Case Name: ROCK ISLAND COAL MINING CO. v. U. S. FIDELITY & GUARANTY CO. et al.
Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Oklahoma
Decision Date: 1925-10-20
Citations: 112 Okla. 250
Docket Number: No. 16417
Parties: ROCK ISLAND COAL MINING CO. v. U. S. FIDELITY & GUARANTY CO. et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Oklahoma Reports
Volume: 112
Pages: 250–251

Head Matter:
ROCK ISLAND COAL MINING CO. v. U. S. FIDELITY & GUARANTY CO. et al.
No. 16417
Opinion Filed Oct. 20, 1925.
1. Master and Servant — Wiorkmen’s Compensation — Findings of Fact — Con-elusiveuess.
A judgment of tile Commission is final as to all questions of fact, and this court is not authorized to weigh the evidence upon which a finding of fact is based.
2. Same — Injuries Antedating Liability of Insurance Carrier.
Record examined; held, to be sufficient to support judgment of the Commission i» favor of the surety company.
(Syllabus by Stephenson, C.)
Commissioners’ Opinion, Division No. 4,
Proceedings in the Supreme Court by the Rock Island Coal Mining Company to review a judgment of the Industrial Commission against the petitioner and in favor of the United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company.
Affirmed.
W..R. Blakemore and John Barry, for petitioner.
George F. Short, Atty Gen., Rittenhouse & Rittenhouse, J. Fred Swanson, and Frank E. Lee, for respondents.

Opinion:
Opinion by
STEPHENSON, C.
Roy Gos-nell sustained an injury on January 20, 1921, from an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment with the Rock Island Coal Mining Company. A rock fell upon Gosnell's rigiht foot, (which crushed and lacerated the heel. The employe recovered from the injury to an extent where he was able to re-enter the services of the company, but it was necessary for the employe to walk on the ball of his foot in order to relieve the strain on the tendons of the heel. The bone of the heel was impaired and continued to cause puss formation in the foot. A large portion of the bone was destroyed 'by the injury, and continued to cause inflammation of the foot. The lacerations of the heel were covered by a thin scar tissue in which there was slight circulation of the blood. It was necessary for the injured party to protect the tissue with gauze and bandages at all times. The employe received further injury of the right foot on account of the first injury later and in the month of April, 1923. The employe recovered from the second injury to the point where he was able to engage in light services for the petitioner. While engaged in such services, on March 17, 1924, the employe bruised the injured heel by stepping on a jagged rock. A claim was filed with the commission as a result of the third injury.
The Rock Island Goal Mining Company carried its risk until January 1, 1924. The mining company on the latter date contracted with the United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company to carry the insurance risk of its employes. The employe was not able to procure light employment after March 22, 1924, and filed his claim for compensation before the Industrial Commission. The three claims were consolidated and tried as one cause.
Paragraph No. 6 of the commission's findings is in the following language:
"The claimant on March 17, 1924, while employed in the operation of respondent's motor, bruised his right heel by stepping on an irregular rock, and that said injury caused a temporary inflammation of the scar tissue on the right heel which inflammation had subsided on March 22, 1924, leaving no other disability than that which the claimant has been continuously suffering since the date of the original injury on January 20, 1921."
The findings of the commission are that the accident of March 17th, resulted in a temporary inflammation of the scar tissue of the heel, which inflammation had subsided on March 22, 1924. The further finding of the commission is that the disability then suffered by the employe was the result of the injury suffered on January 20, 1921.
The judgment of the commission upon this finding relieved the insurance company frota liability on the risk, and held that the injury resulted from an accident at the time the mining company was carrying its own risk. The mining company commenced this proceeding within the time provided by statute for reviewing the judgment of the Industrial Commission. The contention of petitioner is that liability to the employe is that of the insurance company; that the injury suffered by the employe is the result of the accident occurring on March 17, 1924.
The petitioner submits the proposition that the Workmen's Compensation Act does not prescribe any standard to which the employe must conform; that compensation for injuries suffered is not controlled by an implied warranty of perfect health or immunity from latent and unknown tendencies or diseases. The contention of the mining company is that injuries resulting from accident, although the injury is in the nature of a stimulation of some latent disease, re- suit in liability to tbe employer. Tbe propositions of law submitted by tbe mining company are sound and supported by tbe weight of authority. Crowley v. City of Lowell (Mass.) 111 N. E. 786; Tintic Mining Co. v. Industrial Comm. (Utah) 206 Pac. 278, 23 A. L. R. 325.
Note. — See under (1) Workmen's Compensation Acts, C. J. p. 122, § 127; anno. L. R. A. 1817D, 186, et seq.; 28 It. O. L. p. 828; 3 R. C. L. Supp. p. 1,600 ; 4 It. C. L. Supp. pp. 1871, 1872 ; 5 It. C. L. Supp. pp. 1580, 1581. (2) Workmen's Compensation Acts, C. J. p. 122, § 127.
Tbe record discloses that tbe injury received from tbe accident on March 17tbs had subsided on March 22nd following, and that whatever impairment tbe employe was then suffering from resulted from tbe injury received in January, 1921. Tbe physical impairment that existed at tbe time of the trial of this cause was in tbe nature of an impaired condition of tbe bony substance of tbe heel of the right foot. There were portions of tbe bony substance dislodged from its natural position in tbe foot, which were in tbe nature of foreign substances in tbe foot. Tbe particles of bone so dislodged were causing tbe discharge of sinus. This condition caused an impairment of tbe tis-' sue and resulted in tbe disability of tbe employe. This condition was a resulting and continuing injury firotm tbe accident suffered in 1921. There is a marked distinction between tbe condition which impaired tbe physical ability of tbe employe, as shown by tbe findings of fact, and that resulting from an injury which is in tbe nature of stimulating some latent physical impairment or disease. If tbe employe was suffering from some latent disease, which is set-in action by some physical injury, tbe authorities lay down tbe rule that tbe injury will be treated as flowing from an accident suffered by the employe in tbe course of bis services. Where such is tbe condition, the rule contended for by tbe petitioner will apply. Tbe finding of the commission in this case is that tbe impairment suffered by tbe employe resulted entirely from tbe accident occurring in 1921. Tbe finding is that tbe injury suffered from tbe accident of March 17th had entirely subsided on March 22nd, following. This presents a question entirely different from that submitted by the petitioner. Tbe finding of tbe commission as expressed by paragraph No. 6 is not subject to review here. This court will not undertake to weigh tbe evidence upon which any finding of fact is based. Aetna Insurance Co. v. State Industrial Comm., 109 Okla. 65, 234 Pac. 765; Sun Coal Co. v. State Industrial Comm., 84 Okla. 164, 203 Pac. 1042.
Tbe finding of tbe commission is that tbe injury suffered by tbe employe is tbe result of an accident occurring at a time when the surety company was not carrying tbe risk for tbe petitioner. Since tbe petitioner was carrying its own risk at tbe time of tbe injury, it was proper that judgment follow against tbe petitioner.
It is recommended that tbe judgment of tbe commission be affirmed.
By the Court: It is so ordered.