Title: Jowers v. Corey's Plumbing & Heating

State: new-mexico

Issuer: New Mexico Supreme Court

Document:

395 P.2d 827 (1964) 74 N.M. 555 Eugene JOWERS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. COREY'S PLUMBING & HEATING, also Sometimes known as Cory Plumbing & Heating, and Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company, Defendants-Appellees. No. 7506. Supreme Court of New Mexico. October 13, 1964. *828 Catron & Catron, Santa Fe, for appellant. O. Russell Jones and J.E. Gallegos, Santa Fe, for appellees. COMPTON, Chief Justice. The claimant appeals from an order dismissing his complaint for workmen's compensation benefits for failure to file his claim therefor within the time required by § 59-10-13.6, N.M.S.A., 1953 Comp., which reads: The facts are not in dispute. The claimant sustained a compensable injury for which he received compensation benefits from the date of the injury on January 24, 1961 through May 30, 1961, payable in regular semi-monthly installments, the last installment bearing date May 30, 1961. On June 2, 1961, the claimant returned to work for the employer. By check dated July 3, 1961, however, the claimant received compensation payment for two days, May 31, 1961 and June 1, 1961, after which no further payments were made. The claim was filed June 28, 1962. The appellant contends that the period of limitation commenced to run July 3, 1961, when he was compensated for May 31, 1961 and June 1, 1961. This contention cannot be sustained. The statute is clear; the next regular semi-monthly installment would have been payable June 16, 1961, and it was the failure to make the payment on that date that set the period of limitation running. It follows that the claim was untimely filed. In Garcia v. New Mexico State Highway Department, 61 N.M. 156, 296 P.2d 759, we had occasion to consider the statute, and in disposing of the case we said: The judgment must be affirmed, and it is so ordered. CARMODY and CHAVEZ, JJ., concur.