Opinion
No. 6487.
Decided March 18, 1936.
Workmen's Compensation — Jurisdiction.
In an appeal from an award by the Industrial Accident Board allowing benefits dependent upon an operation for hernia, the award was not final, as no final award can be made in a hernia case until the board has definitely and finally fixed the specific compensation to which the injured party is entitled, and therefore the district court was without jurisdiction to try the case on appeal.
Error to the Court of Civil Appeals for the Eleventh District, in an appeal from Stephens County.
Suit by D. E. Marsden seeking to set aside an award made by the Industrial Accident Board allowing benefits for hernia consisting of an operation and 26 weeks compensation, and further alleging that in his physical condition it was more than ordinarily unsafe for him to stand an operation and asking that compensation be paid him in lump sum. Defendant insurance association answered by general demurrer, general denial and cross-action. Judgment for plaintiff for the sum of $6,583.10, with 6% interest from date of judgment and costs of suit, was affirmed by the Court of Civil Appeals ( 57 S.W.2d 900) with a dissenting opinion by Chief Justice Hickman, and the insurance association has brought error to the Supreme Court.
The case was referred to the Commission of Appeals, Section B, for their opinion thereon and the Supreme Court adopted same and ordered judgment entered in accordance therewith.
Both judgments reversed and cause dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Lawther, Cox Cramer and Wm. M. Cramer, of Dallas, for plaintiff in error.
Frank S. Roberts, of Breckenridge, for defendant in error.
This suit is by defendant in error, D. E. Marsden, to set aside an award of the Industrial Accident Board allowing hernia benefits under subdivision 4, section 12b of the workmens' compensation act, revised statutes, 1925. The trial court upon a jury trial rendered judgment in favor of the claimant. The Court of Civil Appeals affirmed the judgment, Chief Justice Hickman dissenting. 57 S.W.2d 900.
It is pointed out in the dissenting opinion that the question presented is the exact question that was before the Supreme Court in Tally v. Texas Employers Insurance Association, 48 S.W.2d 988, to wit, that the award of the board requiring an operation for hernia was not final as respects the jurisdiction of the trial court to set it aside upon appeal.
The award shows upon its face that the amount of compensation finally to be awarded is wholly dependent on certain contingencies, and is substantially identical with the award set out in the opinion in the Tally case, supra. The statement in the dissenting opinion is correct that the holding of the Commission of Appeals in that case "was necessarily approved by the Supreme Court, which entered its judgment reversing the judgments of the trial court and the Court of Civil Appeals and dismissing the cause." The personnel of the Supreme Court as then constituted was Chief Justice Cureton, and Justices Greenwood and Pierson. In a recent opinion the Supreme Court in Texas Employers Insurance Association v. Lemons, 125 Tex. 373, 83 S.W.2d 658, Justice Critz speaking for the court as presently constituted, referred with approval to the Tally case, and has this day adopted the opinion of the Commission in Petroleum Casualty Company v. Webb, 127 Tex. 91, 92 S.W.2d 236, which gives controlling effect to the Tally case. It is pointed out in the Webb case that the question here presented has been definitely settled.
The judgments of the trial court and Court of Civil Appeals are reversed and the cause is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Opinion adopted by Supreme Court March 18, 1936.