Opinion ID: 1914631
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Was appellant entitled to credit for payment of claimant's salary made after claimant's injury?

Text: In addition to the workmen's compensation benefits and medical benefits received by claimant, the City of Kosciusko continued paying claimant his salary following the accident through December of 1967. These payments totaled $19,658.81. Appellants now contend they are entitled to a credit for this amount. There was no evidence adduced as to why these payments were made. Where the payment of wages is intended to be in lieu of compensation, credit for the wages is allowed. George S. Taylor Construction Co. v. Harlow, 269 So.2d 337 (Miss. 1972). One exception to this rule is where it affirmatively appears that the payment by the employer was a donation. Koestler's Bakery, Inc. v. Boland, 299 So.2d 205 (Miss. 1974). The second exception occurs where the salary paid was not in lieu of compensation but money the claimant was entitled to receive based on his past service. Staple Cotton Serv. Ass'n v. Russell, 399 So.2d 224 (Miss. 1981), and Pet, Inc., Dairy Division v. Roberson, 329 So.2d 516 (Miss. 1976). A careful review of the record in the instant case leads us to the conclusion that the wages paid by appellant to claimant from July 8, 1964, to December of 1967 were not intended to be in lieu of compensation for which appellants were entitled to a credit. We reach this conclusion for several reasons. Appellant paid claimant his full salary with full knowledge that claimant had received workmen's compensation benefits for his injury. Appellant was fully aware of the extent of claimant's injury which prohibited him from any future employment to which he was suited. Finally, appellant made no claim for a credit for these wages until the present suit was brought. Based on these reasons, we believe the wages paid to claimant from July 8, 1964, until December of 1967 were benevolent in nature and not made in lieu of compensation.