McFall v. United States Tobacco Co.

436 S.W.2d 838, 246 Ark. 43, 1969 Ark. LEXIS 1209
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedFebruary 3, 1969
Docket5-4783
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 436 S.W.2d 838 (McFall v. United States Tobacco Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McFall v. United States Tobacco Co., 436 S.W.2d 838, 246 Ark. 43, 1969 Ark. LEXIS 1209 (Ark. 1969).

Opinion

J. Fred Jones, Justice.

This is a workmen’s compensation case and involves the question of whether the statute of limitations had run on a claim at the time it was filed with the Commission. A referee and the Commission held that it had. The matter is before us on appeal by the claimant from a judgment of the Sebastian County Circuit Court affirming the order of the Commission.

Vo examine the usual compensation case for a determination of whether there is any substantial evidence to support the order or award of the Commission, but in this case we have examined the record for matters that would toll the statute, or estop the appellees from pleading it, and we have found none.

We consider the facts to be clear, that the appellant sustained an injury to his right knee while in the course of his employment as a salesman for United States Tobacco Company. The injury was sustained on April 9, 1963, in a collision between the employer’s automobile, insured by Continental Casualty Company, and an automobile driven bj7 Lawrence Edwards, insured by State Farm Mutual Insurance Company. Continental Casualty also carried the workmen’s compensation insurance for the claimant’s employer, and is an appellee, along with the employer, in this case. An independent adjustment company investigated the accident on behalf of Continental Casualty under the automobile liability policy, and rendered its report to Continental Casualty on May 16, 1963, stating: “The assured driver, Lloyd McFall, sustained a sore right knee and right ankle, however, has not required any medical treatment.”

The claimant reported his injur}7 to his employer and the employer’s first report of industrial injury (A-8) was made out b}7 the employer under date of May 13, 1963, showing that appellant had sustained a knee injury; that the probable length of disability was not known; that the appellant had returned to work and that the name of his physician was Dr. Wideman.

On September 30, 1963, Dr. John W. Wideman rendered final surgeon’s report and bill on printed form to Continental Casualty showing two visits by the claimant on Ma}713 and June 17, 1963. Dr. Wideman’s reported diagnosis is blurred on the form he filled out, but it appeal's to be “possible tear of the medial meniscue and strain of its attachment to the ligament.” Dr. Wide-man reported that he recommended conservative treatment ; that appellant was told not to squat or run; that appellant was improved and pronounced as able to return to work; that no time was lost from work as far as Dr. 'Wideman knew and he anticipated no permanent injury. Dr. AVideman stated his bill for services as $22.50.

Continental Casualty paid Dr. AVideman’s bill and filed final report with the Commission on noncompensable injury form A-10, which was stamped “received on October 15, 1963.” The record does not reveal whether the appellant received a copy of this form, A-10, but at the bottom of the form is printed the following paragraph:

“Note to Injured Employee: This is a copy of a report furnished us by your employer or his insurance carrier relating the above information regarding your injury. As your disability extended for a period of less than seven days, you are entitled to no compensation. The above medical benefits have been-provided for you and paid for by your employer, however, in accordance with the provisions of the Arkansas AVorkmen’s Compensation Law. If there is any substantial error in this report, please notify the undersigned.”

Doctor AVideman was recommended to the appellant by a claims representative for State Farm Mutual Insurance Company, Mr. Edwards’ liability insurance earner, and the appellant went to Dr. AVideman on his own initiative. The appellant returned to Dr. AVideman on March 9, 1964, and a report of this visit was sent by Dr. AVideman to State Farm Mutual Insurance Co. The appellees received no copy of this report and received no request for payment for this examination. On August 28, 1964, the appellant went to Dr. Hathcock of the IIolt-Krock Clinic on his own initiative and made return visits on January 8, January 23, and May 12. 1965. The appellant terminated his employment with the appellee tobacco company on November 12, 1965. He was again seen by Dr. Hathcock oh February 17 and June 29, 1966, and a torn cartilage was surgically removed from appellant’s knee by Dr. Hathcock on July 7, Í966. Claim was filed with the Workmen’s Compensation Commission for medical expenses, as well as temporary and permanent partial disability on October 21, 1966.

The crux of appellant’s contention is set out in his points relied on for reversal, as follows:

“No period of longer than one year intervened between visits to and treatment by Drs. Wideman or Hathcock, and said treatment amounted to ‘compensation’ within the meaning of the Workmen’s Compensation Act.
The employer’s payment of the claimant’s salary while he was disabled as a result of his occupational injury was in lieu of compensation or constituted ‘compensation’ within the meaning of the Workmen’s Compensation Act.
By their conduct, the respondents have waived the filing of a claim, within the statutory period, or they are estopped to assert such Statute of Limitations.”

In effect, the appellant earnestly contends that this court should go further than it has heretofore gone in considering medical treatment and the payment of wages as payment of compensation for the purpose of extending the time,, or tolling the statute of limitations, for filing claims with the Commission in workmen’s compensation cases. The appellant cites numerous eases, of respectable authority, in support of his contention, but they are distinguishable on the facts from the case at bar.

The appellant is correct in his statement that we are committed to the rule under Reynolds Metal Co. v. Brumley, 226 Ark. 388, 290 S.W. 2d 211, “that where an employer furnishes an injured employee medical services, this constitutes a payment of compensation or a waiver which suspends the running of the time for filing a claim for compensation.” The keystone to this rule is the two words “employer furnishes.” We have never held that medical services furnished by anyone oth.er than the employer or his compensation insurance carrier, constitute payment of compensation or a waiver which suspends the running'of the time for filing a claim for compensation. We are unable to see how an employer could furnish medical treatment without knowing, and without reason to know, that he is doing so.

The appellant testified as follows:

“Q. Now then, did vou see Dr. Wideman after June of 1963?
A. I’m not sure about that. I know I did see Dr. Wideman on three occasions.
Q. As a matter of fact, in March of 1964 at the request of Jack Chancey didn’t you go back and see him and he submitted a report to Jack Chancey on the State Farm Mutual Insurance Company?
A. Jack Chancey was the one that had recommended Dr. Wideman to start with.
Q. Jack Chancey is the claims representative for the insurance carrier of the adverse vehicle, the one you had the collision with, was he not?
A.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
436 S.W.2d 838, 246 Ark. 43, 1969 Ark. LEXIS 1209, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcfall-v-united-states-tobacco-co-ark-1969.