Opinion ID: 1587634
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: Rosalyn Strait was injured on the job and was awarded permanent total disability benefits. After the award, but during the 30-day period while the case was subject to review in the court of appeals, she died of injuries unrelated to her work injury. On appeal, the court of appeals substituted Michael Strait, Rosalyn's former husband and father of her minor dependent children, as the claimant on behalf of the children. The court of appeals affirmed the award of permanent total disability benefits. After the appeal, Michael Strait on behalf of the children moved in the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission to substitute the children as recipients of the deceased employee's disability benefits in light of this Court's holding in Schoemehl v. Treasurer of the State of Missouri, 217 S.W.3d 900 (Mo. banc 2007). The commission held that it had no jurisdiction so to amend the award and denied Strait's motion. The issue presented is: Does the commission have the authority to amend its final award of total permanent disability to substitute the dependent children as claimants after their mother died while the mother's claim was still pending?