Opinion ID: 1829300
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: on appellee's suggestion of error and motion

Text: ETHRIDGE, J. Under the rules this suggestion of error was presented in conference by a justice other than the writer. This response represents the resulting conclusions. Appellee apparently construes the original decision as holding that temporary total disability benefits should terminate on the date of the commission's order, March 28, 1958. On this assumption, appellee complains that it would be necessary for the commission to decide every two weeks whether claimant is entitled to additional temporary total disability benefits. Our opinion is clearly to the contrary. 111 So.2d 259. We would not respond to this argument if it were not manifest that appellee misunderstands the decision. Citing the statute, the original opinion stated, Under these circumstances, the pertinent award should be temporary total disability benefits, `during the continuance of such disability'. The record showed claimant has not reached maximum medical recovery from that disease. (Hn 5) Accordingly, appellee was awarded temporary total disability benefits to March 28, 1958, the date of the commission's order, plus interest. The commission is the fact-finding agency, the attorney-referee being its arm or facility. (Hn 6) We were not dealing with the administration by the commission of an award. The commission denied benefits, and the circuit court erroneously awarded permanent partial disability benefits, although the record reflected that appellee had not reached maximum medical recovery. So our decision made an award, which the commission had denied, effective as of the time of the commission's order. In effect, it was held that, if complainant had not reached maximum medical recovery on that date, there should be a continuance of such temporary benefits until claimant has reached maximum medical recovery. (Hn 7) The award of temporary benefits is a continuing one under Sec. 8 (b) of the Workmen's Compensation Act, payable during the continuance of such disability. But of course under Code Sec. 6998-27, the commission may increase or decrease awards prospectively or retroactively, according to the facts. Jackson Ready-Mix Concrete v. Young, 111 So.2d 255 (Miss. 1959). Subsequent to the date of the commission's order, appellants should pay to claimant compensation during the continuance of such temporary total disability. The opinion and the judgment of this Court provided to that effect. 111 So.2d 259. (Hn 8) The Jackson Ready-Mix case also involved an appeal. It should not be construed as meaning that when, in the ordinary administration of the Act, the commission enters an order awarding compensation for temporary disability, such award is good and effective only to the date of the award of the commission. What we held in Jackson Ready-Mix was that an award for temporary total disability does not carry with it a presumption that the disability continues indefinitely. It was not presumed that the temporary disability continued for about eighteen months while the case was on appeal. (Hn 9) The commission has full control of the matter of ordering compensation for temporary disability to continue, so long as the disability in fact continues, subject to the rights of the parties to have such additional hearings and proceedings as the commission finds is reasonably necessary to properly administer the Act, so that its purposes shall be fulfilled. It would not be reasonable to require arbitrarily a hearing each two weeks to determine if temporary disability continues, and any such construction of the decision in this and Jackson Ready-Mix , as suggested by appellee, is wholly unwarranted. (Hn 10) Appellee complains of the use of the word cured at several places in the opinion, but, when construed in context and in the light of the specific references to maximum medical recovery, it is apparent that the word was used as a general synonym for the longer and more technical phrase, maximum medical recovery. (Hn 11) Appellee in his suggestion of error incorporates what we construe to be a motion to correct the judgment, in three particulars: (1) The judgment is corrected to provide that appellants pay appellee's expenses for medical services and supplies incurred as the result of claimant's accidental injuries and the recurrences thereof. (Hn 12) (2) The judgment is corrected to award to appellee five percent statutory damages on the total amount of weekly installments accrued and unpaid from the date of the judgment of the circuit court to the date of the judgment here affirming the award of compensation benefits. Miss. Code 1942, Sec. 1971. (Hn 13) (3) Appellee moves to correct the judgment to assess the ten percent penalty against appellants for failure to pay installments of compensation payable without an award within fourteen days after they became due. Code Sec. 6998-19 (e). The circuit court reversed the commission and adopted as its own the order of the attorney-referee, which awarded such penalty. Our judgment affirmed the circuit court in part, but did not refer to the penalty. The judgment of this Court is corrected to order that penalties as provided by Sec. 6998-19 (e) shall be paid by appellants to claimant on all installments of compensation becoming due between the due date of the first installment after April 8, 1957 and the date of the attorney-referee's order. So. Engineering and Electric Co. v. Chester, 226 Miss. 136, 151-152, 84 So.2d 535 (1956); Harris v. Suggs, 102 So.2d 696 (Miss. 1958). Suggestion of error overruled; motion to correct judgment sustained.