Chaka Beville, a correctional officer at the Tuscaloosa County jail, suffered an injury to her left wrist after a fall on December 23, 2014. After conventional treatments proved ineffective, she underwent surgery and physical therapy. In November 2015, she sued Tuscaloosa County, seeking workers' compensation. On June 28, 2017, the trial court judged that Beville had a 60% injury to her left upper extremity and awarded her $29,304. Tuscaloosa County, the defendant, appealed this decision.
The appellate review established that findings of fact by a trial court would not be reversed if supported by substantial evidence. The trial showcased Beville's consistent wrist pain post-accident, her use of various pain medications, and her inability to perform certain duties due to the injury. In October 2014, a functional-capacities evaluation (FCE) suggested she could not perform her correctional officer duties. While Dr. John P. Buckley, Beville's physician, gave a 4% physical-impairment rating to her wrist, the trial court found the impact of her injury more severe. The county argued that the court did not honor stipulations regarding Dr. Buckley's assessment. However, the appellate court upheld the trial court's judgment, affirming Beville's compensation.