The opinion
FILED
Jul 08, 2025
11:30 AM(CT)
TENNESSEE COURT OF
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
CLAIMS
TENNESSEE BUREAU OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
IN THE COURT OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION CLAIMS
AT MEMPHIS
DEANDRE MILES, ) Docket No.: 2023-08-8556
Employee, )
v. )
NIKE INC. FOOTWEAR, ) State File No.: 19676-2023
Employer, )
And )
OLD REPUBLIC INS. CO., ) Judge Shaterra R. Marion
Carrier. )
)
________________________________________________________________________
EXPEDITED HEARING ORDER GRANTING BENEFITS
IN PART
The Court held an expedited hearing on July 1, 2025, in which Mr. Miles requested
treatment with a new authorized physician, temporary disability benefits, and payment of
unauthorized medical bills. Nike argued that Mr. Miles is not entitled to a new physician
but could return to his authorized treating physician. Nike also argued he is not entitled to
temporary disability benefits because the treating physician returned him to full duty.
Additionally, he did not provide proof that would allow payment for his unauthorized
medical bills. 1
For the reasons below, the Court holds that Mr. Miles is not likely to show at a
hearing on the merits that he is entitled to a new physician, to temporary disability benefits,
or to payment of unauthorized medical bills. However, because his medical benefits have
not been terminated, he can return to his authorized treating physician for any reasonable
and necessary treatment related to his work injury.
Motion to Compel
The day before the expedited hearing, Mr. Miles filed a motion to compel Nike to
produce all signed medical documents and to bring them to the hearing. He did not send
1
Mr. Miles also sought additional awards that were not within this Court’s authority to grant, including
repayment of paid time off and an award for pain and suffering.
discovery requests to Nike before filing the motion, nor did he show evidence of a good-
faith attempt to resolve any discovery dispute.
Nike, for its part, argued that it already sent all the medical records in its possession
to Mr. Miles in February.
The Court denies Mr. Miles’s motion because he did not send discovery requests to
Nike, did not make a good-faith attempt to resolve any dispute without the motion, and
because Nike already sent the requested information to Mr. Miles.
Evidentiary Ruling
Mr. Miles filed a collective exhibit of text messages and emails with Nike
representatives and the third-party administrator. Nike objected to the admissibility of these
items as hearsay. However, it failed to show that the Nike representatives and the third-
party administrator were not agents or servants of a party opponent.
Therefore, the Court overrules the objection as an admission by a party
opponent made in a representative capacity under Rule 803(1.2)(A) of the Tennessee Rules
of Evidence and admits the collective exhibit into evidence as exhibit seven.
History of Claim
On March 11, 2023, Mr. Miles injured his back after his forklift malfunctioned. He
selected Dr. Sam Murrell from a panel.
Dr. Murrell ordered multiple CT scans and MRIs, which showed no acute injury, a
chronic small annular tear, and evidence of nodal disease. He did not relate either the
annular tear or the nodal disease to Mr. Miles’s work, so he released Mr. Miles at maximum
medical improvement for his work-related injury with no impairment. Dr. Murrell stated
that he “had little more to offer from an orthopedic standpoint” and that he could not
identify a structural abnormality that would be causing Mr. Miles’s pain.
After being released, Mr. Miles went to an unauthorized chiropractor. He testified
that the chiropractor found that one of his legs had compression and was shorter than the
other.
Mr. Miles also testified that he is still in pain and remains on medical leave for this
injury. He does not want to return to Dr. Murrell because he does not believe Dr. Murrell
fully explained the MRI or offered other treatment options, such as care by a neurologist
or chiropractor.
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
Mr. Miles has the burden of proving he is likely to prevail at a hearing on the merits
on his claim for benefits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(6) (2024).
The law requires an injured employee “to accept the medical benefits” provided by
the employer, which includes a panel of “three or more independent reputable physicians.
. . from which the employee shall select one to be the treating physician.” Tenn. Code Ann.
§ 50-6-204(a)(3)(A)(i). Once selected, that physician is the authorized treating physician
until the physician declines to continue treating the employee. Limberakis v. Pro-Tech Sec.,
Inc., 2017 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 53, at *8-10 (Sept. 12, 2017). The employer
may also voluntarily provide a new panel of physicians.
Neither situation allowing for the appointment of a new treating physician occurred
in his case. Dr. Murrell placed Mr. Miles at maximum medical improvement, but he has
not declined to see him. Additionally, Nike has not voluntarily provided a new panel.
