Hazelton v. Baker

1925 OK 775, 240 P. 93, 112 Okla. 107, 1925 Okla. LEXIS 553
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedSeptember 29, 1925
Docket15831
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 1925 OK 775 (Hazelton v. Baker) 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
Hazelton v. Baker, 1925 OK 775, 240 P. 93, 112 Okla. 107, 1925 Okla. LEXIS 553 (Okla. 1925).

Opinion

Opinion by

FOSTER, C.

This is a proceeding to review an award made by the Industrial Commission of the state of Oklahoma.’ The proceeding before the Industrial Commission was on behalf of I. L. Baker, as claimant, against Hazelton Coal Company, as respondent, and Associated Employers’ Reciprocal, as insurance carrier, to recover compensation for alleged accidental injury sustained by claimant on January 19, 1924, resulting from being struck in the left eye with a small piece of coal while claimant was engaged in breaking a chunk of coal for use on a forge.

' 'On September 8, 1924, pursuant to a hearing had at Coalgate, Okla., on April 18, 1924, the Industrial Commission entered an order awarding claimant compensation for total disability at the rate of $18 per week, from January 26, 1924, to the date of the award, and thereafter at the rate of $18 per week until termination of disability or until otherwise ordered by the commission.

The Hazelton Coal- Company and the insurance carrier have filed their petition in error in this court to review said order and award. Por convenience, the appellants will be hereinafter designated as petitioners, and the claimant as respondent.

It appears from the record that the respondent filed his claim with the Industrial Commission on February 25, 1924, reciting that on January 19, 1924, while breaking a chunk of coal for • use on, a forge, he was struck in the left eye with a small piece of coal resulting in the practical loss of vision thereof. The claim was set for hearing on the 18th day of April at Coalgate, at which time the petitioners entered a protest and moved for a continuance for the reason that they had not received proper notice thereof, resulting- in their inability to secure the attendance of necessary witnesses. The notice given of this hearing shows that it was sent only to the attorney of record for respondent, and the receipt of notice was signed solely by him. The motion of petitioners was sustained and the case continued for further hearing at Coal-gate, except that it was ordered that the testimony of the witnesses for respondent then present might be taken. The award of the commission as finally made on September 8, 1924, was based entirely upon the evidence taken on April 18, 1924. There was no subsequent hearing at Coalgate, or elsewhere, at which the petitioners were given an opportunity to present their testimony in relation to the claim of respondent, and the award, as finally made, was based entirely upon the testimony of the respondent, and of witnesses in his behalf.

As we view the case the proper disposition of this case turns on whether there was any evidence to support the order and award of the Industrial Commission allowing respondent compensation for continuing total disability.

The findings of fact incorporated in the award of the Industrial Confmission are as follows:

“First: That the claimant was employed in a hazardous occupation and that while engaged in said employment be received an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment with the respondent herein eta January 19, 1924; said accident being to the left eye.
“Second: That the claimant was a blacksmith and he went to get a piece of coal and threw it on a forge and he hit the coal with a hammer to break it, and while doing so, a piece of it flew up and nit him in the left eye; and thereafter, on the 21st day of January, 1924, he went to Dr. Hipes- and soon afterwards went to Dr. Clark, who-gave him a prescription for his eye, and later on he went to Dr. Hipes: thereafter on January 26, 1924, he was compelled to dis *109 continue work and has been unable to perform ordinary manual labor because of the injury received on January >19, 1924.
“Third: That his wages were $8.01, per day at the time of his injury.”

These findings of fact are followed by a formal award of $18 per week for continuing total disability.

It will be noted that the commission, in the findings of fact above quoted, does not undertake to find that the respondent has suffered either the permanent partial or total loss of the use of an eye, or any other member of his body, but finds that he has been unable to perform ordinary manual labor because of the injury received on January 19, 1924, which injury is described and set forth in the findings of fact. We are unable to find in the evidence any support whatever for this conclusion. The respondent himself testified as follows:

“Q. You state that you quit work on January 26, when did you return to work? A. I have never returned. Q. Why haven’t you returned, Mr. Baker? A. I told you why, because my eye was going too bad; it pains me and I have got a dull ache all the time. It is not what you would say painful, just a dull ache. Q. But you are able to perform your duties. A. I would not go back to my trade; I would not chance my other eye. Q. As far as your physical condition as a result of this accident, you are able? A. There is no better man of my age. Q. I am talking about your eye? A. I would not go back to work with it. Q. When did the mines close down on strike? A. I can tell you just exactly when they suspended. They closed down on February 11, 1924. Q. Monday, February 11th. Have you attempted to perform any kind of duties since that time? A. No, sir. Q. Have you earned any wages performing any duties of any kind? A. No, sir. * * * Q. With both eyes open you can see about as well as you ever did, except when doing this particular class of work? A. I can see good from the right eye. Q. You could go back and do the same work you did previous to the accident? A. I believe my right eye is just as good.”

The most that the evidence tended to show, in any view of the case, was that respondent had sustained either the total or partial loss of the use of his left eye, and this, under our statute, contitutes partial disability. To constitute total disability, the loss of both hands, both feet, both legs, or both eyes, or any two thereof, must be sustained. Chapter 61, Session Laws of 1923, amending section 7290, C. O. S. 1921. If, however, the commission intended to hold, as a matter of law, that it was justified in allowing respondent compensation for total disability because he had sustained the loss of the use of his eye, when it is not shown that respondent was disabled in any other portion of his body, and based solely upon the statement of respondent, that while able to perform manual labor he did not wish to chance his other eye, its judgment is still unsound.

In the case of Integrity Mutual Casualty Co. v. Walter Garrett, 100 Okla. 185, 229 Pac. 282, this court said:

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Related

National Tank Co. v. Gold
1939 OK 431 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1939)
Lawrence v. State Industrial Commission
1926 OK 933 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1926)

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Bluebook (online)
1925 OK 775, 240 P. 93, 112 Okla. 107, 1925 Okla. LEXIS 553, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hazelton-v-baker-okla-1925.