Bentley's Case

217 Mass. 79

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: February 27, 1914
• Status: Published

Opinion

Sheldon, J.

This case must be decided upon the facts found by the Industrial Accident Board, in its review of the report of the committee of arbitration. Sts. of 1911, c. 751, Part III, §§ 5,10, 16, and 1912, c. 571, §§ 10, 13,15. The Industrial Accident Board adopted the findings of the committee of arbitration, and found some further facts. Its findings were made after a hearing of the parties, on the statements of counsel and the evidence before the full board. The findings of fact thus made are not open to revision as such. Diaz’s Case, ante, 36. Donovan’s Case, ante, 76. Nor, as the evidence is not reported, can it be contended that as matter of law they were not warranted.

The wife and child of Bentley were both living apart from him at the time of his death. Accordingly neither of them was "conclusively presumed” to have been wholly dependent upon him for support. The question must be determined upon evidence of the fact as it existed at the time of the injury. St. 1911, c. 751, Part II, § 7. The Industrial Accident Board has found that the wife was not dependent upon Bentley for support, but that the child was partially so. On these findings, the conclusion that the wife was entitled to no compensation and that the child was entitled to receive the sum awarded to her, was correct.

The decree of the Superior Court

* must be affirmed.

So ordered.

Made by Pierce, J.