Freund v. Allen

184 N.E. 421, 98 Ind. App. 660, 1933 Ind. App. LEXIS 38
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 24, 1933
DocketNo. 14,825.
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 184 N.E. 421 (Freund v. Allen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Freund v. Allen, 184 N.E. 421, 98 Ind. App. 660, 1933 Ind. App. LEXIS 38 (Ind. Ct. App. 1933).

Opinion

Wood, J.

The appellee, Chester E. Allen, filed his claim for compensation with the Industrial Board making the appellants, William C. Freund, his wife, Stella Freund, and Edward G. Eikman, administrator of the estate of George 0. Johnson, deceased, defendants. Several partial hearings were had before single members of the board at different times. Finally, on February 19, 1932, a single member of the board made an order awarding compensation against all three of the appellants. The appellants Freund and Freund filed an application for a review of the award by the full Indus *662 trial Board. On September 12, 1932, a majority of the full Industrial Board made an order awarding the appellee Chester E. Allen compensation against the Freunds and Eikman as administrator of the estate of George 0. Johnson, deceased. Appellants have appealed from this award. In their assignment of errors they allege twenty-three causes for reversal. The first error assigned, that the award of the full Industrial Board is contrary to law, is sufficient to present all alleged errors sought to be presented by the record. Section 61, Indiana Workmen’s Compensation Act, Acts 1929, p. 536, ch. 172, §40-1512, Burns 1933, §16437, Baldwin’s 1934; Frazer v. McMillan (1932), 94 Ind. App. 431, 179 N. E. 564; Clark v. Woods (1933), 95 Ind. App. 530, 183 N. E. 804. It is not necessary to set out or consider the other errors assigned for reversal.

On June 10, 1930, the appellee Chester E. Allen and one George O. Johnson were painting on a building owned by the appellants, Freund and Freund, as tenants by the entireties. While thus engaged the scaffold on which Allen and Johnson were standing gave way, precipitating both of them to the ground, resulting in the instant death of Johnson, and injuring Allen. Neither Allen nor Johnson carried compensation insurance under “The Indiana Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1929,” Acts 1929, p. 536, ch. 172. The appellants Freund and Freund did not require a certificate from either of them previous to undertaking the job of painting, as required by Sec. 14 of said act.

On January 9,1933, in response to a writ of certiorari issued from this court, the Industrial Board filed a corrected award. That portion of the finding of fact and award necessary to be set out for the purpose of this opinion is as follows: “The full Industrial Board of Indiana having heard the argument of counsel and having examined the briefs submitted by respective counsel *663 and having reviewed the evidence and being thereby duly advised in the premises, a majority of the members of said board find:

“That on and prior to June 10, 1930, one George 0. Johnson entered into a contract with the defendants William C. Freund and Stella Freund whereby the said George 0. Johnson was to paint the premises of the defendants William C. and Stella Freund, in the city of Indianapolis, for a consideration; that the said George 0. Johnson employed the plaintiff Chester E. Allen at an average weekly wage of $30.00, to assist and perform labor in the painting of said premises pursuant to said contract with the defendants Freunds; that on June 10, 1930, the plaintiff, while engaged in said employment, received a personal injury by reason of an accident arising out of and in the course of his said employment by the said George O. Johnson, of which accidental injury the said George O. Johnson, and the defendants Freunds, had knowledge but did not furnish medical attention.

“That as a result of said accidental injury the plaintiff was totally disabled at the time of said injury and which disability continued and plaintiff was totally disabled at the time of this original hearing on November 27th, 1931.

“That since the date of said injury the said George 0. Johnson has died and one Edward G. Eikman, the duly qualified administrator of his estate, is made a party defendant herein.

“Said members further find that at the time of the accidental injury to the plaintiff, the defendant George 0. Johnson, had failed to comply with sections 5, 68 and 69 of the Indiana Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1929, and at the time of making agreement with said George 0. Johnson, the said William C. Freund and Stella Freund, had failed to exact from said George 0. *664 Johnson a certificate from the Industrial Board of Indiana, showing that said defendant, George 0. Johnson, had complied with sections 5, 68 and 69 of the Indiana Workmen’s Compensation Act of 1929 as the defendants William C. Freund and Stella Freund was required to do by Section 14 of said act.

Award

“It is, therefore, considered and ordered by a majority of the members of the Industrial Board of Indiana that plaintiff be and is hereby awarded as against the defendant, Edward G. Eikman, Administrator of the estate of George 0. Johnson, deceased, and the defendants, William C. Freund and Stella Freund, compensation at the rate of $16.50 per week, beginning on the 17th day of June, 1930, said compensation payments to continue so long as the plaintiff is totally disabled as the result of said accidental injury.

“It is further ordered that the resources of the defendant, Edward G. Eikman, Administrator of the Estate of George 0. Johnson, be exhausted before recourse is taken upon the resources of the defendants, William C. Freund and Stella Freund.

“It is further ordered that the defendants pay the necessary and reasonable medical, surgical, hospital and nurse expenses for the first thirty days following date of said injury.

“It is further ordered that all deferrred payments of compensation be brought up to date and paid in cash in a lump sum.”

Appellants complain of the action of the Industrial Board in correcting its finding of facts by inserting therein the average weekly wage of the appellee Allen. Section 45 of the above act gives to the board the power to make this correction.

*665 *664 Appellants contend that the evidence is not sufficient to sustain the finding of facts made by the Industrial *665 Board. We have carefully and diligently examined all the evidence submitted at the various hearings before single members of the board and before the full board. There is competent evidence to sustain the finding of facts of the majority of the full board in every respect, except as to the appellant Stella Freund. There is no evidence in the record to sustain the finding of facts upon which the award against her is based. Where the evidence is conflicting, as in this case, except as to the appellant Stella Freund, concerning whom there is no evidence whatsoever, connecting her with the transaction out of which this controversy arose, and the Industrial Board has made a finding of facts, such finding is binding upon this court, and it will not weigh the evidence. Wagner v. Wooley (1926), 85 Ind. App. 259, 152 N. E. 856; Moore v. Copeland (1928), 88 Ind. App. 54, 163 N. E. 235.

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Bluebook (online)
184 N.E. 421, 98 Ind. App. 660, 1933 Ind. App. LEXIS 38, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/freund-v-allen-indctapp-1933.