Hier v. Boichot Concrete Products Corp.

153 N.W.2d 753, 379 Mich. 605, 1967 Mich. LEXIS 105
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 9, 1967
DocketDocket 1, Calendar 51,640
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 153 N.W.2d 753 (Hier v. Boichot Concrete Products Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hier v. Boichot Concrete Products Corp., 153 N.W.2d 753, 379 Mich. 605, 1967 Mich. LEXIS 105 (Mich. 1967).

Opinion

Adams, J.

Willis Hier was employed as a heavy-equipment operator for defendant Boichot Concrete Products Corporation. On November 11, 1954, a winch handle struck him on the right side of the head and shoulder. He received compound fractures of the skull and other injuries. Workmen’s compensation benefits were paid, but terminated at the expiration of 500 weeks from the date of injury. Plaintiff then filed an application for hearing, claiming additional weekly benefits for a total of 800 weeks because the injury had resulted in permanent and total disability. The hearing referee allowed Hier’s claim for additional benefits; but, upon appeal to the workmen’s compensation appeal board, the decision of the' referee awarding further compensation was reversed on the ground that this Court’s ruling in Verberg v. Simplicity Pattern Company (1959), 357 Mich 636, limits recovery beyond 500 weeks from *607 the date of injury to those employees whose injuries fall within the definition of total and permanent disability under section 10, part 2, of the workmen’s compensation law as it read on the date of injury. 1 The appeal board found that plaintiff Hier did not qualify under the section 10 test but was in fact totally and permanently disabled in his field of skilled employment.

The Court of Appeals denied an application for leave to appeal. Leave to appeal to this Court was granted on January 10, 1967.

Is an employee who was injured on November 11, 1954, and who in fact is totally and permanently disabled from returning to work in his field of skilled employment, entitled to workmen’s compensation benefits after the expiration of 500 weeks from the date of injury?

Plaintiff’s claim is based upon section 9, part 2, of the workmen’s compensation law which, upon the date of his injury, read, in part, as follows:

“And in no case shall the period covered by such compensation be greater than 500 weeks from the date of injury, nor shall the total compensation exceed an amount equal to 500 times the total weekly amount payable under this section 9, except for permanent and total liability, 2 when the compensation shall be paid for 800 weeks from the date of injury.” PA 1954, No 175, effective August 13,1954. (Emphasis supplied.)

On the date of plaintiff’s injury, section 10, part 2, of the workmen’s compensation act stated in part:

“Total and permanent disability, compensation for which is provided in section 9 hereof, means:
(1) Total and permanent loss of sight of both eyes.
*608 (2) Loss of both legs or both feet at or above the ankle.
(3) Loss of both arms or both hands at or above the wrist.
(4) Loss of any 2 of the members or faculties enumerated in (1), (2) or (3).
(5) Permanent and complete paralysis of both legs or both arms or of 1 leg and 1 arm.
(6) Incurable insanity or imbecility.” PA 1954, No 175. (Emphasis supplied.)

Defendants contend that, unless plaintiff’s injuries fall within one of the specific enumerations of section 10, he is not entitled to recover.

Prior to PA 1954, No 175, part 2, § 10 provided:

“The loss of both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or both eyes, or of any 2 thereof, shall constitute total and permanent disability, to he compensated according to the provisions of section 9.” PA 1953, No 198. (Emphasis supplied.)

In Springer v. Reed Foundry & Machine Company (1956), 346 Mich 11, this Court affirmed an award of workmen’s compensation to plaintiff for 750 weeks for permanent and total disability arising out of and in the course of his employment. The employee in Springer admittedly became permanently and totally disabled in 1943. Section 10 then provided that the loss of both hands, or both arms, or both feet, or both legs, or both eyes, or of any two thereof, shall constitute total and permanent disability to be compensated according to the provisions of section 9. Defendants in Springer argued that section 10 should be read into section 9 as a limitation, thereby allowing additional payments for total and permanent disability under section 9 only if one or more of the losses enumerated in section 10 had been suffered. The employee’s injuries in that case re- *609 suited from inhaling coke gas, by reason of which he became insane. This Court rejected the defendants’ argument and affirmed the award to plaintiff.

In Edwards v. Michigan Light Alloys Corporation (1956), 346 Mich 169, plaintiff fell from a factory roof on January 23,1945. The fall caused a cerebral concussion and subsequent mental deterioration, resulting in total disability. This Court affirmed the award of additional compensation upon the reasoning of Springer.

In Verberg v. Simplicity Pattern Company, supra, plaintiff became disabled on December 10, 1947, as the result of long exposure to and inhalation of chrome in the course of his employment. He was paid compensation for 500 weeks. On July 15, 1957, Verberg filed an application for additional benefits for permanent and total disability and was awarded compensation for an additional 250 weeks but denied differential benefits from the second-injury fund. His right to additional compensation benefits was governed by section 9, part 2, of the workmen’s compensation act as it stood at the time of his injury. Verberg’s right to recover from his employer, therefore, fell under the holdings of this Court in Springer and Edwards. His right to recover differential benefits, however, was created by PA 1955, No 250, which amended section 9, part 2, of the act. PA 1955, No 250, effective June 25,1955, in part reads as follows:

“And in no case shall the period covered by such compensation be greater than 500 weeks from the date of injury, nor shall the total compensation exceed an amount equal to 500 times the total weekly amount payable under this section 9, except for permanent and total disability as defined in section 10, when the compensation shall be paid for the duration of such permanent and total disability: Provided, That the conclusive presumption of total and permanent disability shall not extend *610 beyond 800 weeks from the date of injury, and thereafter the question of permanent and total disability shall be determined in accordance with the fact, as the fact may be at that time.

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Bluebook (online)
153 N.W.2d 753, 379 Mich. 605, 1967 Mich. LEXIS 105, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hier-v-boichot-concrete-products-corp-mich-1967.