Olson Drilling Co. v. Tryon

1931 OK 373, 300 P. 663, 150 Okla. 18, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 268
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedJune 23, 1931
Docket22206
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 1931 OK 373 (Olson Drilling Co. v. Tryon) 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
Olson Drilling Co. v. Tryon, 1931 OK 373, 300 P. 663, 150 Okla. 18, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 268 (Okla. 1931).

Opinion

SWINDALL, J.

This is an original proceeding to review an award of the State Industrial Commission. The respondent, Jim Tryon. was claimant before the Commission, Olson Drilling Company was respondent, and the Travelers Insurance Company insurance carrier. The claimant did not give notice of alleged injury as required bisection 7292, C. O. S. 1921. The petitioners contend that the burden was on the claimant. respondent herein, to excuse such failure by affirmative proof that his employer or the insurance carrier were not prejudiced thereby. The claimant contends that the petitioner Olson Drilling Company had actual knowledge of the accidental injury, and that this shifted the burden to the petitioners to stow that, in spite of such actual notice, they have still been prejudiced by the failure to receive a written notice. Tim claimant, Jim Tryon, at the time cf the alleged accidental injury was employed by the Olson Drilling Company as a fireman to fire the hosiers generating steam in the engine used in the operation cf the dri'ling machinery in drilling an oil well in the Oklahoma City field. The steam pressure reuuiml to be maintained was 350 pounds. A flange on the steam line became defective, producing a sound like a whistle. The claimant testified that he was working 15 or 16 feet from the steam line, which was connected with the boiler, and that he informed the driller, who was foreman over him and whose duty it was to report, accidents to the company, that his hearing was “getting bad,” and that he should have medical attention. The driller told him it would be all right in a few days. The respondent herein claims that on several occasions he notified the driller of the effect the escaping steam was producing on his hearing. The respondent worked under the sound of this noise like the sound of a whistle from the 12th to the 16th day of July, 1930. The claimant claims compensation for loss of hearing. There is competent evidence in the record that the claimant notified the driller of the accident and requested medical attention, while the driller denied any such notice or request. There was also competent evidence that noise of this character might produce an injury to the hearing. Upon the evidence the Commission found:

“(1) That on July 12, to about July 16, 1930, the claimant was in the employment of said respondent and engaged in a'hazardous occupation subject to and covered by the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Law, and that on said date said claimant sustained an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment, by receiving an injury to both ears, through loss of hearing.
“(2) That the claimant’s average daily wage at the time of said accidental injury was $7.50 per day.
“(3) That by reason of said accidental injury, the claimant has sustained approximately 60 per cent, permanent partial loss of hearing in the right ear, and approximately 20 per cent, permanent partial loss ol hearing in the left ear.
“(4) That neither the respondent nor insurance carrier were prejudiced by the failure of the claimant to give written notice within 30 days as required by section 7292, Compiled Statutes of Oklahoma 1921, for the reason the respondent, through its agent, had actual notice of the injury.
“Upon consideration of the foregoing facts, the Commission is of the opinion that the claimant is entitled to $1,200, as a reasonable award for approximately 60 per cent, less of hearing in the right ear, and approximately 20 per cent, loss- of hearing in the left ear.’’

The Commission awarded the claimant, the respondent herein, the sum of $1,200, and all medical, doctor, and hospital bills incurred by reason of said accidental injury. This action is to review said award. The rule is well established in this state that a finding of fact made by the Industrial Commission upon issues of fact involved in the trial of a cause is final, and this court is not authorized to weigh the evidence on a review of the judgment or award to de *20 termine the sufficiency thereof. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. State Industrial Commission, 112 Okla. 230, 240 Pac. 634; Rock Island Coal Mining Co. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co., 112 Okla. 250, 240 Pac. 635; Hidden Treasurer Coal Co. v. Urist, 112 Okla. 245, 240 Pac. 640; Graver Corporation v. State Industrial Commission, 114 Okla. 140, 244 Pac. 438; Courson v. Consolidated Fuel Co., 121 Okla. 170, 249 Pac. 155; Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. v. Thomas, 115 Okla. 67, 241 Pac. 820; Bilharz Mining Co. v. State Industrial Commission, 129 Okla. 271, 264 Pac. 622; Williams v. Black-Sivalls & Bryson, 127 Okla. 32, 259 Pac. 550. It seems to he equally well settled that, in an action to inforce compensation for an injury to an employee under the Workmen’s Compensation Law, where it appears that no written notice of the injury was given, as required by section 7292, C. O. S. 1921, a want of prejudice to the employer by reason „ of failure to give the written notice sufficiently appears, where it is shown that the employer had actual notice of such injury soon after it occurred, and with full knowledge of the injury, omitted to administer any relief; and where the employee makes proof of such actual notice of his injury, the burden of proof then shifts to the employer to show that, in spite of such actual notice, he is still prejudiced by the failure to give the written notice. Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. v. Thomas, supra; Lawrence v. State Industrial Commission, 120 Okla. 197, 251 Pac. 40; United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. State Industrial Commission, 120 Okla. 277, 251 Pac. 597; Ford Motor Co. v. Ford, 128 Okla. 221, 262 Pac. 201; United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Cruse, 129 Okla. 60, 263 Pac. 462.

The Oklahoma decisions are cited with approval by the Court of Appeals of Missouri, in Schrabauer v. Schneider Engraving Product, Inc., et al., 25 S. W. (2nd Series) 529. In Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. v. Thomas, supra, this court cites a note to State ex rel. City of Northfield v. District Court of Rice County. 131 Minn. 352, 155 N. W. 103, Ann. Cas. 1917D, the note appearing at page 874. In the note numerous cases from the English and American courts are cited declaring the same rule as stated by this court; Counsel flor petitioners rely upon Fidelity Union Casualty Co. v. State Industrial Commission, 130 Okla. 65, 265 Pac. 131, the first paragraph of the syllabus being:

“As a general rule the mere faTure on the part of (he claimant to give written notice of his injury in strict compliance w’th the terms of the statute will not bar a claim for compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation A'-t. where the employer has actual notice of the injury, in the absence of proof by the employer or insurance carrier that prejudice has resulted because of the failure to give such written notice.”

In that case the claimant was president and manager of the El Reno Foundry & Machine Company, a corporation, and his wife was secretary. Practically all of the stock of the corporation was owned and held by the claimant, his wife, sister, and his cousins. Claimant’s alleged injury occurred August 12, 1924, while he was superintending the cutting of weeds in the foundry yard. The injury consisted of a scratch on the ankle caused by the stub of a weed. This scratch was several inches in length and deep enough to draw blood.

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Bluebook (online)
1931 OK 373, 300 P. 663, 150 Okla. 18, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 268, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/olson-drilling-co-v-tryon-okla-1931.