Drake v. Norge Division, Borg-Warner Corp.

210 N.W.2d 131, 48 Mich. App. 88, 1973 Mich. App. LEXIS 700
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 27, 1973
DocketDocket 14064
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 210 N.W.2d 131 (Drake v. Norge Division, Borg-Warner Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Drake v. Norge Division, Borg-Warner Corp., 210 N.W.2d 131, 48 Mich. App. 88, 1973 Mich. App. LEXIS 700 (Mich. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinions

Bronson, P. J.

Clayton Brake suffered a heart attack on January 24, 1953. He was awarded 750 weeks of workmen’s compensation, pursuant to a finding of total disability, from defendant Norge Division, Borg-Warner Corporation, through June 23, 1967. On August 27, 1967, he filed a petition seeking differential benefits from defendant Second Injury Fund and additional benefits from both defendant Second Injury Fund and defendant Norge. He alleged total and permanent disability since 1953 due to the loss of industrial use of both arms and legs. The hearing referee denied Drake’s claim. Drake appealed to the Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board.1 The appeal board reversed the hearing referee and granted additional compensation until the date of Drake’s death to be paid from the Second Injury Fund and death benefits to be paid by defendant Norge. Defendant Second Injury Fund appeals on leave granted.

The appeal board found that "decedent lost the industrial use of his legs January 24, 1953”. This would place decedent within MCLA 418.361(2)(g); MSA 17.237(361)(2)(g).2 Plaintiff argues that this was merely a factual determination. Defendant argues that the appeal board applied an improper legal standard in determining total and permanent disability.

If this determination by the board were merely [91]*91a factual one, then we would not disturb it if there were "any evidence whatever” to support the determination. Thornton v Luria-Dumes Co-Venture, 347 Mich 160; 79 NW2d 457 (1956). Here, however, the board has relied heavily on the legal definition of "loss of industrial use” in Lockwood v Continental Motors Corp, 27 Mich App 597; 183 NW2d 807 (1970). We find no cases which have extended Lockwood to cover a heart attack injury. Therefore we are compelled to interpret the statuté upon which the board relied in its determination.

In Paulson v Muskegon Heights Tile Co, 371 Mich 312; 123 NW2d 715 (1963), the Michigan Supreme Court refused to read into this section any requirement that there be a direct injury to the legs. The plaintiff there had suffered an injury which resulted in urine escaping into the sinus cavities of his legs. This in turn prevented plaintiff from walking without pain. He was entitled to receive benefits for the industrial loss of both legs. At 371 Mich 319; 123 NW2d 719, the Court said:

"We construe the statute to mean that permanent and total loss of industrial , use, insofar as the facts in this case are concerned, is that leg-connected disabling pain associated primarily with the use of the legs, which is so severe as to make use of the legs in industry practically impossible.”

In Lockwood, supra, the plaintiff had suffered a hearing loss which resulted in vertigo when he used his legs. The Court reversed the appeal board, stating:

"It is enough that Lockwood suffers dizziness when he uses his legs and that because of that dizziness he cannot further use his legs in industry. The fact that he experiences dizziness and resulting loss of the use of his legs when he moves his arms or body extensively or is [92]*92exposed to noise does not gainsay the fact that he experiences his leg-disabling phenomenon when he uses his leg£. That he, perhaps less fortunately than Paul-son, is subjected to the disabling phenomenon by causes other than the use of his legs is hardly a good reason for depriving him of compensation which clearly would be payable if the disabling phenomenon manifested itself only when he used his legs.” 27 Mich App at 604; 183 NW2d at 810-811.

The Lockwood Court further stated:

"While industrial loss of use of the legs is not established by 'any infirmity’ which causes total disability, at least where, as here, as in Paulson, the infirmity is triggered by the use of the legs preventing their further use industrially, the worker has established the right to recover for total and permanent disability even though the infirmity is also triggered by other causes, eg., noise and other body movement.” 27 Mich App at 606-607; 183 NW2d at 812. (Emphasis added.)

There was testimony in the case at bar that plaintiff had a similar injury.

"A. Heart and legs. My legs got so bad one time — I can’t hardly bend them. They’re cold.
”Q. What happens to your legs?
"A. The blood, there ain’t no circulation.
* * *
”Q. How far can you walk?
'A. I don’t walk at all only just out to look around the pump and come back and set down.
”Q. About how many feet is that?
’A. 25, 30.
”Q. Why do you have to sit down?
"A. To get my breath.
”Q. Did you have any trouble with walking before you had your first heart attack?
”A. No. I worked over here to the Norge and I didn’t have no trouble there.”

[93]*93In a concurring opinion board member Storie states:

"The unrebutted evidence before us shows that it is the use of the limbs which causes the fast heart beats with its resulting shortness of breath and edema (swelling of the limbs).”

The problem with the board’s reliance on Lockwood is that the opinion itself distinguishes heart attack injuries in footnote 10:

"The Paulson and Lockwood cases are different from the case of the heart disease patient where the disease affects all functions and activities more or less in the same way and where there has been a general decline in bodily function.” 27 Mich App at 606; 183 NW2d at 812.

The appeal board specifically addressed this distinction:

"If they are different, they certainly are no less meritorious. Considering this case in the light of the intent of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, we are unable to accept this neat distinction and compensate one worker and in turn discriminate against the other. We find plaintiffs decedent lost the industrial use of his legs January 24, 1953.”

We agree with the appeal board that this is a meaningless distinction.3' The fact that plaintiff’s heart condition caused a "general decline in bodily function” certainly does not preclude him from showing that he has lost the industrial use of his [94]*94legs within the meaning of MCLA 418.361(2)(g). The injury was leg-related, as required by Paulson, in that walking caused the heart to beat faster and the resulting edema in the legs — which prevented their use. Plaintiff testified that his legs became cold and immovable. There was sufficient evidence in the record to support the board’s finding of fact that plaintiff had lost the industrial use of his legs as a consequence of the work-related heart attack.

Defendant cites language from Miller v Sullivan Milk Products, Inc, 385 Mich 659, 666; 189 NW2d 204, 207 (1971):

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Drake v. Norge Division, Borg-Warner Corp.
210 N.W.2d 131 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 1973)

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Bluebook (online)
210 N.W.2d 131, 48 Mich. App. 88, 1973 Mich. App. LEXIS 700, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/drake-v-norge-division-borg-warner-corp-michctapp-1973.