State ex rel. Kauffman v. Industrial Commission
State ex rel. Kauffman v. Industrial Commission
Opinion of the Court
The relator, Edward 0. Kauffman, was claimant against the workmen’s compensation fund for injuries alleged to have been suffered in the course of employment on or about July 1, 1925. Compensation was allowed by the Industrial Commission, and paid until April 4, 1926, at which time further compensation was denied. Thereupon the usual steps were taken to perfect an appeal to the court of common pleas, and on December 21, 1927, relator recovered a verdict before the court of common pleas of Hamilton county, Ohio, which verdict was in the usual form: “We, the jury, being duly impaneled and sworn, find the issues in this case in favor of the plaintiff, Edward 0. Kauffman, and that said plaintiff is entitled to participate in the workmen’s compensation fund.” Thereupon judgment was entered, the pertinent portion of the entry being in the following language: “The court coming now to pronounce judgment on the verdict of the jury heretofore rendered herein, hereby orders and adjudges that the plaintiff Edward 0. Kauffman, is entitled to participate in the Workmen’s Compensation fund of the Industrial Commission of Ohio, and hereby orders compensation to be paid in the manner provided by the Workmen’s Compensation Law.”
This action being certified to the commission, further compensation was paid, covering the period from April 4, 1926, until December 31, 1926. The commission refusing to pay compensation beyond the latter date, claimant again applied for further compensation, and on June 4, 1929, the commission found that the proof was not sufficient to show that the relator was suffering disability as a result of the
The petition in this court prays a writ of mandamus commanding the Industrial Commission to issue a warrant in favor of relator for compensation on a rating of total disability from December 31, 1926, to April 2,1929.
Actions in mandamus in this state are governed by Section 12283, General Code, and under the terms of that statute can only command the performance of an act which the law specially enjoins as a duty resulting from an office, trust, or station. In this case the writ can only be awarded if the judgment already referred to found that Kauffman was permanently and totally disabled. .The judgment speaks for itself. It only finds that Kauffman is entitled to participate in the fund and to be paid in the manner provided by the Workmen’s Compensation Law. It is true that the petition in the court of common pleas alleged that he was permanently and totally disabled, and the answer denied that allegation. Those allegations are not conclusive. The policy of the law is expressed in Section 1465-90, General Code, and states with particularity what may be heard by the court of common pleas and what the verdict of the jury may award. It also provides
It is claimed by relator that the evidence adduced before the court upon the appeal may have shown that the claimant was totally disabled at the time of the hearing, and that the hearing in fact took place
There is another reason why the relator must fail in this suit. The Industrial Commission has continuing jurisdiction, and the claimant had a right to present to it his claim for further compensation based upon his physical condition after December 31, 1926; and it appears by the allegations of the answer, which are not controverted, that on or about June 4, 1929, the claimant did appear before the commission and did offer proof, but that the commission found that he was not suffering disability as result of his injuries, and therefore refused to pay further compensation. He not only had a remedy at law, but it appears from the allegations of the pleadings that he invoked that remedy.
For both the foregoing reasons the writ must be denied.
Writ denied.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The State, ex rel. Kauffman v. Industrial Commission of Ohio
- Status
- Published