Court Opinion

ID: 8507036
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 01:53:52.89717+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:50:55.816267
License: Public Domain

A petition was filed in this matter, alleging an injury arising out of and in the course of the employment of petitioner as a school teacher for the Board of Education of the City of Plainfield. Respondent filed an answer specifically denying that the injury arose out of and in the course of the employment of petitioner as a school teacher of the City of Plainfield.
The matter came on before me at Newark, November 3d, 1944, at which time counsel for petitioner and respondent presented to me a written stipulation of all of the faets con-*15corning the injury to petitioner. The said stipulation provided as follows: ;
“Petitioner in this case was on March 30th, 1943, em-1' ployed as a teacher in the home economics department of the, Plainfield school system, earning $3,000 yearly. On that1' day she was worM-ng at Evergreen School, which was in charge of Mr. Davis, principal. In connection with a war-loan drive, permission was granted by Mr. Davis for the United States Army to put on a demonstration of tire uses of a jeep. The following notice was posted on the school bulletin board announcing the demonstration:
March 30th, 1943.
’’Was Savings Song Tune: Parmer in the Dell.
We’U. buy our stamps to day,
>We’ll buy our stamps today,
Heigho-—-America,
We’ll bay our stamps today.
It’s Liberty for Aye!
It’s Liberty for Aye!
Heigho—America'
We’ll bay our stamps today.
“Buy more and more War Stamps. Everyone should do this. It is the object of the Junior Eed Cross Council to try to encourage the buying of more stamps. We would lifee to be able to buy a Jeep with our stamp sales To do this everyone must buy more stamps.
“Today a Jeep from Camp Kilmer will be on exhibit on the playground. The schedule for classes is below:
6p — 9 :30 3j —10:12 5 —10:43
Kg — 9:36 4f —10:18 5D —10:54
1Z — 9:43 4b —10:34 6H —11:00
1 S— 9:48 6A —10:30 8C —11:06
2o — 9:54 7 R—10:36 8B —11:12
2K —10:00 7 N—10 :43 7G- —11:18
3N —10:00
ITo Junior Assembly today.
*16“In connection with, the demonstration, the sergeant in charge of the jeep brought logs and wood and a wooden ramp or obstacle was constructed in the yard of the school. The jeep was to be driven up this ramp, which was built to a height of a foot or more off the ground ending abruptly so that after ascending the ramp the jeep had a dr-op of a foot or more back to the ground.
“Petitioner in response to said notice appeared with her class in the school yard at 11:15 a. m. and at the invitation of the driver of the jeep entered it together with another teacher and a number of children. They were driven around the school yard dodging trees and then np the ramp and off the abrupt end of same. The jeep at this time contained petitioner, another teacher and a large number of children, some of tire latter being required to stand. While riding over the obstacle petitioner was holding onto a grip on the side of the jeep with her right hand and was helping to steady a child standing in front of her with her left hand. When the jeep dropped off the abrupt end of the obstacle she was bounced from her seat but clung with her right hand to the grip on the side o-f the jeep and as a result of the strain thus thrown on her right hand and arm she is alleged to have injured her right arm, shoulder and back.
“It is also stipulated that if Mr. Davis, principal of the school, were called he would state that he was present during part of the demonstration and that he gave no directions either for or against teachers and pupils riding in the jeep. Mr. Davis would also testify that prior to the time he learned that the petitioner rode in the jeep that he had seen some pupils ride in the jeep and then left tile demonstration to attend, to some other duties.
“it is also stipulated that if Mr. Hopper were called he would testify that he is the director of the Industrial and Tine Arts Department and the petitioner’s superior; that he knew nothing about the demonstration until the petitioner some time in June, 1943, came to him and asked if he could do something about getting her compensation for this accident. He advised her all he could do was to report the matter to Mr. Zimmer, Secretary of the Board of Education, which he did.
*17“It is also stipulated that if Mr. Zimmer were called he would testify that he is the Secretary of the Board of Education of Plainfield and on March 9th, 1943, ike following resolution was adopted by the Board of Education:
“Besolved, that the work of the employees of the Board | of Education relating to any war effort constitutes a paast1 of the voluntary or required school program of the Plainfield' School District.
“St is farther agreed that he would also testify that the Board of Education did not sponsor the demonstration and-knew nothing about it until he was told by Mr. Hopper on June kith, 1943.”
