Kcl Corp., Etc. v. Pierce, Etc.

226 N.E.2d 543, 141 Ind. App. 120, 1967 Ind. App. LEXIS 318
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 31, 1967
Docket20,615
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 226 N.E.2d 543 (Kcl Corp., Etc. v. Pierce, Etc.) 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
Kcl Corp., Etc. v. Pierce, Etc., 226 N.E.2d 543, 141 Ind. App. 120, 1967 Ind. App. LEXIS 318 (Ind. Ct. App. 1967).

Opinion

Pfaff, C. J.

This appeal arises from an award of the Full Industrial Board of Indiana under the Indiana Workmen’s Compensation Act, Burns’ Indiana Statutes, § 40-1202.

The facts material to a determination of the issues presented are as follows:

On January 15, 1964, the date of the injury, appellee arrived at her place of employment, the KCL Corporation, at seven o’clock in the morning. Upon arrival the owner of the automobile in which appellee was riding was ordered to park in the overflow lot. At around 3:30 p.m. on said date, appellee obtained a different ride home and after “signing out” at approximately 4:00 p.m. walked directly to the employee’s parking lot. During the day snow had fallen and the said automobile in which she was to ride home was stuck. While attempting to push the car, the appellee slipped and twisted her leg, thus causing the injury for which she is seeking recovery.

The application for compensation was originally filed March 12, 1964 by the appellee, Betty Wernsing Pierce, a/k/a Betty Wernsing. The appellee was awarded compensation by the *122 single member. The Full Industrial Board upon a hearing of appellant’s Petiton for Review by the Full Board of the original award affirmed the award of the single member. We quote from the award of the Full Industrial Board.

“BE IT REMEMBERED, that pursuant to notice fixing the time and place therefor, the above captioned cause was called for hearing and review before the Full Industrial Board of Indiana in the hearing room of said Board, Indiana State Office Building, 110 North Senate, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, on the 5th day of May, 1966, at 9:00 A.M., on defendant’s Form 16 application filed November 29, 1965.
“Plaintiff appeared by her attorney, Phillip W. Brown; defendant appeared by its attorney, David A. Steckbeck.
“The Full Industrial Board of Indiana having heard the arguments of counsel and having reviewed all the evidence in said cause and being duly advised in the premises therein, now finds:
“That on January 15, 1964, the plaintiff was in the employ of the defendant at an average weekly wage of $50.00; that on said date she sustained an accidental injury by reason of an accident arising out of and in the course of her employment with the defendant, of which the defendant had knowledge, but did not furnish the statutory medical attention and supplies.
“It is further found that plaintiff was temporarily totally disabled from January 16, 1964, to May 4, 1964, at which time her disability ended.
“It is further found that plaintiff incurred the following medical expenses as a result of her accidental injury: Dr. David Silbert, $131.00; Dr. Thomas Horowitz, $50.00, and the Inlow Clinic (Dr. Norman Richards) $193.00.
“It is further found that plaintiff’s injury has reached a permanent and quiescent state and has resulted in a 20 percent permanent partial impairment to plaintiff’s right leg as a whole.
“Said Full Industrial Board of Indiana now finds for the plaintiff and against the defendant on plaintiff’s Form 9 application filed March 12, 1964.
“AWARD
“IT IS, THEREFORE, CONSIDERED, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED by the Full Industrial Board of Indiana *123 that plaintiff have and recover of and from the defendant compensation at the rate of $30.00 per week, beginning January 16, 1964, to May 4, 1964, for plaintiff’s temporary total disability, and in addition thereto, compensation for a specific period of 45 weeks at the rate of $30.00 per week for a 20 per cent permanent partial impairment to plaintiff’s right leg as a whole.
“It is further ordered that all compensation due and payable be brought up to date, paid in cash and in a lump sum.
“It is further ordered that all compensation payable by virtue of this award shall be paid direct to plaintiff, except as hereinafter ordered paid plaintiff’s attorney.
“It is further ordered that the fees of plaintiff’s attorney shall be: a minimum fee of $25.00; and in addition thereto, 20% upon the first $1,000 recovered; 15% upon the second and third $1,000 recovered; and 10% upon all sums in excess thereof; said fees to be paid by the defendant direct to plaintiff’s attorney: PHILIP W. BROWN, with credit to the defendant against the compensation herein awarded plaintiff for all sums paid out as attorney fees; in accordance with this award.
“Dated this 1 day of June, 1966.
“FULL INDUSTRIAL BOARD OF INDIANA”

It is from this award of the Full Industrial Board of Indiana that the appellant has appealed, assigning as error that the award is contrary to law and is not sustained by sufficient evidence.

Under this assignment of error appellant contends that:

1. The award contains no evidence of probative value that appellee sustained an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of her employment.
2. The findings and award of the Full Industrial Board is contrary to law in that there is no authority in this jurisdiction for awarding compensation to an employee injured upon the employer’s premises unless there is sufficient evidence to support a finding that said employee had the intention of serving his employer at the time of the injury.
*124 The Workmen’s Compensation Act of Indiana requires proof that the injury sustained occurred as a result of an accident arising out of and in the course of the employment.

Burns’ § 40-1202, supra, provides in part:

“From and after the taking effect of this act. . . . every employer and every employee, except as herein stated, shall be presumed to have accepted the provisions of this act, respectively to pay and accept compensation for personal injury or death by accident arising out of and in the course of the employment. . . .”

Many tests have been set forth to determine whether the aggrieved party was in the course of employment when the injury occurred. The most recent test set forth by this Court was in the case of U. S. Fiber Glass Industries, Inc. v. Berry (1965), 137 Ind. App. 302, 206 N. E. 2d 888 at p. 890.

“ ... Was the employee at the time of accident in the performance of his duties for the employer and were these duties required by, or incidental to his employment . . . ?”

See also, Rohlwing v. The Wm. H. Block Company (1953), 124 Ind. App. 97, 115 N. E. 2d 450.

In the case at bar, the uncontroverted evidence states that appellee prior to receiving her injury had punched out and had terminated her duties for that particular day.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Spencer v. Liberty Mutual Insurance
381 F. Supp. 2d 811 (S.D. Indiana, 2005)
Construction Management & Design, Inc. v. Vanderweele
660 N.E.2d 1046 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1996)
Wayne Adams Buick, Inc. v. Ference
421 N.E.2d 733 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1981)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
226 N.E.2d 543, 141 Ind. App. 120, 1967 Ind. App. LEXIS 318, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kcl-corp-etc-v-pierce-etc-indctapp-1967.