Grudle v. State Accident Insurance Fund

479 P.2d 250, 4 Or. App. 326, 1971 Ore. App. LEXIS 899
Court of Appeals of Oregon·Decided January 7, 1971·Published·Cited by 10 cases

Opinions

FOLEY, J.

This appeal is taken by the State Accident Insurance Fund from a judgment of the Circuit Court for Clackamas County awarding the claimant-workman permanent partial disability equal to 50 per cent of complete loss of all five digits of his left hand. The workman suffered a partial loss by amputation of his left thumb and left index finger and also sustained [328] injury to his left middle finger while operating a power saw. The remaining two fingers of his left hand were uninjured, though it is undisputed that they suffered loss of effective opposition.

The appeal requires that we construe and apply certain portions of a statute, OES 656.214, which provides in its relevant sections as follows:

“Permanent partial disability. s» * * #
“ (2) When permanent partial disability results from an injury, the workman shall receive $55 for each degree stated against such disability as follows: ÍÍ# * * * *
“(b) For the loss of one forearm at or above the wrist joint, or complete loss of all five digits, 150 degrees, or a proportion thereof for losses less than a complete loss. *
“(j) For the loss of a thumb, 48 degrees, or a proportion thereof for losses less than a complete loss.
“(k) For the loss of a first finger, 24 degrees, or a proportion thereof for losses less than a complete loss; of a second finger, 22 degrees, or a proportion thereof for losses less than a complete loss; of a third finger, 10 degrees, or a proportion thereof for losses less than a complete loss; of a fourth finger, 6 degrees, or a proportion thereof for losses less than a complete loss.
“(3) * * * A proportionate loss of use may be allowed for an uninjured finger or thumb where there has been a loss of effective opposition.”

Claimant contends that the circuit court made a proper determination and award on the ground that, where a workman sustains loss to more than one digit of a hand, subsection (2) (b) of OES 656.214 applies. On [329] the other hand, the Fund argues that, since OKS 656.214 (2) (j) and (k) specifically provide for the loss of thumbs and fingers, those sections are the exclusive remedies in any case where fewer than all five digits of a hand are actually injured.

In support of his contention claimant urges, that the phrase “or a proportion thereof for losses less than a complete loss” in OKS 656.214 (2) (b) means a loss to fewer than “all five digits.” We cannot agree. Each one of subsections (2) (a) to (e) and (2)(j) and (k) contains this identical language following the designation of a particular body member and the maximum degree award allowed for loss of such member. Each subsection begins, as does (2) (b), with the words “For the loss of” followed by the name of the body member. However, subsection (2) (b) contains an additional provision which reads “or complete loss of all five digits.” (Emphasis supplied.) We interpret this single exception in the otherwise identical wording of these subsections to mean that the legislature contemplated an injury which severed or otherwise damaged each and every digit on a hand. The words “or a proportion thereof for losses less than a complete loss” refer to the degree of the injury, not the number of digits injured.

The original enactment from which OKS 656.214 (2) (b) derives, Oregon Laws 1313, ch 112, § 21(f), provided for the loss of a hand. Prior to its amendment in 1957, OKS 656.214 (2) (b) referred to the loss of a hand. In 1357 the word “hand” was deleted and the words “forearm” and “all five digits” were substituted. See Oregon Laws 1957, ch 449, § 1. Since [330]*3301913 there have been separate provisions for loss of thumbs and fingers. In light of this development, we are persuaded that under ORS 656.214 (2) (b) the loss of “all five digits” is equivalent to what was formerly the loss of a hand and that where fewer than five digits on one hand are injured compensation can be awarded only in accordance with ORS 656.214 (2) (j) and (k).

Numerous other jurisdictions view this problem in somewhat the same way that we do. Arthur Larson states in 2 Larson, Workmen’s Compensation Law 88.61-88.64, § 58.20 (1970), that:

“When, however, there has been a clean-cut loss of a scheduled member, with no complications, many jurisdictions hold that the schedule allowance for that member is exclusive. [Cases cited in footnote.] Under these holdings, simple loss of fingers is compensated strictly on the schedule value of the fingers, not on the basis of loss or partial loss of use of the hand [Cases cited in footnote.] * * *.”

Claimant suggests that the loss of effective opposition suffered by the two uninjured fingers of his left hand should be considered in making an award under ORS 656.214 (2) (b). We acknowledge that he has a valid claim to compensation for such a loss. ORS 656.214 (3) provides that

“* * * A proportionate loss of use may be allowed for an uninjured finger or thumb where there has been a loss of effective opposition.”

However, such a loss to any one or more otherwise uninjured digits of a hand, where the remaining digits are actually injured, does not bring the total loss to one affecting “all five digits” within the meaning of subsection (2) (b) of ORS 656.214. To accept claimant’s interpretation would require us to hold that [331] where a workman suffers the loss of a thumb only, he. would be entitled to compensation under ORS 656.214 (2)(b) because each of his four uninjured fingers would have sustained a loss of effective opposition. See Graham v. State Ind. Acc. Com., 164 Or 626, 102 P2d 927 (1940).

The hearing officer was of the opinion that when more than one digit of a hand is injured the workman suffers a disability of the hand greater than the arithmetical total of the injuries to each digit. The circuit court apparently agreed with the hearing officer. In Graham v. State Ind. Acc. Com., supra, the Oregon Supreme Court cited with approval the following language from Greseck v. Farmers Union Elevator Co., 123 Neb 755, 243 NW 898 (1932):

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Grudle v. State Accident Insurance Fund, 479 P.2d 250, 4 Or. App. 326, 1971 Ore. App. LEXIS 899 (Or. Ct. App. 1971).

479 P.2d 250 (Grudle v. State Accident Insurance Fund) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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Grudle v. State Accident Insurance Fund
479 P.2d 250 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1971)