In re Denton

117 N.E. 520, 65 Ind. App. 426, 1917 Ind. App. LEXIS 148
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 30, 1917
DocketNo. 10,024
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 117 N.E. 520 (In re Denton) 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
In re Denton, 117 N.E. 520, 65 Ind. App. 426, 1917 Ind. App. LEXIS 148 (Ind. Ct. App. 1917).

Opinion

Caldwell, J.

The facts in the Denton case pending before the Industrial Board, as certified to this court, are in substance as follows: On September 2, 1915, Denton, an employe of the Union Hominy Company, suffered in one and the same accident the following physical injuries: First, an injury to the left arm necessitating, and resulting in, its amputation above the elbow joint; secondly, a fracture of the sacrum, one of the pelvic bones. The results of the fracture of the [428]*428sacrum have been as follows, as certified by the board: Denton was confined to his bed for nine months and to the hospital for twelve months. Since the accident and by reason of the fractured sacrum, he has continuously been unable to work. He is improving, and in all probability will be sufficiently recovered from said frac- ' ture to do work of a light character at the end of 100 weeks from the date of the injury, and at the end of 150 weeks from the date of the injury he will probably be completely recovered from the fracture. The circumstances are such as to entitle Denton to compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. (Acts 1915 p. 392). In our discussion of this case, we shall assume that probabilities are reduced to certainties, and that there was a partial recovery from the effects of the fracture at the end of 100 weeks, and that there will be a complete recovery at the end of 150 weeks, as indicated.

The facts in the Good case are in substance as follows : On May 15, 1916, Good, an employe of the Dairy Queen Manufacturing Company, suffered in one and the same accident the following physical injuries: First, dislocation of right elbow joint and certain fractures of the right arm' and forearm, as a result of which there is a seventy-five per cent, permanent impairment of the use and function of said arm; secondly, a fracture of the surgical head of the right femur, as a result of which fracture of the femur Good was totally disabled for work for a period of twenty-two weeks. The circumstances are such as to entitle Good also to compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, supra.

Under the provisions of §31 of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, supra, the Industrial Board propounds to this court the following question, seeking our opinion for guidance in determining said cases. 1. Is Denton [429]*429entitled to compensation for 200 weeks for the loss of his arm, and also to compensation for the period of disability beyond fourteen days resulting from the fracture of the sacrum? 2. Is Good entitled to compensation for the seventy-five per cent, permanent impairment of the use of his right arm, and also to compensation for the period of disability beyond fourteen days, resulting from the fracture of the femur?

In each of these cases we are required to deal with a permanent partial disability, based on the loss or impairment of a member, and also with a temporary total disability, based on an injury to a distinct member, both disabilities in each case resulting from injuries suffered in one and the same accident. While it is probable that the injury in each case that resulted in such permanent partial disability contributed also to produce total disability for a time, the statement of facts is to the effect that the fracture of the sacrum in the one case and the fracture of the femur in the other case produced such total disability.

Section 31 of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, supra, is in part as follows: “For injuries in the following schedule the employe shall receive in lieu of all other compensation a weekly compensation equal to fifty-five per cent, of his average weekly wages for the periods stated against such injuries respectively, to-wit: (a) For the loss by separation of not more than one phalange of a thumb * * * 15 weeks. * * * (h) For the loss by separation of one arm at or above the elbow joint 200 weeks. * * * In all other cases of permanent partial disability *, * * compensation in lieu of all other compensation shall be paid when and in the amount determined by the Industrial Board, not to exceed fifty-five per cent, of average weekly wages per week for a period of two hundred weeks.”

It will be observed that §31 deals only with injuries [430]*430which result in permanent partial disability: First, with such a disability based on the loss of a member, as one thumb, finger, arm, eye, etc., or the destruction of the physical sense of hearing. For such a disability based on the loss of a member or the destruction of such physical sense, specifically mentioned, there is provided in each case a fixed period of compensation ranging from fifteen weeks to 200 weeks. The section recognizes that there may be cases of permanent partial disability other than those based on injuries specifically mentioned, as, among others, the loss of more than one member of a given class, or the permanent impairment of a member, and as to any such other case the section authorizes the board to fix the period of compensation not exceeding 200 weeks, however. Compensation when so fixed is exclusive of all other compensation for the specific injury that results in permanent partial disability, even though such injury results immediately in temporary, but not permament, total disability. Where, in an accident, an employe suffers the loss of a member or the destruction of a physical sense for which provision is specifically made by §31, or suffers an injury resulting in permanent partial disability for which provision is not specifically made by said section, compensation must be awarded under that section, and when so awarded it is “in lieu of all other compensation” for the particular permanent partial disability. The section does not by its terms exclude compensation for other injuries suffered in the same accident for which provision is made by other sections of the act (Marhoffer v. Marhoffer [1917], 220 N. Y. 543, 116 N. E. 379), nor does it purport to cover cases of the loss of two or more members of a particular class, as two eyes, two hands, two or more fingers, etc., unless the injury results only in a permanent partial disability. In the latter case the [431]*431general provisions of the section are applicable. Specif- ' ically, Denton is entitled under §31 to compensation for 200 weeks for the loss of his arm, and Good under that section is entitled to compensation for such reasonable time as may be fixed by the board for the permanent partial impairment of his arm, but there is nothing in the terms of §31 that excludes the former’s right to compensation based on the disability caused by the fracture of his sacrum, or the latter to compensation based on the disability resulting from the fracture of his femur.

2. It is apparent from a consideration of the act that had Denton suffered no other injury than the fractured sacrum, and Good no other than the fractured femur, resulting in each case in a temporary tptal disability, as certified by the board, each would be entitled to compensation under certain sections of the act other than §31. If, then, Denton and Good are not entitled to compensation respectively for the temporary total disability involved in the case of each respectively, it must be by reason of the permanent partial disability also involved and -the compensation provided therefor by §31.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
117 N.E. 520, 65 Ind. App. 426, 1917 Ind. App. LEXIS 148, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-denton-indctapp-1917.