Ranney Rig Bldg. Co. v. Givens

1930 OK 68, 285 P. 23, 141 Okla. 195, 1930 Okla. LEXIS 42
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedFebruary 4, 1930
Docket20116
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 1930 OK 68 (Ranney Rig Bldg. Co. v. Givens) 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
Ranney Rig Bldg. Co. v. Givens, 1930 OK 68, 285 P. 23, 141 Okla. 195, 1930 Okla. LEXIS 42 (Okla. 1930).

Opinion

FOSTER, C.

On March 7, 1924, one Thomas J". McFadden was injured near Tonkawa, Okla., while employed by the Ranney Rig Building Company. The injury was the result of a fall from a rig being constructed by that company, and for which McFadden suffered a broken back, causing complete paralysis of his arms, and from which he subsequently, and on the 6th day of June, 1926, died.

On April 24, 1924, McFadden filed his claim with the State Industrial Commission, and compensation as provided by the Workmen’s Compensation Act was awarded and paid him until his death.

On August 30, 1924, the respondent herein, Nellie Givens, filed 'her claim for her services as a nurse in taking care of the said McFadden from the 12th day of May, 1924, until the 27th day of August, 1924, making a total of 108 days. A hearing was had and several depositions and affidavits were introduced, and thereupon the Industrial Commission, on December 29, 1928, made an order, in substance, as follows: That it was admitted by both parties that Thomas McFadden received an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment on the 7th day of March, 1924; that it is further admitted that MeEadden was placed in the care of Dr. McElroy, in St. John’s Hospital at Ponca City, by the petitioners; that a sister of Thomas McFadden was informed by Dr. McElroy of the critical condition of her brother, and requested that he be sent to Nebraska, the home of his párente, because his parents were too old to come to Oklahoma; that Dr. McElroy told McFadden’s sister that he could not make' the trip without a nurse, and the doctor also told one of the “Sisters” in charge of the hospital not to let him ga without a nurse, but that he made no objections to the removal of McFadden with a nurse, and acquiesced in his removal; that under the direction of Dr. McElroy, the “Sister” secured a nurse, and. that McFadden was at that time in need of a nurse on account of his injury, and that his nurse, Miss Givens, performed services from May 12, 1924, to August 27, 1924, making a total of 108 days, and that her services were reasonably worth $5 a day, and were the same as respondents would have been required to pay had McFadden remained at the hospital.

Thereupon the Commission ordered that the petitioners herein' became liable for the amount of Miss Givens’ services in the sum of $540, 'and directed the petitioners to pay the same within 10 days and file a receipt thereof within 30 days from date.

On January 26, 1929, the petitioners filed this action alleging that the above order was erroneous, which is presented in their brief under five propositions, as follows:

First. When the claimant, Thomas McFadden, died, the jurisdiction of the Industrial Commission to make an award of any kind was ousted ab initio, and therefore the Commission was without power or authority to make any order in this case or in relation thereto.

. Second. If jurisdiction existed in the Industrial Commission, the order was based upon incompetent and inadmissible evidence and documents.

Third. That there is no right in any person to recover for medical attention given without the direct authority of the respondent (petitioners herein) and the insurance carrier- in a compensation case where proper medical and hospital attention is being given.

Fourth. That there is no express or implied authority in Dr. McElroy or the hospital to authorize removal of McFadden from where he was receiving proper attention to another state, not for better caz-e and medical attention, but to be near his family.

Fifth. That there is no legal right or authority to collect for medical or hospital attendance mozve than 60 days, unless and until there has been an application to the Industrial Commission to order further medical aid, and such order has been made prior to the z-endering of the services.

In support of their first contention, the petitioners contend that, uzider the Compensation Law, no award can be made as a result of aiz injury which caused the death of the claimant under section 7, art. 23, of the Constitution, and section 7338, C. O. S. 1921. Section 7, art. 23, supra, provides:

“That the right of action to recover dam *197 ages for injuries resulting in death shall never be abrogated, and the amount recoverable shall not be subject to any statutory limitation.”

Section 7338, supra, provides that:

“It is not intended that any of the provisions of this act shall apply in cases of accidents resulting in death. * * *”

The claim of Miss Givens in this case was for services to the original claimant, Joe Mc-Padden, for his injury and before his death. The injuries which McPadden received caused his death. The petitioners attempt to make a distinction between the case of Lahoma Oil Co. v. Industrial Commission, 71 Okla. 160, 175 Pac. 836, and the cause of Western Indemnity Co. v. State Industrial Commission, 96 Okla. 100, 219 Pac. 147. It is contended by the petitioners that, in the first case, the opinion disclosed that the claimant died as a result of the injury, while in the second case the opinion does not disclose what caused the claimant’s death. The opinion in the second case does not disclose what caused the claimant's death, but the motion to dismiss on file in the office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court alleges that the claimant in that case died as a direct result of the accident and injuries, for which claim was made by him before the Industrial Commission and for which compensation was allowed. It is on this motion the opinion is based.

It appears that the Western Indemnity Case was well considered, and, upon petition for rehearing, this court held, we think, in view of the motion to dismiss which they were passing upon, directly contrary to petitioners’ contention. We believe a careful reading of these two cases will support our conclusion.

However, if no action has been begun by the claimant at the time of his death, the Industrial Commission loses jurisdiction entirely under the holding of Wilson Drilling Co. v. Byers, 138 Okla. 248, 280 Pac. 846. When the employee has filed a claim, then the doctors, nurses, etc., may file their claims in the same action and prosecute them in their own name. Standard Paving Co. v. Lemmon, 129 Okla. 15, 263 Pac. 140.

Under* the prior 'holding of our court, wo think the Industrial Commission has jurisdiction of the claim of Miss Givens.

In support of their second proposition, that the Industrial Commission’s order was based upon incompetent and inadmissible evidence and documents, the petitioners herein object to certain affidavits which appear in the record and to certain testimony taken before the Compensation Commissioner of Nebraska.

The record in this case discloses that immediately after the injury, Thomas McPadden. was taken to the hospital at Ponca City, where he remained until on or about May 12, 1924. The injury caused total paralysis in his limbs, and he was unable to feed himself, and there was very little chance of his recovery. This information was given to McPadden by Dr. McElroy, who was in charge of his case, and to his sister, who was at the hospital.

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Bluebook (online)
1930 OK 68, 285 P. 23, 141 Okla. 195, 1930 Okla. LEXIS 42, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ranney-rig-bldg-co-v-givens-okla-1930.