Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Co. v. Ray

1931 OK 735, 5 P.2d 383, 153 Okla. 163, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 446
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedNovember 24, 1931
Docket22150
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 1931 OK 735 (Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Co. v. Ray) 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
Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Co. v. Ray, 1931 OK 735, 5 P.2d 383, 153 Okla. 163, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 446 (Okla. 1931).

Opinion

SWINDALL, J.

This 'is an original proceeding- to review an award of the State Industrial Commission. On May 13, 1927, Walter S. Ray, as claimant, filed before the State Industrial Commission a claim for compensation against the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company, a corporation, respondent, and the Aetna Life Insurance Company, insurance carrier. On February 14, 1928, there was' filed with the State Industrial Commission a joint petition for settlement which, omitting formal parts, is as follows:

“Comes now the claimant Walter S. Ray, and the respondent and insurance carrier as above styled, and respectfully petition the State Industrial Commission to make a final order and award as provided by section 7325, O. O. S. 1921, as amended by chapter 61, Laws of 1923, and in support thereof say; That above-named claimant claims that, on January 11, 1927, while m the employ of respondent he received an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment. The respondent and its insurance carrier have denied that claimant received an accidental injury on the date above mentioned and have denied that claimant is disabled; the parties say that testimony has been taken by the State Industrial Commission at Oklahoma City on July 22nd and at Wewoka on August 19, 1927, and that claimant has been examined by Dr. John W. R'iley, whose report of such examination is attached hereto and made a part hereof.
“The parties further say that for the purpose of mutually compromising said disputed claim, and for no other purpose, they have reached an agreement by the terms of which the respondent and its insurance carrier have agreed to pay and the claimant has agreed to accept the sum of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) in full, final, and complete settlement of any and all claims which said claimant has or may have arising out of or resulting from the accident and injury aforesaid, or any other matter or thing prior to the date hereof.
“The parties waive the usual notice of hearing and agree that this matter may be heard upon the presentation of this petition and that the Commission may consider in connection with this petition the report of Dr. John W. Riley attached hereto, the evidence heretofore taken, and the records now on file. Parties understand that this is a final settlement and that upon the making of the award prayed for the Commission will he without further jurisdiction in the premises.
“Wherefore, the parties pray a final order in conformity with the agreement above set forth under the provisions of section 7325, C. O. S. 1921. as amended by chapter 61, Laws of 1923.”

This petition is signed by Walter S. Ray, claimant, and h'is attorney, Chester E. Bender, and by the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company, respondent, Aetna Life Insurance Company, insurance carrier, and Clayton B. Pierce, their attorney.

Upon this petition being filed, testimony was taken before the Commission. The claimant was examined by counsel and by *165 the court, and appear? to have fully understood that he was making a final settlement on joint petition. On February 14th, after taking testimony, the Commission rendered its final order on joint petition as follows:

“Now, on this 14th day of February, 1928, the State Industrial Commission being regularly in session, this cause comes on to be heard on the joint petition of the parties for a final award under the provisions of section 7325, O. O. S. 1921, as amended- by chapter 61, Laws of 1923, and the claimant appeared in person and by his attorney, O. E. Bender, and the respondent and its insurance carrier appeared by their attorney, C. B. Pierce, and the Commission having heard the testimony and considered the joint petition of the parties, the evidence taken at former hearings and the records now on file, and being otherwise well and sufficiently advised in the premises, finds:
“(1) That the claimant claims that on January 11, 1927, he received an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment with the respondent who was then engaged in a business covered by the terms of the Workmen’s Compensation Act; that the fact of an accident or resulting-disability is denied by the respondent and its insurance carrier.
“(2) That for the purpose of compromising and settling the disputed claim, the parties have reached an agreement by the terms of which the respondent and its insurance carrier are to pay to claimant the sum of $150 in full, final, and complete settlement of any claim which said claimant has or may have against the respondent or its insurance carrier.
“The Commission is of the opinion that the facts in this case as disclosed by the evidence are such that the compromise and settlement between the parties should and ought to be approved.
“It is therefore ordered: That within ten days from this date the respondent or its insurance carrier pay to the claimant, Walter S. Kay, the sum of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) in full, final, and complete settlement of any claim which the said claimant may have against the respondent or its insurance carrier on account of the accident of January 11, 1927.
“It is further ordered: That within 30 days from this date, the parties file a receipt ■or other evidence in compliance with this award, and that under the provisions of section 7325. C. O. S. 1921. as amended by chapter 61, Laws of 1923, this cause be closed.
“L. B. Kyle (Signed in ink)
“Chairman:
“Upon adoption of the foregoing order, roll was callad and the following voted aye: Kyle and Bryan (Roblin being absent).”

It is contended by the petitioners, first, that upon, joint petition being filed and evidence taken and settlement approved by the State Industrial Commission the State Industrial Commission does not have jurisdiction thereafter to reopen the case on the ground of fraud; and, second, that no fraud was established upon the hearing to vacate the award on the ground of fraud and allow additional compensation as disclosed by the order of February 18, 1931; and they base their first contention on the proviso to section 7325, C. O. S. 1921, as amended by section 13, ch. 61, Session Laws 1923. The section amended with the proviso added is as follows:

“The power and jurisdiction of the Commission over each case 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, 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.

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Bluebook (online)
1931 OK 735, 5 P.2d 383, 153 Okla. 163, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 446, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/indian-territory-illuminating-oil-co-v-ray-okla-1931.