Opinion ID: 2412555
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Claim of Lonnie Ritchie

Text: It is established by evidence before the Board that deceased and Lonnie Ritchie, then Lonnie Fugate, went through a formal marriage ceremony on July 3, 1947; that they continued to live together as man and wife until his death; that she was supported by him during all that time and that she was wholly dependent on him for support. It is conceded that the marriage was bigamous, but this will not bar her if it was entered into with good faith on her part. The burden was on her to establish this good faith and the Referee was of the opinion that she did not sustain the burden. However, on full Board review, the Board found as a fact that her marriage to deceased was in good faith. We have reviewed this evidence and we are of the opinion that it was amply sufficient to sustain the finding of the Board that Lonnie's marriage to deceased was in good faith. Under these circumstances, she was entitled to one-half of the compensation as a dependent living in the household of the employee as found by the Board. KRS 342.075; Franklin Fluorspar Co. v. Bell, 247 Ky. 507, 57 S.W.2d 481; Fuller v. Carrs Fork Coal Co., 280 Ky. 25, 132 S.W.2d 540; Andrews v. Kopper Coal Co., 290 Ky. 278, 161 S.W.2d 52, and cases therein cited.