Lucy v. Industrial Commission
Lucy v. Industrial Commission
Opinion of the Court
The issue presented to the Court is whether or not the Commission had jurisdiction to enter its “Decision upon Hearing and Findings and Award” dated April 2, 1970. In addition, petitioner raises the issue of whether or not the average monthly wage was correctly determined.
The petitioner was injured by a blow to the abdomen which caused a preexisting ulcer to perforate. The accident occurred in August 1967. The petitioner received medical benefits and surgery, and his case was closed with a temporary disability award on January 29, 1968. On April 22, 1968, petitioner filed his petition for reopening of his claim. A hearing was held on October 24, 1969, at which time Robert L. Sommerville, M.D., testified that the petitioner had a continuing general physical functional disability equal to 50 to 75%. The doctor’s testimony was unequivocal
There follows in the file correspondence from the Respondent Insurance Carrier’s attorney indicating an intent to protest the January 8, 1970 award. The letter was dated January 14, 1970. We have examined this letter and find that it does not contain an actual protest which would extend by 20 days the time for filing a motion for rehearing. Under these circumstances, the January 8, 1970 award became final. On February 19, 1970, the same referee filed an amended report recommending that both the award of December 24, 1969, and of January 8, 1970, be rescinded, with a thirty-day clause. Based on this recommendation a third award was issued on April 2, 1970, which is the award complained of in this matter.
The Commission was without jurisdiction on the 19th of February, 1970, and therefore the referee’s amended report and the third award which it provoked are void.
The award of January 8, 1970, became final without protest by the respondent, and the determination of average monthly wage is res judicata.
The award is set aside.
STEVENS, P. J., and CASE, J., concur.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.