State Compensation Insurance Fund v. Industrial Accident Commission

MARKS, J.

Petitioner has filed two separate proceedings to annul two separate awards of the Industrial Accident Commission against petitioner, the insurance carrier, for injuries suffered by E. J. Hunter, an employee of the Kettleman North Dome Association. The facts of the two cases and the law involved are so closely related that they should be considered in one opinion to obviate needless repetition.

On December 14, 1937, Hunter filed an application with the Industrial Accident Commission seeking compensation for injuries to his lower back suffered on August 15, 1937. This application bore the I. A. C. Number 58176 and will be referred to as the back injury ease. After various hearings

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and rehearings the commission found that Hunter had suffered total temporary disability on August 15, 1937, and awarded him weekly indemnity payments of $21.27 for the period of August 15, 1937, to December 8, 1937, the admitted date of his recovery from the back injury, less the waiting period of seven days. Hunter’s weekly earnings were $34.43.

Hunter filed a second application for total temporary disability caused by inhaling carbon monoxide fumes on August 13, 14, and 16, 1937. The application bore the I. A. C. Number 58754, and will be referred to as the carbon monoxide case. The Industrial Accident Commission, after numerous hearings and rehearings, found that Hunter had suffered total temporary disability from the carbon monoxide fumes on August 16, 1937, and awarded him weekly indemnity payments of $21.26 from August 16 to December 8, 1937, and thereafter, less the waiting period of seven days. This award was also based on a weekly wage of $34.43.

While Hunter’s wages, had he not been injured, would have been $34.43 per week, under the two awards he will receive $42.53 per week from August 16, to December 8, 1937, less the waiting periods.

The facts in the case are all admitted. The parties only disagree on the law applicable to those facts.

Petitioner admits that Hunter Avas entitled to total temporary disability but argues that he was not entitled to double total disability allowances up to December 8, 1937. As the allowance for the back injury had been paid in full, petitioner contends that it is entitled to credit that amount on the award for the carbon monoxide injury. We are cited to no cases deciding these questions.