Case Title: State ex rel. Sowers v. Indus. Comm.

Citation: 1998-Ohio-314

Docket Number: 19962159

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 1998-12-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
THE STATE EX REL. SOWERS, APPELLANT, v. INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF OHIO, 
APPELLEE. 
[Cite as State ex rel. Sowers v. Indus. Comm. (1998), 84 Ohio St.3d 141.] 
Workers’ compensation — Denial of wage-loss compensation by Industrial 
Commission — Judgment of court of appeals denying writ of mandamus 
affirmed on authority of State ex rel. Justus. 
(No. 96-2159 — Submitted October 28, 1998 — Decided December 9, 1998.) 
APPEAL from the Court of Appeals for Franklin County, No. 95APD08-997. 
 
Appellant-claimant, Ronald R. Sowers, was employed as a fire fighter for 
the city of Circleville.  In 1990, he alleged that he had contracted an occupational 
disease in the course of his employment.  Appellee, Industrial Commission of 
Ohio, allowed a workers’ compensation claim for “chronic obstructive pulmonary 
disease.” 
 
In 1992, claimant successfully moved for change-of-occupation benefits 
pursuant to R.C. 4123.57(E).  On February 1, 1994, claimant obtained 
employment with Clearcreek Township as a deputy clerk. Claimant earned less at 
his clerk’s job than he had as a fire fighter. 
 
In 1995, claimant applied for wage-loss compensation pursuant to R.C. 
4123.56(B).  A staff hearing officer denied claimant’s application, citing R.C. 
4123.68(W). 
 
Claimant filed a complaint in mandamus in the Court of Appeals for 
Franklin County, alleging that the commission abused its discretion in denying 
wage-loss compensation.  The court of appeals disagreed and denied the writ. 
 
This cause is now before this court upon an appeal as of right. 
__________________ 
 
Dean G. Reinhard Co., L.P.A., and Charles Zamora, for appellant. 
 
2
 
Betty D. Montgomery, Attorney General, and Gerald H. Waterman, 
Assistant Attorney General, for appellee. 
 
Stewart Jaffy & Associates, Stewart R. Jaffy and Marc J. Jaffy, urging 
reversal for amici curiae, Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters and Ohio 
Academy of Trial Lawyers. 
__________________ 
 
Per Curiam.  On authority of State ex rel. Justus v. Indus. Comm. (1998), 
83 Ohio St.3d 364, 700 N.E.2d 1, the judgment of the court of appeals is affirmed. 
 Judgment affirmed. 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK and 
LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur.