CHAD GRAVES v. SOUTHALL ADVENTURES, LLC, ET AL. - Articles

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CHAD GRAVES v. SOUTHALL ADVENTURES, LLC, ET AL.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Apr 23, 2026

Court: TN Workers Comp Appeals Board

Attorneys 1: Brady W. Allen and Nicholas J. Peterson, Knoxville, Tennessee, for the employer-appellant, Southall Adventures, LLC.

Attorneys 2: Adam C. Brock-Dagnan, Nashville, Tennessee, for the employee-appellee, Chad Graves.

Judge(s): WEAVER

In this second interlocutory appeal, the employer questions the trial court’s denial of its request for a continuance of an expedited hearing, as well as its award of medical benefits to the employee. The employee suffered multiple injuries when he fell at work. The employer provided medical treatment initially but later denied some of the recommended medical care. Following the first expedited hearing, the trial court awarded medical benefits for several conditions, including an injury to the employee’s left knee, and the employer appealed. On appeal, we reversed the trial court’s award of medical benefits for the left knee as the record did not contain sufficient evidence that the knee condition was primarily caused by the work injury. On remand, the employee filed a new request for expedited hearing, again seeking medical treatment of his left knee, which he supported with new medical evidence. The employer sought to schedule a medical examination with its own expert prior to the expedited hearing. Due to ongoing discussions between the parties’ attorneys regarding scheduling the exam, the employer filed a request for a continuance. The trial court denied the continuance on the day of the expedited hearing and issued an order awarding medical benefits. The employer has appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we reverse the trial court’s denial of the requested continuance and remand the case.

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