Opinion ID: 1372970
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: effect of trial court's order on hospital

Text: The trial court's order of January 13, 1989, approving the Joint Petition was based upon 85 O.S. 1981 § 84, which provides for joint petition settlement in workers' compensation cases. Among other things, § 84 states: [The Workers' Compensation] Court shall have jurisdiction to consider the proposition of whether or not a final settlement may be had between the parties presenting such petition... . If the Court decides it is for the best interest of both parties to said petition that a final award be made, a decision shall be rendered accordingly and the Court may make an award that shall be final as to the rights of all parties to said petition... . Title 85 O.S.Supp. 1986 § 3.6(B) provides in relevant part: The order, decision or award of the Court shall be final and conclusive upon all questions within its jurisdiction between the parties, unless, within twenty (20) days after a copy of such order, decision or award has been sent by the Administrator to the parties affected, an action is commenced in the Supreme Court of the state, to review such order, decision or award. In the present case, Hospital was not a party to the Joint Petition, did not have notice that the petition had been filed and was never given a copy of the order approving the same. This Court has previously addressed fact situations similar to those presented herein and held that an order approving a joint petition is not final as to a person who is not a party to, and had no notice of, the joint petition proceedings. In Higley v. Schlessman, 292 P.2d 411 (Okla. 1956), an employee suffered a job-related injury and sought medical treatment. Although the employer paid for initial medical treatment, the worker was subsequently treated by, and at the expense of, two Veterans Administration hospitals. Several months later, the Administrator of Veterans Affairs filed a claim for costs of hospitalization and medical care with the State Industrial Commission (now Workers' Compensation Court). Before an order or award was entered on the claim, the Commission approved a joint petition settlement entered into by the worker, his employer and the employer's insurance carrier. The Veterans Administration was not a party to the joint petition and did not receive a copy of the Commission's order. The Administrator filed a motion to set aside the order, which was denied on the theory that the Commission was without jurisdiction to grant relief after the joint petition and order were filed. On appeal, this Court held: Under [85 O.S. 1951 § 29] the order of the Commission approving the joint petition settlement did not become final as to petitioner [the Administrator] until 20 days after notice of said order was sent to petitioner by the Commission and if the allegation contained in the motion of petitioner that such notice has not been sent to him is true the order of the Commission approving the joint petition settlement was not final as to him at the time he filed his motion to vacate and set his claim for hearing. [3] Higley, 292 P.2d at 414. See also Patterson Steel Co. v. Smith, 353 P.2d 126, 128 (Okla. 1960), where this Court held that the settlement and award made to the employee was not final as to his doctor, because the doctor was not made a party to the joint petition proceedings, had no notice of the same and was never sent a copy of the final order. In Viersen & Cochran Drilling Co. v. Ford, 425 P.2d 965 (Okla. 1967), an employee was awarded disability for an on-the-job injury and then settled his claim by joint petition. After the employee died, his widow filed a claim with the State Industrial Court for death benefits under the Workmens' Compensation Act. This Court ruled that the widow was entitled to maintain her action because, inter alia, she was not a party to the joint petition. We held: [Section] 84 speaks of both parties to said petition and provides that the Commission may make an award [on a joint petition] that shall be final as to the rights of all parties to said petition   . The respondent herein was not one of the parties to this petition and did not join therein. In our view, petitioners should not be heard to say that claimant is barred by an award in an action in which she did not participate and of which she had no formal notice, from now asserting her separate and distinct claim for death benefits. Id. at 968. The foregoing cases demonstrate that an order of the Workers' Compensation Court approving a joint petition is final only as to those who are parties to the agreement, and then only after twenty days has expired from the date notice of the order was sent to that party. As previously noted, Hospital was not a party to the Joint Petition at issue herein and notice of the court's order was never sent to Hospital. Accordingly, we hold that the order of January 13, 1989, approving the Joint Petition is not final as to Hospital. As will be illustrated below, to hold otherwise would subject Hospital to an unconstitutional deprivation of its protected property interest in securing payment for the medical services it rendered after January 13, 1989.