Poke v. Peerless Foundry Co.

119 N.E.2d 905, 124 Ind. App. 544, 1954 Ind. App. LEXIS 197
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 10, 1954
Docket18,516
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 119 N.E.2d 905 (Poke v. Peerless Foundry Co.) 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
Poke v. Peerless Foundry Co., 119 N.E.2d 905, 124 Ind. App. 544, 1954 Ind. App. LEXIS 197 (Ind. Ct. App. 1954).

Opinion

*546 Kendall, J.

Appellant filed application for compensation for permanent partial impairment alleged to be due to exposure to silica dust up to and including August 1, 1952. It was alleged that the appellant suffered a sixty (60%) percent permanent partial impairment of the man as a whole.

The following history of the alleged ailment as recited therein is:

“That the general nature and character of the illness or disease for which compensation is sought is (State Fully) Silicosis. There is a history of occupational exposure to silica dust. Physical examination and X-ray studies make the diagnosis of silicosis very definite in this man. There is sufficient reason to believe there will be a progressive increase in the pathology in the lungs with a comparable increase in his disability. There is evidence of compensatory emphysema, with changes in the heart muscle probably secondary to the emphysema. Lung function tests and electrocardiagraphical evidence of myocardial disease indicate that Plaintiff has a definite disability of 60% of the whole man at this time, and that this disability will gradually increase as time goes on.

Cause was heard by a Single Hearing Member who denied relief on the grounds that the Industrial Board did not have jurisdiction, which award was affirmed by the Full Board. The award and judgment are as follows :

“. . . 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 21st day of April, 1953 the plaintiff filed his Form No. 115 application for compensation under the provisions of the Indiana Workmen’s Occupational Diseases Act; that on the 11th day of May, 1953 the defendant filed its Special Answer *547 in two paragraphs, which said Special Answer is in the following words and figures, towit:
(H. I.)
“That on the 12th day of November, 1948, plaintiff suffered a disablement resulting from an Occupational Disease known as Silicosis, which said Occupational Disease was contracted by the plaintiff while in the employ of said defendant herein.
“It is further found that on the 28th day of February 1949, a compensation agreement was entered into by said parties, which said agreement was filed with and approved by the Industrial Board on or about the 24th day of March, 1949; that • under and pursuant to said compensation agreement the defendant paid plaintiff compensation for plaintiff’s disability on account of said Occupational Disease from the 12th day of November, 1948 up to and including the 16th day of January, 1949 in the total sum of $160.25; that on or about the 1st day of March, 1949 a receipt showing such payment was filed with the Industrial Board of Indiana.
“It is further found that the said plaintiff’s application Form 115 filed on the 21st day of April, 1953, for plaintiff’s permanent Occupational Disease was filed more than two years after January 16th, 1949.
“The said Full Industrial Board of Indiana further finds that the said Board is without jurisdiction in the premises herein.
“The said Full Industrial Board of Indiana now finds for the defendant and against the plaintiff on defendant’s Special Answer in two paragraphs, filed on the 11th day of May, 1953.
AWARD
“IT IS, THEREFORE, CONSIDERED, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED by the Full Industrial Board of Indiana that the Industrial Board is without justification in the premises herein.
“It is further ordered that plaintiff’s application Form No. 115, filed on the 21st day of April 1953, shall be and the same is hereby dismissed.
“Dated this 9th day of December, 1953.
FULL INDUSTRIAL BOARD OF INDIANA”

*548 From an adverse ruling this appeal was instituted. Special answer in two paragraphs was filed by appellee. First, a general denial, and, second, that the appellant had been in the employ of appellee from 1918 until August 1, 1952; that on November 12, 1948, he suffered a disablement from the occupational disease, silicosis; that an agreement for compensation was entered into on account thereof which was filed with and approved by the Industrial Board on March 24, 1949; that compensation was paid under said agreement from November 12, 1948, to January 16, 1949.

The assignment of errors is that the award of the Full Board was contrary to law.

When the cause was set for hearing before the Single Member, the facts as alleged in appellee’s second paragraph of answer were stipulated. Also, that on August 31, 1952, the appellant went to work as custodian for an office building for which work he was paid as much as he formerly earned while working for appellee.

■ It is appellant’s contention that the Industrial Board erred in three particulars. In view of the decision reached by this court, it is only necessary to discuss the first contention by which the appellant contends that the Industrial Board erred because appellant’s action was an original one for compensation and not one for modification of the prior award and should not, therefore, be governed by the provisions of §20 of the Occupational Disease Act (§40-2220, Burns’ 1952 Replacement) .

*549 *548 Our attention is directed to whether or not the facts specifically found by the board are sufficient to sustain *549 the award. Under §40-1511, Burns’ 1952 Replacement, the statute imposes on the Full Board the obligation to make and file a finding of facts upon which an award is based. In this case, appellant claims that his action for permanent partial impairment is an original action, and, therefore, does not come under the provisions of Section (i), §40-2220, supra, while the appellee contends that appellant’s application is one of modification of the original award and therefore Section (i), §40-2220, supra, applies. If appellee is correct, then this award would necessarily have to be affirmed for the evidence shows that the application was filed more than two years after the date of the last payment of compensation.

The board failed in making its findings to determine whether or not the impairment now complained of by appellant was the result of a change of conditions from the original exposure to silica dust or that his present illness is a result of independent exposure to silica dust. In fact there was no finding stating on what basis the award of the Industrial Board was made.

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Bluebook (online)
119 N.E.2d 905, 124 Ind. App. 544, 1954 Ind. App. LEXIS 197, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/poke-v-peerless-foundry-co-indctapp-1954.