Opinion
L. A. No. 4659. In Bank.
April 10, 1916.
On February 24, 1915, one Oscar Shield, an employee of the petitioner, was injured in the course of his employment, and the petitioner, on the twenty-seventh day of February, and on the second day of March, 1915, paid him compensation. On September 13, 1915, the said Oscar Shield filed his application before the Industrial Accident Commission for an adjustment of his claim, to which the petitioner filed an answer setting up the defense that the proceeding was barred by the statute of limitations contained in section 16 of the Workmen's Compensation, Safety, and Insurance Act. (Stats. 1913, p. 279; Stats. 1915, pp. 1079, 1302.) The commission made an award in favor of said employee, commanding the petitioner to pay him certain compensation. The present proceeding is an application in certiorari to review such award.
Karl L. Ratzer, for Petitioner.
C.M. Bradley, for Respondents.
The court is unanimously of the view that when the statute speaks of the date of the last payment it means the date on which the money is actually paid. The proceeding before the commission must be commenced within six months thereafter, unless there is some agreement for payment of compensation. (Industrial Compensation Act, sec. 16.)
The award of the commission is annulled.