By Judge Brian Addington, Gray Did the tune just pop in your head? It’s the title of a 1985 song from the band Alabama that reached number one on the country charts. The song pays homage to all the workers behind the scenes who get things done in America. One part of the song talks … Continue reading 40 Hour Week (For a Livin’)
Category: Hon. Brian Addington
Mark Your Calendars
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray You're cordially invited to an open house commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Gray office of the Bureau of Workers Compensation. The celebration will take place on March 1, 2023, from 10:30 to noon Eastern time. Light refreshments will be served. Click here to get a little background information. Just … Continue reading Mark Your Calendars
How Things Have Changed
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I came to work for the Workers’ Compensation Division is Kingsport in 2008. I was hired as a workers’ compensation specialist 4, mediating cases before they could go to court. As time passed, the workers’ compensation specialist 4 job expanded from handling my own cases and mediations, to signing off … Continue reading How Things Have Changed
Presumptions in Tennessee Workers’ Compensation
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray History buffs like me will remember the words of H.M. Stanley: “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.” And, anyone who watches movies or television can likely complete this sentence: A criminal defendant is “presumed ______ until _______.” Or if someone disappears, how many years until they’re presumed dead? We have many presumptions … Continue reading Presumptions in Tennessee Workers’ Compensation
Hello, Is it Me You’re Looking For?
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray No, I’m not Lionel Richie. Just your local workers’ compensation judge. I used to see many of you often, when we had settlements in person, but we’ve had telephone settlements for over a year now. Which leads to me wonder why we still have problems connecting on the phone. Here … Continue reading Hello, Is it Me You’re Looking For?
Anything Can Happen
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I’ve always liked golf, although I hardly ever play. When I became an attorney, I really tried to get into golf, thinking it would be a thing that an attorney would do with friends on a Friday afternoon. But I was wrong, at least for me. My grandparents on my … Continue reading Anything Can Happen
In Re Butter
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I’ve met people who were astounded when I told them I’m a judge. Just the other day, my wife and I were eating lunch with a few other couples, including the daughter of a famous professional football player. She actually did a doubletake and said “No” twice when I told … Continue reading In Re Butter
What’s Your Story?
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I love telling stories, whether they’re real or made up. I found great pleasure in creating stories for my son when he was little. Often, it didn’t have to be very serious or exciting. One of his favorites was about him bouncing a ball. He wanted me to tell it … Continue reading What’s Your Story?
“I Play One on TV”
By Judge Brian Addngton, Gray If you’re Gen X or older, you likely remember the Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup commercial’s famous line, “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.” Judge Brian Addington The actor in that commercial was Peter Bergman, who played Dr. Cliff Warner on “All My Children,” an ABC … Continue reading “I Play One on TV”
Gray Hosts Girls Scouts
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray It was a pleasure to host Girl Scout Troop 320 at the Bureau's office in Gray on Nov. 13. Seven scouts attended along with one supportive brother and six parents. I gave them a tour of the Courtroom and the mediation offices, making sure to follow social-distancing guidelines. The topic … Continue reading Gray Hosts Girls Scouts
Remembering Those Who Died at Work
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray Wow, April 28th came and passed, and nothing really seemed to be going on because of the COVID-19 mess we are in right now. But, did you know that April 28th is actually a day of remembrance? In the United States, it is called Workers’ Memorial Day. In Canada, it’s … Continue reading Remembering Those Who Died at Work
Objectively considering injuries
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray When I was little, I was often told I was a “tough kid.” This usually occurred after a fall, a hard game of pick-up football, or a fight. I noticed early on that my buddies appreciated someone who could get up, dust himself off, and get back at it. I … Continue reading Objectively considering injuries
Leap day can be dangerous
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray One of Tennessee’s most talented actresses was Dinah Shore. Born in Winchester, Tennessee, in 1916 and a Vanderbilt graduate, she went on to fame as a singer and radio, TV and film actress. She was also a huge supporter of the LPGA and was named an honorary member of the … Continue reading Leap day can be dangerous
Gray welcomes students for Workers’ Comp 101
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray It was a pleasure to host the Tennessee Avenue Christian Academy BETA club at the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Gray location on January 22nd. Eight students and two teachers attended the first “Workers’ Comp 101” class. What is that, you ask? It’s a high school/college level one-hour introduction to workers’ … Continue reading Gray welcomes students for Workers’ Comp 101
Rest in Peace, Scheduled Members
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I went out for lunch the other day and heard an '80s song that I had not heard in years, Head to Toe, by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. That song really got in my head, and I came back to the office thinking about it. Eventually, it led me … Continue reading Rest in Peace, Scheduled Members
What’s the Difference?
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray I recently took my son and members of his cross-country team on a running and history trip. The boys ran two 5K races, one in Virginia and the other in Pennsylvania. They had a good time running, and we enjoyed some relaxing days at the pool. We also toured a … Continue reading What’s the Difference?
Of love and other poisons
By Judge Brian Addington, Kingsport It was 1751, and Francis Blandy was suspicious. As a loving father, Blandy suspected that Captain William Henry Cranstoun, his daughter's fiance, was already married. When Cranstoun left England to return to Scotland to have his previous marriage annulled, Blandy felt better about the situation. But as the months passed, … Continue reading Of love and other poisons
Put Me in, Coach–I’m ready to play (Oh, Wait, I Can’t)
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray Well, we’re in summer now, and what time is it? Baseball time. By the way, I’m a Braves fan; isn’t everybody? There’s just something about baseball as the perfect way to get folks together on a hot summer evening. Speaking of baseball, playing it in college remains one of my … Continue reading Put Me in, Coach–I’m ready to play (Oh, Wait, I Can’t)
The Loveable, Stubborn Mule
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray When I was a little boy, we had a friend who owned a farm. We visited often because the farm was on our way to church. One day, the farmer asked my brother if he wanted to ride his mule. My brother agreed, so the farmer brought out the mule. … Continue reading The Loveable, Stubborn Mule
More Than a Name on a Wall
By Judge Brian Addington, Gray In November 1982, the United States completed construction of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. My Dad is a Vietnam veteran, and he was very interested in the construction of the memorial, as he had friends die in the war. Although quite controversial at first, the site has become … Continue reading More Than a Name on a Wall
From the Bench 