Court Opinion

ID: 5019408
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-10-01 03:55:27.401326+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:17:42.646933
License: Public Domain

HOGG, Judge
(dissenting).
I am not in agreement with the majority opinion as- to what it decides is the. law in this case. The question sgems to me to be of sufficient importance to justify this dissenting opinion.
As I see it, this cáse presents" only a question of law based on undisputed facts. The requirement of the statute that the findings of fact by the Compensation Board will not be disturbed by the courts if there is any evidence of probative force to, uphold them, has no application here.
We have a case where there is no con-tiariety in the facts, and the Board’s finding in such instances is one of law and not of fact, and is reviewable by the courts. There is an impressive line of decisions to this effect. Bates & Rogers Construction Co. v. Allen, 183 Ky. 815, 210 S.W. 467; Chatfield v. Jellico Coal Mining Co., 205 Ky. 415, 265 S.W. 943; Diamond Block Coal Co. v. Sparks, 209 Ky. 73, 272 S.W. 31; Melcroft Coal Co. v. Hicks, 224 Ky. 173, 5 S.W.2d 1049; Columbus Mining Co. v. Pelfrey, Ky., 237 S.W.2d 847.
The task in this case is to apply the applicable law to the undisputed facts in the case. We have adopted the rule in this state that the degree of dependency is determined by the extent the compensation claimant looked to the decedent for support, Columbus Mining Co. v. Pelfrey, supra, 237 S.W.2d 847. And we have held *890that a person may be wholly dependent on an employee and yet have some other source of support. J. F. Hardymon Co. v. Kaze, 241 Ky. 252, 43 S.W.2d 678; Sandlick Coal Co. v. Day, 233 Ky. 632, 26 S.W.2d 521; Blue Diamond Coal Co. v. Frazier, 229 Ky. 450, 17 S.W.2d 406; Scuddy Coal Co. v. York, 233 Ky. 497, 26 S.W.2d 34; R. C. Tway Coal Co. v. Fitts, 222 Ky. 644, 1 S.W.2d 1082; Fordson Coal Co. v. Burke, 219 Ky. 770, 294 S.W. 497; Clover Fork Coal Co. v. Ayres, 219 Ky. 326, 292 S.W. 803.
The undisputed facts as recited in the majority opinion clearly show that claimant was wholly dependent upon the deceased at the time of his death. The question of dependency is to be determined in accordance with the facts of each case existing at the time of the accident. Fordson Coal Co. v. Burke, supra, 219 Ky. 770, 294 S.W. 497.
In the case of Three Rivers Oil Corp. v. Harper, 258 Ky. 253, 79 S.W.2d 972, 974, we said:
“ * * * But in arriving at its conclusion, the board must take into consideration only such facts and evidence as are legally applicable and relative: and even under uncontradicted facts, if the board enters an award not authorized by law, it is not a finding of fact, but an erroneous application of the law reviewable by the courts as a question of law. Wells Elkhorn Coal Co. v. Vanhoose, 220 Ky. 381, 295 S.W. 464; Bates & Rogers Construction Co. v. Allen, 183 Ky. 815, 210 S.W. 467; Chatfield v. Jellico Coal Mining Co., 205 Ky. 415, 265 S.W. 943; Jellico Coal Mining Co. v. Chatfield, 200 Ky. 842, 255 S.W. 842; Inland Gas Corp. v. Frazier, 246 Ky. 432, 55 S.W.2d 26.”
We have many times held that where the facts are undisputed, the conclusion legally to be deduced therefrom is a matter of law to be determined ultimately by the courts. See Broadway & Fourth Avenue Realty Co. v. Metcalfe, 230 Ky. 800, 20 S.W.2d 988, and many other cases cited therein. Obviously, if the Board comes to an erroneous legal conclusion, it is not a finding of fact even though the Board might denominate such erroneous conclusion of law as a finding of fact. I think the majority opinion is unsound because it has made an erroneous application of the law to the admitted facts. I do not see how anyone can read the majority opinion in this case without deciding instantly that under the facts claimant looked to and was entirely dependent upon the deceased boy for his support at the time of his death. If so, then this Court, as well as the Board, has made an erroneous application of the law to the admitted facts, in that it has allowed partial dependency rather than total.
It should also be remembered that our Act is to be liberally construed to accomplish the purpose of its enactment — a direction to all concerned that if there is substantial doubt as to whether claimant was a total or partial dependent, such doubt should be resolved in favor of total dependency. I think this wholesome policy is set forth in KRS 342.004. I have no doubt, under the undisputed facts of this case, that applicant should have been allowed compensation as a total dependent. But under the stated rule, if I were less convinced, it would then be my duty as a Judge to resolve my doubt in favor of the claimant and compensation as a total dependent.
Most respectfully, I dissent.