a n d w ho l e

F O R AN ) . i n M A j i n l e N t ‘ , 4 f A s o f W W t h e aa J i n ti e s b ee n un a b l e t o s c h e du l e bo t h D I G a nd 1*41 H e w a s n c d f l e d o f a n a ppo i n t m e n t on 6126112 W I w a s w i e b i e t o a tt e nd a nd h a no t m e d i e du i s d A s a mm A c s c no t ob t a i a & L a dng w i d i n D W C U r n i n l a don s I w it b i a li za m y r e po r t w it h d ec i s i on s no t e d a bov e W on 412612012 a nd 0 knp e b m e n t T h a t I s c I a i a d O R E C go i y f o r h i s n ec k li w i s I s i np á mm a b i b s l e f t s hou l d e r a t h e m e o f r n4 a d e 6d t e w o ti d no t a pp l y t o a s c ii ti ss u e s p r a i n li d I o N s h e h j w y T h e S M l ea I d on 0 M C 32 h a s M m ug s o f m o ti on e nd i s S a w J x f l o r s m i od h i s n t h e op i n i on s o f t h e e v a i m o r T h e e v i a uon h a s b ee n a m du c t e d on t h e b a s i s o f t h e m e d c d e r il n a tl on a nd S m a i m f l S m pov i d e d w it h t h e If m o r e h & a ii S g l b c G ff i n s a t a aea w n Ø on m a t h e m d M I i s t r u e a nd c o rr ec t b i e r d a t e a n a dd iti on a l a s t & r s p c r t f t s c on s i d e r a don m a y b e r e qu e s t e d ud c h a ng e V i a op i n i on s r e nd e r e d I n t h i s e v a l u e U on T h i s o Ø il w i B ud h i f a m i a don m a y o r n i s b a s e d on a dn l ca i aaeee n t e n t e nn il n a tl on a nd do a n r d a tl a n T h e op W u i do e s no t c on s ti b a p a r a a m ca i w M t I on f o r s p ec i f i c d a i m s o r a dndn l s f lt fr e f i m d i on t o b e m a d e o r M e d i dn e I s bo t h a n ac t a nd a s c i e n ce m i d s it ho ti gh t h e e w n kbn m a y a pp ea r t o b e f t t o p r tl dp a t e h i v a r i ou s t yp e s o f ac ti v iti e s t h e r e I s no gu a r a n t ee t h a t t h e h t h it h i & w ill no t b e r e k4 t nd o r a f l a & i a t f l a y s a m a t o f p s & ç h i g I n t c t ä ii aea M w C o l a M D M P J L & w a r n a t u e &m T X M D H T e n s C s U f i a d D e s i gn a t e d D o c W I m p a i nn e n t AO L L e n t il A I C : t B U s w m f t T J ob t I

3 O 1251 ê CC Q t f l f t

4 ¼ a - 4 * I N T H E D I S T I U b aa ’ ‘ > o m o m l A L

\ ‘ t P § § § T R E N T S G R I FF I N P l a i n ti ff

l O P ’ J UD I C I A l D l b ? J A M E R I C AN Z U R I C H I N S U R AN C E C O M P ANY a nd TE XA S D E P A R T M E N T O F I N S U R AN C E D I V I S I ON O F W O R K E R S C O M P E N S A T I ON § § § § §

D e f e nd a n t s

T O T H E HONO R A B LE J UDG E O F S A I D C OU R T

C O M E S NO W A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny D e f e nd a n t i n t h e a bov e e n titl e d a nd nu m b e r e d ca u s e f il e s t h i s O r i g i n a l A n s w e r a nd w ou l d r e s p ec t f i u ll y s ho w t h e C ou r t a nd a ll p a r ti e s a s f o ll o w s

P u r s u a n t t o R u l e 92 o f t h e T e x a s R u l e s o f C i v il P r o ce du r e D e f e nd a n t h e r e by d e n i e s a ll a ll e g a ti on s a nd h e r e by r e qu i r e s P l a i n ti ff t o p r ov e h i s ca u s e o f ac ti on by a p r e pond e r a n ce o f t h e e v i d e n ce D e f e nd a n t s p ec i f i ca l l y d e n i e s eac h a nd e v e r y a ll e g a ti on c on t a i n e d i n P l a i n t i ff’ s O r i g i n a l P e titi on a nd d e m a nd s s t r i c t p r oo f by a p r e pond e r a n ce o f t h e e v i d e n ce t h e r e on

T h e i s s u e s d e t e r m i n e d by t h e D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on pu r s u a n t t o t h e c on t e s t e d ca s e h ea r i n g d ec i s i o n a n d o r d e r a n d A pp ea l s P a n e l a ff i r m a t i o n w e r e a s f o l l o w s (I) h a s t h e c l a i m a n t A M E R I C AN Z U R I C H I N S U R AN C E C O M P ANY S O R I G I NA L AN S W E R P A C E T h b l a r eac h e d m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t a nd i f s o on w h a t d a t e i f t h e c l a i m a n t h a s r eac h e d m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t w h a t i s t h e i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng do e s t h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y o f F e b r u a r y 21 e x t e nd t o i n c l ud e a l e f t p a n m e d i a n d i s c p r o t r u s i on a t C a nd ce r v i ca l r a d i c u l op a t hy nd i c W iti s T h e H ea r i ng O ff i ce r c o rr ec tl y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t P l a i n ti fff a il e d t o m ee t h i s bu r d e n o f p r oo f a nd t h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y o f F e b r u a r y 21 w a s no t p r odu c i ng ca u s e o f a l e f t p a r a m e d i a n d i s c p r o t r u s i on a t C ce r v i ca l nd i c tii op a t hy o r ce r v i ca l r a d i c u liti s a nd t h e c l a i m a n t r eac h e d c li n i ca l m a x i m u m i m p r ov e m e n t on A p r il w i t h a i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng T h e A p p ea l s P a n e l o f t h e T e x a s D e p a r t m e n t o f I n s u r a n ce D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on a f li nn e d t h i s d ec i s i on i n f a vo r o f t h e D e f e nd a n t P u r s u a n t t o S ec ti on 410 169 o r S ec ti on 410 c o f t h e T e x a s L a bo r C od e D e f e nd a n t r e qu e s t s t h a t t h e j u r y b e i n f o r m e d o f t h e d ec i s i on o f t h e D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on on eac h i ss u e t o b e p r e s e n t e d t o t h e j u r y

W H E R E F O R E P R E M I S E S C ON S I D E R E D A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny p r a y s t h a t upon f i n a l h ea r i ng h e r e i n P l a i n ti ff r ec ov e r no t h i ng fr o m D e f e nd a n t t h a t D e f e nd a n t h a v e j udg m e n t i n it s f a vo r t h a t t h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y o f F e b r u a r y 21 2012 do e s no t e x t e nd t o i n c l ud e a l e f t p a r a m e d i a n d i s c p r o t r u s i on a t C ce r v i ca l r a d i c u l op a t hy o r ce r v i ca l n t h c u liti s a nd t h a t t h e c l a i m a n t r eac h e d c li n i ca l m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t on A p r il w it h a i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng D dnd a n t p r a y s t h a t a ll c o s t s b e t a x e d a g a i n s t P l a i n ti ff D e f e nd a n t f u r t h e r p r a y s f o r s u c h o t h e r a nd f u r t h e r r e li e f t o w h i c h it m a y b e j u s tl y e n titl e d w h e t h e r a t l a w o r i n e qu it y A M E R I C A N Z U R I C H I N S U R AN C E C o M P ANY s O R I G I NA L A N S wU t P A G E T R h t a f l ó _______________________ R e s p ec t f U ll y s ub m itt e d , T H E S I L V E R A F I R M A P r o f e ss i on a l C o r po r a ti on

‘ — ‘ t odd R i c h a r d s

S t a t e B a r N o . 16855500 D a rr y l J . S il v e n S t a t e B a r N o . 18352280 10 15 P r ov i d e n ce T o w e r s E a s t 5001 S p r i ng V a ll e y R o a d D a ll a s , T e x a s 75244 TELE P HON E ( 972 ) 715 - 1750 F A C S I M I LE ( 972 ) 715 - 1759

I h e r e by ce r ti f y t h a t a t r u e a nd c o rr ec t c opy o f t h e f o r e go i ng i n s t r u m e n t p a s s e r v e d upon P l a i n ti ff h e r e i n i n acc o r d a n ce w it h t h e R u l e s o f C i v il P r o ce du r e on t h i s Z t ’r d a y o f A ugu s t T r e n t G r i ff i n 7 M e a n d e r i n g D r C e d a r H ill D C

A M E R I C AN Z U R I C H I N S U R AN C E C O M P ANY S O R I G I NA L AN S W E R P AG E T h b ê a qqq

§ § § § § § § T R E N T S G R I FF I N P l a i n ti ff

1 O 1 ’ J u D I C I A L D I S T R I C T v

D e f e nd a n t s O D I S T R I C T C OU R T UN I F O R M S C H E DU L I NG O R D E R LE V EL I n acc o r d a n ce w i t h R u l e s a n d 1 2 o f t h e T e x a s R u l e s o f C i v i l P r o ce du r e t h e C ou r t m a k e s t h e f o ll o w i ng o r d e r t o c on t r o l d i s c ov e r y a nd t h e s c h e du l e o f t h i s ca u s e

10 T h i s ca s e w ill b e r ea dy a nd i s s e t f o r t h a i a t 9 : 00 &m . on 140 € T h & % a * i e I n iti a l T r i a l S e tti ng R e s e t o r c on ti nu a n ce o f t h e I n iti a l T r i a l S e tti ng w ill no t a lt e r a ny d ea d li n e s e s t a b li s h e d i n t h i s O r d e r o r e s t a b li s h e d by t h e T e x a s R u l e s o f C i v il P r o ce du r e un l e ss o t h e r w i s e p r ov i d e d by o r d e r i f no t r eac h e d a s s e t t h e ca s e m a y b e ca rr i e d t o t h e n e x t w ee k

U n l e ss o t h e r w i s e o r d e r e d , d i s c ov e r y i n t h i s ca s e w ill b e c on t r o ll e d by : ) R u l e 190 . 2 ( L e v e l 1 )

R u l e 190 . 3 ( L e v e l 2 ) ØQ

M y ob j ec ti on o r m o ti on t o e x c l ud e o r li m it e xp e r t t e s ti m ony du e t o qu a li f i ca ti on o f t h e e xp e r t o r r e li a b ilit y o f t h e op i n i on s m u s t b e f il e d no l a t e r t h a n s e v e n d a y s a f t e r t h e c l o s e o f t h e d i s c ov e r y p e r i od o r s u c h ob j ec ti on i s w a i v e d A ny m o ti on t o c o m p e l r e s pon s e s t o d i s c ov e r y o t h e r t h a n r e l a ti on t o f ac t u a l m a tt e r s a r i s i ng a f t e r t h e e nd o f t h e d i s c ov e r y p e r i od m u s t b e f il e d no l a t e r t h a n s e v e n d a y s a f t e r t h e c l o s e o f t h e d i s c ov e r y p e r i od o r s u c h c o m p l a i n t i s w a i v e d e x ce p t f o r t h e s a n c ti on o f e x c l u s i on und e r R u l e M y a m e nd e d p l ea d i ng s a ss e r ti ng n e w ca u s e s o f ac ti on o r a ff i mm ti v e d e f e n s e s m u s t b e f il e d no l a t e r t h a n t h i r t y d a y s b e f o r e t h e e nd o f t h e d i s c ov e r y p e r i od a nd a ny o t h e r a m e nd e d p l ea d i ng s m u s t b e f il e d no l a t e r t h a n s e v e n d a y s a f t e r t h e e nd o f t h e d i s c ov e r y p e r i od A m e nd e d p l e a d i n g s r e s p o n s i v e t o t i m e l y f i l e d p l e a d i n g s u n d e r t h i s s c h e d u l e m a y b e f i l e d a f t e r t h e d ea d l i n e f o r

4 . o P D I S T R I C r C OU R T UN I F O R M S C H E DU L I NG O R D E R LE V E P a g e I _____ - — a m e nd e d p l ea d i ng s i f f il e d w it h i n t w o w ee k s a f t e r t h e p l ea d i ng t o w h i c h t h e y r e s pond E x ce p t w it h l ea v e o f c ou r t T RC P a m o ti on s m u s t b e h ea r d no l a t e r t h a n t h i r t y d a y s b e f o r e t h a i N o a dd iti on a l p a r ti e s m a y b e j o i n e d m o r e t h a n f i v e m on t h s a f t e r t h e c o mm e n ce m e n t o f t h i s ca s e e x ce p t on m o ti on f o r l ea v e s ho w i ng good ca u s e T h i s p a r a g r a ph do e s no t o t h e r w i s e a lt e r t h e r e qu i r e m e n t s o f R u l e T h e p a r t y j o i n i ng a n a dd iti on a l p a r t y s h a ll s e r v e a c opy o f t h i s o r d e r on t h e n e w p a r t y c on c u rr e n tl y w it h t h e p l ea d i ng j o i n i ng t h a t p a r t y

5 . 6 a . y

C T h e m e d i a t o r h a s b ee n s e l ec t e d by a g r ee m e n t o f t h e p a r ti e s : , i s h e r e by a ppo i n t e d m e d i a t o r . A n m e d i a t o r s ub s tit u ti on r e qu e s t e d m o r e t h a n 90 d a y s a f e r t h e d a t e o f t h i s o r d e r m a on l y b e m a d e by m o ti on f o r s ub m i ss i on t o t h e C ou r t f o r good ca u s e a nd und e r e x t r a o r d i n a r y c i r c u m s t a n ce .

U n l e ss o t h e r w i s e o r d e r e d by t h e C ou r t , t h e p a r ti e s s h a ll s e l ec t a m e d i a t o r by a g r ee m e n t; i f t h e p a r ti e s a r e un a b l e t o a g r ee on a m e d i a t o r , t h e y s h a ll a dv i s e t h e C ou r t w it h i n n i n e t y ( 90 ) d a y s o f t h e d a t e o f t h i s o r d e r ; t h e C ou r t w ill t h e n a ppo i n t a m e d i a t o r . t by t r n Z i a m r t m e d i a t o r s ub s u t u f i o & e qu e s t e d m o r e t h a n 9 d a y s a f t e r t h e d a t e o f t h i s o r d e r m a y on l y b e m a d e by s ub m i ss i on t o t h e C ou r t f o r good ca u s e a nd und e r e x t r a o r d i n a r y c i r c u m s t a n ce .

f l O n e o r m o r e o f t h e p a r ti e s ob j ec t t o m e d i a ti on o f t h i s m a tt e r . A ny p a r t y s ee k i ng a n o r d e r f o r m e d i a ti on s h a ll f il e a n a pp r op r i a t e m o ti on no l a t e r t h a n 9 0 d a y s b e f o r e t h e I n i ti a l T r i a l S e t ti n g a n d s e t it f o r h ea r i ng no l a t e r t h a n 60 d a y s b e f b r e t h e I n iti a l T r i a l S e tti ng . F ou r t ee n d a y s b e f o r e t h e I n iti a l T h a i S e tti ng t h e p a r ti e s s h a ll e x c h a ng e a li s t o f e xh i b it s i n c l ud i ng a ny d e m on s t r a ti v e a i d s a nd a ff i d a v it s a nd s h a ll e x c h a ng e c op i e s o f a ny e xh i b it s no t p r e v i ou s l y p r odu ce d i n d i s c ov e r y ov e r- d e s i gn a ti on i s s t r ong l y d i s c ou r a g e d a nd m a y b e s a n c ti on e d E x ce p t f o r r ec o r d s t o b e o ff e r e d by w a y o f bu s i n e ss r ec o r d a ff i d a v it s eac h e xh i b it m u s t b e i d e n ti f i e d s e p a r a t e l y a nd no t by ca t e go r y o r g r oup d e s i gn a ti on R u l e a pp li e s t o t h i s d e s i gn a ti on O n o r b e f o r e t e n d a y s b e f o r e t h e I n iti a l T r i a l S e tti ng t h e a tt o r n e y s i n c h a r g e f o r a l l p a n i c s s h a ll m ee t i n p e r s on t o c on f e r on s ti p u l a ti o n s r e g a r d i ng t h e m a t e r i a l s t o b e s u b m itt e d t o t h e C o u r t un d e r t h i s p a r a g r a p h a nd a tt e m p t t o m a x i m i ze a g r ee m e n t on s u c h m a tt e r s B y 4p m on t h e l o i n Dw r m a C OU R T UN I F O R M S C H E DU L I NG O R D E R LE V EL

P a g e 2

T hu r s d a y b e f o r e t h e I n iti a l T r i a l S e tti ng t h e p a r ti e s s h a ll f il e w it h t h e C ou r t t h e m a t e r i a l s s t a t e d i n R u l e e l a n e s ti m a t e o f t h e l e ng t h o f t r i a l d e s i gn a ti on o f d e po s i don t e s ti m ony t o b e o f i b r e d i n d i r ec t e x a m i n a ti on a nd a ny m o ti on s i n li m i n e F a il u r e t o f il e s u c h m a t e r i a l s m a y r e s u lt i n d i s m i ss a l f o r w a n t o f p r o s ec u ti on o r o t h e r a pp r op r i a t e s a n c ti on

P I a i n li W P I a i n tj ff’ s c oun s e l s h a ll s e r v e a c opy o f t h i s O r d e r on a ny c u rr e n tl y n a m e d d e f e nd a n t s a n s w e r i ng a f t e r t h i s d a t e S I GN E D ON SFP

cc C oun s e l o f R ec o r d p m S e P a r ti e s a nd M e d i a t o r AG R EE D M W A PP R OV E D

A tt o r n e y D e f e nd a n t A t t o r n e y

S cc ond a q A tt o r n e y D e f e nd a n t A tt o r n e y

S ec ond a y A tt o r n e y s o z D I S T R I C r C OU R T UN I F O R M S C H E DU L I NG O R D E R (I XV EL

P a g e 3

j

y t u p e D

4 0 1 5 7

3 1 0 2 S N O M M I S Z T H Y R A G N I F F I T O N S E E F f f i t n i a l

l a , s t r u o C s a x e T N O I T A T I 3 9 8 5 0 - 3 4 C D

9 6 5 9 - 1 9 2 t e , I S I h T D E U S S I Y E L D A R B A I L E H S L I A M T R E C , t s u g u A

R G S T N E R T ,

P

, y t n u o C s a l l a D . s v t c i r t s i D k r e l C

I r o f L L I H R A D E C

f o y e n r o t t ) 2 7 9 ( y a d

C S U

h t 8 A

y B

, e b

, 0 0 6 t a n i o C n o i t a t i c e h t y a m n e t t i r g n i w o l l o f

t n e m g d u j

: s w o l l o f

s i h t . s a x e T y t n u o C w a

s a x e T

s e i n a p m o c c a . e l i f 3 1 0 2 t c I r t s i D

t x e n

t l u h t e d

s a , t o n y t n u o C , t s u g u A f o s i

y a d n o M y t u p e D o d

d n a m e d t s 1 0 1 a , s a l l a D f o y e n r o t t a

, n o i t i t e p E C V R E S N O I T A R O P R O C T N E G A D E R E T S I G E R E V R E S h c i h w f o

e h t f o e h t f o k r e l c

h c i h w y a d r u o y r o s t r u o C h t 8

d n a . y p o c m . a

f o Y N A P M O C E C N A R U S N s i h t

n o i t a t i c

e r u t a n k c o l c ’ o . d e t u c e x e n u e h t a u o y f I t c i r t s i D e h t f o

e c i f f o , n o i t i t e p o t

Y N A P M O C E C N A R U S N e h t s i h t

d e s s e r d d a 0 1 . t s n i a g a t a y e n r o t t a

. 3 9 8 5 0 - 3 1 - y b .

d e v r e s t r u o C 2 0 2 5 7 d i a s

d e n r u t e r

n o i t a t i c k r e l C S A X E T F O E T A T S n o 3 1 0 2 e b d i a s

n a N I F F I e r e w u o y s a x e T

n w o h s d l u o h s y o l p m e C D d e r e b m u n

e b s i h t , f o , y a

l l a h s 0 2 6 # T E E R T S H T 7 R G S T N E R T g n i e b f f i t n i a l , s a l l a D M l a e S

I d e u s s i s a H C r e w s n a f o y a d r e t f a

y a m u o Y

. c t e t i e h t

. j

, M I S Z T H R U Z N A C d e v r e s , t o h w k r e l c s y a d ) L I V C I d n a O h t 9 2 H C

r u o Y l g n i e b : -

. e t d n a h i .

