William Volker & Co. v. Courtney

1931 OK 612, 4 P.2d 1042, 153 Okla. 174, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 449
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedOctober 13, 1931
Docket22091
StatusPublished

This text of 1931 OK 612 (William Volker & Co. v. Courtney) 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
William Volker & Co. v. Courtney, 1931 OK 612, 4 P.2d 1042, 153 Okla. 174, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 449 (Okla. 1931).

Opinion

KORNEGxlY, J.

This is an original proceeding to review an award of the State Industrial Commission made against William Volker & Company in favor of 0. A. Courtney. The award was made pursuant to a motion to reopen the cause by reason of change in physical condition as alleged, which was filed on the 4th of March, 1931. This motion was resisted, and objection was raised to reopening the case and making- another award.

Testimony was taken on January 16, 1931, of the claimant, Orville A. Courtney, in support of the motion, and in support of the claim for additional compensation. Also, the testimony of Dr. Moore was taken at said time, beginning on page 15 of the transcript, on behalf of the claimant below. He was examined by the attorneys for the claimant and the respondent and also by the Commission.

On behalf of the respondent Dr. W. K. West testified, beginning on page 28 of the transcript and extending to page 33. Testimony was taken again on the 19th of January, 1931, and the testimony on which the order was made on the 10th of November, 1930, and the order of the 2nd of May, 1930, was introduced. A certified copy of the evidence of Mr. Courtney, the claimant, on former hearings was introduced, and Dr. West was again examined, after having-made an examination a second time, of the condition of the claimant. He was cross-examined, and a report of the condition of the claimant by Doctors West and Round-tree was also made pursuant to a recent examination.

The order of January 20, 1931, sought to be reviewed, has been sent up by transcript. That order can be found on page 67 of the transcript, and is as follows:

“Order.
“Now, on this 20th day of January, 1931, the State Industrial Commission being- regularly in session, this cause comes on to be considered pursuant to a hearing held at Oklahoma City; Oklahoma, before Chairman Thos. H. Doyle, January 19, 1931, to determine further the disability of claimant herein, at which hearing- the claimant appeared in person and by his attorney, W. P. Morrison, the respondent being represented by Tomerl'in & Chandler; and the Commission after reviewing the testimony taken at said hearing and all the records on file, and being otherwise well and sufficiently advised in the premises, makes the following findings of fact:
“1. That on the 5th day of July, claimant was in the employment of the respondent,_ and engaged in a -hazardous occupation subject to and covered by the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Law, and that on said date said claimant sustained an accidental injury, arising out of and in the course of his employment, by sustaining injury to his right knee.
“2. That the average weekly wage of t-he claimant at the time of the said accidental injury was $17.
“3. That by reason of said accidental injury, the claimant has been temporarilv disabled from the 5th day of July, 1929, to April 16, 1930, being 40 weeks beyond the five-day waiting period at the rate of $11.34 a week, which has previously been paid, in the amount of $453.60.
“4. That claimant also has suffered 15 per cent, disability as result of injury to his right leg. being 26% weeks at the rate of $11.-34, amounting to $297.67. which has heretofore been paid.
“5. That pursuant to hearing before the Industrial Commission on January 19. 1931. *175 testimony was produced showing that the claimant was temporarily totally disabled at this time, said hearing being on motion of claimant to reopen said cause and make further award.
“The Commission is of the opinion: That on' consideration of the foregoing facts, the claimant is entitled to temporary total compensation from December 31, 1930, to January 21, 1931, being three weeks, at the rate of $11.34 per week, and to continue said weekly compensation until otherwise ordered by the Commission; which is in addition to all former awards heretofore paid.
“Upon consideration of the foregoing facts: The Commission is of the opinion the claimant is entitled to have said reopened and further compensation awarded, and it is so ordered;
“It is therefore ordered: That within 15 days from this date, the respondent pay to the claimant the sum of $34.02, which is temporary compensation from December 31, 1930, to January 21, 1931. and that the respondent continue paying the claimant compensation at the rate of $11.34 per week, until otherwise ordered by the Commission, and respondent continue such further medical services as may be considered beneficial to the patient;
“It is further ordered: That within 30 days from this dale, the respondent or the insurance carrier file with the Commission proper receipt or other report, evidencing compliance with the terms of this order.”

An attack has been made upon said order in the brief of 1he petitioner, and numerous assignments of error have been made, but in the argument in the brief the matter narrows itself down to two propositions: The first is that there is no competent evidence to establish a change in the condition of the claimant, since the making of the award for permanent partial disability, to warrant the reopening of the cause and making further award. We are not able to agree with the petitioner in this respect. Undoubtedly, under this evidence, 1he original award of November 10th was made under the supposition that there would no longer be any total disability arising out of this accident. It developed after the order was mad-' that, by reason of a condition brought about undoubtedly by the injury, the claimant was totally disabled from December 31. 1930. to January 21, 1931, a period of three weeks, and the Commission ordered that compensation be paid him for that time, and to continue until otherwise ordered by the Commission.

The provision of law, as enacted by the Legislature, which binds us with reference to this matter, and binds the Commission, and binds the respondent and the petitioner, can be found in section 8 of chapter 61 of the acts of the 9th Legislature, Session Laws of 1923, page 126, as follows:

“Section 8. Section 7297, C. O. S. 1921, is hereby amended to read as follows:
“ ‘Section 7297. The award or decision of the Commission shall be final and conclusive upon all questions within its jurisdiction, between the parties, unless within 30 days after a copy of such award or decision has been sent by said Commission to the parties affected, an action Is commenced in the Supreme Court to review such award or decision. Said Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction of such action, and is authorized to prescribe rules for the commencement and trial of the same. Such action sháll be commenced by filing with the Clerk of the Supreme Court a certified copy of the award or decision of the Commission attached to the petition by the complainant, wherein the complainant or petitioner shall make his assignments or specifications as to wherein said award or decision is erroneous and illegal. Said proceedings shall be heard In a summary manner and have precedence over all other civil cases in such court, except preferred Corporation Commission appeals.

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Bluebook (online)
1931 OK 612, 4 P.2d 1042, 153 Okla. 174, 1931 Okla. LEXIS 449, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/william-volker-co-v-courtney-okla-1931.