State, Ex Rel. Moore v. Keller

203 N.E.2d 259, 120 Ohio App. 454, 29 Ohio Op. 2d 336, 1964 Ohio App. LEXIS 599
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 24, 1964
Docket7478
StatusPublished

This text of 203 N.E.2d 259 (State, Ex Rel. Moore v. Keller) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State, Ex Rel. Moore v. Keller, 203 N.E.2d 259, 120 Ohio App. 454, 29 Ohio Op. 2d 336, 1964 Ohio App. LEXIS 599 (Ohio Ct. App. 1964).

Opinion

Bryant, J.

This is an action for a writ of mandamus originating in this court. The petition was filed by Mable S. Moore relating that she is the widow of Lawrence W. Moore, deceased, and on July 2, 1962 was wholly dependent on him for support. She further alleges that her husband, the decedent, on or about August 30, 1955, in the usual course of his employment for Rutledge Hardware, Inc., received an injury in the course of and arising out of his employment, entitling him to file for and in fact receive benefits under the Workmen’s Compensation Laws of Ohio; that Rutledge Hardware, Inc., was amenable to and complied with the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Laws of Ohio and paid the required premiums thereunder. Relator further alleges that her husband died July 2, 1962, as a direct and proximate result of the injuries sustained August 30, 1955, and that within the time provided by law she filed an application for the payment of death benefits, which application was assigned claim number 2129120 and was considered by a deputy administor of the Bureau of Workmen’s Compensation on March 13, 1963, at which time her claim was allowed.

Relator further alleges that on the date last mentioned when her claim was allowed, the following decision was rendered :

“It is the order of the administrator that the death claim be allowed; that the average weekly wage be fixed at $100.00; that the administrator finds that the decedent’s widow, Mable S. Moore, was wholly dependent upon the decedent for support at the time of his death; that it is ordered that a death award be granted to the widow-claimant in the amount of $16,000.00 payable at 66 2/3% of the average weekly wage (not to exceed $49.00 per week) from the date of death; that bills for necessary medical and hospital expenses be paid as approved; that the statutory amount of $500.00 for funeral expenses be reimbursed to the widow-claimant, Mable S. Moore.”

*456 Relator further alleges that the employer, Rutledge Hardware, Inc., did not contest her claim nor has any appeal been filed by or on behalf of the employer; that the Administrator of the Bureau of Workmen’s Compensation has failed and refused to cause benefits granted to her by the order of March 13, 1963, to be paid and refuses to make payment, and further that such refusal is contrary to law and constitutes a gross abuse of discretion; and that relator has no other remedy, either legal or equitable, in the usual course of the law. The petition concludes with the prayer for a peremptory writ of mandamus to compel the administrator to pay relator benefits which should have been granted her, or show cause why they should not be paid, and for such other further relief to which she may be entitled.

The answer of the administrator admits that relator is the widow of the deceased, Lawrence W. Moore, and on July 2,1962, was solely and wholly dependent on the deceased for support; that the deceased on or about August 30, 1955, in the usual course of his employment for Rutledge Hardware, Inc., received an injury entitling him to receive benefits under the Workmen’s Compensation Laws of Ohio; and that Rutledge Hardware, Inc., was amenable to and complied with the Workmen’s Compensation Laws of Ohio.

The answer admits further that plaintiff filed the application for death benefits described in the petition and that proceedings were had and orders entered as alleged in the petition. The answer also admits further that the administrator failed and refused to cause the benefits granted to relator in the order of March 13, 1963, to be paid, and refuses to make payment of that award. Furthermore, the answer alleges as follows :

“Further answering, defendant avers that following the filing of an application for reconsideration of the finding of the deputy administrator made on March 13, 1963 (referred to in the petition at paragraph 4) it was vacated on August 20, 1963.”

The reply of relator reads as follows:

“Now comes Mable S. Moore, plaintiff herein, and for her reply to the Answer of Elmer A. Keller, Administrator, denies the filing of any application for reconsideration as pro *457 vided by law from tbe decision of the deputy administrator rendered March 13, 1963.”

The evidence in this case consisted of a stipulation which reads as follows:

“It is stipulated by and between counsel for the parties herein that the evidence and the sole evidence in this matter shall be the attached exhibits numbered one through eight inclusive.

“It is further stipulated by and between counsel that the attached photostatic exhibits are true and correct copies of the original documents contained in the bureau file numbered 2129120.”

Exhibit 1 is Form C-2 which is entitled “First Notice of Death and Preliminary Application,” one side executed by the employer and the other by the relator.

Exhibit 2 is Form C-115-B, being the notice to relator and to deceased’s employer of a hearing to be held at Canton, Ohio, on March 15, 1963, the question being “Allowance of Death Claim.” This appears to have been prepared on March 7, 1963.

Exhibit 3 is Form C-10 entitled “Record of Proceedings.” It appears to have been prepared on March 13, 1963, and recites that it is the order of the administrator that the death claim be allowed; finds that relator was wholly dependent upon the decedent for support; grants the death award; fixes the amount of weekly payments; and approves the payment of necessary bills and a reimbursement to the widow for funeral expenses. This exhibit bears the following signature at the bottom thereof:

“James L. Young, Administrator

(s) Frank R. Jellison

Deputy Claims Administrator.”

It is noted that Jellison also executed the notice of hearing, being Exhibit 2. Exhibit 3 also bears an approval in the form of a stamp which, although only partially legible, appears to read as follows:

“Bureau of

Workmen’s Compensation

Approved

James L. Young, Administrator

NO, 2,”

*458 It will be observed that the death claim was allowed on March 13, 1963, notwithstanding the fact that the advance notice of hearing of snch claim stated the hearing was set for March 15, 1963, and had been mailed to relator and decedent’s employer.

Exhibit 4 bears the date of April 2, 1963, and is identified as Form C-137a, which appears to have been sent to the relator stating among other things, “both the claimant and the employer have the right to ask for a reconsideration of the finding made by the administrator or his deputy.” This form further states that to make application for reconsideration, Form C-88 must be used and must be filed within ten days from the date “this notice of finding was received by you.”

Exhibit 5 was dated April 2, 1963, and appears to be Form C-137, which is a letter of transmittal reading as follows: “Attached is a copy of the finding of the bureau and/or commission at a hearing in the above numbered claim on the date shown.”

Thus it would appear that Exhibits 5, 4 and 3 were sent to the relator and the employer on April 2, 1963.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State Ex Rel. Oberlin v. Industrial Commission
178 N.E.2d 250 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 1961)
State ex rel. Kilgore v. Industrial Commission
174 N.E. 345 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1930)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
203 N.E.2d 259, 120 Ohio App. 454, 29 Ohio Op. 2d 336, 1964 Ohio App. LEXIS 599, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-moore-v-keller-ohioctapp-1964.