I . t o n y t n e w S R U Z N A C d e u s

t r u o C d i a s ( Y R A G . , t e e r t t i u s u o y R E H T O n o y m s i e h t I O N M R O F R E M A

n e e b n o i t a t i c : t f o E d i a s S G N I T E E R G t s n i a g a S r e d n u h t i : 1 1 2 • S S E N T I W e c r e m m o C

: n o i t a r i p x e T S E 7 1 A e v a h w , t i u S .

I y R E M A E H T n i

r e w s n a . .

P d i a S n e v i G s i h t f I n e k a t d e l i U

t i u S u o Y r o F : o T

s N o M M

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ d e m a n y b

l f E R T S E C R E M M O C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ f o y a d 9 3

d e l e v a r t

’ Z a 4

y l l a u t c a

I s 2 n F Y R A

e c n a t s i d

i _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ y t n u o C

) ’

e h T ‘

l F

€

R c t a

i S l C

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ f o y s d _ _ _ _ _ _ k c o l c o _ _ _ _ _ _

-

. d n a b t s r i f N R u T E R S W E C l f F O

y m s s e n t i

c i l b u P e h t n o . M

w h c i h w

y w o N n i d a e l

1 .

i c m ” % c , - s i j i f i l r e c

v r e s , B

a f i

o T

d e i f i r e v k c o l c ’ o s i h t e m e r o f e b : s w o l l o f

o z . A 1 e b

f L

t s u M ? i n - n n 7 l f c c s a e r a ( s e e f

y m d n a l a t e . e c i f f o f o

, Y N A P M O C E C N A R U S N n o i t a t i

s e l i f o y a d i h t I

m w e h t C g n i v r e s

e g a e l i l a e s

y s s t o N r o F o t g n l a v i l e d d n a m r o F

r o F 4 / m n d n a h

d i a s e h t y b o t m o w s d n a d e n g i S S a w s s e c o r p

l w o C y m s s e n t i

N I F F I R G S T W E n

C D I

t c i r t s i D H C I R U Z

’ i n F P ’ 4 1 _ n a q

h c u s w

h c i h w ’ f I t t e c

t s 1 0 1 . o N g n i v r e s

o N e s a C

n i t r u o C : e l y t S e m

. s v

o t

e

D a t e A ugu s t M A I L M A I L T h e f o ll o w i ng i s i n r e s pon s e t o you r A ugu s t r e qu e s t f o r d e hv e r y i n l b r m a hon on you r C e r ti f i e d M a il W RR E it e m nu m b e r T h e d e li v e r y r ec o r d s ho w s t h a t t h i s it e m w a s d e li v e r e d on A ugu s t a t a m I n AU S T I N T X T h e s ca nn e d i m a g e o f t h e r ec i p i e n t I n f o r m a ti on i s p r ov i d e d b e l o w S i gn a t u r e o f R ec i p i e n t: z a r

7

A dd r e ss o f R ec i p i e n t:

1 t ’ E U k

S i n ce r e l y U n it e d S t a t e s P o s t a l S e r v i c e T h e c u s t o m e r r e f e r e n ce I n f o r m a ti on s ho w n b e l o w i s no t v a li d a t e d o r e ndo r s e d by t h e U n it e d S t a t e s P o s t a l S e r v i ce

I t I s s o l e l y f o r c u s t o m e r u s e .

0 C 13 - 5893 S B C O R P O R A T I ON S E R V i C E C O M P ANY A M E R I C AN Z U R I C H I N S U R AN C E C O M P ANY 21 1 E 7 T H S T S T E 62 0 AU S T I N T X 78 70 1 - 3 21 8 f l LE D D A L L A S C OU N W 6 / 2712014 5 : 03 : 09 P M GA R Y F I 17 S I MM ON S D I S T R I C T C LE R I

T h E N T S G R W F N P l a i n ti f i § § § § § § I N T H E D I S T R I C T C OU R T

DA LL A S C OUN T Y , TE XA S

D e f e nd a n t

T O T H E HONO R A B LE J UDG E O F S A I D C OU R T

C O M E S NO W A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a n y D e f e nd a n t i n t h e a bo v e e n t itl e d a nd nu m b e r e d ca u s e a nd m a k e s a nd f il e s t h i s it s N o E v i d e n ce M o t i on f o r P a r ti a l S u mm a r y J udg m e n ç a nd w ou l d r e s p ec t h i ll y s ho w t h e C ou r t a s f o l l o w s

¶ 3 ,

s u s t a i n e d c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r i e s t o h i s n ec k a nd l e f t s hou l d e r on F e b r u a r y 21

A n e v i d e n f i a i y h ea r i ng i n t h i s m a t e r w a s h e l d a t t h e D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a t i on on

t o d ec i d e t h e I b il o w i ng d i s pu t e d i ss u e : D o e s t h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y o f J a nu a r y 24 F e b r u a r y 21 e x t e nd t o i n c l ud e a l e f t p a r a m e d i a n d i s c p r o t r u s i on a t C a nd ce w i ca i m d i c u l op a t hy r a d i c u ii d s D E F Z r W A FS r’ s N o E v w E t a M O T I o N F O R P A M I A L S U MM A R Y J UDG M E N T P AG E W C W I Alter hewing all of the testimony and reviewing all of the evidence, the Hearing Officer correctly determined the compensable injury did not extend to include a left pammedian disc protrusion at C6-7 or cervical radicu1opathy/radculitjs. Plaintiff appealed the Contested Case Hearing Decision and Order to the DWC Appeals Panel, which affirmed the Hearing Office? s findings in theft entirety. Thereafter, Plainflifflied this lawsuit. Because Plaintiffhas no competent medical evidence that his compensable injury extends to include the above-referenced diagnoses, Defendant hereby files this No-Evidence Partial Motion for Summary Judgment

Plaintiff filed his lawsuit on or about May 29, 2013. Since that time, the parties have exchanged written discovery, which has been completed. An adequate time for discovery has passed and this Motion is ripe for hearing.

111.

By this Motion, Defendant seeks a partial final judgment which will dispose of one of the claims which have been asserted against it on the following grounds:

(a) Summary judgment pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 166a(i) because there is no evidence as to an essential element or elements of Plaintiffs claim of extent of injury beyond a cervical sprain/strain and left shoulder sprain/strain.

STANDARD OF REVIEW FOR NO-EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT UNDER TEX. It CIV. P. 166a(i3 Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure l66aQ), when there is no evidence of “one or more central elements” in plaintiffs cause of action after an adequate time for discovery has passed, the trial cowtmustgrantsummwyjudgmentunlesstheplainfiffproducescompetentsummwyjudgment UzFma4nr’s No-EVIDENCE MCrn0N FOR PARna SUMMARY JUDGMENT PAGE 2 T hn h e l d t h a t o m itti ng t h e bu t -f o r l a ngu a g e i n t h e d c f i u i f l on o f p r odu c i ng ca u s e” w a s l e g a ll y i n c o rr ec t a nd e rr on e ou s C n i m p S W 3d a t T e x a s c ou r t s h a v e l ong h e l d e xp e r t t e s ti m ony i s n ece ss a r y t o e s t a b li s h ca u s a ti on a s t o m e d i ca l c ond iti on s ou t s i d e t h e c o mm on kno w l e dg e a nd e xp e r i e n ce o f j m o r s I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny o f N o r t h A m e r i ca v M y e r s S W 2d 710 T e x R o a r kv A ll e n S W 2d (r e x A t t h e ou t s e t s u c h t e s ti m ony m u s t c o m e fr o m a p e r s on qu a li f i e d a s a n e xp e r t on t h e s ub j ec t o f t h e t e s ti m ony T e x a s R u l e o f E v i d e n ce R ob e r t s v W illi a m s on S W 3d 113 (r e x

T e x a s a nd fr d e w l c ou r t s f l u t e r un i v e r s a ll y ho l d c o m p e t e n t e v i d e n ce i s r e qu i r e d t o p r ov e t h e e x i s t e n ce a nd n a t u r e o f a c ond iti on a nd a ca u s a l r e l a ti on s h i p t o t h e e v e n t i n qu e s ti on w it h t h e t h a i j udg e b e i ng c h a r g e d t o s c r u ti n i ze t h e e xp e r t e v i d e n ce o ff e r e d f o r r e li a b ilit y EL du P on t d e N e m ou r s & C o v R ob i n s on S W 2d 549 T e x D a ub e r t v M e rr e ll D o w P h a r m ace u ti ca l s I n c U S S i n ce D a ub e r t a nd R ob i n s on T e x a s c ou r t s h a v e h e l d t e m po r a l p r ox i m it y a l on e do e s no t m ee t s t a nd a r d s o f s c i e n ti f i c r e li a b ilit y a nd do e s no t by it s e l f s uppo r t a n i n f e r e n ce o f m e d i ca l ca u s a ti on G u e v a r a v F e rr e r S W 3d (r e x C it y o f L a r e do v G a n a S W 3d (r e x A pp S a n A n t on i o no p e t C r u m p S W 3d a t

I n G u e v a r a , t h e S up r e m e C ou r t w e n t e v e n f u r t h e r , r e j ec ti ng “ t h e f a l s e i n f e r e n ce t h a t a t e m po r a l r e l a ti on s h i p p r ov e s a ca u s a l r e l a ti on s h i p G u e v a r a S W 3d a t quo ti ng R o l e n v H a n s e n B e v e r a g e C o F e d A pp x U C r P o r t e r v W h it e h a ll L a b s F 3d t h C fr

T h e G u e v a r a c ou r t f u r t h e r h e l d : DK W M f V S NO V W E N p M O n ON n R P I Y J U I P AG E m qn T h A t e m po r a l r e l a üon s h i p by it s e l f , p r odu ce s no e v i d e n ce o f ca u s a ti on . . m e f ac t o f a t e m po r a l r e l a ti on s h i p e s t a b li s h e s no t h i ng e x ce p t a r e l a ti on s h i p i n li m e . P r oo f o f a t e m po r a l r e l a ti on s h i p m e r e l y s ugg e s t s t h e po ss i b ilit y o f a ca u s a l c onn ec ti on a nd do e s no t a ss i s t p l a i n f li T h i n p r ov i ng m e d i ca l ca u s a ti on . G u e v a r a a t quo ti ngb r e B r ea s t I m p l a n t L iti g a ll on F S upp i d D C ob b C it y o f L a r e do t h e c ou r t d r a w i ng h ea v il y upon G u e v a r a h e l d t h a t w h il e e v i d e n ce o f a n e v e n t f o ll o w e d c l o s e l y by m a n i f e s t a ti on o r t r ea t m e n t f a r c ond iti on s t h a t d i d no t a pp ea r b e f o r e t h e e v e n t r a i s e s s u s p i c i on t h a t t h e e v e n t a t i ss u e ca u s e d t h e c ond iti on s s u s p i c i on h a s no t b ee n a nd i s no t l e g a ll y s u ff i c i e n t t o s uppo r t a f i nd i ng o f l e g a l ca u s a ti on C it y o f L a r e do S W 3d a t c iti ng G u e v a r a a t e m ph a s i s a dd e d

A cc o r d i ng l y D e f e nd a n t i s e n titl e d t o s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on P l a i n ti ff s c l a i m o f e x t e n t o f i n j u r y a s P l a i n ti ff h a s no t p r odu ce d a ny c o m p e t e n t e v i d e n ce w h i c h w ou l d c r ea t e a g e nu i n e i ss u e o f m a t e r i a l f ac t on t h i s i ss u e

W H E R E F O R E P R E M I S E S C ON S I D E R E D D e f e nd a n t A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny r e s p ee ff lill y p r a y s t h a t t h i s H ono r a b l e C ou r t e n t e r p a r ti a l s u mm a r y j udg m e n t i n f a vo r o f D e f e nd a n t pu r s u a n t t o T e x a s R u l e o f C i v il P r o ce du r e a i a nd g r a n t a ll o t h e r a nd f u r t h e r r e li e f i n l a w o r i n e qu it y t o w h i c h D e f e nd a n t m a y b e j u s tl y e n titl e d D m N D AN T S N o E V a N C E M O n O N O R P AK U A L S U M M A R Y J U DG M E N T P AG E S n4 r

-

R e s p ec t f u ll y s ub m itt e d , W E S I V E R A F I R M A P m t è ss i on a I C o r pon f i on B Y : / s ! T odd R i c h a r d s

T odd R i c h a r d s S t a t e B a r N o . 16855500 D a ny l J . S il v e m S t a t e B a r N . 18352280 1015 P r ov i d e n ce T o w e r s E a s t 5001 S p r i ng V a ll e y R o a d D a ll a s , T e x a s 75244 TELE P HON E ( 972 ) 715 - 1750 F A C S I M I LE ( 972 ) 715 - 1759 fr i c h r d s @ s il v ea I a w . c o m A T r O R N E Y S F O R D E F E NDAN T

T h e und e r s i gn e d h e r e by ce r ti f i e s t h a t a t r u e a nd c o rr ec t c opy o f t h e f o r e go i ng do c u m e n t w a s s e r v e d i n acc o r d a n ce w it h t h e T e x a s R u l e s o f C i v il P r o ce du r e upon P I t hn f i ff on t h i s t h e t h t hy o f J un e

I s / T odd R i c h a r d s

D uv wA l n t N o E V m E N a M 0n m F O R P A f l T A L S U M M A R Y J U DG M n P A c E

T h E N T S G R W F T N P l a n f i ff 4 § § § § § § I N T h E D l S T h J C C OU R T

. l OV T J UD I C I A l . D I S T R I C T

DA LL A S C OUN T Y , TE XA S

D e f e nd a n t

D E P E NDA I’( V s M O T I ON F O R S U MM A R Y J UDG M E N T T O T h ff i HONO R A B LE J UDG E O F S AD C OU R T

I n s uppo r t o f t h i s M o ti on f o r S u mm a r y J udg m e n t D e f e nd a n t A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny r e s p ec t f U ll y s t a t e s

P l a i n ti ff s u s t a i n e d c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r i e s on F e b r u a r y i n t h e f o r m o f a ce r v i ca l a nd l e f t s hou l d e r s p r a i n l s t r a i n D e f e nd a n t acce p t e d t h e c l a i m a s c o m p e n s a b l e a nd i n iti a t e d t e m po r a r y i n c o m e b e n e f it s (r i B s on F e bn m i y 22

O n J un e 22 , 2012 , P l a i n ti ff w a s e x a m i n e d by A nd r e w C o l e , M . D . f o r a D W C a ppo i u t e d d e s i gn a t e d do c t o r e v a l u a ti on t o a ss e ss m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t a nd i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng D r C o l e d e t e r m i n e d P l a i n ti ff h a d r eac h e d m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t on A p r il w it h a w ho l e p e r s on i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng

P l a i n ti ff d i s pu t e d t h e d e s i gn a t e d do c t o r’ s d e t e nn i n a ti on s r e g a r d i ng m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t a nd i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng a nd a c on t e s t e d ca s e h ea r i ng CC X I) w a s h e l d on J a nu a r y 24 t o d ec i d e t h e f o ll o w i ng d i s pu t e d i s s u e s D E W N DA I T S M on o w F O R & J l b W A R Y J UDG M E N T P AG E T R I c J l a Has Plaintiff reached maximum medical improvement and if so on what date? IfPlthnfiffreached maximum medical improvement, what is his impairment rating? After hearing the testimony and reviewing the evidence, the Heating Officer issued a Decision and Order that Plaintiffreached maximum medical improvement on April 26,2012, with a 0% impairment mting

Plaintiff appealed the CCH Decision and Order to the Division of Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel which affirmed the CCH Decision and Order in favor of Defendant

Thereafter, Plaintiff filed this lawsuit seeking judicial review of the underlying CCH Decision and Order and Appeals Panel decision.

The undisputed evidence establishes Plaintiff reached statutory maximum medical improvement on February 26,2014.

Defendant is entitled to ajudgment as a matter oflaw on Plaintiff’s dispute ofthe designated doctor’s maximum medical improvement and impairment rating certification since said determinations became final after Plaintiffs statutory maximmn medical improvement date.

in.

