March Newsletter

Celebrating 15 Years of Peterson White: A Legacy of Integrity, Innovation, and Client‑Centered Advocacy

March 2026 marks a significant milestone for Peterson White, the 15th anniversary of its founding in March 2011. From its inception, the firm has embodied a bold vision: to build a modern, client‑focused law practice grounded in honesty, efficiency, and exceptional legal expertise. Today, that vision continues to guide a thriving multi‑state practice known for excellence in insurance defense, workers’ compensation, liability defense, and more. 

A Foundation Built on Purpose and Partnership

Peterson White was established in March 2011, officially filing as a Tennessee domestic limited liability partnership. From day one, the founders aimed to create a law firm that prioritizes meaningful client relationships and practical, effective legal strategies. By embracing a culture defined by integrity and commitment, the firm quickly differentiated itself within Tennessee’s legal landscape. 

This vision is reflected in the firm’s continued growth and strong leadership, now spanning an accomplished roster of partners and attorneys serving clients across Tennessee and Kentucky. 

Leading Through Innovation

From the start, Peterson White has operated with an innovative mindset. The firm is recognized for integrating technology into its daily practice, including streamlined processes and a paperless office that help reduce costs and maximize efficiency. These forward‑thinking systems allow the team to manage complex files with agility while remaining highly responsive to client needs.

This commitment to innovation not only improves workflow behind the scenes, it enhances the overall client experience by ensuring speed, accuracy, and transparency at every stage of representation.

A Reputation for Excellence Across Key Practice Areas

The firm’s attorneys bring extensive experience and deep knowledge to a range of legal disciplines, including:

• Insurance Defense & Liability Defense

• Workers’ Compensation

• Employment Law

• General & Product Liability

• Estate Planning and Family Law

Clients consistently note the team’s professionalism, thoroughness, and unwavering dedication, qualities that have helped Peterson White build a respected and dependable reputation across Tennessee and Kentucky.

Client‑Centered Service at the Heart of the Firm

Across 15 years of growth, the firm has remained deeply committed to a foundational principle: putting clients first. This approach has shaped everything from communication practices to fee structures, ensuring that clients receive not only expert legal representation but also an experience grounded in trust, accessibility, and personalized attention. 

The firm’s belief in honest counsel and dependable service continues to resonate with clients, many of whom praise their attorneys’ integrity, professionalism, and dedication to achieving the best possible results. 

Looking Ahead: Building on a Strong Legacy

As Peterson White celebrates its 15th anniversary, it does so with gratitude for its clients, team members, partners, and community. The firm remains steadfast in its mission: to navigate complex legal challenges with integrity, experience, and innovation.

With 15 years behind them and a bright future ahead, Peterson White looks forward to continuing its service as a trusted advocate for clients throughout Tennessee and Kentucky.

Bench Buzz

From PPD to PTD? Not So Fast. Tennessee Court Shuts the Door in Oldham v. Freeman Webb 

What happens when an employee settles a workers’ compensation claim for permanent partial disability (PPD) and then later decides they should actually be permanently totally disabled (PTD) from the same injury?

In Oldham v. Freeman Webb Company Realtors (Tenn. 2026), the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Special Workers’ Compensation Appeals Panel delivers a clear answer: You can’t undo a PPD settlement to pursue PTD later. Period.

This case serves as a critical reminder for employers and insurers that settlements must mean finality, not a revolving door of new benefit demands.

A Golf Cart Accident, a Settlement, and a Second Attempt

John Oldham, a maintenance supervisor, fractured his right femur in a 2020 work accident. After reaching MMI with an 8% impairment rating, he entered a court‑approved PPD settlement with lifetime medical benefits on April 28, 2022. The agreement explicitly allowed him to seek only two types of additional relief after the initial compensation period:

• Increased PPD benefits under Tenn. Code Ann. § 50‑6‑207(3)(B), or

• Extraordinary relief under § 50‑6‑242(a) 

Neither option included permanent total disability benefits.

Nonetheless, when his compensation period expired, Oldham filed a petition seeking, among other things, permanent total disability. That set off a procedural marathon of mediations, dispute certifications, and a summary judgment motion by the employer.

The Core Legal Issue: Can an Employee Reopen a Settled PPD Claim to Seek PTD?

The courts analyzed the issue from every angle, statutory construction, contract interpretation, and prior case law and reached a uniform conclusion: No.

1. The Workers’ Compensation Act Simply Does Not Allow It

The Panel emphasized that workers’ compensation benefits are purely statutory, and courts cannot create remedies where none exist. 

Nothing in Tenn. Code Ann. § 50‑6‑207 provides an avenue for an employee already adjudicated permanently partially disabled to later seek PTD for the same injury. The law allows only:

• Increased PPD benefits, or

• Extraordinary relief
  But not PTD on top of a PPD award. 

Since Oldham had an 8% impairment rating, he wasn’t eligible for extraordinary relief anyway.

2. Contract Finality Matters

The settlement agreement, treated like any other contract, listed only two pathways for future benefits. PTD wasn’t one of them. Courts cannot enforce contractual rights that contradict the statute, nor can parties create remedies beyond what the Workers’ Compensation Act authorizes.

3. No Waiver by the Employer

Oldham argued the employer waived its defenses by not listing everything in the Dispute Certification Notice (DCN). The Panel disagreed, noting that the DCN process requires identifying disputed issues, not formal pleadings, and the employer consistently contested his eligibility for PTD. 

