State ex rel. Brewer v. Industrial Commission
State ex rel. Brewer v. Industrial Commission
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
This is an action in mandamus filed against the Industrial Commission of Ohio in which the relator seeks a peremptory writ requiring said Commission to set aside its finding denying the claim of the relator.
There was evidence presented by the manufacturer of the .grinding wheels that the wheels contained only three-tenths to four-tenths of one per cent of free silica. The relator submitted an unsigned analysis of the wheels which showed a larger per cent of free silica. The safety advisor who inspected the operation on which relator worked found that the grinding machines had a vacuum connection to suck the dust away as formed and that there was no silica sand or silica flour or other material containing free silica in the area where the relator worked. The evidence further shows that the relator in October, 1946, while the claim was pending, returned to work and was employed by said company as a bench worker in the toolroom. This employment continued until after the final order was made by the Commission.
Under §1465-68a, Subdivision 22, GC, relator is not entitled to compensation because of having contracted silicosis unless it be shown that he had been subject to injurious exposure to silica dust (silicon dioxide) in his employment in Ohio; that he was thus exposed to silica dust preceding his disablement for at least three years, some portion of which shall have been after the effective date of the act (Act effective October 12, 1945); and only in the event of temporary total disability or permanent total disability.
On the evidence presented the relator cannot successfully claim that compensation should be allowed under Subdivision 23 (All other occupational diseases) of §1465-68a GC.
In light of the statutory requirements and the factuasituation presented we now consider the orders made by the Commission in order to determine whether a gross abuse of discretion has been shown. The claim was referred to the Cleveland Board of Claims which on March 11, 1947, found that the claim should be disallowed for the reason
In view of the factual development in this case the Commission was required to and did exercise its discretion in determining whether the proof was sufficient to make a finding that the relator was injuriously exposed to silica dust for three years in his employment in the State of Ohio. Likewise, the Commission was required to determine whether the relator was totally disabled by the disease of silicosis. On the evidence presented we cannot say that the Commission in resolving these issues against the relator abused its discretion. A finding against the relator on either of the grounds stated would require a denial of the claim. Mandamus will not lie where there is a factual issue to be determined and cannot be used to control the exercise of judicial discretion. Sec. 12285 GC; State, ex rel. Bevis v. Coffinberry, et al., supra; State of Ohio; ex rel. Cook v. The Industrial Commission of Ohio, 53 Abs 497, 82 N. E. (2d) 128; State of Ohio, ex rel. Jones v. Industrial Commission of Ohio, 30 Abs 65.
Writ denied.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.