In support ofthis motion, Defendant relies upon the following. Designated doctor report of Andrew Cole, M.D. (attached hereto as Exhibit “A”); CCH Decision and Order (attached hereto as Exhibit “B”); Appeals Panel Decision (attached hereto as Exhibit “C”); and AThdavit of ffichelle Cabmiles (attached hereto as Exhibit “D”) DEFENDANT’S MOTTON FOR SUMMAItY JuntxNr PAGE 2 TR6fl w e

S u mm a r y j udg m e n t i s p r op e r w h e n t h e r e i s no g e nu i n e i ss u e a s t o a ny m a t e r i a l f ac t a nd t h e m ov i ng p a r t y i s e n titl e d t o j udg m e n t a s a m a tt e r o f l a w T a R C i v P I o c I a c V e r non S upp A d e f e nd a n t i s e n titl e d t o s u mm a r y j udg m e n t i f t h e s u mm a r y j udg m e n t e v i d e n ce e s t a b li s h e s a s a m a tt e r o f l a w a p l a i n ii f ca nno t r ec ov e r upon h i s o r h e r c l a i m s m x K C i v P R o c a V e r non S upp C e n t e r R ea lt y I n c v S i e g l e r S W 2d 195 T e x A d e f e nd a n t s a ti s f i e s t h i s bu r d e n by e it h e r n e g a ti ng on e e ss e n ti a l e l e m e n t o f eac h o f t h e p l a i n ti ff s c l a i m s o r e s t a b li s h i ng a n a ff i r m a ti v e d e f e n s e I i O n ce t h e d e f e nd a n t s ho w s it i s e n titl e d t o s u mm a r y j udg m e n t t h e bu r d e n s b il s t o t h e p l a i n ti ff t o pu t on c o m p e t e n t c on t r ov e r ti ng e v i d e n ce t h a t p r ov e s t h e e x i s t e n ce o f a g e nu i n e i ss u e o f m a t e r i a l f ac t i n o r d e r t o a vo i d s u mm a r y j udg m e n t I d H a il v S t e v e n s on S W 2d 454 (r e x A pp F o r t W o r t h 1996 no w r it

A R GU M E N T S AND AU ’ m O R n w S P l a i n ti ff s c h a ll e ng e o f t h e d e s i gn a t e d do c t o r’ s m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t a nd i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng ce r ti f i ca ti on f a il s a s a m a tt e r o f l a w

A A pp li ca b l e L a w . B u r d e n o f P r oo f — T h e p a r t y a pp ea li ng t h e d ec i s i on on t h e i ss u e d e s c r i b e d i n §410 . 301 ( a ) h a s t h e bu r d e n o f p r oo f by a p r e pond e r a n ce o f t h e e v i d e n ce . S ee T hx . L A B . C OD E ANN . §410 . 303 . C on s i d e n U on o f A pp ea l s P a n e l D ec i s i on — I n a t h a i t o t h e c ou r t w it hou t t h e c ou r t i n r e nd e r i ng it s j udg m e n t on a n i ss u e d e s c r i b e d by a J u l y , §410 . 301 ( a ) s h a ll c on s i d e r t h e d ec i s i on o f t h e A pp ea l s P a n e l . S ee m x . L A B . C o D E ANN . §410 . 304 ( b ) . D F E I DAN r’ S M o T i o N F O R S U MM A R Y J UDG M E N r P AG E Evidence - Except as provided in §410.307, evidence ofextentofimpairment shall be limited to that presented to the Division. The court or juty, in its determination of the extent of impairment shall adopt one ofthe impairment ratings underSub-chapter G, Chapter408. SeeTEx. LAB. CODE §410.306(c). The undisputed acts establish that the only impairment rating presented to the Division of Workers’ Compensation is that of the designated doctor Andrew Cole, M.D. Accordingly, as a matter of law, the ffial court has ho greater authority to re-evaluate an impairment rating after the statutory ivilvil date than the Division. Center Insurance Company. Successor to Business Insurance Companyv. C&Polli#, 242 S.W.3d 112; 2007 Tex. App.

The summary judgment evidence affirmatively establishes that the only maximum medical improvement and impairment rating evaluation presented to the Division was that of the designated doctor and, as a matter oflaw, the Court must adopt that certification since Plaintiffreached statutory maximum medical improvement on February 26,2014.

vu.

WHEREFORE, PREJvUSES CONSIDERED, Defendant American Zurich Insurance Company, respeethilly prays that this Court set this Motion for hearing, that upon hearing the Court grant the Motion thr Summary Judgment Defendant flwtherrespecffiilly requests all reliefto which it is otherwise entitled. DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY SUDGM&C PAGE 4 flkJfl3i R e s p ec t h ill y s ub m itt e d , T H E S K I V E R A F I R M A P m i b . ss i on a J C o r po r a ti on B Y : 1 W T odd R it h a r d s T odd R i c h a r d s S t a t e B a r N o . 16855500 D a ny l J . S il v e m S t a t e B a r N o . 18352280 1015 P r ov i d e n ce T o w e r s E a s t 5001 S p r i ng V a ll e y R o a d D a ll a s , T e x a s 75244 TELE P HON E ( 972 ) 715 - 1750 F A C S T h E ( 972 ) 715 - 1759 u i c h a r d s c s il v e r a 1 a w . c o r n

T h e und e r s i gn e d h e r e by ce r ti f i e s t h a t a t u e a nd c o rr ec t c opy o f t h e f o r e go i ng do c u m e n t w a s s e r v e d i n acc o r d a n ce w it h t h e T e x a s R u l e s o f C i v il P r o ce du r e upon P l a i n ti ff on t h i s t h e 27 d a y o f li m e

1 W T odd R i c h a r d s

D u r m A rff’ S M O T I o N R S U MM 4xv J UDG M E N T P AG E

SILVflA PIR

Ia,003

IN ThE msmia COURT -

ioiJucutrnsnn § * § *

Defeala

DAllAS COUWlY, TEXAS Eusnis RRCORBS AflThA VU STATE OP ThXAS cotmwopQdlu

BEFORE ME. the undersigned authority, pcrsontl ly appcarcd

—, who, being by me duly sworn, deposed as thilows; C n t1&. ( £iifrst I am over twenty-one (21) years ofage, of sound mind, capable of making this affidavit, and personally acquainted with the facts herein My name

. Tam the Custodian of Records r Andrew Cole M.D.. Attached hereto aim !JL. page(s) of records from Andrew Cole M.D. concerning Treat S. Griffin. These said &page(s)crf mcords are kept by Andrew Cole MD; in the regular cowan of busiuc said it ws the regular comae of business of Mdrcv Cole M.D. for an employee or repmsenntive of Andrew Cole M.D., with personal knowledge ofthe act, event, condition, opinion, ci diapods recorded to make the records to transmit information hacof to be included In such mmnorandtmi cc records, and the records were made at or nan the time of the act, event, condition, opinion, or diagnosis, orrennnaMy soon thereafter, The records attached hereto are exact duplicates of the originals, and it s a nile nol to pennit the original Eeoords to leave the mcmises:

day of

MV COMMISSION ExPthtS: c*-i&4(3ofl

— _____ __ __ - D l S M W I W c o m p ae w f l c n

t e S s D i a d m e n t o f k* un n t s 7611 M l h C f l a D gb e . t h aa I o O . w e 4 , k f ll X W 44 - * W ( 600 ) 2524081 Ø n i e • m i 490 - 1047 t n

u s ( 2 . i q t c , q -

po r t o f M e d I c ’ ij a I u a f l on , g f l

- - nd t hb np M S T a A t h ii ff i h frf l C a d s T A C )f l i oun nh . a i b a B M e w r M C r s e t e d e u R U E D a n a c w ov d W If C w C t o m t a U M h w t p1 a a s m W I t O oo r m e uo I C T h J a n s a t LL A t a W T AG I a a m ea t n i v a b e k it e b c d r w m aa m i w r rr n64 r -

D a r C Dw s á by T m a q d l s T m a k ç DON S p . dp , g D s

. ! S _ m / 1 - -

- - , _ , _ If l ‘ S . d N I W S I 1 , — e 0 14041 O W t o S o f l I I t If l I S W II V f l a i n a n r a m i f l a ti g P *n r n mm y t o b* a y r m o J e r s w a m p

- I s e . S ea t a a W ti . b a s e d t ça i ,..... c f l , f l . 1*4* o i ....,. M ( C I W a t b e . *4 - t . ( 1 ) t h a s it o r t h e W e t h n a a f i f l e d a t e t h it t e m po r a r y b l oo m b a n e ll a ( t E e ) b e g m i I i C W o r 0 t h e d e l . t o w ii d i M e A l r e l é l a d D S r A W it R Y 1 N J C UN I C A I . f li k c o w a w q on l ea r n lil ac o t

og ti d e d by T D I . D W C pu r a j a it t $ J ca L a bo r C od e $ O 8 . I 04 . Y ea l ca Q t h a t t h e a

b p r e p e #nd a t a t h a v e h i i d i d d cc i q ltl c r i *g t o P d ca R don h i S p r n r m U a - O R . f l N l c m b UN tt h ee n t Ø oy aa U a NO T m S M W aa l ee q a d t o r e f li W M l o i bo A I M o l e 11* b a t P 4 on s i w kv e m dn W C b a a o i S y 1*11 do s e r m t f lt r n f l I r i o N U

T h e e non U r n e m p l oy ee h a s no t r eac h e d M S M I do aa n a N a d h it s a tt ac h e d n w a tl y

e i UU e d t o s n e d ea b a 9u . L c o m p i n it e W i ny l n i p a l r m a M m a n a ny n t o i d c o r R e l a ti on a l a bno r m a ll y ca l o s e e d e tl ng a f t e r MM I t h a t r ea M s f r o m a a o m pn a hny a t ii p c w un e d t o b p e r m a l e r e T h e b W M g t h a t h7 l p a k mm it a d e s m u s t b e m a d e b a s e d upon ob Ø S e d W o s I S l a b a r i e i y i i s n r n s p r it a n e W t e ... L . 3n • e m Ø a y e .

l f a y e s S m m e s h e d S T h I M o f l a SS r C l h l n r ac I rf l U d fr o m a a w r ça n aa b l s r E t R y b a s e d t ca c o w a t e n l o w ea w m a t a l a dd e i ce l a r d e v e i w f l y c o i a

a d a i W e d do a t s , Q t f l W r m e on h i . e u*dv e s p Ø on w p ez od r nd by a e )f ll ce ff u a I U r n a s t oy a don no t I s v ss y d k m it a s m ou lt o r d s e on i p e I s e b f l y b g jj c s t h M f l a o f l b a p e w s i w h l w bn N i t A l c S w c o c l w e n s W a I I a y it s nnp n4 I n w f l s I - O R .

dhv a a nd do c un f lll on u s e d k i S w o s il a l on o t I s f r r i p e m n e n t m U ng a ss i gn e d u s bg t h e e popd a l e t øn f i g w n o r w o i k i b e n fr o t h t h e f t f l o w i ng e d l on o f h i Q e M I s E W u e & a W P e m a s W A v w a k m e r e pub li s h e d by t h e M r ndo a n M e do a l M ac d a lt on M O : t u r t h a d li on i r Y w t p it ng I x ti a w c o r r ec uon s c it on a r e ’ I ss u e d by t h e A M A t o M a y 10 7b e l f l n a d h i s o c o i d s i c w it h t h e r a q* e m e r d a o t I s T aa t ac t C od e a nd T a t A d i r e f t k j e C od e T h e a tt un e d a n a 5v e j O W e du ce ae o c ti d ji h* I g P e b w s y N f l no f l *n1 ea t o a Q e r i C rr g A *do r i f l e n 7 a li m a g r l d tt k i dudog 10 m f l W f l - O f t - A rf S i I R i r ;i L c EL j a i d b a t h i g e nd t u w a e rf l ca d i f i ca ti onby

If a n h r ti a l nn r r a ti ng kn a n H a l g tt I ce t h a t I h a v e c o i r ç l e t e d t h e m quhd n i H e s d gn I n w a b m v a m fr w T ea s w o r k f l ca t mm u tt o ji i n t e r n o r h a v e ce W a d s p ea r p w i d a l on by T h t o ti d il y MeAl a nd aea l w i a b t çe k a i a d r a l t g h w ac n r n e r l a i d m f l u ti o ii O U r a p e d I’I . il ,

d a n o r , q s e l f i s a n f l t h a t ca n i n t u I t in f i n e s I ca i d e r s 4 a i d t h a t m a l dog a

R I AG R EE I m ii r n i m uu

C l a i m I i a c l I m e t h a t ca n j

onn o w n P s 1 . 1042 _

• 1 T h f l JJ f l N C E

il L S a . m o t y - p , f l 71235 - —

J un e 04 , 2012 AND R E W T C O LE NO N A I R P O R T F W S TE I R V I NG T X c B G R I FF I N , T h E N T S 1219269950 AN L R I C AN Z U R I C H I N S U R AN C t 822180763500 Q 10121 F e b r u a r y 21 , 2012 N M - G R EE N C O

E n i p l e y ee O W C N u . : C a rr k r ND . : D a t e o f l n j u r y : E m p l e y e r : Ir a n 13 - P e p .... W _ J 1 i .. - it e s nh l li r & a D ou f t k i fr nn tii

- L f ca on Nw t h c mm w z oo i nu T e l e ph a i c N a nb a

J un . 22 , 2012 I t OO ? M c - i i m z D x a i z , o t p j p

- C D e t e n t U ea b W t y o l U t a u$ a m o t a b Q D du a * e t h e a d d t h e a il c t e ’ s c o m p e n s a b l e C D e t unn1 l e t hv t h ee o1p I o ) t f l d l nb f l f t y i s a d i m c g t a n i f l tt ng D o c s r w tt a

D od a U o ce n N aa b a T e t e ph a r I bnb s E D W A R D n A ii K W O ( S m M D P 1064 ( 94 I 484 - 700 ( 1

Q O t ( S I t b s u ee ) - M O T h T O T h E A T I J G DO C T O R AND C A RR I E R S a i d ae d l e l r a i a i h t o c o rr e qx z d e i o e a d f l a m z r e v a s o s i d e

A PP R OVA L O F R E QU E S T F O R D E S I W ( A T h D DO C T O R f l A W N W II OH fr m a n ce D i v i s i on o f W o s k ez u C o m p e n s a ti on f F D I- D W C r ea i v M a r e qu e s t D W C P onn R e qu e s t f o r D o s l gnn i ea [I t T a r n Ø aa n4 c d i n nun a n n t q s U t P o c t e P i a a t a i o a ii m w s rr e v i e w e d a nd e n l d a t d a nd t h e C o c n m h a i o s o f W o t ea C o m p e n s a ti on h a s q I n i u s q K a s a u t ho r i ze f l y i bx j a f l a d T h3 W C m l a If > t u do no t s h a dy h a v e a c opy o f t h e D W C F ou m f l W e d t o nqu c s t t h i s e oun l n U on you m a y c on t ac t U D W V a t t o ob t a i n a c opy o f W m b W C o m p e n s a ti on t h a t p a n i c s a m e nd I n t h i s O i d e r c o m p l y l t h il l s d v J e it ae i s u E OD E UD by U t s p a i ff i d b e l o w T h e aca n t h i s t h m o e f l e d a t o t h i s C i du r a i d a ll r c po tt a a d e n n il ca ti on ti e d t a m E A U t O d e c on i t p e r e on t o c o r y it h t h i s O r i s a n w f l u q J L I U D W C r u i n a d j x m l ü n o f t h e T e n s L t h a C o l a P a ilt e n l n l e f l U v e v i o l e t I on a nd m a y s ub j ec t U t e n t o s a n c ti on s a s a u t ho r i ze d by t h e T e x a s l a bo r C od e o r D D W U r u l e s

d e

r t s a l by I s m J R T f l UO R D R R S D T h A T T h E W U E D U WW V EE NA M E D A B OV E A LL a tt e nd t h e ce m i n e d e n s p c d B M I t t h i s O r d e r e t o r a ss ww d i s ace o s d un w i d s T s ho t C od L W a m li s t e l k a n ti a bov e a d i d a t a n bo r o l d i e & 5bo a Ø r j n a tl a I o ç k m q a d b e c h a ng e d w it hou t s p i n o f O T b a r w lt m i o a s t e ti m e a nd l o ca ti on s ac U d i I n s e e m p l oy ee f t u s o r R ub l e s t o ç p a r f t t h i s oxn m h w ti on w it hou t good ca q s e U t b i s m n cc ce n l a m a y m i s p m i d p a m c n t o f i n c o m e b a t h s lit r i e d u li n g c on f li c t p e n il e U t i n j a r od e m p l oy ee fr o m a tt e nd i ng U t ae a U on a s s d m& l e d U r n I n J S e d a np i oy e m u s t L J g a h a k by e s ill a g I k e A l & t à i l ea s t 24 bo w i p il a t e U t i A s m t & A b l d u r a m i s a U t a m o cc w it h I n ca l s a d e d a y s o l d i e o s i g i s a ll y I T I S F U R T h E R O R D E R E D i f i A T i f l D W ONA T h D DO C T O R NA M E D A B OV E a A I L p a t m t h e ea m l n e ti on o f j g I n j u r e d e m p l oy s a a t U t e x a m i n a t i o n l o c a t i o n a n d o a U t d a t e a n d t i m e d i o w a â o e li e c aa â d i m i l o c a t i o n m a y n e t b e c h a n g e d w i t ho u t t h e p r i o r t h e a -I k i a s a t h á l o l t h e d a jij e d qq r n l o f t h e T h D W C i f a s oh e du li ng c on f li c t p r ov a t a t h e d e dp a w 1 do c t o r t e n t h e u tt a m l a n t by c W t h e h ij u r e d o m p i cee a t l ea h r t o U t w o cé u l a A rr ohg a do c t o r m a t u i n i I ca t m u s t o cc u r W If i d i d a d w ky s d t h ca I h i e ll y s c h e du l e d l I ca NU t d e s i gn a t e d do c t o r h a a d N dv i d ae

e x a m i n a ti on . g l a t h r ee i a oddng d a y s p r i o r t o t h e u r a m i a ti on U t d e s i gn a t e d do c t h a f l r e po r t t h i s v i o l a ti on t o t h e T h D W C a i d r e s áe dn j e

A n d r e w C o k M D S L P K O x U pu j b a d M d W ae W M d G r U p D F W W A by l o r t F i P k f F a r

