In the case concerning Jasper Water Works and Sewer Board, Inc. ("the employer") and Jerry G. Dunn ("the employee"), the employer appealed a judgment from the Walker Circuit Court which favored the employee. This judgment was based on the Alabama Workers' Compensation Act. Even though the jurisdictional issue wasn't raised by either party, this court recognized a potential lack of jurisdiction to oversee the appeal. The primary issue was that the circuit court's judgment indicated the employer should cover the medical expenses from the employee's work-related injury. However, it failed to specify the exact amount of said expenses.
Because the judgment did not determine a precise amount for past medical expenses, the court concluded it was nonfinal. A longstanding legal principle in Alabama is that an appeal can only be taken from a final judgment, one which concludes the case and decides all issues, especially damages with a specific amount. In this case, since the trial court did not determine the exact amount the employer owed for the employee's medical expenses, it did not render a final judgment. Thus, based on the precedence set in previous similar cases, such as Ex parte Baptist Health System, Inc., the appeal was dismissed.
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