Cherdron Const. Co. v. Simpkins

214 P. 593, 61 Utah 493, 1923 Utah LEXIS 34
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedApril 10, 1923
DocketNo. 3928
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 214 P. 593 (Cherdron Const. Co. v. Simpkins) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cherdron Const. Co. v. Simpkins, 214 P. 593, 61 Utah 493, 1923 Utah LEXIS 34 (Utah 1923).

Opinion

THURMAN, J.

Certiorari to review an award of compensation by tbe [494]*494Industrial Commission of Utab to one David Simpkins for an injury alleged to be within the Industrial Act (Comp. Laws 1917, §§ 3061-3165). The Commission found that the applicant, Simpkins, was an employe of the plaintiff construction company, which had in its employ three or more workmen, and was insured by the plaintiff United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company. It also found that Simp-kins was being paid the sum of $4 per day, working 5y2 days a week. The Commission then found as follows:

“That on the 22d day of July, 1922, at about 11 o’clock a. m., the applicant, with another employé, was wheeling concrete up a 13 per cent, grade in the construction of the Lafayette school at Salt Lake City, in a two-wheeled cart weighing an aggregate of about 1,100 or 1,200 pounds loaded, when about halfway up the incline with this load the applicant slipped, and in his endeavor to hold the cart from backiag down the incline applicant experienced a peculiar sensation, became weak and trembling. He did not realize what had happened, stood still for a few minutes after dumping his load with the assistance of others, and came down the incline, but could not make any more trips. That the applicant suffered as a result of said strain and overexertion, a mitral heart lesion. That at noon the applicant was obliged to discontinue his employment and go home, following which he telephoned Dr. Hanchett about the accident, and was advised by the doctor to call at his office, which he did the following Saturday, July 29, 1922. The applicant remained at home until the day following his accident, when he telephoned the employer that he was unable to report for work. On July 24 the applicant returned to work, fearing if he did not do so he would be discharged. He was given light work in the way of pulling nails, with the exception of once or twice he was asked to assist in scraping sand with a scraper for short periods. The applicant worked at this light employment intermittently, being obliged t.o lay off occasionally on account of the condition of his heart, from July 24th to August 10th, on which latter date, while shoveling dirt for a trench where the bank had caved in, the applicant collapsed. Dr. Hanchett was called to the place of his employment and attended the applicant, after which he was taken home, and has been temporarily totally disabled since then up to the date of hearing, with the probability of continued disability. That prior to July 22, 1922, the applicant was strong and healthy, and very active.”

From the foregoing findings the Commission concluded that the ease was within the Industrial Act, and that the [495]*495applicant, Simpkins, on the 22d day of Jnly, 1922, was injured by reason of an accident arising out of or in the course of his employment, and made its award accordingly.

The sole question submitted for our determination is: Did the Commission exceed its jurisdiction in determining that the injury complained of was the result of an accident, within the meaning of the Utah Industrial Act? It is a mixed question of law and fact, involving the necessity of determining whether the evidence supports the findings and whether the findings warrant the conclusion.

The testimony of the applicant himself tends to show: That on the 22d day of July, 1922, he was in the employment of the plaintiff construction company, and was working on the Lafayette School building in Salt Lake City. That about 11 o’clock a. m. on said day he was engaged with another laborer in wheeling concrete from the bin up a steep incline to the east wall of the building; that when they reached a point within .7 or 8 ' feet of the top where the concrete was to be dumped he “kind of slipped,” and when he slipped “the ear turned kind of sideways,” and his companion stopped, and the car stopped, also. That other boys on the wall pulled the cart up. When he stopped a peculiar feeling came over him — a tingling sensation. He had never had anything like it before in his life. He went home at noon, and remained until the following day, when he returned, but could not work. He was afraid of being discharged, and returned again the next day, when they gave him a light job, pulling nails.

The testimony of the applicant further shows that he worked intermittently on light jobs from then on until the 10th of August. Some days he would “lay off.” On the 10th of August he was throwing dirt from a shovel along with other men until near quitting time, when he asked his boss to let him off, as he was “all in.” The boss told him he had done nothing that day, and to keep going; “it wouldn’t be much longer.” He then worked 10 or 15 minutes longer, when his son came. He asked the boss to let his son take the shovel and let applicant off; that he [496]*496didn’t want overtime; that he couldn’t stand the work. The boss said, “Well if that is the way yon feel, yon better quit and go home.” He dropped the shovel and started off to check in. The night watch saw him, and asked him what was the matter, and if he needed help. He did not answer, bnt seemed exhausted. He was helped down to the office. He seemed to lose his memory as to just what happened. He felt the same feeling as on the first day, bnt on that day it didn’t “weaken him down.”

Dr. Hanchett testified he attended applicant on July 29th, one week after the alleged accident. At that time applicant showed weakness, apparently from the heart, and told the doctor that he had a sudden collapse. The doctor thought he told applicant he found no leakage — no organic trouble. He thought the injury ’was due to overexertion. The applicant had always been hale and hearty. Later, on the 10th day of August, the doctor visited him again, and found the heart in bad condition. A mitral heart lesion usually comes from poison irritating the valves of the heart, but it may come from overexertion as well. The doctor did not recall finding any valvular trouble on his first visit. His conclusion that the injury was caused by overexertion was based on the fact that applicant was well before, and in strenuous work became exhausted. The doctor said he had every reason to believe applicant was all right up to that time. Dr. Hanchett had been applicant’s family physician for many years.

Other witnesses also testified to the physical condition of applicant prior to the alleged accident as that of a strong, able-bodied man. The evidence is undisputed that he was at least physically equal to the average able-bodied man, capable of doing hard manual labor prior to the happening of the injury. The load he was wheeling on the 22d day of July would weigh between 1,100 and 1,200 pounds, including the cart. The applicant has been totally disabled ever since August 10, 1922.

It was stipulated that the findings of Dr. Murphy, a witness for plaintiffs, might be submitted in writing after he [497]*497had. examined the applicant. < The examination was had, and Dr. Murphy submitted the following findings:

“Mr. Simpkins, 45 years old, has done hard labor most of his life. He gives a history of having had compound fracture of left humerus; otherwise no severe accident. Has had none of the diseases which as a rule account for valvular cardiac trouble, such as tonsilitis, rheumatism, scarlet fever, or any of the drastic diseases. On July 22d, 1922, while working for the Cherdron Construction Company, at the Lafayette School, shortly after 11 a.

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214 P. 593, 61 Utah 493, 1923 Utah LEXIS 34, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cherdron-const-co-v-simpkins-utah-1923.