230 , fr vb 1775062 J un e C t N C M a nb ec l n s u r w i c C f l r D t e o tl w y T r e n t S . G r i ff i n 12192669940 A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a hy F e b r u a r y 21 , 2012 D E S I GNA E DO C T O R E VA W A T I O t I M E C HAN I S M O F H L A M Y T h i s I s a y e w o l d a n l n ee w ho no t e s t h a t h e r e p e titi v e l y on t h e d a t e o f by ov e m e nd h i s n ec k a i d s ho ti d e r r eac h i ng f a r ti e s hi N a Wotic a a p l mm a d e t T h e nu m b s no t e s t h a t w h il e a t w o r k h e b e n t N n ec k s i d e w a y s t o t h e l e f t o n s e v e r a l o cca s i on s a n d o n s e v eç o cca s I on s r eac h e d und e r t h e c oun t e r w tli h i s l e f t h a nd f ee li ng a p w ee tt ss l a a ll t h e w a y t o t h e ti p s o f h i s f i ng e r s T h e r ea f t e r h e e xp e r i e n ce d n ec k a nd s hou l d e r a nd I ce s o f f uno ll on P R S XA W N M ON D I S C L O S U R E AND C ON S E N T T h i s d e s i gn a t e d m e d i ca l e v a l u a ti on o f t h e a bov e n a m e d e x a m l n ee w a s ca rr i e d ou t by m y s e f t P r i o r t o t h e e v a l u a ti on t h e c o e r n i n ee w a s k t nn e d t h a t t h e T e x a s D e p a un e n t o f I n s nn ce t h e W od W s C o m p e n s a ti on D I v i s i on w a s r e qu ee t k i g tiNe e x f l n a f l on T h e a i m o f t h i s e v a l u a & n w a s t o d e t e nn i n e a n k i up e i nn e n t r a ti ng b a s e d on t h e A m e r i ca n M e d i ca l M ace l a ti on G & 14n j t h e E v a l udon & P e r m a n e n t l m n a t hn e n t F ou r t h E d iti on ft w a s a l ec e xp l a i n e d t o t h e e X a m i n e s t h a t t h i s i n ee ung w a s f o r t h e pu r po s e o f e n ob j ec ti v e a ss e ss m e n t on l y a nd no t f o r ca r e t r ea t m e n t a r oon s u lt a l b i T h e m f t m t h e m w ou l d b e no do c t o r- p a ti e n t r e l a ti on s h i p e s t a b li s h e d a s a r e s u lt o f t h i s e v a l u a ti on T h e e x f li ee f u ll y und e r s t ood t h e c ond iti on s o f t h e e v a l u a ti on a nd g a v e fiffi c on s e n t f o r t h e I n t e r v i e w a nd m e d i ca l e v a l u a ti on T h i s r e s u lt o f t h i s e v a l u a ti on i s b a s e d on I n f o r m a ti on p r ov i d e d by t h e e x a m l n ee N a phy s i ca l e x a m i n a ti on a nd a r e v i e w o f m e d i ca l r ec o i d a M d l f i on a l t e s ti ng will b e ob t a i n e d by t h e d e s i gn a t e d do c t o r i n t h i s ca s e W e will ob t a i n a c on s u lt a nd b il a t e r a l upp e r e x t r e m it y E M O n e r v e c o i f li d l on v e l od t y s t udy W e w o a l s o ob t a i n a s hou l d e r M R I H i S T O R Y O F P R E S E N T I N J U R Y p e r- o l d e x a m i n e s w a s I n iti a ll y e x a m i n e d a nd no t e d a t t h ti m e t o h a v e d ec r ea s e d r a ng e o f m o ti on o f t h e ce r v i ca l s p i n e H a h a d t r i gg e r po i n t s p r n e s l In t h e p a r s e p i n a l m u s c l e T h e r e w a s s p a s m o f t h e ce M o a l p a r a v e d e b r a l m u s c l e s no t e d on t h e l e f t a t t h a t ti m e T h e r e w a s d ec r ea s e d m o t i o n w i t h t e n d e r n e s s o f t h e s h ou l d e r ho w e v e r t h e m w a s no H a w k I n s o r N ee r s i gn no t e d N e u m l og i c e x a m i n a ti on no t e d a t t h a t ti m e no r m a l r e ll e x e s h i t h e upp e r a nd l o w e r e x t r e m it y e nd c r a n i a l n e r v e s w e r e no t e d t o b e i n t ac t; ho w e v e r t h e r e w a s no t e d t o b e a po e f ti v e S pud i ng t e s t on t h e l e f t S till m o t o r a nd s e n s o r y e x a m i n a ti on w a s no t e d t o b e I n t ac t a t t h a t ti m e T h e d i a gno s i s w a s ce r v i ca l r a d i c u ilti s w it h a s p r a i n a nd s t a i n o f t h e l e f t s hou l d e r Initially. T h e p a ti e n t w a s p r e s c r t e d phy s i ca l t h e r a py a nd w a s p l ace d on m t d U p l e m e d i ca ti on s s i ong w it h w e r e F l e x e r u I bup r o f e n a nd t mm a dd T h e e x m nh i ee und e r w e n t a ce M c s l M R I wN c h no t e d 023 d i s c bu l g i ng w it hou t m a ss e ff ec t e nd C O i i s i f pnn e d i w i d I s c mm p m fr u e i on w h i c h m&My c o m p r e ss e d t h v e n t r a l c o r d N o E M O w a s ob t a i n e d o r a v a il a b l e f o r m e t o r e v i e w a t t h i s ti m e T h e p a ti e n t h a d a ce r v i ca l x -r a y w h i c h w a s un r e m a r k a b l e acc odng t o a r e po r t a nd a l e f t s hou l d e r x -r a y w h i c h w a s u n r e m w kd i e ac c o r d i n g t o t h e r e po r t T r e n t s G r l N i P a g e D e q* e c on a m y a li v e t r e nd t h e e x a m i n e s no t e s no s i g r a M c i w i g e I n s m i p t o m s T h e t m e W s ca s e t m d e r w e d a p ee r r e v i e w on M a y w I t hou t f l o a t ee n a tj w h t h c on & M e d o f a x e v t e w o f m e d i ca l r eca il e T h a t p ee r r e v i e w no t e d t h a t t h e e x a m t h ee h a d s i S t e r e d a ce r v i ca l a i d s hou l d e r s t r a i n a nd t h a t t h e p r e s e n t ff l ng s t c on ti nu e d w e r e r e l a t e d t o und e dy fr i g d e g e n e r a ti v e d i e s in t h e s p i n e T h e f i nd I ng s h i t h e s ho ti d e r w e r e no t e d t o b e p t kn a rf t y r e l a t e d t o t h e ce r v i ca l p r ee x i s ti ng f i nd i ng s a nd a l s o t o und e r l y i ng d e g e n e r a i c h a ng e s k iti e s ho ti d e r S hou i d e r M R i h ae y e tt ob e ob t a h i e d M t h e d e s l gn a t e ddoo t o r e w il n a & n t h e e x a m h i ee no t e s t h a t h e c on ti nu e s w it h p a r a s p i n a l t e nd e r n e ss t o t h i s d a t e a h a s e xp e r i e n ce d s e v e r e p a i n h i t h e n ec k H e s t a t e s t h a t h e li e s o cca s i on a l nu m bn e ss a nd t hg li ng fr o m t h e s ho ti d e t o t h e l e f t b a nd w o r s e w it h ac ti v iti e s T h e e x a m i n e Is no t w o r k i ng a t I t I s no t e d t h a t t h e p a l e d h a s h a d a p e rf o a nun ce e v a l u a ti on a nd w a s no t e d t o b t h i s *n e p e rf onn i ng a t l ea t h a n s e d e n t a r y P O t a nd t h a t h i s J ob r e q a e d m e d* a n P O t P HY S I C A L B A M I NA T I ON G e nnh T h e e s n* i ee i s w e l d e v e l op e d a nd i n no ac u t e d i f l e s M u s c u l o s b i e w T h e s h e dd e r a f li a t f on on t h e l e f t s i d e no t e s d eaeae ód r e o f m o ti on o f f l e x i on a nd a ddu c ti on p r l m f l T h e f i e d c n I s l e v e l d e g r ee s e nd a ddu c uon I s U m it e d a t 140 dog m a R l g l & d e d s hou l d e r e x a m i n a ti on I s e ss e n f l a li y no r m a l w it h f i e don o f i e o d e g r ee s a nd a ddu c ti a n o f 170 d e g r ee s M t hough t h e m I s no no t e d c o m p l a i n t o f a kn ee I n j u r y t h e r e qu e s t h a s r e qu i r e d e x a m i n a ti on o f t h e I m ee w it h no t e d 130 d e g r ee s o f f i e don w it h f u ll e x t e n s i on no i n s t a b ilit y a nd no t e d n e g a ti v e M o M ny n e g a ti v e p I vo t n e g a ti v e L ac h m a n no s w e ll k a i d no t e nd e r n e ss T h e r e It s hou l d a l s o b e no t e d t h a t on t h e l e f t a nd r V t s hou l d e r t h e m w a s w a s no popp i ng no t e d n e g a ti v e Nw a nd n e g a ti v e H a w k i n s s i gn a nd n e g a ti v e a pp r e h e n s i on s i gn C e r v i ca l S p I n e E x a m i n a ti on o f t h e o s it a l s p i n e no t e s d ec r ea s e d ce r v i ca l f i e *n o f Q d e g r ee s d ec r ea s e d e x t e n s i on o f 45 d e g r ee s T h e r e I s e ss e n ti a ll y no r m a l l e f t hb w l f i e don a r c j r i gh t l a t e r a l f i e don o f 40 d e g r ee s on bo t h s i d e s L e f t ce r v i ca l r o t a ti on no t e s 60 d e g r ee s a nd r i gh t ce r v i ca l r o t a ti on no t e s 50 dog m a T h e r e I s a l e f k l d e d po s I ti v e S p w f i ng t e s t O n t h e l e f t s i d e t h e r e I s t e nd e r n e ss a i d p a i n ov e r t h e s hou l d e r po s t e r i o r l y e x t e nd i ng i n t o t h e p a r ace r v i ca l m u s c l e s N e u r o l og i c O ee p t e ndon r e f l e x a s w e b H s t e r a ll y e qu a l In t h e ç p e r m& e m lt y a nd 2 S t r e ng t h I s s t e r a li y e qu a l a nd 515 T h e r e I s d ec r ea s e d s e n s a ti on on t h e uk i e r a s p ec t o f t h e h a n d a nd t h e r e Is d ec r ea s e d s e n s a ti on b e l o w t h e e t o w on t h e vo l a r s i f l ce o f t h e n

I M P R E SS I ON

C e r v I ca l s p r a i n -r e s o l v e d . L e f t s hou l d e r s t r a i n — r e s o l v e d . U nd e r l y I ng ce r v i ca l a nd s hou l d e r I m p a i r m e n t s t h a t n ee d t o b e f u r t h e r e v a l u a t e d a nd a r e it s hou l d a l s o b e no t e d t h a t t h e r e I s m o s t li k e l y h i m y e s *n a ti on c h r on I c a nd p r ee x i s ti ng , no e v i d e n ce t h a t t h e r e p e titi v e m o ti on on t h e d a y o f I n j u r y t e d t o a ny a gg r a v a ti on o f t h i s und e r l y i ng p r ee x i s ti ng s a t o f c ond iti on s . T m n t G M k i P a g e D EE a W I NA T I ON C F M A Q W J U M E D I C A L I M P R OV B I T H a l W A I R M O I T I a m ob t f l s ho iji e r M R I a nd E M G a nd c on s u lt t o f l u l y e v a k a t e t h i s m ca n t h ee P r e li m l n á y t o 1* d ii b e W i g ob t a i n e d m y f i nd i ng s a m cc m p a tl N e w it h s o f t ti ss u e a t r a li m t o t h e n ec k a nd 8hod e r a s w o i k m i s t e d w it h p r ee x i s ti ng d e g e n e r a l k e c ond iti on s o f t h e s hou l d e r a nd n ec k ca u ê b f l eee r e m a i n i ng s y m p t o m s A n ii s d t t h e p il e d I s a M W w it h a w ho l e p e r s on b ii p a l nn e f lt a rr e l a t e d t o t h e w o I 4u z y T h e d i e & MM I W it b e p l ace d a t t h e d i e o f v I e R t o D r W obk P s o ff i ce w h i c h no t e d no s i gn i f i ca n t c h a ng e s T h i s I s a pp r ox i m a t e l y W E D m o r dh s fr o m t h e a nd I M y cc m p e tit I e w it h r eac h D on o f s u c h s o f t ti ss u e s f l k a I d i b e o b t f f i g e n E M G a n d s h ou l d e r M R I a nd w ill p r ov i d e a n a dd e I m a lt e r t h e s e n i f t h e y a l f ec t m y d ec i s i on a s t o M L II a nd w ho l e p e m on hnp a k m f l I d l s o no t i f y i n ob ti e d t h e a dd a i d i a n

e o f AUD S W U W C ON C W S ON S ON W Q F O R ADD I T I ONA L t t W I G A s o f t h e e x a m i n ee h a s b ee n un a b l e t o s c h e du l e bo t h E M G a nd M R I H e no ti f i e d o f a n a ppo i n f l e n t on 8126112 bu t w a s un a b l e t o a tt e nd a nd h a s no t r e s c h e du l e d A s a r e s u lt s i n ce I ca n no t ob t a i n a dd iti on a l t e s ti ng W it h i n D W C ti m e li m it a ti on s I w ill f i n a li ze m y r e po r t w it h d e d il on e no t e d a bov a W I on 412612012 a nd 0 t h i p e fr m e n t T h a t I s ca l c t d a O R E C a t e go r y 1 f o r t h e n ec k T h e m i s a I m p a Ir m e n t a ss e ss e d f o r t h e l e f t s hou l d e r a s t h e e o f m o ti on d e f i c it s w ou l d no t q I y t o a s o f t ti ss u e f li t h i s l ong a f t e r I n j u r y T h e l e f t l a m e H a t e d on 0 W C 32 h a s M r a x e o f m o ti on a nd i s t h e r e f o r e T h e op ti on s r e nd e r e d I n t h i s ca s e a r e t h e op i n i on s o f t h e e u a t o r T h e e k j e ll on h a s b ee n c ondu c t e d on t h e b a s i s o f t h e m e d i ca l e x a m i n a ti on a nd t h e do ca n ttl on p r ov i d e d w it h t h e If m o r e I n f o r m a ti on b ec o m e s a v a il a b l e a t a a ss u m p ti on t h a t t h e m a i s d a l I s t r u e a nd c o r e d l a t e r d a t e a n a dd iti on a l s e r vk e k e po r l ho c on s l d e m ti on m a y b e r e qu e s t e d S u c h I n f o r m a ti on m a y o r m a y no t c h a ng e t h e op i n i on s r e nd e r e d I n t h i s e v a k w ti on T h i s O p i n i on i s b a s e d on a c li n i ca l a ss e ss m e n t e x a m i n a ti on a nd do c u m e n t a t I on T h i s op i n i on do e s no t ca r t e p a r s e a r ec o m m e n d a ti on f o r s p ec i f i c d a h li a o r a d m i n i s t r a ti v e f un c ti on t o b e m a d e o r M e d i c i n e I s bo t h a n a r t a nd a s c i e n ce a nd a lt hough t h e e x a m i n ee m a y a pp ea r t o b e ff t o p a r ho i p a t e I n v a r i ou s t yp e s o f ac ti v iti e s t h e m I s no gu a r a n t ee t h a t t h e I nd i v I du a l w ill no t b e r e fr j w e d o r s u ff e r a dd N on a l I n j u r y a s a r e s u lt o f p w b c Ø l i g i n ce r t a i n ac t M ti e s

t z ( %

3 0 0 . i

p U t ‘ — i

q - n

r V

? p

0 3 I _ K _ _ . . . a I

1 a : a s g g 0

0 0 0 i t i j i i a C — a b ó a a I • b 0 0 •

a •

z < t * i F J - —

a t — a C _ • 0

. a í

. - É - a - 1 I - • ] ’ F l I - a -

•

a I I E v a C aa m i f l P a r ti a ll y b i y a ll d on K L a t e r u j m e x i on on l y a nd it I s no t e d p a ti e n t bp m v c d w it h r e p e dd c i a M il d p aca l d e f i c it s I n a ll p l u w s o r m o tl o a A m v l eaa M e d i ca l A r a d M i c n Ow d i e E v a b a f a o f P n w a hnp a l m tii P I M p E J t b

- . C - i M E D I C A I CR OU P 4425 W . A I R P O W F P W Y S 1 N 7 ! 2* ) I R W NO T h 75062 ( 9 T h n O 42 D r T r é n t G f l ff i a - . f I

•

t i

, A 0 - R E C E I V JJ ‘ A l à

§ § §

C E R V f l C A T ON O F I N T R U J I E N T S T h e C o m m i ss i on e r o f t h e D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a S on a s t h e c h i e f a d m i n i s t r a ti v e a nd e x ec u ti v e o ff i ce r a n d c u s t o d a n o f r ec o r d s o f t h e D M s l o n o f W o d c e r w C a np e n s a t n h a s d e l e g a t e d t o t h e und e r s i gn e d t h e a u t ho r it y t o ce r tt h j t h e a u t h e n ti c it y o f do c u m e n t f il e d w it h o r m a f r it a l n e d byo r w it h i n t h e C U M O d I & a u t ho r it y o f t h e C h i e f C l e r k o f P r o ce e dng s f o r H ea r i ng s o f t h e D M s l on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on D W C o f t h e T e x a s D e p a r t m e n t o f I n s u m n ce f r O l T h e r e f o r e I h e r e by ce r ti f y t h a t t h e a tt ac h e d do c u m e n t s a r e t r u e a nd c o r r ec t c op i e s o f t h e do c u m e n t s d e s c r i b e d b e l o w I f u r t h e r ce r ti f y t h a t t h e do c u m e n t s d e s c r i b e d b e l o w a r e f li e d w it h o r m a i n t a i n e d by o r w it h i n t h e c u s t od i a l a u t ho r it y o f t h e C h i e f C l e r k o f P r o ce e d i ng s f o r H a s ti ng s o f t h e D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on o f t h e T e x a s D e p a t hn e n t o f i n s u r a n ce

H ea r i ng O ff i ce r D ec i s i on on D o c k e t N u m b e r 12 - 192699 - 01 : T r e n t G r i f f i n v . A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny I N TE S T I M ONY W H E R E O F w it n e ss m y h a nd a nd s ea l o f o ff i ce I n A u s ti n T e x a s on S e p t e m b e r

R OD B O R D EL ON C onvn l ss l on e r o f t h e D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s ’ C o m p e n s a ti on

ii

T i ff a ny D u a r t e C h i e f C l e r k o f P r o cee d i ng s R e v s I f l I 0

J a nu a r y 29 . 2013 A M E R I C AN Z U R I C H I N S I J AN C E C o 14o0 A M E R I C AN U I S C HAU M B U R G D W C N o

12192699 ,, • , 1219269901 CC I L L o i g6 — i og i

C a .. h1 N cz 522180763500010121 E m p l oy ee : T h E N T 5 . G R I FF I N oy e r W A L G R EE N C O d O F L AH I V E OGD E N & L A T S ON

D a t e o f If l J w T

F e b r u a r y 21 , 2012 T h e H ea r i ng O ff i ce r h a s m ac hod a d ec i s i on a nd e n t e r e d a n o it h r h i t h e a bov e r e f e r e n ce d c l a i m C e s o t h e d e d s l on a nd f l o t s h ee t a m a t e d e xp l a l n l f l g W h a tt odo i f yo U W a n tt o a pp ea lt N s H ea r i ng o ff i ce r s d ec i s i on o r lit h e o t h e r p a r t y a pp ea l s t h e d ec i s i on P l ea s e no t e t h a t If t h e C a r d e r h a s b ee n o r d e r e d t o p a y b e n e f it s h i acc o r d a n ce w it h t h i s d ec i s i on t ho s e b e n e f it s un l e ss o t h e t w i s e no t e I n c l ud e bo t h i nd e m n it y a nd m e d i ca l b e n e f it s I t you h a v e qu e s ti on s o r r e qu i r e a ss i s t a n ce p l ea s e ca ll O O T o e xp e d it e t h e h a nd i ng o f r e qu e s t s f o r a pp ea l a nd r e s pon s e s t o r e qu e s t s f o r a pp ea l o il c o rr e s pond e i ce s hou l d b e a d & e ss e d t o t h

C H I E F C LE R K O F P R O C EE D I NG S , H E A R I NG S TE X t S D E P A R T M E N T O F I N S U R AN C E D I V I S I ON O F W O R K E R S ’ C O M P E N S A T I ON

I) j 44 f ti ,... -

0 t b , 4 & 1

“ 2 < S i n ce r e l y , 0 i w ’ c € W ’

T e x a s D e p a r t m e n t o f I n s u r a n ce s R O m c 0 N E u3 E N T J A L T d a TE XA S D E P A R T M E N T O F I N S U R AN C E D I V I S I ON O F W O R K E R S ’ C O M P E N S A T I ON DA LL A S F I EL D ovn cz DA LL A S , TE XA S

T h UD T R E N T G R i f F I N

* C H

* A M E R I C AN Z U R I C H I N S U R AN C E C O M P A N Y §

RR I E R

T h i s ca s e i s d ec i d e d pu r s u a n t t o C h a p t e r 410 o f t h e T e x a s W od ca s C o m p e n s a ti on A c t a nd R u l e s o f t h e D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on a dop t e d t h ae i m d e r

A b e n e f it r e v i e w c on f e r e n ce w a s h e l d on N ov e m b e r t o m e d i a t e r e s o l u ti on o f t h e d i s pu t e d i ss u e s ho w e v e r t h e p a n i c s w ac un a b l e t o r eac h a n a g r eez n e it A c on t e s t e d ca s e h

I d on J a nu a r y 24 , 2013 t o d ec i d e t h e f o ll o w i ng d i s pu t e d i ss u e s : ng w a 1 . H a s t h e C l a i m a n t r eac h e d m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m w ov e m c n t , a nd i f s o , on w h a t d a t e 7 2 . If t h e C l a i m a n t h a s r eac h e d m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p t ov e i r t , w h a t i s t h e hnp a i nn e n t r a ti ng ? 3 . D o e s t h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y o f F e b m a r y 21 , 2012 e x t e nd t o i n c l u d e a h e r n i a t e d d i s c a t C 6 - 7 a nd ce r v i ca l ud i a ñop a t hy ? F o r good ca u s e i ss u e w a s m n a i d e d t o t h e f o ll o w i ng

3 . D o e s t h e c o m p e i m t h l c i n j u r y o f F e b r u a r y 21 , 2012 a nd t o i n c l ud e a l e f t p a r a m e d i a d i s c p m f l u s i on a t C 6 - 7 a nd ce r v i ca l r a d i c u l op a t hy f t a d i c u lit h ?

