Title: State ex rel. Robinson v. Indus. Comm.

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Cite as State ex rel. Robinson v. Indus. Comm., 97 Ohio St.3d 423, 2002-Ohio-6648.] 
 
 
THE STATE EX REL. ROBINSON, APPELLANT, v. INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF 
OHIO ET AL., APPELLEES. 
[Cite as State ex rel. Robinson v. Indus. Comm., 97 Ohio St.3d 423, 2002-Ohio-
6648.] 
Workers’ compensation — Claimant awarded permanent total disability 
compensation by Industrial Commission — Claimant’s subsequent 
motion for scheduled loss compensation under R.C. 4123.57(B) denied 
by commission — Mandamus sought to compel Industrial Commission to 
vacate its order denying compensation and to issue an order on the 
merits — Writ denied by court of appeals — Court of appeals’ judgment 
reversed — State ex rel. Benton v. Columbus & S. Ohio Elec. Co. 
overruled and writ of mandamus granted ordering commission to grant 
claimant’s application for scheduled loss benefits. 
(No. 2001-2199 — Submitted September 17, 2002 — Decided December 13, 
2002.) 
APPEAL from the Court of Appeals for Franklin County, No. 01AP-13. 
__________________ 
 
Per Curiam. 
{¶1} 
Appellant-claimant, Eugene B. Robinson, industrially injured his 
back and legs in 1969 while working for Chrysler Corporation, n.k.a. 
DaimlerChrysler Corporation.  In 1999, he was awarded permanent total disability 
compensation (“PTD”) effective December 31, 1997.  He subsequently moved for 
scheduled loss compensation under R.C. 4123.57(B) for the loss of use of his 
legs. 
{¶2} 
Appellee Industrial Commission of Ohio denied the motion.  It 
found that because claimant’s diminished use of his legs had factored into his 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
award of PTD, claimant was seeking additional compensation for the same 
condition, which was prohibited to claimants hurt before 1973.  See State ex rel. 
Benton v. Columbus & S. Ohio Elec. Co. (1968), 14 Ohio St.2d 130, 43 O.O.2d 
238, 237 N.E.2d 134.  Claimant then turned to the Court of Appeals for Franklin 
County, requesting a writ of mandamus ordering the commission to vacate its 
order denying compensation and to issue an order on the merits.  The court 
commented that reconciling previous Supreme Court cases on the issue was 
difficult and that “without clearer guidance from our State Supreme Court,” it was 
compelled to uphold the commission’s order.  The requested writ was thus denied 
and claimant now appeals to this court as of right. 
{¶3} 
On authority of State ex rel. Miller v. Indus. Comm., 97 Ohio St.3d 
418, 2002-Ohio-6664, 780 N.E.2d 268, the judgment of the court of appeals is 
reversed, and a writ of mandamus is issued ordering the commission to vacate its 
order denying compensation and to issue an order on the merits. 
Judgment reversed 
and writ allowed. 
 
MOYER, C.J., DOUGLAS, RESNICK, F.E. SWEENEY, PFEIFER, COOK and 
LUNDBERG STRATTON, JJ., concur. 
__________________ 
 
Ben Sheerer, for appellant. 
 
Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, L.L.P., George H. Rosin and Ashley 
M. Stouffer, for appellee DaimlerChrysler Corporation. 
 
Betty D. Montgomery, Attorney General, and Dennis L. Hufstader, 
Assistant Attorney General, for appellee Industrial Commission. 
__________________