United States F. & G. Co. v. State Industrial Com.

1925 OK 854, 240 P. 634, 112 Okla. 230, 1925 Okla. LEXIS 590

• Court: Supreme Court of Oklahoma
• Decided: October 20, 1925
• Docket: 16368
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion by

STEPHENSON, C.

Ben A. Dillbeck received a personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment as tool dresser with Hough-Slaughenhop & Lawson on May 9, 1924. The employe returned to light work on August 1, 1924, and continued such service as pumper until December, 1924. The employe was ¡required to abandon his employment on account of alleged temporary, total disability on the latter date. The employe filed his action before the Industrial Commission for compensation based upon temporary total disability. The trial of the cause resulted in a finding of fact in favor of the claimant, and an award based upon temporary, total disability. The accident resulted in injury to plaintiff’s knee, which he claims incapacitated him for any class of Work in December, 1924. The insurance carrier and employer commenced their proceedings in this court to review the judgment of the Industrial Commission within the statutory time.

The assignments of error for reversal of the judgment are: (1) That the award is not supported by sufficient evidence. (2) That the judgment is contrary to law.

The commission found that the employe suffered an injury on May 9, 1924, and reentered the employer’s services on August 1, 1924, as pumper, at a salary of $4 per day. It was found further that the claimant continued in such employ until December, 1924, when the nature of the injury incapacitated plaintiff for any class of services. The commission found that the claimant was suffering from a temporary, total disability. The findings of fact are based upon disputed questions of fact, which were heard and tried before the Industrial Commission. The findings and judgment based upon the disputed questions of fact are final, and this court is not authorized to weigh the sufficiency of the evidence to support such findings and judgment in a proceeding for reviewing an award. Grace v. Vaught et al., 108 Okla. 187, 235 Pac. 590; Rector v. Roxana Petroleum Co., 108 Okla. 122, 235 Pac. 183; Scruggs Bros. and Bill’s Garage v. State Industrial Comm., 94 Okla. 187, 221 Pac. 470.

Incidentally, the question ¡as to how long a period of time the claimant should be compensated for the injury has arisen between the parties in their briefs. The question is not made by the judgment and record. The question of the period of time the claimant will be entitled to compensation may not arise, as the finding is that the injury is a temporary, total disability. The employe may be able to return to service before the time may expire, which would give occasion for the consideration of this ques tion. The insurance carrier may raise this question when it is supposed that the employe has drawn compensation for the period of time allowed by the statutes.

It is recommended that the judgment of the commission be affirmed.

By the Court: It is so ordered.