1 C ON F I D E N T I A L 1 t , od e

C l a i m a n t a pp ea r e d a nd w a s a ss i s t e d by V a l e d a R i v e r s o m bud s m a n C a rr i e r a pp ea r e d a r i d w a s r e p r e s e n t e d by T odd R i c h a r d s a tt o r n e y

T h e f i ll o w t hg w it n e ss e s f t s ti f i e &

F o r O a i m c C l a i m a n t . F o r C m tl a N on e . T h e f r U o w i n g a b t h i t s w e r e a d m i t t e d i n t o e v i d e n ce

H ea r i ng O ff i ce r’ s E xh i b it s HO - i a nd 110 - 2 . c l a hn a n f l B xh t h i L i C - i t h r ough C - il .

- C a t h & s E xh i b it s CR - A t h r ough CR - O .

C l a i m a n t s u s t a i n e d a c o m p e n s a b l e h jjt ny t o h i s n ec k a nd l e f t s hou l d e r on F e & u a y 21 w h e n h e r ea d i e d und e r a c o r m t a w it h h i s l e f t a r m T h e p a r ti e s s upu l nd t h e D i v i s i on a ppo i n t e d D r A nd r e w C o l e a s d e s i gn a t e d do c t o r D t o d e t e r m i n e m n i m n m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t M l v ii a nd i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng W C a n i e r acce p t e d a s c o m p e n s a b l e ce r v i ca l a nd l e f t s hou l d e r s i n i n s n i n s on l y C i n i mm i f c on t e nd e d t h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y a l s o e x t e nd s t o i n c l ud e a l e f t p a r a m e d i a n d i s c p r o t r u s i on a t C a nd ce r v i ca l r e d i c u l op a t hy r a d i c u il f i s E x t e n t t o i n c l ud e t h e c ond iti on s i n d i s pu t e r e qu i r e d p r oo f t h r ough e xp e r t op i n i on e v i d e n ce b a s e d on r ea s on a b l e m e d i ca l p r e b t h ilil y w it h a s u ff i d e n t e xp l a n s i nn o f t h e ca u s a l li nk b e t w ee n t h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y e v a a nd t h e c ond i don T h i s w a s l ac k i ng T h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y i s ce r v i ca l a nd l e f t s hou l d e r s p r a i n s t r a i n s T h e r e w e r e t w o ce r d f i ca doq m D r C o l e e x a m i n e d C l a i m a n t on li m e a r i d ce r ti f i e d MM on A p r il w it h a a D r A nd r e w G a rr e tt a do c t o r s e l ec t e d by t h e t r ea ti ng do c t o r ac ti ng i n p l ace o f t h e t r ea ti ng do c t o r e x a m i n e d C l a i m a n t on A ugu s t a nd ce r ti f i e d C l a i mm it h a d no t r ea d i e d MM L D r G a rr e tt r a t e d ce r v i ca l d i s c d i s p l ace m e n t a nd r a d i a iliti & D r C o l e r a t e d t h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y p l u s a l e f t h e s t r a i n t h i s c ond iti on w a s on t h e D W C H e a s s i g n e d n o i m p a i r m e n t f o r l e f t k n e e s t r a i n H e c o n c l ud e d t h e c o m p e n s a b l e n ec k a n d l e f t

2

67 -

7 L t x C a d c s hou l d e r i n j u r i e s w ou l d h a v e r e s o l v e d t w o m on t h s a f t e r t h e d a t e o f h4 w y a nd h e t ho s e A p r il a s t h e MM J d a t e b eca u s e t e s ti ng phy s i c i a n D r E d w a i d W o l s b s a w C l a i m a n t on t h a t d a t e a nd no t e d no s i gn i f i ca n t c h a ng e i n h i s c ond iti on D r C o l e f bund s o m e i m p a l un e n t o f t h e n ec k a nd l e f t s hou l d e r on e x a m i n a ti on ho w e v e r h e t hough t t h i s w a s p r ob a b l y c h r on i c a nd p r e ez i a f i ng D r C o l e s ce r ti f i ca ti on i s no t óon t a r y t o t h e p r e pond e r a n ce o f t h e o t h e r m e d i ca l e v i d e n ce E v a t t hough a ll t h e e v i d e n ce p r e s e n t e d w a s no t d i s c u ss e d f t w a s c on s i d e r e d T h e F i nd i ng s o f F ac t a nd C on c l u s i on s o f L a w a r e b a s e d on a ll o f t h e e v i d e n ce p r e s e n t e d

T h e p a tti e s s ti pu l a t e d t o t h e f o ll O W i ng f ac t s :

V e nu e i s p r op e r i n t h e D a ll a s F i e l d O ff i ce o f t h e T e x a s D e p a r t m e n t o f I n s u r a n ce , D i v i s i on o f W o & e r a ’ C o m p e n s a ti on . O n F e b r u a r y 21 . 2012 Ø a i m a n t w a s t h e e m p l oy ee o f W a i g r ee n C o m p a ny , E m p l

O n F e bn i ny 21 , 2012 E m p l oy e r p r ov i d e d w e tt e r s ’ c o m p e n s a ti on i n s u r a n ce w it h A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny , C a rr i e r .

O n F e b r u a r y 21 , 2012 C l a i m a n t s u s t a i n e d a c o m p e n s a b l e ug m y .

T h e D i v i s i on a ppo i n t e d D r . A nd r e w C o l e a s d e s i gn a t e d do c t o r t o d e t e r u t e m a x i m u m m e d i ca l i m p r ov e m e n t a nd i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng .

T h e c o m p e n s a b l e s p r t h & a i n j u r y e x t e nd s t o i n c l ud e ce r v i ca l a nd l e f t s hou l d e r

C a rr i e r d e li v e r e d t o C l a i m a n t a s i ng l e do c u m e n t s t a li ng t h e t r u e c o r po r a t e n a m e o f C a rr i e r , a nd t h e n a m e a nd s t r ee t a dd r e ss o f C a rr i e r’ s r e g i s t e r e d a g e n t , w h i c h do c u m e n t w a s a d m i t t e d h o e v i d e n ce a s H ea r i ng O ff l c & s E xh i bk N u m b e r 2 .

D r . C o l e ce r ti f i e d C l a i m a n t r eac h e d m a x i m u m m e d i ca l I m p r ov e m e n t on A p r il 26 , 2012 w it h a 0 % i m p a i r m e n t r a ti ng ; t h i s ce r ti f i ca ti on i s no t c on t r a r y t o t h e p r e pond e r a n ce o f t h e o t h e r m e d i ca l e v i d e n ce . T h e c o m p e n s a b l e i n j u r y e v e n t o f F e b r u a r y 21 , 2012 w a s no t a p r odu c i ng ca u s e o f a l e f t p & a m e d i a n d i s c p r o t r u s i on a t C 6 - 7 , ce r v i ca l r a d i a dop a t hy , r ce r v i ca l r a d i a f liti s a nd w a s no t a p r E x i u c h i g e o f a ny a i b m ca n r i a acce l aa k m a w r a s e n i ng o f a ny o f t ho s e c ond iti on s .

3 CONFDENfl4j, a labac Code ê4S3 coNaustoNs octtw

Venue is proper in the Dallas Field Office. Øsmma resdjed maybnim medical in4innwRndn& imwovanent mi April 26, 2012 with a 0% The compensable injury of February 21, 2012 does not extend to include a left paramediai disc protrusion at C6-7, cervical radiafiopathy. or cervical radiculifis.

C1.immt waked ma imnn medical iqwowma on Apil 26. 2012 with a 0% impairment rating. The compensable injury of February 21, 2012 does not extend to include a left pammedin disc rothisimi at C6-7, cervical rathailopathy, or cervical radinilitis.

Carrjer is ordered to pay bflts in aaordara with iris deciâa the Tens Workers’ Compensation Act and the Comnñssion&s Rules. Acaued but uqnid ixome benefits, if any, shall be paid in a lump sum together with interest as provided by law. The tue corporate name of the içsurance Carder is AMERICAN ZURICH INSURANCE COMPANY, and the name and address of its registered agent fir service of process is

CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY Zn EAST 7th STREET, Surrx 620 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 Signed this 2t day of Scary, Thomas l Hearing Officer

4 T h I S LETTE R W A S A L S O S E N T T O T F C L W W I NG W E N T S G R I FF I N M E AND E R I NG D R C E DA R H I LL T X T H E S I L V E R A A R M T ODD ff i C HA R D S SP R I NG VA LLE Y R D n DA LL A S T X I N F O R M A T i ON C O P I E S W E R E A L S O S E N T T W A L G R EE N C O W I L M O T R D D EE R F I E W I L

D R O S a O S

A n B p a i O p p o a m l y a , ç q q r

41 gg g

S WENrs.GWmN. INmEoJsrRIacouaT

Pblntiff

1O?IUDIQALDISrWCr §

§ COMPANY

Defendant DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS

§ AWwAVff 0€ RJCHKI SE CASRAI1 STATE OF TEXAS § § §

BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, personally appeared RJCNELLE CABRAI..ES, with, upon oath, deposed and state&

I am over twenty-one (21) yrs of age. I am of My name is Richelle Cabrales. sound mind, and I am filly competent to make this affidavit I have personal knowledge of the facts contained in this affidavit and they are all true and correct I am employed by Sedgwick CMS as the workers’ compensation claims adjuster regarding Trent Griffin in connection with his compensable iijury on February 21, 2012, while employed by Walgreens. Trent Griffin began receiving temporary income benefits on February 22, 2012 as a result of his compensable injury. Accordingly, his statutory maximum medical improvement date is February 26,2014. Further, afflant sayeth not.

SUB5CRWED-AND SWORN TO before me this day of__________ 2014.

NOTARY PUBLIC, State of Texas

4DAVET QaCABRS PAGE Sow

‘tt..’ ca!ois My commission expires

lO02/G2B tO/Z32012 09:57 PhI

MARTIN R. STEINER, M.D., F.AA.N. DIPWMATE AMERICAN BOARD OF PSYCHiATRY AND NEUROLOGY 8303 &idll ewwaytIb 836 • Fbstan, tea 77074 713-7714191 • Far 713-7714115 OdoberiG, Mr. Jeremyk twin dO The Silvers Finn 6001 SprIng Valley Road, Suite 1015 East Providence Towers DeIas TX 75244 Fax& (972) 715-1759 ‘Re: TRENT S. GRWFR( DWC* 12102699 Date ofirgury: 2(2112012 EmØoyer W&gmens Canler Amedomi Zurich h*innce Company GI&m# 30120223576 I have reviewed the following records you have provided me regaidhig Trent Griffin. Employer’s first report of injwy. lftkdcers’ Compenealion Injury questionnaire. Walgmens Disability. NotificatIon of hr NotIce of theputed issues 5M201Z Notification of Ma*nxmi medical Improvement NOtifiCation of suspension of indemnity benefit payment WoI+Med Pain Management 2(2312012 through 81241201 a Cedar Hill Imaging MRI of ceMcal spine 312912012. PhysIcal Performance Emm-2l24&012 through 5I291201Z Ii.. Pew revlew-Ph114 Osborne, aa-wmoia

kjcomebnNpeyment-317I2012. TraM S. Griffin’s response to peer revlewby Dr. Phflhlp Osborne 511412012. Peer revIew— 61612012. Peer review— 61712012. DD evaluation Mdswr t Cole, M.D. flit interpretation of neurodiagiioziic teat Edwin Green, M.D. NATURE OF INCIDENT: On 2(2112012, TraM Griffin was pertrnfl It duties as a phamacM Na lee slimMer, At thattime, wtwn he noticed a ‘poW in wtk3h he the’ humedatety grabbed he did not think anythIng of ft end continued working. He had to rh down below the counter again and this time the pain was wome. This time he had to ab for Me ei&e left erm. He mpodedtha he was unable to tat fl heed to the left or right becetse the ji would become unbearabb

- P a W E N T S Q R I FP I N O c t ob e r P a g e H e w a s s ee n b Y h i s P C P D r P a i d M i o p r s ec r t h e d nb t m s I’- p a p i p a i n m ff e vn D r P W t h f l t P f l I Y m i m d l ii t o a w o c k a n j ph i s l dn C on s e qu e n tl y on I t G r i ff i n a s ee n a t a V W ilt M e d P a k I n s g e r n e n t C h it H e a e v a h w t e d by K D H o l d e r D C e nd d l e gno ee d w it h a ca v l c & m d c t A b a s w e ll a s a s p r a fr i a nd s t a i n o f t h e l e f t e l n t h j o r P hy s i ca l t h e m py w ee p r e s c r i b e d aa s e u s ndy I t G r i ff i n h a s b ee n n a i a d a t t h e W o H M e d P a i n M a i a g e m e n t C i h il o fr o m t h r a i gh w I t hou t a i y s l a n ili ca t U np m w m e t A n M s ca n o f t h e ce r v i ca l s p i n e p e rf o r m e d on 3 f a i n t e r p r e t e d a s s ho w i ng a l e f t p a r e m e i kn nn d i s c p m t h m l on a t C C t h a t w a s no t e d t o b e c o m p r e ss i ng t h e v e i f l c o i d m e t e a no m e tt n o f a ny n e r v e t u o t c o m p r e ss i on A n M R I s ca n o f t h e l e f t s hou l d e r w a s c o m p l e t e d on 612 & a nd d e m on e b a d a tt e nu a ti on o f t h e d i s t e l s p a s p i n a u s t e ndon N o t e n w e r e I d U l d A a i d s ii d e tl d b L ñ lt h a no t e d t o b e p r e s e n t N o l a b i a l t ea r s w e no t e d

- V a t ou s phy s i ca l p e it nu a n ce e x i m i n a ti o m w a r e p e rf o r m e d on a m c n f li y b a s i s t o m f t c ii M t W I Z A f t m c ti on a l ce p ac il y e v a l u a ti on w a s p e rf o r m e d on 5 f W Z i Dw t ho s e tt r e s e l u a ff on s t h e m a no d I ñ I ca I hnp c ov s m ea t no t e d O n 5 P (I t P h ili p O s bo r n e p e rf o r m e d a p ee r i ov l e w m i d d e t e nn i n e d t h a t t h e e x t e n t o f f l ky w n t h a & aca c d a s t it h r s b T w o a dd iti on a l p ee r r e v i e w s w a r e p e rf o r m e d t o d e t e r m i n e w t a t h e r p s y c ho l og i ca l t e s ti ng w a s m e t a ii 3 n ece ss a r y f o r t h i s U ij w y p ee r r e v i e w e r s d e l e m il n e d t h a t a f l ee h ou r p s y c ho l og i ca l t e s ti ng b a tt e r y w a s no t m e d i ca ll y n ece ss y O n 612212012 T r a it G d M n a e v a l u a t e d by D r M d i w C o l a D r C o l e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t I t G rII M h a d r ea d i e d rr i a dnu i m m e d i ca l I m p r ov e m e n t a s o f f l w it h a w ho l e p e r s on i m p a i r m e n t A n e l ec uod J a gno a t i c s t u dy a p e rf o r m e d on a n d k w p r d a d by E d w i n G a s p M D D r G ea n b t f l b U d t h a t i f s k i k n a $on a b a s e d on h i s i nd e p s n c b t m A o w a i a r p ce t on & d a t a p r ov i d e d by t h t e s ti ng c o m p a ny B a s e d on t h e f i nd i ng s & f bd ll e li on s e nd I t po s iti v e s l w p w a v e s W I ti e l e f t t r i ce p s m u s c l e a s w e ll a s po s f tl v e s h a w w a v e s i n t h e l e f t L kv a m u s c l e t b ll M I on s a i d po s iti v e s h a r p w a v e s i n T h e l e f t p r c t c r f l m u s c l e a nd ti f ll a f i on s a i d po s lt h e d i a p w a v e s i n t h e l e f t C S pn s pb i d n a i s d e s a s w a ll a s I bh l a ti on s a nd I t po s iti v e i w p w a v e s I n t h e l e f t C p a r a s ph a l m u s c u l a bn D r G r e w c on t h i d e d t h a t il s e v i d e n ce i nd i ca t e d a m il d ea r l y l e f t a i d e d m i d ce r v i ca l C & C m d l c ubp e t hy 1k s ee n f l ij y s u e S d U c & c f l a ti on t h a ce n t e l MM i d s

ne m a r a GRWRN O b e r 1% 2012 Page#3 Besed an my m v l of the above data. I have d i e d Uw t i g opkibna

trerd G iti at most welshed only a venice) and l shoulder skein saidary to his bending down on two occasions aid tznffig Na heed to the left on 212112012. Pwasplnal muscle snins we the type of injuries that would be ccpeded to resolve spanWneouMy in #6 neka Consequently, aiy teabnerd beyond ek weeks should be (Re4renca Official Disability GddeIInea considered lmmasonable and unnecessary. MD Guidelines). a

