Ex Parte Moncrief

Tracy Moncrief appeals from a judgment of the Court of Civil Appeals affirming the denial of workers' compensation benefits. Moncrief worked as a manual laborer for Russell Corporation; he claimed to have sustained a back injury while on the job.

The issues are (1) whether the Court of Civil Appeals erred in affirming the trial court's denial of temporary total disability benefits to Moncrief during his convalescence following unauthorized surgery; and (2) whether the Court of Civil Appeals erred in affirming the trial court's holding that the employer did not have to pay unauthorized medical…