In support of his position, Mr. Miles testified that he does not want to return to Dr.
Murrell because he does not believe that Dr. Murrell gave him all the available information
or explored all the treatment options. While this may be true, it does not entitle Mr. Miles
to a new doctor because Dr. Murrell has not declined to see him.
By law, the circumstances allowing for a change of authorized physician are narrow.
As the Appeals Board held, “[u]nless a court terminates an employee’s entitlement to
medical benefits or approves a settlement in which the parties reach a compromise on the
issue of future medical benefits, an injured worker remains entitled to reasonable and
necessary medical treatment causally-related to the work injury.” Id. at *7
The parties here have not agreed to alteration of future medical benefits or a change
in authorized treating physicians. Under these circumstances, Mr. Miles’s rights to
reasonable and necessary treatment of his work injury rest in returning to authorized
physician Dr. Murrell.
Turning now to Mr. Miles’s claim to temporary disability benefits, he must prove
(1) he became disabled from working due to a compensable injury; (2) a causal connection
between his injury and his inability to work; and (3) his period of disability. For temporary
partial disability benefits, he must show that his treating physician returned him to work
with restrictions that Nike either could not or would not accommodate. Jones v. Crencor
Leasing and Sales, 2015 TN Wrk. Comp. App. Bd. LEXIS 48, at *7, 8 (Dec. 11, 2015).
Mr. Miles did not meet this burden. He testified that he is still on medical leave for
his injury, but he offered no medical proof on the extent or duration of disability. The only
medical proof he offered is Dr. Murrell returning Mr. Miles to work with no restrictions.
Based on that evidence, Mr. Miles is not likely at this time to prevail in a final hearing on
a claim for temporary disability benefits.
Mr. Miles also sought to have his unauthorized medical bills paid by the employer.
However, he did not provide the bills or any proof that would relate the bills to his need
for authorized medical treatment. For that reason, this request is also denied.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED as follows:
1. Mr. Miles’s request for a new authorized treating physician is denied, as is his
request for payment of bills for unauthorized treatment.
2. Mr. Miles’s claim for temporary disability benefits is denied.
3. Mr. Miles is allowed to return to his authorized treating physician, Dr. Murrell, for
any reasonable and medical treatment of his work injury.
4. The Court sets a status conference for September 22, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. Central
Time. The parties must call (866) 943-0014 to participate. Failure to call may result
in a determination of the issues without the party’s participation.
5. Unless an interlocutory appeal of the Expedited Hearing Order is filed, compliance
with this Order must occur no later than seven business days from the date of entry
of this Order as required by Tennessee Code Annotated section 50-6-239(d)(3). The
Employer must submit confirmation of compliance with this Order to the Bureau by
email to WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov no later than the seventh business day
after entry of this Order. Failure to submit confirmation within seven business days
may result in a penalty assessment for non-compliance. For questions regarding
compliance, contact the Workers’ Compensation Compliance Unit via email at
WCCompliance.Program@tn.gov.
ENTERED July 8, 2025.
________________________________________
Judge Shaterra R. Marion
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
APPENDIX
Exhibits:
1. Medical Records – OrthoSouth
2. First Report of Injury
3. Wage Statement
4. [For Identification Only] Medical Records – James Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
5. MRI
6. Recording of Dr. Murrell Office Visit
7. Text Messages and Emails Submitted by Mr. Miles
8. Affidavit of Mr. Miles
9. [For Identification Only] Additional James Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Letters
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that a copy of this Order was sent as indicated on July 8, 2025.
Name Regular Email Service sent to:
DeAndre Miles, X X 1283 Saxon Avenue,
Employee Memphis, TN 38106
drefreshmuzik@gmail.com
Vickie Moffett Cruzen, X vmoffettcruzen@swlawpllc.com
Employer’s Attorney
_____________________________________
Penny Shrum, Court Clerk
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims
WC.CourtClerk@tn.gov
Right to Appeal:
If you disagree with the Court’s Order, you may appeal to the Workers’ Compensation
Appeals Board. To do so, you must:
1. Complete the enclosed form entitled “Notice of Appeal” and file it with the Clerk of the
Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims before the expiration of the deadline.
¾ If the order being appealed is “expedited” (also called “interlocutory”), or if the
order does not dispose of the case in its entirety, the notice of appeal must be filed
within seven (7) business days of the date the order was filed.
