Fivash v. State

11 Ill. Ct. Cl. 143, 1939 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 114
Court of Claims of Illinois·Decided November 14, 1939·No. No. 3199·Published

Opinion

Mr. Justice Yantis

delivered the opinion of the court:

Claimant herein was employed by the Division of Highways, Department of Public Works and Buildings, State of Illinois. On December 8, 1936 while engaged as a rodman in a party of engineers’ on State Aid Route No. 20 in Williamson County, Illinois, he slipped on some icy ground and fell on his right hip causing an intertrochanteric fracture of the right femur. There was some delay in procuring an ambulance but as soon as possible he was taken to the Herrin Hospital where first-aid, medical and surgical attention was furnished to him by the State and he was there placed under the care of Dr. W. R. Gardiner of Herrin, Illinois, at the request of the Highway Department. Dr. Gardiner took an X-ray picture of .the injured pelvis which disclosed the fracture, with some displacement of the ends of the femur. The fractures were reduced and weights attached to the limb, and after about two weeks a cast was applied to the limb,.but this had to be removed because the claimant developed pneumonia. The patient remained in the hospital until February,. 1937, and was then removed to his home at Marion, Illinois, where he continued under the treatment of Dr. Alonzo N. Baker, of that city. His condition became worse and on February 18, 1937 the State Highway Department caused him to be removed to St. Andrews Hospital at Murphysboro where he was placed under the care of Dr. R. S. Sabine who discovered that the patient’s right foot was beginning to drop and to pull inward. On March 2, 1937 he was returned to his home at Marion under the care of Dr. Baker. During all of this period he had continued to run temperature and could not move except by the use of two crutches. On May 1, 1937, under instructions from the State Highway Department at Carbondale, claimant returned to work and a “make-shift job” was provided for him. He was supposed to draw gasoline and make out tickets at the Carbondale Highway Office, buf was unable to do any substantial work because it was necessary for him to use his crutches at all times and apparently the only work he did during that month was a few clerical duties. On May 29, 1937 Dr. Baker found that gangrene had developed on the right foot. The latter was red and discolored.. The patient was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago on orders from Mr. Lingle of the Highway Office, and was there placed under the care of Dr. Thomas. Applications were given and the foot treated to reduce the swelling, and according to Mr. Fivash’s' testimony the development of the gangrenous condition was stopped. On June 9, 1937 he was sent to the Y. M. 0. A. Hotel in Chicago by the State, but was unable to carry out the medical instructions because of lack of facilities and being unable to wait on himself. Mr. Pelzman from the Research Laboratory called on him each day and treated him with light rays and massage, and patient called at the Research Hospital twice to see Dr. Thomas. Claimant returned to his home July 23, 1937 under the care of Dr. Baker who also prescribed massage of the injured limb. On August 11, 1937 claimant was again taken to Chicago by the Highway Department, where he stayed in the Y. M. C. A. Hotel under the care of Mr. Pelzman who resumed his former treatments under the direction of Dr. Thomas. The latter ordered a brace applied to the lower part of the injured limb in an effort to prevent the foot-drop. Patient again returned home August 31, 1937; went back to Chicago in September to St. Luke’s Hospital under the care of Dr. Thomas where he received physiotherapy treatment. He returned home November 1, 1937 and was sent back to the Y. M. C. A. in Chicago from December 8th to December 21st, 1937, and received treatments similar to those previously given.

At the hearing claimant testified that there was no improvement in his leg during his Chicago treatments; that he still had to use crutches; that his left arm was gradually becoming lame; and that his lungs were troubling him during all of this time. That when he complained of his lungs in Chicago he was told that he was being, treated there for the injured leg and if he needed treatment for other conditions he would have to go elsewhere for same.

The record shows that on December 29, 1937 claimant was notified by M. K. Lingle that Dr. Thomas wanted him to return to complete the treatments for his leg, and that transportation and board and lodging at the Y. M. C. A. in Chicago had been arranged for. On January 3, 1938 Mr. Fivash notified Mr. Lingle as follows:

“It will be impossible for me to return to Chicago today for further treatment, as per your request, due to the fact that to date I have failed to see any material improvement in my foot and leg, and I am badly in need of other medical attention which has been denied me. in Chicago, as Dr. Thomas has told me that all he was getting paid for was to treat my foot; therefore, it will be necessary for me to remain at home to obtain this attention. Also due to the fact that my compensation has been cut down to such a small amount, it is impossible for me to stay in Chicago and provide anything for my family at home. Thanking you for all past favors, I am, Yours very Resp.”

On January 7% 1938 Mr. Lingle .notified Mr. Fivash that if he failed to avail himself of the further treatment offered by Dr. Thomas, such action would serve as a definite refusal of treatment and that the State might avail itself of the provisions of the Compensation Law of Illinois to suspend compensation when an employee refuses to submit to such medical, surgical or hospital treatment as offered by the employer.

Mr. Fivash made no reply and did not return to Chicago for any further care.

All expenses for ambulance service, medical, surgical, x-ray, railroad, street car, bus, hotels, nursing, and appliances from the date of the injury December 8, 1936 through December 31, 1939, so far as is known to the Highway Department have been paid by the State in a total amount of $1,501.63.

Since he discontinued the treatments in Chicago his limb has continued to have a drop-foot condition, and at a physical examination in open court before the members thereof in April, 1939, the right foot was found to. be in a diseased, swollen, inflamed state, and drainage in the bottom of the foot that indicated a continuing gangrenous condition. There was some movement from the hip but in a highly reduced measure. Claimant could not use the foot but of necessity walked with a crutch, and he still wore a brace extending from below the knee and fastened underneath the ball of the foot for the purpose apparently of aiding in the correction of the drop-foot condition. The continued wearing of this brace with any binding effect therefrom doubtless tends to restrict circulation in the foot.

Extensive evidence appears in the record from the testimony of the various doctors and others regarding the injury suffered by Mr. Fivash and the later lameness of his left arm, and the resultant effects from the pneumonia which he had in the early period of his hospital treatment. Counsel for claimant contend that the combination of these conditions h(as resulted in his becoming permanently and totally disabled, and that he is entitled to compensation on such basis in the sum of $4,450.00, less compensation paid, with an annual pension thereafter during his lifetime equal to eight (8) per cent of said sum of $4,450.00.

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Fivash v. State, 11 Ill. Ct. Cl. 143, 1939 Ill. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 114 (Ill. Super. Ct. 1939).

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