Farr v. Mid-Continent Lead & Zinc Co.

98 P.2d 437, 151 Kan. 51, 1940 Kan. LEXIS 76
CourtSupreme Court of Kansas
DecidedJanuary 27, 1940
DocketNo. 34,334
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 98 P.2d 437 (Farr v. Mid-Continent Lead & Zinc Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Farr v. Mid-Continent Lead & Zinc Co., 98 P.2d 437, 151 Kan. 51, 1940 Kan. LEXIS 76 (kan 1940).

Opinions

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Smith, J.:

This is a workmen’s compensation case. Judgment was for claimant. Defendant appeals.

[52]*52After the opinion reversing the judgment of the lower court was filed a rehearing was allowed. The appeal was reargued and submitted in December. This court adheres to the order of reversal. On account of the interest in the case among those who are interested in workmen’s compensation, and because there are some other cases the outcome of which depends on the outcome of this case, it will be reconsidered somewhat at length here.

The first question to be settled is the jurisdiction of the commission to set aside an award. Therefore, the facts bearing on that matter, which are not disputed, will be stated first.

The claimant was injured on July 31, 1937, when a rock rolled down a slope where he was working and hit him on the leg. Toward evening this injury developed a swollen condition. The next morning he was placed under the care of the company doctor. On August 5 he was put in bed in the hospital, where he remained until September 18, 1937. On September 18 he was returned to his home, where he remained in bed for two weeks. On one occasion one of the doctors at the hospital told him he would see the straw boss at the mine and see if he could not get him some light work. The doctor stated that the exercise would be good for him. The boss at the mine told him, however, that they had no light work. During this time the company doctor diagnosed the trouble of claimant as “inflammation of the lymphatics” of the left leg. On October 30, 1937, a joint petition and stipulation was filed with the commission. This petition recited that both parties were operating under the workmen’s compensation act; that respondent was a self-insurer, and that claimant met with a personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment with respondent. The petition then stated the diagnosis of the company doctor and gave his opinion that the disability of the workman would last for about three months, during which time he would be able to do light work. The stipulation then stated that the weekly rate of compensation to which claimant was entitled was $13.68; that all medical and hospital bills which had been incurred would be paid by respondent, and that the claimant had been paid eleven weeks’ compensation at the rate of $13.68 per week, or $150.48.

The parties agreed that the balance of compensation to claimant should be paid in a lump' sum of $150. The reason for the lump-sum payment was given in an affidavit by claimant wherein he stated that such a payment would be more beneficial to him than [53]*53the payment of a weekly compensation because by the investment of the $150 he could secure light work.

The stipulation then contained the following paragraph:

“The parties hereby waive notice and formal hearing herein and agree that the commissioner of workmen’s compensation may make and enter an award herein, based upon the facts as set forth, said award to be binding and of the same effect as if the facts had been testified to and adduced at a formal hearing (and that said settlement will be accepted in full settlement of all claims arising out of or connected with said injury) that the costs herein may be taxed and assessed to the respondent.”

This stipulation was signed by claimant and his attorney and by respondent, and was submitted to the commissioner of workmen’s compensation on November 2,1937. That officer made an award in which he recited the above facts, and in which it was provided as follows:

“6. That the parties agree the balance of compensation to claimant shall be paid in a lump sum of $150 in full settlement.
“7. The commissioner further finds the parties waive notice and formal hearing and agree that an award may be entered herein based upon the facts as set forth, said award to be binding and of the same effect as if the facts had been testified to and adduced at a formal hearing, and that said settlement will be accepted in full settlement of all claims arising out of or connected with said injuiy, and that the costs herein may be taxed and assessed to the respondent.
“The commissioner is of the opinion by reason of the foregoing stipulated facts that the claimant herein is entitled to compensation in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) in addition to the compensation heretofore paid, and that the respondent is liable to claimant for same. That in addition to such compensation the respondent, on behalf of claimant, shall pay all medical and hospital expenses incurred.
“Wherefore, award of compensation is hereby made in favor of the claimant, Virgil A. Farr, and against the respondent, Mid-Continent Lead & Zinc Company, a self-insurer, in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150), in addition to the compensation heretofore paid, and the agreement between the parties that the compensation awarded herein be paid in one lump sum is hereby approved.
“Further award is made that the respondent pay the medical and hospital expense incurred herein.”

On November 8, 1937, the receipt of claimant showing payment of the award of November 2, 1937, in full was filed with the commissioner. In this receipt the claimant acknowledged receipt of $300.48, which was the amount of the $150 provided for in the award, together with the amount paid prior to that time.

On June 6, 1938, counsel for claimant filed a letter with the com[54]*54mission, in which claimant asked that the settlement just referred to be set aside on the ground of fraud and mutual mistake.

Respondent appeared and asked that this application be dismissed on the ground that the commission had no jurisdiction. On the filing of this motion claimant filed a more detailed application to set the settlement aside. This application set out some details with which we are not concerned just now, and alleged that the company-doctor had told claimant that his injuries were only temporary, but that he was mistaken as to that; that both parties had relied on this statement of the doctor and had entered into the stipulation, when in truth and in fact claimant’s condition was a permanent injury to his left leg, which injury would continue for the balance of his life.

The application further recited the treatment claimant had received at the hospital; that he had followed the directions of the doctor who was employed by respondent; that the doctor had stated to claimant that he was practically cured, and that it would be only a matter of three months until he could go back to his work; that the company doctor made the above statements while acting for and on behalf of the respondent, and was authorized to represent them in examining claimant and discovering and disclosing to claimant his physical condition; that being induced by these statements claimant signed a paper of some kind presented by respondent; that at the time of his signing this stipulation claimant’s injuries were not temporary and it was not true that he had suffered no permanent injury, all of which was well known to respondent or with the exercise of reasonable care should have been known to it.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Redgate v. City of Wichita
836 P.2d 1205 (Court of Appeals of Kansas, 1992)
Everett v. Kansas Power Co.
165 P.2d 595 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1946)
Calonder v. F. H. Freeto Construction Co.
126 P.2d 209 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1942)
Bailey v. Skelly Oil Co.
110 P.2d 746 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1941)
Jennings v. Aylward Production Co.
98 P.2d 454 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1940)
Employers' Liability Assurance Corp. v. Matlock
98 P.2d 456 (Supreme Court of Kansas, 1940)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
98 P.2d 437, 151 Kan. 51, 1940 Kan. LEXIS 76, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/farr-v-mid-continent-lead-zinc-co-kan-1940.