Opinion ID: 1900435
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: ernest e. garnett, sr.

Text: On 31 January 1983, Ernest E. Garnett, Sr., injured his back while working at AAA Plumbing and Pottery Company (AAA) in Attalla, Alabama. As he left the plant that day, Garnett notified his employer he had injured his back. On the night of the 31st, around 10:00 p.m., because of excruciating pain, fire medics were called to Garnett's home to transport him to the hospital. When he arrived at the hospital, Garnett informed an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jack Reagan, that he had injured his back when he slipped at work. After spending three weeks in the hospital in Gadsden, Garnett was discharged and referred to an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Richard Nasca, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. Nasca performed back surgery on Garnett in April of 1983. After surgery and a partial recovery, Nasca informed Garnett he had suffered a permanent partial disability. Garnett's complaint stems from problems which arose from his attempt to recover workmen's compensation benefits. As noted, Garnett gave his employer immediate notice that he was injured on the job. Further notice to the company included calls to Deborah Lynn Thompson, AAA's employee responsible for filing workmen's compensation claims; a telephone call to Joe Woods, Garnett's immediate supervisor, concerning the claim, three days after the accident; a conversation concerning the claim during visits by two supervisors from AAA to Garnett during Garnett's hospital stay; and three letters from Garnett's attorney, Leon Garmon, dated 22 February 1983, 5 March 1983, and 16 March 1983, to AAA on Garnett's behalf. Garnett contends the plant superintendent, James Neumann, prevented the proper parties at AAA from filing notice of his claim with the company's compensation carrier, Traveler's Insurance Company (Traveler's), and that notice to Traveler's was not filed before 1 July 1983, when Garnett filed suit against AAA. Garnett further alleges that, after Traveler's had notice of his claim, the carrier, conspiring with AAA, continued to deny his claim, and intentionally refused to pay it without lawful basis. He contends they attempted to starve him out and force him to accept a lesser amount than was due under the workmen's compensation provisions. His amended complaint includes claims for wrongful refusal to pay workmen's compensation insurance benefits; conspiracy and collusion on the part of AAA and Traveler's to deny benefits to the claimant; intentional infliction of emotional distress; breach of contract; and the tort of outrage. Based on this court's decision in Waldon v. Hartford Insurance Group, 435 So.2d 1271 (Ala.1983), the trial court dismissed all claims against Traveler's and granted summary judgment in favor of AAA on every claim except the issue of benefits due under the Workmen's Compensation Act. Garnett filed a motion for an expedited hearing on the remaining claim due to his dire financial circumstances. (Garnett was receiving $20 per week from an independent disability insurance policy, and food stampsas his only income.) The request was granted and a hearing was scheduled for 23 September 1983. AAA requested a continuance, which was granted. The case was heard on 7 October 1983. The trial court entered an order, on 10 November 1983, granting temporary total disability benefits to Garnett from 31 January 1983 until the time he was released to return to work by Dr. Nasca. When this appeal was filed, Dr. Nasca had not released Garnett to return to work. AAA requested that the trial court reconsider its order and a hearing date was set on that motion for 18 January 1984. Meanwhile, AAA approached Garnett and offered to give him immediate payment of benefits due if he would consent to a modification of the trial court's finding that his injury occurred on the job. He elected instead to wait for the trial court's denial of the motion for reconsideration. On 13 February 1984, more than a year after his accident at AAA had occurred, Garnett received his first check for workmen's compensation benefits.