Opinion
No. 42298.
April 16, 1962.
1. Workmen's compensation — award affirmed.
Record of workmen's compensation case disclosed no reversible error in allowance of compensation.
Headnote as approved by McElroy, J.
APPEAL from the Circuit Court of Rankin County; O.H. BARNETT, J.
Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens Cannada, Dan McCullen, Jackson, for appellants.
I. The burden of proof is upon claimant to show by a preponderance of the evidence all requisite elements for recovery, including accidental injury and causal connection. The burden of proof must be met by a preponderance of the evidence. Capitol Broadcasting Co. v. Wilkerson, 240 Miss. 64, 126 So.2d 242; Dillon v. Gasoline Plant Constr. Corp., 222 Miss. 10, 75 So.2d 80; Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. v. Howell, 221 Miss. 824, 74 So.2d 863; Smith v. St. Catherine Gravel Co., 220 Miss. 462, 71 So.2d 221; Dunn, Mississippi Workmen's Compensation, Secs. 163, 164, 169.
II. This Court is not bound by the substantial evidence rule in this case as the Commission did not serve as a finder of facts as required by statute, but sat as an appellate court writing three separate opinions and failing to make its own independent finding of facts. The Commission erroneously relied on the substantial evidence rule and a presumption to sustain the award of the attorney-referee. American General Ins. Co. v. Jones (Texas), 250 S.W.2d 663; Barker v. General Motors Corp., 173 N.Y.S.2d 42; Belyus v. Wilkinson, Gaddis Co., 115 N.J.L. 43, 178 A. 181; Buff v. Columbia Baking Co., 215 S.C. 41, 53 S.E.2d 879; Capitol Paper Co. v. Conner, 81 Ind. App. 545, 144 N.E. 474; Caradine Hat Co., 109 S.W.2d 893; Casey v. Hansen, 238 Iowa 62, 26 S.W.2d 50; Central Elec. Power Assn. v. Hicks, 236 Miss. 378, 110 So.2d 351; Chillstrom v. Trojan Seed Co., 242 Minn. 471, 65 N.W.2d 888; Cleid v. Carr Bros., 300 N.Y. 270, 90 N.E.2d 185; Cole v. Lewis Cigar Mfg. Co., 63 A.2d 293; Czuszko v. Golden-Gary Co., 94 Ind. App. 47, 177 N.E. 466; DeMann v. Hydraulic Eng. Co., 192 Mich. 594, 159 N.W. 380; DeMoss v. Evens, etc., 225 Mo. App. 473, 37 S.W.2d 961; Dietz v. Eagle Grocery Co., 14 N.J. Misc. 240, 184 A. 216; Driscoll v. Henry Gillen Sons, 226 N.Y. 568, 123 N.E. 863; Duff v. St. Louis Mining Milling Corp., 363 Mo. 944, 245 S.W.2d 472, 792; Eggers v. Industrial Comm. of Ohio, 157 Ohio St. 70, 104 N.E.2d 681; Fisher v. City of Decatur, 99 Ind. App. 667, 192 N.E. 844; Fulmer v. Aetna Cas. Surety Co., 85 Ga. App. 102, 68 S.W.2d 180; Goddu's case, 323 Mass. 397, 82 N.E.2d 323; Goodnite v. Farm Equipment, 234 Miss. 342, 103 So.2d 391; Goodwin v. Misticos, 207 Miss. 361, 42 So.2d 397; Gregory v. Porter, 322 S.W.2d 591; Griffin v. Anderson Motor Service, 227 Mo. App. 855, 59 S.W.2d 805; Halloway v. Carnegie-Ill. Steel Corp., 173 Pa. Super. 137, 96 A.2d 171; Havens v. Natchez Times Pub. Co., 238 Miss. 121, 117 So.2d 706; In re Crawford, 205 S.C. 72, 30 S.E.2d 841; 100 C.J.S., Secs. 629, 631 pp. 900, 917.
III. A hypothetical question must contain an accurate and fair statement of the facts of record, and any expert opinions based on an improper hypothesis are inadmissible and should be accorded no weight. Hamilton v. Huebner (Neb.), 19 N.W.2d 552, 163 A.L.R. 1; Williams Bros. Co. v. McIntosh, 226 Miss. 553, 84 So.2d 692; 58 Am. Jur., Workmen's Compensation, Sec. 451; 100 C.J.S. 551 et seq.; Dunn, Mississippi Workmen's Compensation, Sec. 171.
J.A. Travis, Jr., Jackson, for appellee.
I. The award of compensation death benefits as made to the appellee herein by the Circuit Court of Rankin County, Mississippi Workmen's Compensation Commission which was supported by substantial evidence. Boyd Constr. Co. v. Worthy, 234 Miss. 671, 107 So.2d 120; California Eastern Airways v. Neal, 228 Miss. 370, 81 So.2d 895; Capitol Broadcasting Co. v. Wilkerson, 240 Miss. 64, 126 So.2d 242; Cole v. Superior Coach Corp., 234 Miss. 287, 106 So.2d 71; Dillon v. Gasoline Plant Constr. Co., 222 Miss. 10, 75 So.2d 80; Dowdel Pearson, Inc. v. Hargrove, 222 Miss. 64, 75 So.2d 277; Fair Stores v. Bryant, 238 Miss. 434, 118 So.2d 295; Freeman v. Mississippi P. L. Co., 230 Miss. 396, 92 So.2d 658; Gaines v. McCormick, 238 Miss. 535, 117 So.2d 467; Grubbs v. Revell Furn. Co., 234 Miss. 319, 106 So.2d 390; Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. v. Howell, 221 Miss. 824, 74 So.2d 863; Jackson Oil Products, Inc. v. Curtis, 241 Miss. 188, 129 So.2d 403; Malley v. Over The Top, 229 Miss. 347, 90 So.2d 678; Mississippi Products, Inc. v. Gordy, 224 Miss. 690, 80 So.2d 793; Railway Express Agency v. Hollingsworth, 221 Miss. 688, 74 So.2d 754; Russell v. Southeastern Utilities Service Co., 230 Miss. 272, 92 So.2d 544; Smith v. St. Catherine Gravel Co., 220 Miss. 462, 71 So.2d 221; Southern Engineering Electric Co. v. Chester, 226 Miss. 136, 83 So.2d 811; Tanner v. American Hardware Corp., 238 Miss. 612, 119 So.2d 380; Williams Bros. Co. v. McIntosh, 226 Miss. 553, 84 So.2d 692; Wilson Furn. Co. v. Wilson, 237 Miss. 512, 115 So.2d 141; Dunn, Mississippi Workmen's Compensation Law, Secs. 163, 164, 169.
(Hn 1) This is another workmen's compensation case in which the attorney referee approved the claim and after an examination, the Commission allowed the compensation. It was appealed to the circuit court and was affirmed. We have carefully considered the contentions of the appellant and find no reversible error.
An opinion discussing the several assignments of error would add nothing to the jurisprudence of this State.
Affirmed.
McGehee, C.J., and Arrington, Rodgers, and Jones, JJ., concur.