M. T. Smith & Son Drilling Co. v. Clark

1931 OK 689, 4 P.2d 1025, 153 Okla. 51, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 401
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedNovember 10, 1931
Docket22666
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1931 OK 689 (M. T. Smith & Son Drilling 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
M. T. Smith & Son Drilling Co. v. Clark, 1931 OK 689, 4 P.2d 1025, 153 Okla. 51, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 401 (Okla. 1931).

Opinion

OULLISON, J.

This is an original proceeding in this court to review an order and award of the Industrial Commission in favor of the claimant, J. D. Clark, made and entered on July 2, 1981. The record shows that, on September 22, 1930, claimant sustained an accidental injury while in the employ of the petitioner, M. T. Smith Drilling Company. That said injury was caused by a piece of steel falling into his right eye just below the pupil. A hearing was had before the Commission July 2, 1931. At the conclusion of said hearing the Commission made the following order:

“¡Order.
“Now, on this 2nd day of July, 1931, the State Industrial Commission being regularly in session, this cause comes on for consideration, pursuant to a hearing had before Inspector H. O. Matehett, duly assigned by the Commission to conduct said hearing, on motion of claimant to reopen case and award further compensation, on change of condition, arising out of his accidental injury, at which hearing the claimant appeared in person and by his attorney, Leo J. Williams, *52 and the respondent and insurance carrier, being represented by Urey Howard, and tbe Commission on review of tbe testimony taken at said bearings, all reports on file, and tbe Commission being otherwise well and sufficiently advised in tbe premises, finds:
“(1) That it is admitted by tbe respondent herein that the claimant, J. D. Clark, sustained an accidental personal injury arising out of and in the course of bis employment with respondent, om September 22, 1930; nature of said injury being an injury to tbe right eye, by foreign body entering tbe right eye, resulting in loss of vision.
“(2) That, as a result of said injury claimant was temporarily totally incapacitated from any kind of work from tbe date of injury to October 6, 1930; for which tbe claimant was paid tbe sum of $21, being the amount due for two weeks, less tbe five-day waiting period at tbe rate of $18 per week.
“(3) That, on tbe 13th day of December, 1930, an order was made by tbe trial Commissioner, Mrs. IT. L. Robl'in, which order was not concurred in by any other Commissioner.
“(4) That in addition to the claimant’s temporary total disability, claimant has suffered the permanent partial loss of use of the right eye to the extent of 80 per cent, by reason of said injury.
“(5) That the average wage of the claimant at the time of the injury was $7 per day.
“The Commission is of the opinion: By reason of the aforementioned facts that the claimant is entitled to compensation at the rate of $18 per week for 80 weeks, amounting to $1,440 for 80 per cent, permanent partial disability to the right eye, by reason of the aforementioned injury, in addition to the sum of $21 temporary total heretofore paid.
“It is ordered: That within 15 days from this date, the respondent, or its insurance carrier, file with the Commission proper receipt or other report evidencing compliance with the terms of this order.
“Upon the adoption of the above and foregoing order the roll was,called and the following voted aye:
“Doyle, Chairman.
“Fannin, C.
“McElroy, C.”

Petitioners assign but one error, viz., “That there is no evidence 'in the record that the claimant had an 80 per cent, permanent partial loss of sight or use of the right eye.” The only question raised is as to the sufficiency of the evidence to support the award. The claimant testified (R. 10) that his eyes were in good condition before the accident. The claimant further testified that a foreign body was taken from his right eye by the attending physician, which testimony is corroborated. (Physician’s Report, Rec. 1.)

The claimant further testifies (R. .4) :

“Q. Now, what was the nature of your injury? A. I was hammering, trying to loosen a steam line union and a piece of steel hit me in the right eye. Q. Were you taken to a doctor? A. Yes, sir. Q. What doctor? A. Dr. Williamson. Q. How long did you remain under his care? A. About 12 or 14 days, — I would not be positive as to the dates. I was released, I think,, on the 4th, — Q. On October 4th? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you report to another doctor? A. Yes, sir. Q. What doctor was that? A. Dr. Westfall. Q. Did he treat you? A. Yes, s'ir. Q. For how long? A. Six days. Q. Mr. Clark, what was the condition of your eyes prior to this accident, if you know? A. Good. Q. What effect, if any, did this injury ■have upon your eye. A. Well, it has practically taken all the sight, and it has been aching and caused a headache through here, and a pulling- sensation through my nose. (R.-5) * * * Q. Do you know whether or not there was any foreign bodies removed from your-eyes? A. Yes, sir. Q. That was done by the attending physician who saw you first? A. Yes, sir. (R.-6). * * *”

In the case of Parson-Gibson Buick Corp. v. Fox 152 Okla. 196, 4 P. (2d) 38, decided October 20, 1931, the court said:

“The claimant is competent to testify that he had the use of his eye and did not notice any defect of hi® vision in the same prior to the accident, and he may testify as to blood flowing from the injury to his eye, or that he suffered pain, or that he cannot see out of the eye since the injury or if he can see he may state the objects he is able to discern and how far away, and as to his symptoms. * « *”
Dr. A. A. Williamson, the attending physician, in his report of September 26, 1930, says: “Removed foreign body from right conea.”

Dr. J. W. Shelton was called as a witness and testifies as follows:

“Q. What was the condition of his eye as to vision, doctor? A. I found his vision in the left eye to be 20/20ths. In his right eye, his vision was 20/100ths and I found he 'had a hazy vitreous, and that is about the only pathology I could find about his eye. Q. What per cent, disability would that be, doctor? A. 20/100, that would be, I think, about 51 per cent, loss of vision, loss of use. (Cross-examination) : Q. Doctor, do you find any pathology to account for the loss of vision you found in the eye? A. Well, a hajzy vitreous would account for the loss of vision. Q. Was that general-over the eye? A. Yes, sir. The vitreous-is the semi-liquid contents of the eyeball. Q. Doctor, the loss of vision you stated that *53 the claimant has, — is that, in your opinion, permanent? A. Well, I think it is (R. 9-10-11). (By the Court) : Q. Would you anticipate any increase in his visual acuity? A. These cases, if they are of specific origin, they will clear up under treatment although they are, — but if they are of some other origin, it is questionable sometimes about the clearing up. (R.-12). Q. Would a foreign body, if it had been removed, set up a condition such as this? A. It would have to be a penetrating foreign body embedded in the back of the eye. Q. Doctor, from the history given you, what is the relation between this foreign body and the injury he had? A. Well, I could not say that the injury did not have to do with it. Nor can I arrive at the present time at the probable cause of it.

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1931 OK 689, 4 P.2d 1025, 153 Okla. 51, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 401, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/m-t-smith-son-drilling-co-v-clark-okla-1931.