MICHAEL VANDERFORD, DECEASED, BY SABRINA VANDERFORD, GUARDIAN OF MINOR DEPENDENTS v. E.S. DOCKERY COMPANY, ET AL. - Articles

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MICHAEL VANDERFORD, DECEASED, BY SABRINA VANDERFORD, GUARDIAN OF MINOR DEPENDENTS v. E.S. DOCKERY COMPANY, ET AL.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Dec 5, 2025

Court: TN Workers Comp Appeals Board

Attorneys 1: Jeffrey G. Foster, Nashville, Tennessee, for the employer-appellant, E.S. Dockery Company.

Attorneys 2: Brad C. Burnette, Clinton, Tennessee, for the appellee, Ms. Vanderford, as guardian of minor dependents.

Judge(s): GODKIN

In this compensation appeal, the employer asserts the trial court erred in concluding that the decedent’s death was caused primarily by a work-related heart attack given evidence of his significant preexisting heart disease. Following a compensation hearing, the court considered the conflicting testimony of two medical experts and concluded that Ms. Vanderford’s expert’s opinion should be afforded greater weight, thereby resulting in the award of death benefits. The court also determined that, in addition to the decedent’s biological son, his former stepdaughter is a dependent eligible to receive death benefits. The employer has appealed. Upon careful review of the record and the arguments of counsel, we affirm the trial court’s compensation order and certify it as final.

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