This opinion is supported by the fact that the cervical MRI study performed on Trent Griffin cii 312012012 demonstrated only a 5 mm left paramedlen disc protrusion which was not shawii to be compressing a cervical nerve root at the CO-CT level. Compression of the venbal eØnal cord, if ft were siwflflcsnt would produce signs aid symptoms of a • cervical myslopathy. Them is no medical evidence that Trent Gdffin was suffering from a cervical myelopathy (pressure on the cervical eØiial cord) at C6-C7 leveL Them was no medical evidence U t he lied lower a’&i.sê m o wee1m.sa hyperacthe reflaces, positive Bthhski signs or presence of a sensory level. Likewise1 the Mffi scan o f t left l d j aiy objethim thnonnafity that could be eseodated with his shoulder bending tiwad and tuning Na head to the left Activities such as described by Mr. Griffin would not came miy damage or harm to the physical s t h i n of tie left shoulder. in regards to the interpratlon of the netrodiagnostic study peilonnod on Titnt GdI&i on 712012012. them am a maiiber of Issues that need to be addressed. A The Official DIsabiRly Guidelines Indicates that elecntdlawios& studies should be the American Association of performed Elecbndlegnostlc Medicine, American Academy of Neflogy and the American Academy of Physical Medidne & Rehabilitation. These ddaIffies thdlcate that eledromyography (neede examination) must be perfonned by a physician especially trained in elecbndlagnoallo medicine as the tests are simultaneously performed and Intezprelsd. That physician should be at the bedside if not physically performing the In this cese, Dr. Edwin Omen specifically stated that his report was test himselt based on an Independent review and an Interpretation of data provided by the testing company. Clearly, he was not in close physical prwimlty with Mr. Griffin at the time the study was being performed. Consequently, t h interpretation VicISS the expected standard of owe in providing lnterpietatlons of &ectmdlagnoatic studlea The opinion has been substantiated by the Texas Medical Board which has reprimanded a leest one PIWSIdIn and Imposed en aknhsflhive pawity for parfonnung eledm4fleØioiflc interpretations and not being ØiØcaRy pmeenta the thie the study being canted out (Sea Proler betre the Texas Medical Bawd) B. Even If the eletho i o s t I c study was performed conec*ly, the results Interpreted by Dr. Ethvki Green do not coimlate with the clinical ecenerlo. Ct seen stated that the stay showed evidence of a mild early left-sided mid oendcal (CS-CU) raltulopathy. The study was patluhld an 712012012. The k4wy s t n l y occwied five months TherefOre, W kideed Uwe ta evidence of en early earlier on 212 112012. W I áa l nid oeMc mmaiopelhy, ft would f l be f l n r A d with s i leciderl that occuned five months a

by using pmtocofa established

Ha WENT & GR1 Octcbr19, 2012 Page #4

- Fwtheanoro Dr. Green’s b*rpmlauon s that & a riopethy at CS-CB. The Iwel dose not con’etete with the M study pvIIed on Tbwt Ccml’ ai W91Z12. A. noted previously, Dr. meen akungly suggested conelaflon with the cervical %I study. hi this case, howet the cervical MW study ttmd the abnv ma&y to be at CS-CT. Coneienlly, ma Is no correkifon between Dr. Goen’s level of C5-C6 and the MW study indicathig the C6-07 level of Initivema Additlonally, there was n& evidence of nerve root compme&cn or knpkigement a. dher the C5-C6 level or the C6-07 la’& 11*1 vmuld lead to doneivalon potentials as des&bedbyDr.Gresa

- In summary, them Is no medicel evidence contained In the records reviewed that Trent Griffin sustakied any damage or h r to the physiosi athicftn of Ne body seconden) b the Incident In question. There le no *icW cnlaton between TraM OrI*Ys sibjective synwtoms and objective abnomialfiea There was no evidence & any ftcal motor v.ieaImees reflex lose or sensory loss when Initially ecsmkied on 2a3t2012. There was no evldnce of any otqedive nerve root compression on It Gdfb’s cervIcal MW study of and lastly there wes no evidence of any dethlcal abnumafides at the CS-C? spinal root level. I would canvas with the designated doctor, Dr. Andrew Cole, that It Griffin h sO% whole person impairment and cerlâ4 had achiaved UMI by 4flW2Oi a I certify that I hold the appropriate credentials to conduct this revIew I received my medical degree from the University of Ekt* Co$e9e of Medicine hi 1967 end spent one Year as a I then spent flee yen es. a medical Intern at Ben Taub General Hospital from 1967 to neurology resident at Motmt Sinai HospiW In New York City. Following cornpisUon of my specialty Usirting In Neurology, I spent two years as a staff neurologist with United States Air • En aid then beginning In 19731 have been hi prWfl practice Wi the specialty & Neurology in I have bean performing peer-ievIvs elite spprwdmately Houston, Tacas to the present time. I hold en active and unresUtled Texsa license supported by evidence-based medicIne. (E0154) and I he experience with wodce’s compensation claims In the s of Texas. I am I board certified hi the specialty & neurology by the American Board of Psydiay & Newology. am qualified ass designated doctor and hare maintained my framing In use &the 4’e&uon of the AMA gtkee to the evelastion of penialent lmpafrment through courses certified by the T e Veparbiiafl of kn n I certify that I hold the appropriate vredeiUets as defined by I have no conflicts of bared hi performing this 28TN15O.1 to pw&4m eNs peer mvlw. 11 above opinions are based on the information that has been provided. Should any additional htnnatJan become aallable, I reserve the right to revise my opinions accordkay. I heim besed my opflons on reasonable medical pmbdHfty. Ifl.ibeofa’iyftflwsavlcnbyou. p--&dordIaebcaL Merun ft Steiner; MD.

0104 RICHARØ A Suss, M D ., PA. 5938 besco Driv Dallas,fl 75225—1603 DIASIOSflC AWGY MW wawoaja.o(cay ceuimia.

Tel (214) 363-5690 En (214) 363-7940 Noynha 26.2012 Jeremy A. Lunn. The SUvera Firm Providence Towers East 5001 Spring Valley Road Dallas, TX 75244 Re: Trent Gdffln W46 D.oS. IflS/66 DWC # 12192699 Employer: Walgrcrsis CanioriAmerlcá Zurich Ins Co Claim No. 30120223576

DIE.: 2012-Feb-21 DearMr,Lunw

At your request I have reviewed imaging of Mr. Gdffia

Cervical Spine MRI, 20124ar-29, Cedar Hill bnaglng Images: A CD-ROM displays sagittal TI- and 12- and axial Ti- and W-weigbted scquenca Flndiags At C&7 there is a 3 mm left paramedian disc promisioi that makes bordaline contact with and minimally ifat Ml deforms the spinal cord, which retains norma] signal while the midline dma) diameter remains vy ample at 12mm and there is no neural haminal encroachment Also noted at C6-7 is mild amerior spurrlng The disc rains normal height; and the cervical discs loss. The cet joints and the other tents are otherwise generally show nonspecWc signal unremarkable. Conclusion: C6-? disc protrusion with borderline cord impingement but no compression or significant stenosis. This pmfrusimi and the associated anterior spunlng.are entirely compatible with, and typical of1 chronic degenerative disc disease. There is no MRI evidence of acute or traumatic pathology or aggravation or of anything that can be Etnlmted in reasonable medical probability to events on a particular date such as Pebns&y

Left Shoulder MRI, 2012-Jun-26, Cedar Hill Imaging Imagosi A CD-ROM displays axial fl-we4ghted, oblique saglual PD-weighted, and oblique comesi STIR and PD- and V-weighted sequences.

Pagel

1 9

S r 7k m G r j f tl n , P a g e 2 -

- F i nd i ng s T h e r o W w r c u ff a nd o t h m r e gñ i a l t e ndon s t hd f l g a m a il s r e un r a w t a b1 e T h e t e g i on a l bony c on t ou r s a nd m a rr o w s i gn a l a t n i T h e g l e no i d l a u m i s u m e s x a i c t h I e T h a t i s no a pp r ec i a b l e s ynov i a l o r b m s a l e ff i ss I i C on c h i s l on N o r m a l l e f t s hou d & M R L T h e o r i g i ñ a li y r e po r t e d s u l ec f i v e a nd m ea n i ng l e ss a ss e ss m e n t o f S upn s p i n a t u s d i s t a l t e ndon a tt e nu a li o C i s no t c on f i r m e d no r i s a ny e v i d e n ce o f bu r s iti s ” c on f i r m e d

S i n ca tl y you r s , 1 W cc / w a a .

B ) G W I CC m S B O A M

E f l D E V LE R I S E D J ff D J G 1 N EE V M & 4 W R S

1 i f li p0 a f l M a y 2012

- R m C W m w it T I W t G If l I

- XX 40 f l 5574 : 301202235760001 C I a l m # 2 - 21 - 12 D C L m np l oy a W f l ea n s D n z g s l nn

- D o e r M a d c h M k Y ou a s k e d m e b do a p ee i ee i e w on t h e a bov e n w n e d d W m a n tt n a d & s e v e r a l qu E don s po s e d i n y a w ov e r i d l e r D CR I P f l ON O F T h J I J R Y P e r T h e E r pky & s R R e po r t o f m j un t h e d a l m a n t r e po r t e d a w o i k b i s y on w M e e ti p l a y e d t W q r ee n s O n t h i s d a t e t h e d a i m a r t a l I e g J y y e s v11y t ng a p i a t on w b i h e a gg a v h i s i d t s hou l d e r i S ng p W n M E D I C A L R I C O R D S AVA I L A B LE F O R R E V I! W

2 - 23 - 12 P . D . H o l d e r- , D C , o ff i ce v t s tt •

2 - 2 3 - 12 X - o f t h e ce r v i ca l s p i n e p a t m e d D y E d W o i s k i , M D . •

2 - 23 - 12 X -r a y s o f V i e i a odd e r l n t e p r e i by E d W o W U , M D . •

2 - 24 - 12 P hy s I ca l P e rf o r m a n ce T h a n . •

P hy M ca l t h e r a py on 2 - 21 - 12 , 2 - 25 - 12 , 2 - 27 - 12 , 2 - 29 - 12 , 3 - 2 - 22 , 3 - 5 - i L • S f l EE U

O Z :i e O AH S E D 1 I D C OH S

f l R . DH a l d e r , D C , o ff l ce v l s t P L P (I ç Ø a m lt P hv f l t h e m py on 3

3 - 28 - t h I t H o l d e r D C o r n c t v i s t M R Z o f ti e v l ca i s p i n e k lt a v r e t e d by J a m s P I l DO F hy ca t h e m py a i E d W o i s l d M D I C S U MM A R Y O F R E CCR D & R D H o l d e r D C t h e d a l m a it M r G r i ff i n I s a 46 y ea r- dd p & I t d i o w i n i r e d a t w a k on I f T h e p s tlt Ir j u r e d h i s n ec t a nd l e f t s hou l d e r d i K e p e t un f ng it s r u m a l w o r k du ti s T h e p a U it w e n t t o D r P e t h i s P T h e phy s i d a n p r i b e d m i a l e r d a nd p a i n r e li e v e s a nd r e l a T e d h i m t o a W a tt C o m p pby s T d s i C a s a uon T h e p a t u t i s a p t w t n l b r W a l g r nn s t h l s r w d c s l d e w a y s t o t h e l e l t s l d e H e s t ff e s t h a t w h f l e h e w a s a t w c kh e a nd r i e d und e rr ea t h ti e c un t e r w i t h h i s l e f t h a nd t o pu ll w n t v l s ou t t h a t h e nd e d H e i mm e d i n l y M t a s h a r p p a i n I n h i s n e d c t h a t r a d l a t M m it t h r o t i h i s l e f t s hou i d e r a nddo w nh il s l e f t a r m I n t o h l s h a nd T h e p a t e it h e d1d no t p r e v a L s l y h a v e t h i s t p e & p a i n Z n a ll m e d t p r ob e b l it y t h e p a t e n t l r Ø c nd h i s n ec k a nd s hou l d e r a t w a i t O n e x a m N e d e D eaee s e d r a ng e o f m o t i on o f t h e ce r v i ca l s p i n a N yo f W b i gg e r po i n t f i & ii e b i t h i s a t ee S p s m o f ce r v i ca l p a r a v e r t e l n l m w d e s on t h e l e f t T h t h e m l ti e s D ec r ea s e d r a ng e o f m o t i on w I ii t e nd e n o f h i s I e l t s hou l d e r H a w k i n s a nd N e W s s i gn w n e g a ti v e N e u r o l ogk a l N o r m a l r e f l e x e s I n t h e upp e r a nd l o w e r ø f l m l U e s C r a n i a l n e r v e s w e r e u r n S p w il ng s w a s po s i ti v e on t h e k it M a W r a nd s e n s o r y w a s I n t ac t D i a gno s i s C e r v i ca l r d l w l R l s s p r a k i a nd n a i n o r l e f t s hou l d e r P l a n P r e s u l b e d p h y s i ca l m e d d n e W d ec r ea s e p a i n a i d I n c r ea s e r a ng e o f m o ti on M i s e d t o a m t nu e m e dk a don g i v e n by h i s P a F o ll o w up I n t o w e d s P r ea u t ho r l ac i r R e qu s t; T h e p a ti e n t h a s b ee n d i a gno s e d w it h ce r v i ca l r a d li w ilil s T h e p a ti e n t øn a k i s o f p a i n t h a t r e d l a t e s i n t o t h e l d t s i d e & h i s n e d c do w n t h r ough h i s a r m h i s h a nd T h e p a ti e n t d e s c r i b e s t h e p a i n a s a s hoo ti ng s t a bb i ng p a i n H e c o m pbb i s & h l s t h W f ounh a nd f lit d l g t o f h i s h a nd l N hng a s i e q i H e h a s d ecea s e d r w g e o f m o ti on o f V i e w v l n a P o s ti v e S p w l h i g s b M M o t o r a nd s e n s o r y I s I n t a t h P hy s i ca l m e d i c i n e w e d c w i s m e dk2ky n y t o d ea n s e p a i n a i d i n aeee i a ng e o f P a E f lj II Z 7:18:04 AK SEDUWIOK ONE

motlan to slow him to mahitakn his MI-duty sttis. Therapeutic ah% therapeutic athvtUes hi addition wrk reirtegraton and wslcal perftnnan tbng at the modalR] nt’ —.‘ay t achieve tha goals. DWC-73 The clekuart was tai off wiiktNnfli 3-&U. 2-23-12 X-rays & the rMcai spine petrrned by Ed d MD., vs unnalcabia 2-2342 X-rsys & the l& totit h1nd1 by Ed Woiski, MD., was unrw,iatbie. 2-2+12 fliØcd Pesfmiuiz ban tiowed the claimant Is ftmdlaning beicm sedeit&y. His job reQuires MIIum PDL Physkzl thery on 2-2#fl 2-25-12, 2-27-12, 2-3-12, 3-9-12 Phycal Performance ban shows U-is cb)iiant is lijnthcnlng below dWRCbflY) flght His Job requkes Meilin POL 3-13-12 It D HaIder DC, the dalmant complains & severe left stlouldalam pain. His medications include FIcr11, IbuprotHi and TrMnadol. The delmant was conflnu with therapy. The dalmart was IcIaIcLl ftrai MRI&the rvlcaI spine. The clalmart conthued & vmqt through #1412, 3-13-12 at, LP, cBç piattia PhysicS therapy on 3-1412,3-16-12,3-19-12,3-21-12,3-23-12,3-26-12,3-28- 12. 3-27-12 It D. HW, DC, die dflait ccmpfl & n it neck awl lelt tuWe pain. Dlagnls: CaMI radlaJib, left 511nuder sarah. me dainant is continued &wcikthmu&1 3-29-12 Mifi of the rice! sp1rie tittqnctal by 3am P11cc, 00, tows: C2-3: Thee is dl bulging without mass el’frct 0-4: That is no disc disease idtfled,Thae is no nerve roct ci card hiptigcrut 01-5: Them is rn chs dbrnsc identified. That Is no nae tact ci cart Tmplnganait C5-6: There ts no disc disease idwuffed. Thee is no newe

ci d hiiptgemwit C6-7: There isa left paramedlan discS nyu pmtusion mfldy wnpees the ventral coit Iiiycxkm: Left paramedlan disc ptbwlan at C6-O. This may aafl for the syntmw & the left upper edienity pathes.

PIIY*3 thawy on 3-30-12,42-12,4+12,4+12,44-12, +11-IL Tan ctffin

nunfloon 0510V2012 7:lBtOl AN SEDQWICC 0MB PAflE B 01 12

4-26-11 &i Wdsld, MD., DWC-73 The dalniait w r1Jm& In woik with rlctoris Uimu 5-26-li

- TREATMENT DATA ON ThBITGRIFEN DIAGNoSna 3-29-12MM of the cen4cal spine FINDINGS shows a left paremediat dhc potim at a C. This mayaaount liii The symiAain of the idt upper øthemlty pareia. TREATMENT S OF VITS 19 OOG RecarneDATwwS 10 PIwskI the QUEflOWS W ADORES QUUON#i: Bad upon the avaibtb medal hbtay, wist aiwies wctsMofhgury? bathe The EmplayWs First Rcit of TnJfly tdR2 that on 2-21-12, the dalmart alegedly was veifying a nzul1Alon when he aggavatl his It *dder, caushig pain. Dr. Holde saw the dalnart cc 2-23-12 mat whie he was at worK he bent his neck sldewas to the left de wtd rdied widm,e* the cusia wElt his tail hand to ptAl me vlfl cit that he needed. He humedlaWy fat a tarp pat t his nk that radiated cut thiugh his Idt stxxMe aid down his left 3m Rith his h3t& The pabeit A4es he did nct rrwtIv have this twe of pat It wotid appew that the dairnarit had a cvlI and slioulde stahl. The frI ThIS is does sltw disc i1ge at C6-C7 butt do nct cau fomminal not an tstanmon m,dlng In patfl without badc or nedc pain. The4th eduon of The GuIdes page 99 nos what Is called osteoailtrts cite spbe

due rno.e In kiaemads ci age than to bijwy or illness.” Current Iltflure &iows that when comparing ciIsgraphy, nography, C, MM and sWdi wElt each other, that is 1561% of asymptcinfl Ae wRt ahnotmalla Notable studI tithe kmta fle fri asymçmnatt kldvlthJs TraGñffia

E2201905011011b2 sfljtOaz O O O f l O AN S E DOV I C K ON E P C 7 O F 12

T hdud e B od a i e t a t ss i a t a l W dn r t h a t a l P a f l n e n a t a l W & s d

a l 1984 , a i d Q a dn li c a t a l 1998 . L u m b a r D i s c H a ti a U c n s M c R ae P a f ti m e d a s ti d e s m p e s ho w 8 e f i e & bkp a k i p r t r t d ea t h . H e f tt m d a 33 % p r e v a l e n ce o f po s t ez i o r d i s c f li s l aa W I e S e I f ound t h a t t h e l u m b a r s p i n e I n a s c n ç t a U c l ndv W u a l s

d e m on s t r a t e d t h i a m a i f ti e s on M R i m a g e s I n 35 % . H e F ound h e r n i a t e d d i s c s I n 19 . 5 % o f t h e p e op l e und e r t h e a g e o f 40 a i x i g i v a t e r t h a n 27 % I n t h e ov w 40 e i s o f a g e . H e s b , d T on l y t h e 1 . 45 a nd 15 - S I d i s c . W e i n r a b , i n a s m p t mm l c f t m a i e s f ound 54 % w i T h bu o r h a n I a U a a t ox i ec r m c n d i s c , ace s , h i n t e r D i s c B u l g n f P r o b t M a i m M o s t a u t ho r s r e p o r t a b n on n a W e s a s a p r e v a l e n ce l n aea s h i g w it h a g e B od e ii I w i d & il ghg I i o f t h e ;it f t 39 y ea r r a ng e a nd 50 I n t h e a e r O t s f t r dun t r e s f t y r s & a g e a i d 36 f o r w h j e d s dd ez U i a n 60 y e n a dn l k a l s o f ound a r d a t on s h l p t o a g e T o t a l p r e v a l a ce o f b t dgk i g d i s c

w a s 81 % . 33 % h a d a t l ea s t on e d i s c p r okn s on . T h e fr a u e ii c y o f p r o t h i s l on I nn s a s a f i s n W on o f a g e 16 % & vo f t m tt e s a g e ! 30 y ea r s o r c u r gu a nd 80 % o f t h e p r & n s k j n s