After due consideration of the above stipulated facts I do find that the injuries sustained by petitioner on March 30th, 1943, while she was riding in the jeep, as aforesaid, arose out of and in the course of her employment. The injuries in question occurred on the school property and while petitioner was actually engaged in an activity that was at least sponsored by the Evergreen School at which she was working, if not by a formal approval of the Board of Education itself. It is a fact from the stipulation that there were school children in this jeep, that petitioner was actually in the jeep with the children and was even helping to steady or support one of them in the crowded vehicle. Her presence in the jeep was, therefore, clearly within the scope of her duties and it might even be said that she was required to be there due to the presence of the children, who undoubtedly required supervision under the circara-sfanees. I, therefore, find as a matter of fact that petitioner’s injuries on March 30th, 1943, arose out of and in the course of her employment within the meaning of our Workmen's Compensation Act, N. J. S. A. 34 :15—1, &t seq. On the question of disability, petitioner testified that she lacked strength in her arm and hand and has great difficulty in raising her arm because of pain in the upper arm and shoulder. She stated that this pain particularly affects her in hor work when she has to reach up to write on a blackboard.
Doctor Max Hummel, who examined the petitioner on December 18th, 1M3, testified that there was slight restrie*18tion of forward flexion and abduction, some restriction of external rotation and on internal rotation considerable restrietion. His diagnosis was sub-pluxation of the acromioclavicular joint with a frozen shoulder. He stated that at the time of his examination he found an existing disability of 12%.% of total.
On behalf of respondent a report of Dr. Otis P. Chapman ■was submitted in evidence, which indicated that he had fixed the disability at 5% of total.
Since respondent refused to admit petitioner’s injuries as compensable it was necessary for petitioner to secure medieal I aid herself and she testified that she originaky was treated1 by Dr. Barnes of Plainfield, who treated her until June 30th, 1948, when the school term ended and she returned to her home in Eoehester, New York. A report of Dr. Barnes was marked in evidence, which indicated that at the time petitioner returned home she was still in need of further medieal treatment. While in Eoehester she was treated by Dr. Carl T. Harris who hospitalized her at Genessee Hospital and rendered treatment by manipulation under anaesthesia. While in Eoehester she was also given physiotherapy at Eoehester General Hospital. At the suggestion of Dr. Harris, when petitioner returned to her teaching duties at Plain-field in September, 1943, she went to Dr. Elmer P. Weigel, who rendered treatment from September 7th, 1943, through January, 1944. For this medical treatment the following 'bills were by consent offered in evidence:
Dr. Barnes, $34; Dr. Boyes for X-rays, $10; Dr. Gad T. Harris, $65; Genessee Hospital, $104.95; Dr. Elmer P. Weigel, $129; Dr. John C. Desslook, $10; Eoehester Gen- . eral Hospital, $22.
The bills of Drs. Barnes, Boyes and Dessloek were paid by petitioner herself, as well as the bills of Genessee Hospital and Eoehester General Hospital. The only bills outstanding and unpaid are those of Drs. Harris and Elmer P. Weigel.
As to the medical expenses, I do find that they were necessarily incurred by the petitioner for the treatment of the injuries sustained and I do find that they are reasonable *19with the following exceptions: The reimbursement for the bill of Qenessee Hospital is reduced to $80.95, since that bill shows that petitioner had a private room at lOO per! day, whereas the standard rates in New Jersey are $5.501 per day for the first week and $5.25 for the succeeding weeks.; Petitioner will, therefore, be reimbursed for the money ex-, pended at the Qenessee Hospital in the sum of $80.95. The bill of Dr. Harris is reduced from $65 to $56 to conform/ with the charges usually paid fo-r such services by phy-sieians in this state. The bill of Eoohester General Hospital for-physiotherapy treatment, which was paid by petitioner, is not strictly in conformity with the charges rendered for such services i-n this state and she is entitled, therefore, to reimbursement on this bill in the sum of $18.
After considering the medical evidence as to the nature; and extent of the injuries, I do find that petitioner is not entitled to any temporary disability, there being no lost compensable time, and as to permanent disability, that she is entitled to partial permanent disability or 35 weeks compensation at $-20 per week, amounting to SYSO.
It is, therefore, * * * ordered and determined that petitioner met with an accident arising out of and in the course of her employment with respondent on Ma-rch 30th, 1948, and that respondent had due knowledge and noMoe of same.
* * * * * * if
John C. Wegner,

Deputy Commissioner.