What About That Summary Judgment Timing Issue?

Oldham also challenged the trial court’s decision to hear the employer’s summary judgment motion on the morning of the compensation hearing.

The Panel’s response?
Essentially: Trial courts have broad discretion. Rule 56 imposes no strict timeline. Running motions on the courthouse steps may not be elegant, but it’s allowed. 

Why This Case Matters for Employers & Carriers

1. Settlements Mean Finality — And Courts Will Enforce It

This case reinforces that a court‑approved PPD settlement locks in the employee’s disability classification, absent specific statutory grounds to revisit it.

Employers and carriers can rely on the predictability and closure that a PPD settlement is intended to provide.

2. Employees Cannot Use Post‑Settlement Petitions to Transform PPD Into PTD

This decision eliminates the risk of employees attempting to “upgrade” their benefits long after a settlement has been finalized. That’s a major protection against escalating exposure.

3. Impairment Ratings Matter in Post‑Settlement Relief

Because extraordinary relief requires a minimum 10% impairment rating, employees with lower ratings cannot shoehorn themselves into PTD by recharacterizing old injuries.

Employers should continue ensuring accurate and well‑documented impairment assessments during settlement negotiations.

4. DCN Procedures Offer Flexibility for Employers

The Panel confirms that employers’ defenses in workers’ comp cases aren’t waived simply due to formatting or listing issues in DCNs; substance prevails over form.

Bottom Line

Oldham v. Freeman Webb is a firm declaration that Tennessee’s workers’ compensation system values statutory compliance, settlement finality, and predictability. Once an employee settles a claim for permanent partial disability, the door to permanent total disability benefits for that same injury is effectively closed.

For employers and carriers, the case is a reassuring shield against post‑settlement surprises, and a reminder that clear settlement language can prevent costly litigation down the line.

Tennessee Spotlight:

The Big Ears Festival returns to Knoxville March 26–29, 2026, bringing four days of music, film, and art to venues across downtown. The internationally known festival will feature over 250 performances and events at more than 20 venues, with major artists such as David Byrne, Robert Plant, Laurie Anderson, and Pat Metheny among the diverse lineup. Drawing more than 35,000 attendees, Big Ears blends genres from jazz and classical to indie, folk, and experimental music, making it one of the most unique cultural events in the Southeast. (link)

Kentucky Spotlight:

☘️ Lexington St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival

Downtown Lexington turns green for the annual Alltech Lexington St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival on March 14, 2026. The celebration features a lively parade, Irish music, dance performances, food vendors, and family-friendly festivities celebrating Irish heritage. It’s one of the city’s most festive spring traditions and draws thousands of visitors each year. (link)

Recipe for Justice

Slow Cooker Corned Beef

Serves 8

• 10 baby red potatoes, quartered

• 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into matchstick pieces

• 1 onion, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces

• 4 cups water

• 1 (4 pound) corned beef brisket with spice packet

• 6 ounces dark beer

• 1/2 head cabbage, coarsely chopped

1. Place potatoes, carrots, and onion into the bottom of a slow cooker; add water and place brisket on top of vegetables.

2. Pour beer over brisket; sprinkle over spices from the packet and cover.

3. Cook on Low for 8 hours; stir in cabbage and cook for 1 more hour

Historical Precedent

Tennessee and the 14th Amendment: The First State Back to the Union

In the years immediately following the Civil War, the United States faced a massive legal and constitutional challenge: how to reunite the country while defining the rights of millions of newly freed Americans. One of the most important legal milestones of that era was the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which established birthright citizenship and guaranteed equal protection under the law. Tennessee played a unique role in that moment, it became the first former Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union after ratifying the amendment in 1866.

At the time, Southern states were required by Congress to adopt the amendment as a condition for rejoining the United States government. Tennessee’s legislature voted to ratify the 14th Amendment on July 19, 1866, making it the first Confederate state to meet the requirement. Because of that vote, Tennessee was formally readmitted to the Union just a few days later on July 24, 1866, more than a year before most other Southern states completed the process.

The amendment itself would become one of the most powerful legal provisions in American history. Its guarantees of due process and equal protection have shaped thousands of court decisions over the last century and a half. From civil rights cases to modern constitutional challenges, many of the legal protections Americans rely on today trace back to the language adopted during Reconstruction—and to Tennessee’s early role in ratifying it.

More than 150 years later, the 14th Amendment remains a cornerstone of American law, influencing everything from voting rights and education cases to debates over citizenship and federal authority. Tennessee’s decision to ratify it in 1866 not only helped reunite the country, but also helped lay the legal foundation for many of the constitutional rights still argued in courtrooms today.

The Pawsecution Rests

This month’s pet is from Kitty Boyte

This is Knox, my grand dog, who is more mine than Miller’s. Miller brought him home from college where he spent his first year and a half in a fraternity house. He is absolutely rotten! He thinks we should have cold pizza and beer for breakfast every morning because that’s the way he grew up!

Need Guidance on Workers’ Compensation or Employment Law? We’re Here to Help.

If you have questions about workers’ compensation claims, workplace policies, or employment law matters in Tennessee or Kentucky, our experienced legal team is ready to assist. We’re committed to helping employers and carriers navigate complex regulations with clarity and confidence.

Give us a call, your peace of mind starts with a conversation. (855) 919-4124