4 L r t ee r s o l d e r t h a n 60 y ea r s h a d d i s c A bou t on e t hh t o r a s y m ç *o m a tl c u t ec m ov e r t h e a g e o f 20 y ea r s h a v e a no r m a l d i s c a t e v e t y I e vd h a v e a n a i r onn a lit y i n m o r n t h a n on e d i s c l e v i T h e p r e v a l e n ce o f bd9 a nd p r *u s i on s w a s h i gh e r a t t h e L a nd 1 S i a n t J p t & t h c p e op l e 50 y ea r n o r dd ez h a d m u l up l e E p l d e n* I ogy o f L o w S i c k P a k i: C o m pound i ng t h i s p ittl e m o f

w mm on a bnon T e ff l J I n a ’ m p f t r n a t c p e op l e i s t h e c v aa N M dd w r e o f l o w b ac k p a i n I n t h e g e n aa i pq I i a U on . T h e a nnu a l i ndd w i ce o f il M l m e p r w a i a i o r li f e li n e I n c i d e n ce o f l o w b a t h p a i n v a r i e d fr o m 1 % t o 5 % 3 . 7 % qn i a i c n i k i n b a t h p a i n f o r bvo w e d a o r m o it du r a t I on , 1 . 5 % w it h l o w b a t h p a i n ec p e i a i d s aa u ca . O f t ho w it h s c t a u ca , a v e r 90 % h a d r p l a t e r e w v e i y by 2 w e d a t o 30 d a y s w it h r a n s e r v a uv e , nonop e r a ti v e f l a t n ez it D a yn . R . A .. T h i 1 - i . Y . 3 . : D e n . l A l g e E vk i e r n i o l oqvd L c ww B a t h P a i n a i d U s P r 4* M P t d z l C a I n t h e I M it a d 1 > 264 , 1997 . F j nno j e r . ) ohn W ., a t . a ) ., A ii Q y a M a v &

S p l y t h e ) l dd e n ce a r C C rf l o f L o w B a t h ‘ s i n7 QU k A e d i c C W il Z N o r t h M i & a W A . 4 r a 2 ,. A p I 1991 . T aa i a AK SEDOWICK OHS PAGE 8 OF 12

• Sadie aid Vldenw have i o ii r d from the T d e il Thin Sudy

years, dsc degwaauan is predmilmntiy rdated In g a i d i ca S b t aid leading of the kn t a r spine hw some protective p r ça t . • D!s ptthision, disc hatilaton aid disc bulge we & t e t und In the asymptomatic population. T h a t is vy lithe relationship b t e i dinkal symptoms and radidogicai signs of degeneration. • The e v a I e n ce of bulging disk and focal disk probvslons was 73% (22 respecbvely, There was one volunteers) and 50% (15 volunteers), fr u s l on (3%). deven volunteers had annular tears a t one or more levels (37%) and 94% of the annu)ar tears aihanced a i contast injection. Asymtniat!c mechilary wmprs1on was (biind ii fWr patIent (13%). CONCLUSION; Annular t ea s aid focal dl5k p r u m w are frequa*ly ft&md on MR inadng a t the ca v t a l sphe, with or wftfiout u i nb t athancarient, hi z n i E xn t popubton. E m CW, S a lt 1W, P ea s • E, Sseucq C, w M3. B e v a li ce of annular tears aiid disc hemlaUons a MR t n a p of the Invk2l n e In s y m t n free i d i r s B r RadIal. 2005 Sq;55(3):409-14. Epub Jan • Abnormal m aa n4 l c l a ii a n ce s a n s of the c f t a l n e Ii c n m a t c aablecls. A o r t s e d lrwffoaton. Bode 50, Mccowin PR, Davis DO, D m Mark W I & S i Bone Joint S s g Mn. 1990 Sep;flm):U76- • Deaiemtive d & it h s & the kn t a aid ca v i o l szlne. Rob Z Taig Al., Yea 31), DavIs], Furw C, Boitnan [II. O tt op Gin NoUi Am. 2005 Jul;36(3);255- Revly. In Cr. Hoiders d a i p U on m o and o r y ec s n S n r i a L His OW s e rannal. Thereftie, I would d a If y this as a sbaln. QU n i a M D n e d upon t h e available medlc$ history, w h a t harm or damage appems t o have been done t o The dMmant’2 phy s l a l it h i c t n a s a direct mmdt of t h e alleged event? Based wan the data pmvlded, the d l m a n t had a f t Uswe I n wUi m e non e i f il e r a w l a r complaint Ps#6

l a b

t B O t AN 3 G W U Z GU S

- B a s e d on y a w u M s t n ti g & t h e w a f t a nd y a w op i n i on N n If l r a it h i g k tj w y w l ndd b e f l a n U c a S dgn m d i e guo ac od a A s p e r a bov e a ce z l s f l h a nd § i a u i d e t a m O S i n you r r e v i e w o f t h e m e W ca l h l s t o i y do you nob a ny b i c o m h t e n c y r e g a r i g s t un t e t f l o r d i a gno S o f ca W c & nø c u I R a d I a ili W I m p li e s h f l e m n i a t on o f t e n e v e T h i s s t r a k i w it h non v e dh lt h i e r a d i w i a r c o m p l a i n t t o b e a m yo f a l d Q t J nn O N t B a s e d on T h e M DA G u i dd i n s e f o r t h e b4u r y Q s y r n a tt w s cea s e d by ti a l e g e d a w a i t l t w ou l d b e t h e d f l a l a l p a l e d o f r ec ov e y a tt o t d l ng t o U I i a t q i p m pd a t o j ob d a n l f l ff o w a nd w h a t b t h e m a xk m j m p ec t e d p ee l e d & W e I N t y P a a i rr a it t e t hn e t gu i d e li n e s f l a l n s a r e u s a K y s d f If m f t f ng e nd r e k t w it h i n t h e f l r w ee k s po & I n j u r y

r a 1n j b t l n l r Ø u rf s a r e no t e d t o r s o N c i n t h e v m a f lt y & ca s e s o f t h e ti m e w it h i n s b c w ee l a S ’II t S d a it f l c M onog r a ph o f Q ud T e s 4o r W O 5p f a r a & QU ii O f l S

- Z n you r op i n i on b t h e d t a M t h l e t o r ea m t o w a R w it h cc i U i m it r no r s T h e d a l m a n t h a s a g a t n t fr b e r t h i m s lt o w o r k w it h r e s b i c t on s P e M DA C a v i ca l & nq a fr a L e ng t h o f m a b li f t y & p & ff n f l a t s c r k I s r t h z h

DU R * T f l W DAY S

) d jii m i n O pb ’ M n m n 1 7 l a b f lt f i nn f n

7 14 1 1 ti g S n P A f l E 10 O F 12 O O AN S E UG W Z Q C ON E

3 3 3

- 35 42 56 70 E ff i vy V a y i y QU S f l ON S t s a nd on y ea r oph il on c ii t h e h a tt o f I n j w y w h a t M U a t n t n e n t m d l c & l y r ea s on a b l e a i d r W t nd h i HØ tt a t t h e OD E N ea s e s I b 006 hny c v rr ee po i u a P l ea s e s ee b e l o w C OG r e mm e nd a t 1o f l s f o r t ee t n e f it P a r e g f l i u l o w b a t h p s i n f i r s t v t s t d a y l o P r e s a t e d ecea s e d a I v tt v If n ece ss a y b a s e d on s e v a lt y a i d d l ff l a *y

& jt h ; li m it e d p a ss i v e T h e r a py w R h h ea t ff ce ( 34 t m e w d a y ) , t e t d i I ng / e s t ( t r a i n i ng by phy s i ca l t h a i p I 010 , p i t pd a t e a 1 a ( h e ., aa m l noph i ) a nd f tj r a iti - b i f i a n m a t a y (I . e ., t hu i r o f i ) i n 72 hoo t , po t 1y r m d f l e d d il v : b a t t o w o r k ece t f t r s e v e r e

b e d r e s t o N o X R a y s un l e ss s l c j m w t fr a w t a e g a f a ll o I t m un s p a s m s T h e n c o i d e r m i z d e r e l ee lt w it h li n R e d s e d a ti v e s i d e

f t c lltt e t n t o e ff ec t s . ac ti v it y , bu t nu s c l e r e l a x a n t s h a v e n & b ee n s ho w n t o b e m o r e e l T e d i v e T h a i N S A I D . )

( N o t e : T h e pu i po s e & n j s d e r e ff i x a n t t o R E A SS f l P A U F P a t a it c du I c n w n mm p r ob l e m &

p a t l a t r e ’ z v & s p w t dn ec u s t y W i 4 v ee l s ) S ec ond v i s t d a y a bo* 1 w e d c a I fr s t v W t

o D o c i m a it p r og r (f i e x ti f it y a o f t z nd e r n a s m m I i

a 1gh t l e g r a i s e — s iti ng e s up i n e ) If l 50 % d a U e d t h a i w i d ff r e rr & f o r e tl t u W on M a n j a l t h a 4 l y . O p U o m ae oh y cz I t h e rf l t c hk w r ac t x . ii . c t h e t w b t o r z f l 1on a l ff s t ( 3 v I s it s W i ffr s t w e d Q , o r by ( C hoo s e p r ov i d e s s uppo r ti ng c U v e t h e r a py a nd no t j u & p a I v e m od a lil e s . ) C c s i s l d e r s o t a il ng f o r e xp ec t a ti on s & d e l a ) t d r ec o w i y . o

a q D (’ M D .

Ø t yp l p t E I n t e s wN ii o D l D it I i u e n K s d e r ea t C R ea ss u r e bu t If t u t J n t n t n e s s o r w e m & e N ti e r l e g g b a t h

p r ov i d e r I n on e d a y T a m n

3 O 22 f l M 6 O e f l/ M P A n E 11 O F 12 :j I A M 5 E O W I Q C C I C

o C on s r e iil f t no ea ca l T m n j c d c d phy s i d a

( O tt h c pu ii E f i ’ hy á S M a i f x r t s M e d ) T h i r d v i s it d a y a bou t w ee k a R e s a xnd v i s t o D o w m a t p t g s o P r e s o t e m u e t nd R 1on N i g ç t s e s o A t U t po tit f l u i d b e b a d c t o r e gu l a r i a l c o W h I l e n & I nd a t e d h i T h e a D s e n o f r e d f l a g s If l d a b4 ff’r ii c ond e r l m a g w ç t x t v A P L f l r a l M e w X R a y o f k i n t a ) f t r i M m t t s no r fr ac bn o & z opo r o s l s m y c i op e t hy L f l f l S Z o C u i U r u i e t h a t p1 s t d i a i g e h a ii p a ss i v e f t ac ti v e r t odd lt y v i s t h i n e x t

w ee , c h hon e a B d m nuy a t w ee k s Q v i s lt I n I W e d F o i r t hv l s z d a y2 l f t B a bou tl Z w ce k s a f t e r tll r 4v l s

o D o c u m e i W no I m p t v n a t t h e i F h £481 a bou t o f f tt a l ca s e s o r o f nd l a i a r

) f t cc n f i r m e t hud e d d i s k w ill n a v e u t d l w d ace n e it ( >= 1 m& t h ce r s v a ti v e t h t py ) ( M R ! o r c r no t 1 i c k a t a l w it hou t obvo L z d W il I I e vd o r n a v e t o r t dy s f t n c t a n , c l r x ll a i a r f i nd i ng s , o r b e f o r e 34 w e & ) o

P e r ODG e g e i dh i g fr c h i a it f o r u lt e dd a b iji a l a

I n it I a l e v a l u a ti on s hou l d I n c l ud e :

- o D e I n e t h e t yp e o f b a u m a ( d i e d t r a u m a , I N ! , r e p1 t w

r i r n il a n , t w tti g t dd a t , a . ) .

s e v e i ’ e ttt n , o r w m p I e r 1d l on ) , o N i m t w * i a tl ca i & t h e s hou l d e r uuk a o . n t e d I a g r n s & t hou l d a - f li d by ae f t d b i s p e d l on a i d p* e t a l & t h e s ti ou t a a r ea . N t houyh t h e s l a l d e r I s g e n ea ll y s w o ll e n , t h e I n j u t y 1 s u s u a ll y d e f i n e d by d i r ec t t a i d e m e ss ov e r t h e I F t h J r C d a r ea If r i o t s l g il f l ca nuy I m puv e d t h e n p r e s c r i b e oh w h I U a v v e n U e r a i g e d m o t I on ee s jt s ce ti s e s t h a t s t r e ng t h e n t h e r d B t u s a nd s t a b ili ze t h e s ca j x j b s hou l d b e a r tt d f o r ho m e e r c l s e t a l n l nu

o R x ti e r d a x a tl on a nd p a i n c o a t - a l ca n b e a d il e v e d by k r j a t hg a n

a n e s t hd l c tit e r t h e ac mm l a i ( l aa r a il y o r a n t a l ody ) W it h t h e s h r ndd e r o C od i m s t e dd h i db i b - li - j ff l a r e q t f l & n r a t e I n d l f lt r s t a tl ng t h ’ on l c I n w k i m a t fr o m t e r s o f t h e * a a f t , a i d n A d b e f l q e d w h e n a P S I R on c on aa 1 a o o a t

If- • - I’ • i .

_ J i . i . i -

- 3

T R E N T S G R I FF I N

P l a i n ti ff ,

l O P t J UD I C I A L D I S T R I C T v

e I 4 .

D e f e nd a n t

T O T H E HONO R A B LE C OU R T

T r e n t S . G r i ff i n , a p l a i n ti ff i n t h e a bov e -r e f e r e n ce d ca u s e , i n w h i c h j udg m e n t w a s r e nd e r e d on A ugu s t r e qu e s t s t h a t you s t a t e i n w r iti ng t h e f ac t s f ound by you a nd t h a t you s e p a r a t e l y s t a t e i n w r iti ng you r c on c l u s i on o f l a w a nd f u r t h e r t h a t you f il e s u c h f i nd i ng s o f f ac t a nd c on c l u s i on s o f l a w w it h t h e c l e r k o f t h i s C ou r t s o t h a t t h e y s h a ll b e p a r t o f t h e r ec o r d o f t h e a bov e ca u s e a ll i n acc o r d a n ce w it h R u l e 297 o f t h e T e x a s R u l e s o f C M I P r o ce du r e

1 Respectfully submitted, . fN%>

2

I ce r ti f y t h a t a t r u e c opy o f t h e a bov e R e qu e s t f o r F ac t a nd C on c l u s i on s o f b w h a s b ee n b ee n s e n t by ce r t f i e d m a il by d e po s iti ng it e n c l o s e d i n a po s t p a i d p r op e r l y a dd r e ss e d w r a pp e r i n a po s t o ff i ce o r o ff i c i a l d e po s it o r y und e r t h e ca r e a nd c u s t ody o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s P o s t a l S e r v i ce t o a tt o r n e y T odd R i c h a r d s T h e S il v e r a F i r m P r ov i d e n ce T o w e r s E a s t S p r i n g V a l l e y R o a d D a l l a s T e x a s a tt o r n e y o f r ec o r d f o r A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny a t C o r po r a ti on S e r v i ce C o m p a ny E a s t T S k ee t A u s ti n T e x a s T r a v i s C oun t y T e x a s S I GN E D on S e p t e m b e r 2014 .

S . & ii f) 4 I e

n -f l .

IN T h E D I S T C X R T P l a i n ti ff , v

1 O 1 J UD I C I A L D 9 j a I c v ,

D e f e nd a n t . DAUA S C OUN T Y , TE XA S

19

T r e n t S G r i ff i n S r P l a i n ti ff m ov e s t h i s C ou r t t o s e t a s i d e t h e j udg m e n t r e nd e r e d on A ugu s t t h I n t h e a bov e s t y l e d a nd nu m b e r ca s u e a nd t o o r d e r a n e w t r i a l a nd i n s uppo r t o f t h i s m o ti on s ho w s

T h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d i n t h e r u li ng a ll o w i ng d e f e nd a n t t o f il e i n a d m i s s a b l e e v i d e n ce I n acc o r d a n ce w it h G ov e r n m e n t C od e T R I A l D E NOVO R E V I E W a ) If t h e m a nn e r o f r e v i e w a u t ho r i ze d by l a w f o r t h e d ec i s i on i n a c on t e s t e d ca s e t h a t i s t h e s ub j ec t o f c o m p l a i n t i s by t r i a l d e novo t h e r e v i e w i ng c ou r t s h a ll t r y eac h i ss u e o f f a d a nd l a w i n t h e

1 m a nn e r t h a t a pp li e s t o o t h e r civil s u it s in t h e s t a t e a s t h ou gh t h e r e h a d no t b ee n a n i n t e r v e n i ng a g e n c y ac ti on o r d ec i d s o n bu t m a y no t a d m it in e v i d e n ce t h e f ac t o f p r i o r s t a t e a g e n c y ac ti on o r t h e n a t u r e o f t h a t ac ti on e x ce p t t o t h e li m it e d e x t e n t n ece ss a r y t o s ho w c o m p li a n ce w it h s t a t u t o r y p r ov i s i o n s t h a t v e s t j u r i s d i c ti o n in t h e c ou r t T h e c ou r t e rr e d in g r a n ti n g t h e d e f e nd a n t s m o ti on o f s u mm a r y j u dg m e n t w it h ou t p r ov i d i ng t h e p a r ti e s no ti ce o f t h e h ea r i n g o r s ub m i ss i on d a t e o f a s u mm a r y j u dg m e n t m o ti on s ee M a r ti n v. M a r ti n & Richards, i n c S.W.2d ff e x Okoliv. Texas D e p t o f H u m a n Services, 117 S.W.3d (r e x A pp T e x a r k a n a no p e t no ti ce by a p a r t y t h a t s u mm a r y j udg m e n t m o ti on w ou l d be p r e s e n t e d t o c ou r t w a s no t no ti ce o f h ea r i ng d a t e s ee a l s o Tex. R. Civ. P. 4; Lewis v. Blake, W 2d 314 (Tex. 1994) d i s a pp r ov i ng c ou r t s o f a pp ea l s op i n i on t h a t d a y s m u s t e l a p s e b e t w ee n d a t e o f s e r v i ce a nd d a t e o f h ea r i ng Even t hough a n ac t u a l h ea r i ng may no t o cc u r b eca u s e it is w it h i n t h e t r i a l j udg e s d i s c r e ti on w h e t h e r t o ho l d a h ea r i ng a h ea r i ng d a t e m u s t b e s e t a nd s p ec i f i e d in a no ti ce t o t h e p a r ti e s in o r d e r t o s e t t h e filing d ea d li n e s s ee M a r ti n v. M a r ti n & Richards, Inc., S.W.2d (r e x T h e p l a i n ti f f w a s no t given no ti ce a t all o f t h e s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t h ea r i n g In a dd iti on t h e p l a i n ti f f w a s d e p r i v e d o f a ny r i gh t t o file a w r itt e n r e s pon s e t o t h e s u m m a r y j udg m e n t s ough t by t h e d e f e nd a n t A m e r i ca n Zurich I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny s ee M a y v. N ac ogdo c h e s M e m o Hal Hosp., 61 S.W.2d, Tex. App.—Tyler no p e t

