Modine Manufacturing Co. v. Patterson

OPINION

DAUGHTREY, Justice.

The only issue raised in this workers’ compensation appeal is whether a new provision in T.C.A. § 50-6-229(a) should be given retrospective application. A 1992 amendment to that statute permits the trial court to commute attorney fees in a workers’ compensation case to payment in a lump sum, even though the disability award to the injured worker is not commuted.

This amendment was passed on May 5, 1992, as part of the Workers’ Compensation Reform Act of 1992, which took effect on July 1, 1992. See 1992 Tenn.Pub.Acts, eh. 900, § 25. The Reform Act is silent on the…