Case Title: Schillereff v. INDEPENDENT PLUMBING AND HEATING

Citation: 237 Neb. 424, 466 N.W.2d 99

Docket Number: 

State: nebraska

Court: Nebraska Supreme Court

Date: 1991-03-01T00:00:00Z

Document:
466 N.W.2d 99 (1991) 237 Neb. 424 Leah SCHILLEREFF, Personal Representative of the Estate of George Schillereff, Deceased, Appellee and Cross-Appellant, v. INDEPENDENT PLUMBING AND HEATING, INC., a Nebraska Corporation, Appellant and Cross-Appellee. No. 90-675. Supreme Court of Nebraska. March 1, 1991. John R. Hoffert, of Knudsen, Berkheimer, Richardson & Endacott, Lincoln, for appellant and cross-appellee. Robert W. Mullin, of Van Steenberg, Chaloupka, Mullin, Holyoke, Pahlke, Smith, Snyder & Hofmeister, P.C., Scottsbluff, for appellee and cross-appellant. HASTINGS, C.J., and BOSLAUGH, WHITE, CAPORALE, SHANAHAN, GRANT, and FAHRNBRUCH, JJ. PER CURIAM. On rehearing in the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court, an award was entered for George Schillereff based on his claim for injury from asbestosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease secondary to long-term nicotine use. After the award and while this appeal was pending, George Schillereff died. Hence, this appeal involves Leah Schillereff, personal representative of the estate of George Schillereff, deceased. *100 Independent Plumbing and Heating, Inc., as George Schillereff's employer, appeals and claims error in the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court's (1) finding that Schillereff's disability was causally related to his employment, (2) finding that Schillereff suffered injurious exposure to asbestos during his employment with Independent, (3) denying a continuance, and (4) admitting inadmissible hearsay. Leah Schillereff cross-appeals and claims that the Workers' Compensation Court erred by failing to order immediate payment of the award to Schillereff. Heiliger v. Walters & Heiliger Electric, Inc., 236 Neb. 459, 460-61, 461 N.W.2d 565, 568 (1990) (quoting from Fees v. Rivett Lumber Co., 228 Neb. 617, 423 N.W.2d 483 (1988)); Neb.Rev.Stat. § 48-185 (Reissue 1988). Heiliger, supra at 466, 461 N.W.2d at 571. The evidence supports the finding by the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court that George Schillereff's injury arose out of and in the course of his employment with Independent. Independent has failed to show an abuse of discretion by the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court in denying a continuance and has failed to show prejudice resulting from the court's refusal to grant a continuance. The Nebraska Evidence Rules do not apply in proceedings before the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court. See, Neb.Rev.Stat. § 48-168 (Reissue 1988); Neb.Evid.R. 1101(4)(d), Neb.Rev.Stat. § 27-1101(4)(d) (Reissue 1989); Sherard v. Bethphage Mission, Inc., 236 Neb. 900, 464 N.W.2d 343 (1991). We are unable to conclude that the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court was clearly erroneous in its findings for the award reviewed. Therefore, the award of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court is affirmed. We find no abuse of discretion or error to sustain Schillereff's cross-appeal. Since Independent has failed to reduce the amount of the Schillereff award reviewed in this appeal, we order Independent to pay $2,000 which is to be applied toward a fee for the Schillereff lawyer regarding services in this court. See Neb.Rev.Stat. § 48-125(1) (Reissue 1988). AFFIRMED.