United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Vogel

284 S.W. 650, 1926 Tex. App. LEXIS 487
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 6, 1926
DocketNo. 1920.
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 284 S.W. 650 (United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Vogel) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Vogel, 284 S.W. 650, 1926 Tex. App. LEXIS 487 (Tex. Ct. App. 1926).

Opinion

HIGGINS, J.

On February 18, 1924, ap-pellee Vogel sustained an injury while in the course of his employment. The appellant was insurer under the Workmen’s Compensation Act (Vernon’s Ann. Civ. St. Supp. 1918, art. 5246 — 1 et seq.). The Industrial Accident Board found that, in consequence of his injury, Vogel had suffered permanent total incapacity to labor and awarded him compensation at the rate of $16.54 per week for 400 weeks. The board denied his application for a lump sum settlement, whereupon this suit was filed by Vogel and his attorney. The petition contains the usual allegations in such cases and asks for lump sum settlement. The case was submitted upon special *651 issues. The issues. submitted,' and findings : ■tliereon as shown by the record brought up on certiorari to correct the original. transcript, read:

(1) “Was John Yogel totally incapacitated for work on the 18th day of February, 1924? Answer: Yes.”
(2) “Was such total incapacity, if any, permanent? Answer: Yes.”
(6) “Is this a case where, in your judgment, manifest hardship and injustice would result to the plaintiff, John Vogel, if the defendant should fail to redeem its liability, if any, by a payment of a lump sum, instead of weekly payments of $16.54 per week? Answer: Yes.”

Issues 3, 4, and 5 were conditionally submitted and- were not answered. They relate to the issue of temporary partial incapacity and answers were not necessary under findings 1 and 2. Judgment was rendered against appellant in the sum of $5,123.02, as a lump sum settlement; that being the amount due after allowing credit for what had theretofore been páid.

The sufficiency of the evidence is questioned to support the finding that Vogel was totally and permanently injured; also the sixth finding. All of the doctors testified the plaintiff had a crushed vertebra of the spinal column. Two of them testify he is totally and permanently incapacitated to labor. The plaintiff’s testimony shows that up to the date of trial, more than a year after his injury, he was totally incapacitated to labor. Upon these issues the weight of the evidence supports the findings made.

Nor do we think the jury’s finding upon the sixth issue should be set aside. This man’s back was broken. The doctors all agree it was. He is totally and permanently incapacitated to labor for a living. But the evidence does disclose he is capable of getting around and looking after some little business in which he might engage if he had the funds to do so. The weekly payment to which he would be entitled is $16.54. His board and room costs $40 per month. His other necessary expenses are about $10 per month. This allows nothing for medical attention and other expenses. He has $400, which he had saved at the time he was injured. $16.54 per week is certainly a very small amount upon which to live under present conditions. The plaintiff, if allowed a lump sum settlement and investing the same in some business which he is physically able to conduct, could reasonably hope to permanently increase his income to an amount which would be adequate for a comfortable existence. To deprive him of that opportunity, in his-condition would be a manifest hardship and injustice and we sustain the sixth finding. Texas Employers’ Insurance Association v. Boudreaux (Tex. Com. App.) 231 S. W. 756; Lumbermen’s Reciprocal Ins. Ass’n v. Behnken (Tex. Civ. App.) 226 S. W. 154; Texas Employers’ Insurance Association v. Boudreaux (Tex. Civ. App.) 238 S. W. 697; Lumbermen’s Reciprocal v. Warner (Tex. Civ. App.) 234 S. W. 545; Georgia Casualty Co. v. Darnell (Tex. Civ. App.) 243 S. W. 579; Consolidated Underwriters v. Saxon (Tex. Civ. App.) 250 S. W. 447; Millers’ Indemnity v. Green (Tex. Civ. App.) 237 S. W. 979; Millers’ Indemnity v. Huffaker (Tex. Civ. App.) 241 S. W. 732.

All assignments and propositions are overruled which, in different forms, question the sufficiency of the evidence to support the findings and judgment. '

We think there is no merit in appellant’s second proposition to the effect that the issues as submitted were confusing and misleading and did not submit the real controlling questions in the case. Western Indemnity Co. v. Corder (Tex. Civ. App.) 249 S. W. 319.

Objection to the sixth issue is made by proposition, which reads:

“Where the court submits a lump sum settlement, it is error to submit to the jury the question of whether, or not it would be a manifest hardship and injustice to the plaintiff if the company should fail to redeem its liability, if any, by the payment of a lump sum instead of weekly payments of $16.54, the law being that it is the purpose of the Compensation Act that compensation shall be paid from week to week, and it is only in those cases where payment from week to week would work a manifest hardship and injustice to the employee that liability should be redeemed in a lump sum. The question is not whether it would work a manifest hardship and injustice not to receive the lump sum, but should be submitted as to whether or not to receive the weekly payments would create a hardship and injustice as the law so provides. This is especially error in view of the fact that the court refused to charge the jury, although requested so to do, that it was the purpose of the law that the compensation be paid in weekly payments.”

The requested charge referred to in this proposition reads:

“You are instructed that it is the purpose and object of the Compensation Law that payments of compensation shall be made weekly and as they accrue and that a lump sum settlement of the compensation should be given only in special cases where, in the judgment of the jury, manifest hardship and injustice would result by virtue of permitting the compensation to be paid weekly.”

Article 5246 — 33, Complete Tex. St. 1920, or Vernon’s Ann. Civ. St. Supp. 1918, authorizes the award of a lump sum settlement in “special ca.ses” of total permanent incapacity “where, in the judgment of the board, manifest hardship and injustice would otherwise result.” The special issues fairly and properly submitted the right of the plaintiff to a lump sum settlement under this section of the law. The objection thereto is not well taken. With respect to' the requested instruction, it is objectionable in more than one particular. If. it had been otherwise unobjec *652 tionable, it was nevertheless properly refused because the case was submitted upon special issues. In such cases, a charge general in its nature or which instructs the jury as to the law arising upon the facts should not be given. Humble, etc., v. McLean (Tex. Com. App.) 280 S. W. 557; Texas & N. O. Ry. v. Harrington (Tex. Com. App.) 235 S. W. 188; Connellee v. Nees (Tex Com. App.) 266 S. W. 502.

The sixth issue is not subject to the objection urged in the fifth proposition; nor was such objection to the charge reserved in the court below. For such reason it cannot be raised for the first time upon appeal. Article 2185, R. S. 1925. The definition of “total incapacity” contained in the court’s charge was correct, for which reason the sixth proposition is overruled.

Appellant requested the submission of the following:

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284 S.W. 650, 1926 Tex. App. LEXIS 487, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-fidelity-guaranty-co-v-vogel-texapp-1926.