Bearden v. Industrial Commission

483 P.2d 568, 14 Ariz. App. 336, 1971 Ariz. App. LEXIS 570
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedApril 12, 1971
Docket1 CA-IC 499
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 483 P.2d 568 (Bearden v. Industrial Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bearden v. Industrial Commission, 483 P.2d 568, 14 Ariz. App. 336, 1971 Ariz. App. LEXIS 570 (Ark. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinions

[337]*337STEVENS, Presiding Judge.

The basic issue before this Court is whether the felony conviction of the petitioner, the injured workman in the matter now before us, resulting in his incarceration in the Arizona State Prison for a term of years, had the effect of suspending his rights to compensation and accident benefits arising out of his industrial accident for the period of his confinement.

The file is a voluminous file and we will set forth only briefly those pertinent dates which relate to the problem now before us. The petitioner sustained a compensable industrial injury on 26 June 1964. He received medical attention on two occasions prior to his arrest for two felonies, neither of which carried a maximum permissible penalty of life imprisonment. He was arrested on either the 12th or the 15th of July 1964, the evidence being conflicting as to the exact date of his arrest. The petitioner remained in confinement in the Maricopa County Jail pending his being adjudged guilty of the two offenses and the pronouncement of the sentences in relation thereto. The petitioner entered the Arizona State Prison on or about 27 January 1965 and there remained in confinement until he was released upon the expiration of his sentences on 21 October 1969. During the period of his legal custody he received some medical attention, the record indicating that the medical attention which he received was not of the same quality which he probably would have received had he not been in confinement.

There is data in the file indicating an average monthly wage in excess of $200. The Commission fixed the petitioner’s average monthly wage in the sum of $200. At the time of his injury A.R.S. § 23-1041, subsec. F was in effect, a statutory provision placing a $200 a month floor on the average monthly wage. For a discussion of this section during the period that it was in force see Stevens v. Industrial Commission of Arizona, 11 Ariz.App. 1, 461 P.2d 177 (1969), and Diaz v. Industrial Commission of Arizona, 11 Ariz.App. 580, 466 P.2d 799 (1970). We are not informed as to whether the Commission utilized that statutory provision in fixing the average monthly wage. After the petitioner’s release from confinement he gave testimony indicating that the sum of $200 could be low in relation to a proper computation of his average monthly wage.

During the period of the petitioner’s incarceration awards were entered. In each instance no award became final. After his release and on 12 March 1970 an award was entered. The award was the subject of a writ of certiorari addressed ti this Court, being our case number 1 CA-IC 451. By order of this Court entered on 29 April 1970, based upon a stipulation of counsel, the file was returned to The Industrial Commission for further proceedings. Thereafter the award of 19 May 1970 was entered and it is the last dated award which is now before this Court for review. Except for the final paragraph which contains the 30-day clause, we quote the award in, toto.

“Heretofore on March 12, 1970, this Commission entered Decision Upon Hearing and Findings and Award for Temporary Disability.
Subsequent thereto a Writ of Certiorari was filed with the Court of Appeals, following which a Stipulation was entered into by all interested parties to remand the matter to the Industrial Commission of Arizona for further review and decision.
This Commission having reconsidered the file, evidence and all reports now issues. Order Rescinding Decision Upon Hearing and Findings and Award for Temporary Disability and Decision Upon Hearing and Findings and Award as follows r
FINDINGS
1. That the above-named applicant on June 26, 1964 sustained a personal injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment.
2. That at the time of said accident said applicant was employed in the State of [338]*338Arizona by the above-named defendant employer who was insured against liability for the payment of accident benefits and compensation under said law by the above-named defendant insurance carrier.
3. That said personal injury entitled said applicant to accident benefits (medical) and compensation as indicated.
4. The applicant still requires medical treatment as to his left foot condition which is not stationary.
5. The applicant should be restored to temporary disability status and is entitled to full compensation benefits from the date of injury, less those benefits which have been previously paid; except applicant is not entitled to any compensation benefits or medical benefits while incarcerated in the State penitentiary.
•6. That said applicant had no persons dependent upon him for support at the time of said injury.
7. That the average monthly wage of said applicant at the time of said personal injury was the sum of $200.00.
8. That the applicant’s reflex dystrophy of the left foot is related to the industrial accident of June 1964.
9. That the applicant has no other permanent physical or mental disability resulting from the industrial accident of June 1964.
AWARD
Award is hereby made payable to said applicant by the above-named defendant insurance carrier as follows;
1. That said applicant is entitled to medical benefits as set forth in Findings No. 3 and No. 4.
2. That said applicant is entitled to compensation benefits as set forth in Findings No. 3.
3. The applicant should be restored to temporary disability status and is entitled to full compensation benefits from the date of injury, less those benefits which have been previously paid; except applicant is not entitled to any compensation benefits or medical benefits while incarcerated in the State penitentiary.
IT IS ORDERED that the Decision Upon Hearing and Findings and Award for Temporary Disability entered herein on the 12th day of March, 1970, be, and the same is hereby rescinded.”

Three of The Industrial Commissioners approved the 19 May 1970 award and one Commissioner disapproved the award. A review of the file discloses that the majority shared the view expressed in a notation in the file as follows:

“Civil rights suspended while in prison — • No comp, during that time.”

Whereas the minority did not share that view.

STATUTORY BACKGROUND

A brief review of some of the constitutional and statutory background may prove beneficial. In 1925 the Arizona Legislature proposed a workmen’s compensation amendment to the Arizona Constitution. This amendment was approved by a vote of the people; it became effective on 2 November 1925 and is now § 8 of Article 18 of our constitution, A.R.S. The same Legislature adopted a Workmen’s Compensation Act.

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Bearden v. Industrial Commission
483 P.2d 568 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1971)

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Bluebook (online)
483 P.2d 568, 14 Ariz. App. 336, 1971 Ariz. App. LEXIS 570, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bearden-v-industrial-commission-arizctapp-1971.