PALLESEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY v. Warren

1965 OK 74, 402 P.2d 256, 1965 Okla. LEXIS 333
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedMay 11, 1965
Docket41124
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 1965 OK 74 (PALLESEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY v. Warren) 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
PALLESEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY v. Warren, 1965 OK 74, 402 P.2d 256, 1965 Okla. LEXIS 333 (Okla. 1965).

Opinion

DAVISON, Justice.

On February 20, 1961, William Clifford Warren, hereinafter referred to as claimant, filed a claim before the State Industrial Court against Steve Osborne and G. H. Elliott, doing business as Osborne & Elliott Construction Company, with no insurance *257 carrier listed. Claimant alleged that on December 15, 1960, while employed by the above employer, he injured his back. The claim was assigned number C-99959 by the State Industrial Court.

On October 20, 1961, testimony was heard by a trial judge wherein it was stipulated as to all jurisdictional facts and that claimant had sustained an accidental injury as alleged. Relief asked for by claimant was for temporary and permanent disability compensation. Claimant testified as to his condition and at the end of that hearing, the trial judge gave each of the parties fifteen days in which to submit their medical evidence. .Claimant introduced into evidence at that hearing a written report by Dr. H who stated, in his opinion, as a result of the accidental injury, claimant was totally disabled and would remain so until “surgical procedure is performed.” Respondent at that time offered no medical evidence.

Nothing further transpired in that case until June 6, 1963. On March 4, 1963, claimant filed a claim for compensation for another injury which was against Pallesen Construction Company and its insurance carrier, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, who are the petitioners herein, alleging that on January 10, 1963, he sustained a compensable injury to his back arising out of his employment.

This claim was assigned number D-17404.

On June 6, 1963, this cause was heard by a trial judge other than the one who had heard the testimony in case No. 99959. At the latter hearing, in No. D-17404, it was stipulated as to all jurisdictional facts, but petitioners denied that claimant had sustained an accidental injury and if he had any disability, it was the result of the previous injury on December 15, 1960, while employed by another.

Claimant testified that on January 10, 1963, he was operating a road grading machine for Pallesen, doing right-of-way construction work; that be picked “up a sheet foot roller” with the blade of the machine; that “it takes a lot of power, two or three hundred pounds, anyway” to hold “it in there” and that because of this, he injured his back; that the following week he told his “boss” about the accidental injury and that he had to go to a doctor; that he went to Dr. B who treated him many times. Claimant testified further as to the periods of time he was off work because of the injury.

Petitioners, in case No. D-17404 then offered into evidence the file in case No. C-99959 and a transcript of the testimony taken thereon and moved that all proceedings in case No. 17404 be held in abeyance until case No. C-99959 be disposed of, or that the two cases be consolidated for trial at the same time.

The record reveals the two cases were continued until June 25, 1963, when claimant appeared, represented by his attorney in the first case, and with a different attorney representing him in his second case; respondent in the first case was represented by its attorney and the petitioners in the second case were represented by their attorney.

The trial judge, as the first proceeding of this hearing, admitted into evidence in case No. 99959, a written report by Dr. T on behalf of the respondent and a written report by Dr. S. dated October 16, 1961, on behalf of claimant. Dr. T stated that in his opinion claimant sustained a 5 per cent permanent partial disability to the body as a whole as a result of the accident of December 15, 1960; Dr. S stated that in his opinion, claimant had sustained 20 per cent partial permanent disability to the body as a whole as a result of the first injury. Case No. 99959 stood submitted.

Claimant’s attorney in the second cause then announced the relief asked for was temporary total and further medical.

Claimant was recalled by his attorney to testify that he was willing to submit to an operation on his back. His attorney announced he had no further questions. *258 Counsel for petitioners announced he had no questions. Counsel for respondent in the first case then asked the trial judge if he could ask questions in the second case. The trial judge permitted him to do so. At this point counsel for petitioners again objected “to any and all proceedings” in the second case until there is a final adjudication of case No. C-99959. The judge overruled the objection. Counsel for claimant in the second case objected to counsel for the respondent in the first case asking questions in the second case. That objection, too, was overruled. Counsel for respondent in the first case then proceeded to cross-examine claimant about both cases as to the doctors he had seen, what they had told him about his condition and disabilities and from which injury the disabilities resulted.

Claimant introduced the written report of Dr. H dated June 17, 1963, wherein he stated he believed claimant to be “totally disabled” and would be “until a corrective surgical procedure is performed.”

Claimant also introduced the written report of Dr. G who stated claimant had 30 per cent permanent partial disability to the body as a whole because of the accident of January 10, 1963.

Petitioners introduced the deposition of Van Smithpeter who stated he was the foreman for respondent, Pallesen; that claimant went to work for him in July or August of 1961 and worked until May of 1952; that claimant complained of his back hurting all during this period; that later claimant returned to work for Pallesen; that he was with claimant when claimant lifted the sheet roller and while claimant did not say anything at that time about being hurt, claimant did call him about two weeks later and told him he had hurt himself “working on the roller.”

Petitioners also introduced into evidence the written report of Dr. S, dated April 5, 1963, wherein Dr. S stated in his opinion claimant had “no more permanent disability than he had prior to the recent injury.”

At this time petitioners’ counsel stated “The respondent and insurance carrier, as a result of the 1963 injury, renews its objection as to the consolidation of these cases for the purpose of trial as heretofore set out * *

The trial judge responded by saying that he had never considered the cases “are actually consolidated,” that they were “merely”' set at the same time but were being tried separately as to all evidence, both lay and medical, and that he would issue two separate orders in the cases.

On July 8, 1963, the trial judge entered an order in case No. 99959 finding that claimant had sustained an injury to his back on December 15, 1960, while employed by respondent Osborne & Elliott Construction Company, that the evidence was insufficient to determine the amount of compensation due claimant for temporary total disability and that that issue “is reserved for further hearing and consideration,” but that claimant had sustained 5 per cent permanent disability to the body as a whole. This order was not appealed by either party, it has become final and the record reveals it has been fully complied with.

Also on July 8, 1963, the trial judge entered an order in case No.

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Bluebook (online)
1965 OK 74, 402 P.2d 256, 1965 Okla. LEXIS 333, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pallesen-construction-company-v-warren-okla-1965.