Independent Oil & Gas Co. v. Clark

1935 OK 808, 52 P.2d 789, 175 Okla. 257, 1935 Okla. LEXIS 864
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedSeptember 17, 1935
DocketNo. 25349.
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 1935 OK 808 (Independent Oil & Gas Co. v. Clark) 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
Independent Oil & Gas Co. v. Clark, 1935 OK 808, 52 P.2d 789, 175 Okla. 257, 1935 Okla. LEXIS 864 (Okla. 1935).

Opinion

PHELPS, J.

The respondent (hereinafter referred to as claimant, which was his status in the State Industrial Commission), and the employer’s insurance carrier (petitioner herein) entered into an agreement of facts concerning claimant’s disability and submitted it in writing to the State Industrial Com *258 mission on a form provided by tlie insurance carrier, which form was sustantially identical with the Commission’s Form IT ordinarily used for that purpose, except that the provision contained in the Commission’s form to the effect that claimant could later reopen the case, on change in condition, was not present. On the form which was submitted to the Commission there was no mention of a final settlement of the case.

On September 18, 1931, after a hearing, the Commission approved the statement of facts contained in said Form 14, and rendered its order thereon awarding the claimant the proper amount of compensation, and no more, prescribed by law for the injury and disability then existing. However, at the conclusion of the paragraph ordering payment of the compensation, the Commission added the following words : “and in full, final and complete settlement for the aforementioned accidental injury.”

About a year later the plaintiff filed his motion to reopen the case, alleging a change in condition for the worse. Hearings, were had on this motion, at which the insurance carrier interposed the objection that by virtue of the order of September 18, 1931, the case had been finally determined and settled and that the Commission no longer had jurisdiction to entertain the proposition of awarding further compensation based upon a change in condition. The objection was overruled, and the same contention is now made in this action by the insurance carrier and employer to review the award of the Commission, made on December 17, 1932, awarding claimant further compensation on account of said change in condition.

Subject to recent limitations imposed by the Legislature, which are not here urged, the Commission has continuing jurisdiction to modify its former orders or awards, where the claimant’s change of condition indicates that such modification should be made. The Commission also has the power to divest itself of further jurisdiction and to make a final, full and complete settlement of any pending cause if the parties so desire. It is manifest, however, that the Commission does not have the power to divest itself of said continuing jurisdiction, except upon the joint petition of the parties. Section 7325, C. U. S. 1921, as amended by chapter 61, section 13 of the Session Laws of 1923, is now section 13391, O. S. 1931, and reads:

“The power and jurisdiction of the Commission over each ease shall be continuing and it may, from time to time, make such modifications or changes with respect to former findings or orders relating thereto if, in its opinion, it may be justified, including the right to require physical examinations as provided for in section 7293, (13359) and subject to the same penalties for refusal; provided, that upon petition filed by the employer or insurance carrier and the injured employee, the Commission shall acquire jurisdiction to consider the proposition of whether or not a final settlement may be had between the parties presenting such petition. The Commission is authorized and empowered to have a full hearing on the petition, and to take testimony of physicians and others relating to the permanency or probable permanency of the injury, and to take such other testimony relevant to the subject-matter of such petition as the Commission may require. The Commission shall have authority to consider such petition and to dismiss the same without a hearing if in its judgment the same should not be set for hearing; the expenses of such hearing or investigation, including necessary medical examinations, shall be paid by the employer or insurance carrier, and such expenses may be included in the final award. If the Commission decides it is for the best interest of both parties to said petition that a final award be made, a decision shall be rendered accordingly and the Commission may make an award that shall be final as to the rights of all parties to said petition, and thereafter the Commission shall not have jurisdiction over any claim for the same injury or any results arising from same. If the Commission shall decide the case should not be finally settled at the time of the hearing, the petition shall be dismissed without prejudice to either party, and the Commission shall have the same jurisdiction over the matter as if said petition had not been filed. The same rights of appeal shall exist from the decision rendered under such petition as is provided for appeals in other cases before the Commission : provided, there shall be no appeal allowed from an order of the Commission dismissing such petition as provided in this section.”

In construing the above section this court has always proceeded on the theory that the Commission does not have the power to divest itself of further jurisdiction to order compensation for change in condition unless the parties have mutually signified their desire for the Commission to do so. It is now well settled that the expression of such joint intention is a condition precedent to the Commission’s valid divestment of its future jurisdiction in such cases. All cases cited by the petitioners recognize that fact. There is no conflict between the cases cited *259 by tbe petitioners and those cited by tbe respondent (claimant), therefore it is unnecessary to discuss them.

The same contention as is here made was made in Mid-Kansas O. & G. Co. v. State Industrial Comm., 163 Okla. 8, 20 P. (2d) 165, wherein, inadvertently or otherwise, the phrase “being in full and complete settlement of this cause” was contained in the order approving settlement between the parties. This court said:

“There is no reference to section 7325, O. O. S. 1921, as amended by the Session Laws of 1923, c. 61, sec. 13 (section 13391, O. S. 1931), which provides for settlements on joint petition. Neither is there contained in said award any intimation that the Commisson gave up its continuing jurisdiction over the matter. * * *”

There was an “intimation” in the award in that case, that the Commission attempted to give up its continuing jurisdiction, but the intention of the Commission is not material in the absence of a joint petition, for obviously the Commission has no power to divest itself of future jurisdiction without the presence of that element.

We do not assume that the words “and in full, final and complete settlement for the aforementioned accidental injury” mean anything other than that the Commission thereby expressed an intention to definitely terminate the cause. We hold that that portion of its order is void because of the total absence of the necessary joint petition contemplated by section 13391, and the total absence of the necessary joint desire and intention of the parties to terminate the cause, as gathered from the record and all the circumstances. This conclusion is abundantly supported by Oklahoma Natural Gas Corp. v. Gilchrist. 157 Okla. 190, 11 P. (2d) 932.

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Bluebook (online)
1935 OK 808, 52 P.2d 789, 175 Okla. 257, 1935 Okla. LEXIS 864, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/independent-oil-gas-co-v-clark-okla-1935.