2 II T h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d i n t h e r u li ng a ll o w i ng d e f e nd a n t t o f il e i n a d m i ss a b j e e v i d e n ce I n acc o r d a n ce w it h G ov e r n m e n t C od e T R I A L D E NOVO R E V I E W a ) If t h e m a nn e r o f r e v i e w a u t ho r i ze d by l a w f o r t h e d ec i s i on i n a c on t e s t e d ca s e t h a t i s t h e s ub j ec t o f c o m p l a i n t i s by t r i a l d e novo t h e r e v i e w i ng c ou r t s h a ll t r y eac h i ss u e o f f ac t a nd l a w i n t h e m a nn e r t h a t a pp li e s t o o t h e r c i v il s u it s i n t h e s t a t e a s t hough t h e r e h a d no t b ee n a n i n t e r v e n i ng a g e n c y ac ti on o r d ec i c i s on bu t m a y no t a d m it J i n e v i d e n ce t h e f ac t o f p r i o r s t a t e a g e n c y ac ti on o r t h e n a t u r e o f t h a t ac ti on e x ce p t t o t h e li m it e d e x t e n t n ece ss a r y t o s ho w c o m p li a n ce w it h s t a t u t o r y p r ov i s i on s t h a t v e s t j u r i s d i c ti on i n t h e c ou r t T h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d i n a d m itti ng i n t o e v i d e n ce o f t h e d e f e nd a n t T e x a s D e p a r t m e n t o f I n s u r a n ce D i v i s i on o f W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a ti on C o mm i ss i on e r’ s O r d e r f o r MM I I R d e t e r m i n a ti on a s t a t e do c t o r D W C O S ce r ti f i ca ti on f o r m a s t a t e do c t o f l e v a l u a ti on w it h r a ng e o f m o ti on r ec o r d s o f t h e p l a i n ti ff ( do c t o r’ s r e po r t o f A nd r e w C o l e M D a s E xh i b it A C on t e t s t e d C a s e H ea r i ng D ec i s i on a nd O r d e r a s E xh i b it B a nd A pp ea l s P a n e l D ec i s i on a s E xh i b it C s ee G ov e r n m e n t C od e T h e t r i a l c o u r t e r r e d i n a d m it ti n g i n t o e v i d e n ce e x p e r t t e s ti m o n y w h i c h i n T e x a s S up r e m e C ou r t i n C r a m p a nnoun ce d a g e n e r a l r u l e t h a t ca u s a ti on r e qu i r e s e xp e r t m e d i ca l e v i d e n ce H o w e v e r t h e r e a r e e x ce p ti on s t o t h e g e n e r a l r u l e I n G u e v a m ii F e s r e r t h e C ou r t s t a t e d T yp e o f e v i d e n ce e s t a b li s h i ng a s e qu e n ce o f e v e n t s w h i c h p r ov i d e s a s t r ong l og i ca ll y t r acea b l e c onn ec ti o n b e t w ee n t h e e v e n t a n d t h e c o nd it i on c o u l d s u ff i ce

3 t o s uppo r t a ca u s a ti on f i nd i ng 1 a r e w it h i n t h e c o mm on kno w l e dg e a nd e xp e r i e n ce o f a l a yp e r s on d I d no t e x i s t b e f o r e acc i d e n t a pp ea r e d a f t e r a nd c l o s e i n ti m e t o t h e acc i d e n t a nd 4 a r e w it h i n t h e c o mm on kno w l e dg e a nd e xp e r i e n ce o f l a yp e non a w o r k i n j u r y T h e T e x a s S up r e m e C ou r t l a t e r no t e d non e xp e r t e v i d e n ce a l on e i s s u ff i c i e n t t o s uppo r t a f i nd i ng o f ca u s a ti on i n li m it e d c i r c u m s t a n ce s w h e r e bo t h t h e o cc u r e n ce a nd c ond iti on c o m p l a i n e d o f a r e s u c h t h a t t h e g e n e r a l e xp e r i e n ce a nd c o mm on s e n s e o f l a yp e r s on a r e s u ff i c i e n t t o e v a l u a t e t h e c on d i ti o n s a nd w h e t h e r t h e y w e r e p r ob a b l y ca u s e d by t h e o cc u r e n ce s ee G u e v a r a v F e rr e r W 3d 662 f l e x T h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d I n a d m itti ng i n t o e v i d e n ce a p ee r r e v i e w p r ov i d e d by D r P h ll hp O s bo r n e on M a y 2 T h e d e f e nd a n t d i d no t d i s pu t e t h e o r c on t e s t t h e c o m p e n s a b ilit y o f t h e p l a i n ti ff s i n j u r y on o r b e f o r e t h e s i x t y d a y s a f t e r t h e d a t e on w h i c h t h e i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r i s no ti f i e d o f t h e i n j u r y t h e i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r w a i v e s it s r i gh t t o c on t e s t c o m p e n s a b ilit y T h e i n iti a ti on o f p a y m e n t by a n i n s u r a n ce ca r d e r do e s no t a ff ec t t h e r i gh t o f t h e i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r t o c on ti nu e t o i nv e s ti gd t e o r d e ny t h e c o m p e n s a b ilit y o f a n i n j u r y du r i ng t h e s i x t y d a y p e r i od s ee T e x a s L a bo r C od e s ec ti on 409 c I n a d d i t i o n t h e p ee r r e v i e w d o e s n o t p r ov i d e a n y n e w l y d i s c ov e r e d e v i d e n ce t h a t w a s p e rf o r m e d a f t e r t h e s i x t y O d a y s t o c on t e s t c o m p e n s a b ilit y T h e p l a i n ti ff s u ff e r e d a ce r v i ca l s p i n e i n j u r y a nd t h e p ee r r e v i e w i s s p ec i f i c t o l u m b a r s p i n e c ond iti on s F u r t h e r i n acc o r d a n ce w it h s ec ti on 409 d a n i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r t h a t c on t e s t c o m p e n s a b ilit y o f t h e c l a i m e d i n j u r y a f t e r s i x t y d a y s on t h e b a s i s o f n e w l y d i s c o v e r e d

4 e v i d e n ce is li a b l e f o r a nd m u s t c on ti nu e t o pay, all b e n e f it s un til t h e Division h a s m a d e a f i nd i ng t h a t t h e e v i d e n ce c ou l d no t h a v e b ee n r ea s o n a b l y d i s c ov e r e d ea r li e r w h i c h n e v e r o cc u rr e d j s ec ti on 124.3(c)(2). 7. T h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d in no t r e v i e w i n g t h e e v i d e n ce t h a t c on t a i n e d g e n u i n e d i s pu t e s Dr. M a r ti n S t e i n e r’ s N a t u r e o f I n c i d e n t R e p o r t d a t e d O c t ob e r c on t a i n e d t h e slxty(60) d a y ti m e fr a m e t o c on t e s t c o m p e n s a b ilit y It i d e n ti f i e s t h e “ no ti f i ca ti o n o f f i r s t i n c o m e b e n e f it p a y m e n t d a t e d 3 a nd no ti ce o f d i s pu t e s i ss u e s d a t e d 5 w h i c h is in e x ce ss o f sbcty(60) d a y s M o r e ov e r in t h e d e f e nd a n t s m o ti on f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t und e r “BACKGROUNG”, t h e d e f e nd a n t acce p t e d t h e claim a s c o m p e n s a b l e a nd i n iti a t e d t e m po r a r y i n c o m e b e n e f it s (TIBs) on F e b r u a r y The i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r h a d kno w l e dg e a nd w a s no ti f i e d o f t h e injury on F e b r u a r y T h e r e f o r e t h e i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r w a i v e d its r i gh t s t o c o m p e n s a b ilit y w h e n t h e i n s u r a n ce ca r d e r s ub m itt e d a no ti ce o f d i s pu t e s t o t h e Division.

Ill. T h E CHARGE T h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d in r e f u s i ng t o r e v i e w t h e f o ll o w i ng i ss u e s T h e s e i s s u e s w e r e s u p p o r t e d by a n a ff i r m a ti v e w r i tt e n p l ea d i n g r a i s e d by e v i d e n ce a nd s hou l d h a v e b ee n p a r t o f t h e r e v i e w p r o ce ss ft is c l ea r a nd c on c l u s i v e t h e d e f e nd a n t [did no tj e s t a b li s h all e l e m e n t s o f its ca u s e o f ac ti on a s a m a tt e r o f l a w j T e x R. Civ. P. iGGa(c); s ee Williams v. Glash, 789 S.W.2d (r e x Nixon v. Mr. P r op e r t y M a n a g e m e n t S.W.2d (r e x J e t e r v. M c G r a w S.W.3d n il T a

5 A pp B ea u m on t p e t d e n i e d T o p r e v a il a nd pu t t h e bu r d e n on t h e non m ov a n t t o r a i s e a g e nu i n e i ss u e o f m a t e r i a l f ac t t h e m ov a n t m u s t c on c l u s i v e l y e s t a b li s h by p r op e r) s u mm a r y j udg m e n t e v i d e n ce a ll e ss e n ti a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e c l a i m MM P L t d v J on e s S W 2d 59 T e x

T h e w a s no e v i d e n ce t o s uppo r t t h e t r i a l c ou r t i n g r a n ti ng a s u mm a r y j u dg e m e n t T h e e v i d e n ce t h a t w a s a d m i tt e d i s i n a d m i ss a b l e b eca u s e t h i s w a s a t r i a l d e novo pu r s u a n t G ov e r n m e n t C od e T h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d i n t h e r u li ng a ll o w i ng d e f e nd a n t t o f il e i n a d m i ss a b l e e v i d e n ce I n acc o r d a n ce w it h G ov e r n m e n t C od e T R I A L D E NOVO R E V I E W a ) If t h e m a nn e r o f r e v i e w a u t ho r i ze d by l a w f o r t h e d ec i s i on i n a c on t e s t e d ca s e t h a t i s t h e s ub j ec t o f c o m p l a i n t i s by t r i a l d e novo t h e r e v i e w i ng c ou r t s h a ll t r y eac h i ss u e o f f ac t a nd l a w i n t h e m a nn e r t h a t a pp li e s t o o t h e r c i v il s u it s i n t h e s t a t e a s t hough t h e r e h a d no t b ee n a n i n t e r v e n i ng a g e n c y ac ti on o r d ec i c i s on bu t m a y no t a d m it i n e v i d e n ce t h e f ac t o f p r i o r s t a t e a g e n c y ac t I on o r t h e n a t u r e o f t h a t ac ti on e x ce p t t o t h e li m it e d e x t e n t n ece ss a r y t o s ho w c o m p l i a n ce w i t h s t a t u t o r y p r ov i s i on s t h a t v e s t j u r i s d i c ti on i n t h e c ou r t

V . W E I GH T O F T h E E V I D E N C E T h e t r i a l c ou r t e rr e d i n d e t e r m i n i ng t h e d e f e nd a n t s e v i d e n ce w a s acce p t a b l e i n t r i a l d e novo T h e e v i d e n ce p r e s e n t e d by P EE R R E V I E W by D r

6 P h illi p O s bo r n e do e s n t c o rr e l a t e t o t h e p l a i n ti ff s i n j u r y o f C e r v i ca l S p i n e I n j u r y a nd t h e E xp e r t W it n e ss M a r ti n S t e i n e r M D i s i rr e v a l a n t b eca u s e t h e i n s u r a n ce ca rr i e r w a i v e d it s r i gh t s t o c on t e s t t h e c o m p e n s a b ilit y o f t h e i n j u r y w it h i n t h e s bdy O d a y p e r i od a f t e r no ti f i ca ti on o f t h e i n j u r y M o r e ov e r t h e o cc u r e n ce a nd c ond iti on o f t h e i n j u r y a l a yp e r s on ca n d e t e r m i n e t h e w o r k i n j u r y T h e d e f e nd a n t h a s no t p r ov i d e d s u ff i c i e n t e v i d e n ce t o s uppo r t t h e t r i a l c ou r t s f i nd i ng f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t on a ll e l e m e n t s i n a n a ff i r m a ti v e p l ea d i ng s uppo r t e d w it h e v i d e n ce T h e e v i d e n ce t h a t w a s s u b m i tt e d t o s uppo r t a s u mm a r y j udg m e n t i s i n a d m i ss a b l e pu r s u a n t G ov e r n m e n t C od e T h e p l a i n ti ff e x e r c i s e d du e d ili g e n ce i n p r e p a r i ng f o r t r i a l a nd f a il u r e t o s ub m it s u mm a r y j udg m e n t e v i d e n ce w h e n t h e r e w a s no no ti ce o f h ea r i ng o r s ub m i ss i on d a t e o f a s u mm a r y j udg m e n t m o ti on p r ov i d e d by t h e c ou r t o r t h e d e f e nd a n t s a tt o r n e y

W H E R E F O R E , P l a i n ti ff r e qu e s t t h a t t h i s C ou r t s e t a s i d e t h e j udg m e n t i n t h i s ca u s e a nd o r d e r a n e w t r i a l

R e s p ec t f u ll y s ub m itt e d , j P r n s e 4 M e k a d6 r i ng D r . C e d a r H ill , T e x a s 75104 214418 - 9609

7

I N T h E D I S T R I C T C OU R T T R E N T S G R I FF I N

P l a i n ti ff

v

D e f e nd a n t

B E F O R E M E , t h e und e r s i gn e d N o t a r y P ub li c , on t h i s d a y p e r s on a ll y a pp ea r e d T r e n t S G r i ff i n S r w ho b e i ng by m e du l y s w o r n on h i s o a t h d e po s e d a nd s a i d

I a m T r e n t S G r i ff i n S r t h e p l a i n t i f a p r o s e l i t i g a n t i n t h e t h e a b ov e s t y l e d a nd nu m b e r e d ca u s e

I m a k e t h i s a ff i d a v it i n s uppo r t o f a m o ti on f o r n e w t h a i I n p r e p a r i ng t h i s ca u s e f o r t r i a l I m a d e t h e f o ll o w i ng i nv e s ti g a ti on a R e v i e w e d a nd f ound ca s e l a w t o d e t e r m i n e t h e p l a i n ti ff i s e n titl e d t o a n e w t r i a L

T h e e v i d e n ce s ub m itt e d t o t h e t h a i w u f t i s i n a d m i ss a b l e , 1 b . t h e r e f o r e j udg m e n t s hou l d b e s e t a s i d e a nd a n e w t h a i g r a n t e d t o t h e p l a i n ti ff c T h e p l a i n ti ff s ub m itt e d a n a ff i r m a ti v e p l ea d i ng on it s m e r it s w it h e v i d e n ce a nd t h e d e f e nd a n t d i d no t e s t a b li s h c ondu s i v e l y a ll e l e m e n t s o f it s ca u s e o f ac ti on a s a m a t e r o f l a w

d T h e p l a i n ti ff d i d no t r ece i v e no ti ce o f h ea r i ng o r s ub m i ss i on d a t e f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t m o ti on

a T h e p l a i n ti ff d i d no t r ece i v e a m o ti on f o r s u mm a r y j udg m e n t fr o m t h e d e f e nd a n t E x p e r t w i t n e ss i n t h e a b o v e s t y l e d ca s e a n d ca u s e n u m b e r i s n o t n ee d e d I n a ca s e t h a t ca n b e d ec i d e d by a l a yp e r s o & s kno w l e dg e o f a w o r k i n j u r y

f P ee r R e v i e w e v i d e n ce do e s no t c o rr e l a t e t o t h e p l a i n ti ff s ce r v i ca l i n j u r y w e i gh t o f t h e e v i d e n ce do e s n t s u ff i ce s u mm a r y j udg m e n t e v i d e n ce

g .

A ll s t a t e e v i d e n ce i s i n a d m i ss a b l e i n a t r i a l d e novo r e v i e w o f t h e h . p l a i n ti ff s w o r k i n j u r y

G n . S U B S CR I B E D AND S W O R N T O B E F O R E M E on Q S e p t e m b e r t o ce r ti f y w h i c h w it n e ss m y h a nd a nd o ff i c i a l s ea l d a y o f

P r i n t e d N a m e : 1 - t L !r t . a N ( t 2 I 71 i t S D W I NA LL ANH E P NAND EZ p M y C o mm I s E r e s F e b r u a r y O B a

N o t a r y N u m b e r . d

- 02 - / o 6 / 17

I ce r ti f y t h a t a t n i e c opy o f t h e a bov e M o ti on f o r N e w T h a i h a s t h i s d a y b ee n s e n t by ce r t f i e d m a il by d e po s iti ng f t e ndo s e d i n a po s t p a i d p r op e r l y a dd r e ss e d w r a pp e r i n a po s t o ff i ce o r o ff i c i a l d e po s it o r y und e r t h e ca r e a nd c u s t ody o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s P o s t a l S e r v i ce t o a tt o r n e y T odd R i c h a r d s T h e S il v e r a F i r m P r ov i d e n ce T o w e r s E a s t S p r i ng V a ll e y R o a d D a ll a s T e x a s a tt o r n e y o f r ec o r d f o r A m e r i ca n Z u r i c h I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny a t C o r po r a ti on S e r v i ce C o m p a ny E a s t S t r ee t f t A u s ti n T e x a s T r a v i s C oun t y T e x a s S I GN E D on S e p t e m b e r 5d I

1

I ce r ti f y t h a t a t r u e c opy of t h e a bov e M o ti on f o r A pp e ll a n t s Brief a nd A pp e ll a n t s Brief h a s b ee n s e n t by ce r t f i e d mail by d e po s iti ng it e n c l o s e d in a po s t p a i d p r op e r l y a dd r e ss e d w r a pp e r in a po s t o ff i ce o r official d e po s it o r y und e r t h e ca r e a nd c u s t ody of t h e U n it e d S t a t e s P o s t a l S e r v i ce t o a tt o r n e y T odd R i c h a r d s T h e Silvera Firm, P r ov i d e n ce T o w e r s East, Spring Valley Road, Dallas, T e x a s a tt o r n e y of r ec o r d f o r A m e r i ca n Zurich I n s u r a n ce C o m p a ny a t C o r po r a t i on Service C o m p a n y East 7th S t r ee t A u s ti n T e x a s Travis C oun t y Texas. SIGNED on M a r c h CMRR:

3 jt S. G rIff j / o s e