TN Sup Crt: No Benefits Where One Lung and Smoker

The Supreme Court of Tennessee Special Workers' Compensation Appeals Panel affirmed a judgment denying benefits for lung-related occupational disease to an employee with one lung and a history of chronic smoking. In Plemons v. Union Carbide Corp., No. E2004-01019-WC-R3-CV, 02/17/2005, Plemons was employed by various contractors from 1954-1985. From 1954-57 Plemons was a machinist and was exposed to uranium, beryllium, lead and nickel, and from 1957-77 Plemons was an inspector and breathed in beryllium. In 1977, Plemons' left lung was removed, up until which time he smoked at least half a p...