¾ If the order being appealed is a “Compensation Order,” or if it resolves all issues
in the case, the notice of appeal must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days of
the date the Compensation Order was filed.
When filing the Notice of Appeal, you must serve a copy on the opposing party (or attorney,
if represented).
2. You must pay, via check, money order, or credit card, a $75.00 filing fee within ten calendar
days after filing the Notice of Appeal. Payments can be made in-person at any Bureau office
or by U.S. mail, hand-delivery, or other delivery service. In the alternative, you may file an
Affidavit of Indigency (form available on the Bureau’s website or any Bureau office)
seeking a waiver of the filing fee. You must file the fully-completed Affidavit of Indigency
within ten calendar days of filing the Notice of Appeal. Failure to timely pay the filing
fee or file the Affidavit of Indigency will result in dismissal of your appeal.
3. You are responsible for ensuring a complete record is presented on appeal. If no court
reporter was present at the hearing, you may request from the Court Clerk the audio
recording of the hearing for a $25.00 fee. If you choose to submit a transcript as part of your
appeal, which the Appeals Board has emphasized is important for a meaningful review of
the case, a licensed court reporter must prepare the transcript, and you must file it with the
Court Clerk. The Court Clerk will prepare the record for submission to the Appeals Board,
and you will receive notice once it has been submitted. For deadlines related to the filing of
transcripts, statements of the evidence, and briefs on appeal, see the applicable rules on the
Bureau’s website at https://www.tn.gov/wcappealsboard. (Click the “Read Rules” button.)
4. After the Workers’ Compensation Judge approves the record and the Court Clerk transmits
it to the Appeals Board, a docketing notice will be sent to the parties.
If neither party timely files an appeal with the Appeals Board, the Court Order
becomes enforceable. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(d)(3) (expedited/interlocutory
orders) and Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-6-239(c)(7) (compensation orders).
For self-represented litigants: Help from an Ombudsman is available at 800-332-2667.
NOTICE OF APPEAL
Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
www.tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/
wc.courtclerk@tn.gov | 1-800-332-2667
Docket No.: ________________________
State File No.: ______________________
Date of Injury: _____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Employee
v.
___________________________________________________________________________
Employer
Notice is given that ____________________________________________________________________
[List name(s) of all appealing party(ies). Use separate sheet if necessary.]
appeals the following order(s) of the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims to the
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board;ĐŚĞĐŬŽŶĞŽƌŵŽƌĞĂƉƉůŝĐĂďůĞďŽdžĞƐĂŶĚŝŶĐůƵĚĞƚŚĞĚĂƚĞĨŝůĞͲ
ƐƚĂŵƉĞĚŽŶƚŚĞĨŝƌƐƚƉĂŐĞŽĨƚŚĞŽƌĚĞƌ;ƐͿďĞŝŶŐĂƉƉĞĂůĞĚͿ͗
ප Expedited Hearing Order filed on _______________ ප Motion Order filed on ___________________
ප Compensation Order filed on__________________ ප Other Order filed on_____________________
issued by Judge _________________________________________________________________________.
Statement of the Issues on Appeal
Provide a short and plain statement of the issues on appeal or basis for relief on appeal:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Parties
Appellant(s) (Requesting Party): _________________________________________ ܆Employer ܆Employee
Address: ________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________
Email: __________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: ______________________________________________ BPR#: _______________________
Attorney’s Email: ______________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellant *
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Employee Name: _______________________________________ Docket No.: _____________________ Date of Inj.: _______________
Appellee(s) (Opposing Party): ___________________________________________ ܆Employer ܆Employee
Appellee’s Address: ______________________________________________ Phone: ____________________
Email: _________________________________________________________
Attorney’s Name: _____________________________________________ BPR#: ________________________
Attorney’s Email: _____________________________________________ Phone: _______________________
Attorney’s Address: _________________________________________________________________________
* Attach an additional sheet for each additional Appellee *
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, _____________________________________________________________, certify that I have forwarded a
true and exact copy of this Notice of Appeal by First Class mail, postage prepaid, or in any manner as described
in Tennessee Compilation Rules & Regulations, Chapter 0800-02-21, to all parties and/or their attorneys in this
case on this the __________ day of ___________________________________, 20 ____.
______________________________________________
[Signature of appellant or attorney for appellant]
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