Johansen v. Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance

274 N.W. 393, 133 Neb. 118, 1937 Neb. LEXIS 20
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJune 30, 1937
DocketNo. 30081
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 274 N.W. 393 (Johansen v. Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Johansen v. Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance, 274 N.W. 393, 133 Neb. 118, 1937 Neb. LEXIS 20 (Neb. 1937).

Opinion

Eberly, J.

This is an action under the Nebraska workmen’s compensation law. It appears that on April 30, 1935, plaintiff first filed a petition before the then compensation commissioner, alleging, in substance, that on August 17, 1931, while in the employ of defendant, the wheel of an automobile passed over plaintiff’s right foot which caused injuries which resulted in his total disability, for which recovery was sought.

Chapter 57, Laws 1935, was passed with an emergency [119]*119clause, and was approved and became in full force and effect on May 25, 1935. There was a hearing had under the provisions of this law of 1935 before one of the judges of the compensation court, and on March 11,1936, an order was entered dismissing plaintiff’s cause of action. Thereafter a rehearing was granted, and said cause was heard before the compensation court sitting en bane. That court thereupon reversed the original decision, and on May 15, 1936, entered an award in favor of plaintiff. Thereafter defendant prosecuted an appeal to the district court for Lancaster county, upon the hearing of which an order was made and entered in that court reversing the order and judgment of the compensation court rendered in favor of plaintiff, and dismissing plaintiff’s cause of action. From this order, and the order of the district court overruling his motion for a new trial, plaintiff appeals.

As part of its judgment, the district court stated special findings of fact, as follows:

“1. That the plaintiff, Lloyd R. Johansen, sustained an injury on or about the 17th day of August, 1931, which injury resulted in immediate disability.

“2. That since the said accident the said Lloyd R. Johansen has been continuously disabled.”

There is no evidence in the record which, in a substantial manner, controverts these conclusions.

The following is a résumé of the testimony in the record:

On August 17, 1931, at about 3 o’clock p. m. of that day, plaintiff was at the Ideal Garage on the corner of Fourteenth and M streets, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was talking to his brother, Jack Johansen, who was seated in a parked automobile at that place. The conversation ended and Jack “backed out” his automobile to commence his journey. In so doing the left front wheel of Jack’s car passed over plaintiff’s right foot. This caused the initial injury from which it is claimed plaintiff’s troubles originated. Plaintiff at the time “didn’t think” he “was badly hurt;” his foot “was kind of numb;” he [120]*120“rubbed it and it felt better.” In the evening of that day, when he removed his socks, the injured foot “was quite red; * * * there was a couple of skinned places on my foot.” On the following day, it began to swell and was red and hurt him when he walked on it. After that his “foot got worse;’1’ and he went to bed, and “when I got up I developed a condition in my knees.” The services of Dr. Beshlein, a chiropodist, were engaged “two or three days after the accident.” The foot was then “badly swollen and awfully sore and red.” Dr. Beshlein continued his treatment “about ten days or two weeks.” Plaintiff then consulted Dr.- Bowman, a regular physician and surgeon, who continued to treat him until February, 1932. He then developed ulcers of the eyes which were treated by Dr. Elliott. In the meanwhile during the “last of September,” 1931, his knees swelled and this condition was treated by Dr. Bowman until February or March, 1932. He then consulted Dr. Kail, an X-ray specialist, who made X-rays of his right foot. In March, 1932, he employed Dr. Olney, a regular physician. At this time the plaintiff described his condition as follows: “The swelling had never left my foot, and I had bursitis in both my knees. * * * They weren’t any better. They got just about so bad and stayed that way.”

It may be said that after the employment of Dr. Olney, the following physicians, surgeons, diagnosticians, and specialists, in turn, made examinations of plaintiff’s condition, and treated him from time to time, up to the time of the filing of these proceedings, viz.: Dr. Marx, physician and surgeon; Dr. Pratt, member of the faculty of the Medical School, University of Nebraska; Dr. J. E. M. Thomson, orthopedist; Dr. Ward, physician and surgeon; Dr. Fritz Teal, orthopedist; Dr. Rasck, Dr. Reinhard, and Dr. E. W. Rowe, physicians who examined him for the insurance carrier; and last of all he employed Dr. Arthur L. Smith, diagnostician.

As to the information he had received from these various doctors, plaintiff testifies that he first went to [121]*121Dr. Arthur L. Smith about April, 1935; that his knees were then swollen, red and painful, and that he walked with a cane. His further evidence is, in part: “Q. Up to the time you went to see Dr. Arthur L. Smith in April, 1935, had any physician or surgeon who had examined you or treated you, or any other physician or surgeon, ever told you that the condition of your knees was the result of the accident and injuries you sustained on August 17, 1931? A. No. Q. And up to the time that you went to Dr. Arthur L. Smith, in April, 1935, did you know yourself that the condition of your knees and your disability was the result of the accident and injuries you sustained on August 17, 1931? A. No. Q. Dr. Smith made an examination of you, did he? A. Yes. Q. What did his examination consist of? A. Physical, X-rays and the usual clinical examination, I guess, that he gives. Q. Did he inform you what the producing cause of your disability at that time was? A. He did. * * * Q. Did you become informed at the time that you were examined by Dr. Smith what the nature and character of your disability in your knees was? A. Yes. * * * Q. You may state whether, or not, you had ever been informed by any physician or surgeon subsequent to your accident and injuries on August 17, 1931, up to the time you went to Dr. Smith, that the disability in your knees and the physical condition of your knees was the result of the accident and injuries you sustained on August 17, 1931, while in the employ of the defendant on appeal in this case? A. No. Q. When was the first time that you were informed that the accident and injuries you sustained on August 17, 1931, was the producing cause of the condition to your knees, and which you are now suffering, and which renders you disabled? A. In April, 1935. * * * Q. Are you able to earn a livelihood for yourself? A. No. Q. Have you been since your accident and injuries? A. No. Q. Now, Mr. Johansen, during all of the time from the date of your accident and injuries on August 17, 1931, up to the time you went to see Dr. Arthur L. Smith, [122]*122you had been treated by many physicians, had you not? A. Yes. Q. And you may state whether, or not, during all of that time, you were trying to find out the cause of your condition and a cure therefor ? A. I was.”

Plaintiff also testified, viz.: “Q. You may state whether, or not, you were a strong, able-bodied man prior to the 17th day of August, 1931? A. I was. Q. Were you able to walk prior to that time? A. Yes. Q. Was there anything physically wrong with you prior to August 17, 1931? A. No. Q. Had you ever been treated by any physicians or surgeons for any disease prior to that time? A. No. Q. Did you have arthritis prior to August 17, 1931? A. No.”

Plaintiff further testified, viz.: “Q. You were a well man before August 17, 1931; have you ever had a well day since that time? A. No, sir. Q. Has there ever been a day since this alleged accident when you have not been disabled? A. Disabled in some way, my foot, my knees, or something.

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Related

In Re Guardianship of Ochsner
88 N.W.2d 898 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1958)
Eisenhauer v. Otoe County
284 N.W. 332 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1939)

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Bluebook (online)
274 N.W. 393, 133 Neb. 118, 1937 Neb. LEXIS 20, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/johansen-v-farmers-mutual-hail-insurance-neb-1937.