Appeal pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 7A-30(2) from the decision of a divided panel of the Court of Appeals, 150 N.C.App. 266, 563 S.E.2d 62 (2002), affirming an opinion and award entered by the North Carolina Industrial Commission on 7 March 2001. Heard in the Supreme Court 4 December 2002.

        Grandy & Martin, PA, by Charles William Grandy, Charlotte, for plaintiff-appellee.

        Alala Mullen Holland & Cooper, P.A., by H. Randolph Sumner and Jesse V. Bone, Jr., Gastonia, for defendant-appellants.

        PER CURIAM.

        For the reasons stated in the dissenting opinion, the decision of the Court of Appeals is reversed and the case is remanded to the Court of Appeals for further remand to the North Carolina Industrial Commission for proceedings not inconsistent with the dissenting opinion.

        REVERSED AND REMANDED.

        Justice BRADY did not participate in the consideration or decision of this case.