KATHY M. GOAD v. CAPSTONE LOGISTICS, LLC, ET AL. - Articles

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KATHY M. GOAD v. CAPSTONE LOGISTICS, LLC, ET AL.

Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jul 21, 2026

Court: TN Workers Comp Appeals Board

Attorneys 1: Ryan A. Mirian, Nashville, Tennessee, for the employer, Capstone Logistics, LLC.

Attorneys 2: R. Steven Waldron, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for the employee, Kathy M. Goad.

Judge(s): GODKIN

Both the employee and the employer take issue with the trial court’s order in this interlocutory appeal. The employee injured her back at work, and the employer provided certain workers’ compensation benefits, including authorized medical care. The employer later declined to approve a surgery recommended by the authorized provider after that physician opined that her need for the surgery was not primarily related to her work injury and placed her at maximum medical improvement for her work-related condition. The employee sought unauthorized treatment from another provider, who opined that her work accident was primarily responsible for the advancement of her pre-existing condition and the need for surgery. After an expedited hearing, the trial court issued an order finding that the employee’s expert medical proof on medical causation was sufficient to overcome the statutory presumption afforded to the authorized provider and ordered treatment, including surgery as recommended, with the authorized provider. However, the court denied the employee’s request for additional temporary disability benefits, finding that she had been placed at maximum medical improvement and had presented no proof that this determination was premature or incorrect. Both parties have appealed. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the trial court’s order in all respects and remand the case.

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