Harry Tidd Construction Co. v. Mead

1933 OK 64, 20 P.2d 909, 163 Okla. 64, 1933 Okla. LEXIS 622
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedFebruary 7, 1933
Docket23736
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 1933 OK 64 (Harry Tidd Construction Co. v. Mead) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Harry Tidd Construction Co. v. Mead, 1933 OK 64, 20 P.2d 909, 163 Okla. 64, 1933 Okla. LEXIS 622 (Okla. 1933).

Opinion

RILEY. O. J.

This is an original action wherein the petitioners seek a review of the proceedings and the vacation of an award of the State Industrial Commission.

The accidental injury out of which the claim for compensation arose occurred August 6, 1922. On that date Roy H. Mead, while in the employ of Harry Tidd, suffered an accidental injury to his left leg resulting in what is termed osteomyelitis of the left femur. Several operations were performed without success, and about October S, 1924, the left leg was amputated above the knee. This was what was termed an emergency operation, and another opei'ation became necessary, which was performed about January, 1925.

About December 14, 1925, a final award wás made for (lie loss of the leg and compensation was paid therefor for 175 weeks, at $8.06 per week. Stipulation and receipt were approved February 27, 1926.

On January 7, 1930, claimant filed with the State Industrial Commission a claim for condensation. Therein he claimed compensation for temporary total disability for (he period from August 6, 1922, to April 15, 1925, in addition to the 175 weeks’ compensation (heretofore paid for the loss of the leg, and further alleged:

“The claimant says further that as a direct and proximate result of such injury, and on or about the first of April, 1929, this claimant began to suffer pains, swelling and {(¡enderness in his left arm, which pains, swelling and tenderness was accompanied by high fever, and that on or about the 15th day of June. 1929, it became necessary for this claimant to again submit to an operation for (he removal of dead hone *65 from his left humerus, and that as a result of the last mentioned operation, occasioned by the circumstances above set forth, this claimant was further temporarily totally disabled from performing any manual or mechanical labor from the 15th day of June, 1929, to the 12th day of September, 1929.”

I-Ie also claimed compensation for temporary total disability on account thereof for the period between June 15, 1929, and September 17. 1929, and for such further period as the evidence might show he was temporarily totally disabled. He also claimed for medical and surgical expenses incurred by reason of certain operations performed upon him after those above mentioned. Notice was served and the respondent insurance carrier filed a response in which it pleaded res adjudicata as to the claim for compensation for temporary total disability for the period between August 7, T9’22i, and April 15, 1925, and denied any disability subsequent to April 21st, by or resulting from the accidental injury of August 7. 1922.

Hearing was had, resulting in an award of 300 weeks’ temporary total disability from and after August 12, 1922, in addition to the 175 weeks theretofore paid.

Proceedings were commenced in this court to review this award, resulting in a reversal thereof; not on the merits, but on account of inability of the petitioner therein to procure a transcript of the evidence and the cause was remanded to the Commission for a new hearing. I-larry Tidd Const. Co. v. Mead et ah, 156 Okla. 144, 9 P. (2d) 91T Rehearing was had resulting in a finding of employment of claimant by petitioner herein in a hazardous occupation and the accidental injury received August 7, 1922. arising out of and in the course of such employment, and the finding that such injury resulted in acute osteomyelitis, by reason of which it became necessary to amputate the left leg; claimant’s daily wage was $2.80: that claimant had never been paid anything on account of temporary total disability ; that claimant had been paid 175 weeks’ compensation at $8.08 per week, or a total sum of $1,414, for the loss of the leg. and :

“That on January 7, 1930, claimant filed his motion to reopen his case on a change of condition, and the evidence shows that claimant is permanently and totally disabled from the performance of manual labor.”

Compensation was awarded as and for permanent total disability, 500 weeks at $8-08 per week, less the 175 weeks theretofore paid, computed from June 3, 1931, and all reasonable medical and doctor bills incurred by reason of said accidental injury.

Briefly, the evidence shows that shortly after the accidental injury of August 6, 1922, in which claimant bruised his left leg above the knee, osteomyelitis developed; that osteomyelitis is an acute inflammation of the bone and bone marrow; the attack was localized in the left femur; that as a result it later became necessary to amputate the leg; that the disease mentioned is caused by germs or infectious organisms carried in the blood stream until they lodge in some portion of the body, where they set up an infection; that it ' may remain in the blood of the patient for a long time and may at any time become active in any part of the body; that about June, 1925, claimant’s left shoulder became infected, where an abscess formed, caused by the original injury, according to the medical testimony, and rendering it necessary to perform an operation; again in April, 1929, his left shoulder became infected. In June of the same year an examination disclosed that pus was forming in the humerus of the left arm, probably aggravated by the use of a crutch, but traceable primarily to the condition of the leg according to the medical testimony. An operation was performed and the infected part of the bone was removed. Claimant was in the hospital until August 6, 1929.

On September 30, 1930, the shoulder again became inflamed and swollen, but no operation was performed. Again on March 7, 1931, a large swelling appeared about the shoulder. Claimant was advised to rest and not to use the crutch. An X-ray picture was taken June 7, 1929, showing dead hone in the upper end of the humerus; another X-ray picture taken April 14, 1932, showed a diseased- condition of the upper end of the left humerus.

As to claimant’s condition at the time of the hearing, Hr. McBride testified in part;

“Well, he has, from a medical standpoint —I thinjj ho has used it, but looking at it from a physician's standpoint, he had what I advised him to have: entire disuse of the arm.”

x\.s to whether or not the condition is permanent, Hr. McBride testified:

“Q. Boctor, you have taken care of Mr. Mead all the time since 1922, up' until the present time? A. Yes. Q. And I believe you testified on direct examination that he has been unable to do manual labor since that, time from a medical standpoint? A. Yes. Q. Taking into consideration the history of the case, your different medical treatments, operations and your observa *66 tion, is this man or this claimant permanently and totally disabled from doing manual labor? * * * A. Yes. Q. Then I take it, Doctor, this - man’s condition, in your opinion, will be this way always? A. I believe it will be. Q. Will further medical treatment aid this man in any way? A. Yes. Q. Then, Doctor, if further medical treatment and surgery will help this man’s condition, are you of the opinion now to state whether or not he is permanently and totally disabled? A. Yes. Q. Please state whether he is or not? A.

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Related

Kuhnle v. Department of Labor & Industries
120 P.2d 1003 (Washington Supreme Court, 1942)
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2 S.E.2d 265 (West Virginia Supreme Court, 1939)

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Bluebook (online)
1933 OK 64, 20 P.2d 909, 163 Okla. 64, 1933 Okla. LEXIS 622, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harry-tidd-construction-co-v-mead-okla-1933.