Case Title: AMERICAN INVESTIGATIVE & SECURITY v. HAMILTON

Citation: 1998 OK 134, 969 P.2d 975

Docket Number: 91188

State: oklahoma

Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court

Date: 1998-06-15T00:00:00Z

Document:
AMERICAN INVESTIGATIVE & SECURITY v. HAMILTON1998 OK 134969 P.2d 975Case Number: 91188Decided: 06/15/1998Mandate Issued: 12/03/1998 AMERICAN INVESTIGATIVE & SECURITYv.HAMILTON ¶0 Employer sought review order by the Workers' Compensation Court declaring that State Insurance Fund did not, at critical time in question, provide insurance coverage for employer's liability under Oklahoma compensation regime for injured workers. The Supreme Court held that order dismissing risk carrier as party respondent in claim is functional equivalent of disposition that denies insurer's liability for award, and thus, order is reviewable on appeal. So ordered. KAUGER, C.J. ¶1 This proceeding was brought by the employer [petitioner] to review an order by the Workers' Compensation Court declaring that the State Insurance Fund [respondent] did not, at the critical time in question, provide insurance coverage for the employer's liability under the Oklahoma compensation regime for injured workers. ¶2 Upon an earlier sua sponte inquiry into its jurisdiction, the court now concludes and holds that the order dismissing the risk carrier as a party respondent in the claim is the functional equivalent of a disposition that denies the insurer's liability for an award. It is hence reviewable. Hermetics Switch, Inc. v. Sales, 1982 OK 12, 640 P.2d 963; see also In re Hines, 1973 OK 46, 509 P.2d 669, 672.