Court Opinion

ID: 9607097
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:55:27.691735+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:37.104979
License: Public Domain

Evans, Judge,
dissenting.
I dissent and vote to remand this case to the State Board of Workmen’s Compensation for the taking of additional evidence. The record shows that a certain stipulation has not been complied with, as to completion of the record, by counsel for the employer.
Claimant was injured while on a trip from Milledgeville, Georgia to Cleveland, Ohio, by way of Atlanta. He was to attend a convention of other social workers. While waiting in Atlanta for his plane, claimant went to get cigarettes and was seriously injured (brain damage—so badly he could not testify). The deputy director wrote the award in this case (which the majority opinion affirms) on the following theory, to wit: "There is no evidence that the convention claimant was to attend was a part of his employment.” (Tr. p. 56) But the transcript, at pages 16-17, shows that counsel for the employer stipulated that the claimant was in the general employment of the employer at the time of his injury; and then, the following occurred: "Director: Well, the parties can do this; the original records would be the highest and best evidence of what the earnings were, and it would cover a 13 week period preceding the date of injury. I feel sure that the parties can get that information and stipulate it and send it in by letter to be made a part of
*861this hearing. Counsel for claimant: Will that be all right? Counsel for employer: Yes. The director: Okay, fine.” The deputy director never required counsel for the employer to comply with his agreement before making the award.
The case should be remanded so counsel for employer may be required to comply with his agreement and stipulation, which he has not done thus far. This important evidence is not in the record, as yet, despite the stipulation that it would be included by letter. It is important to have the payroll record for the 13 weeks immediately preceding the injury so it may be determined whether claimant was being paid by the employer for attending the convention. In addition, the board should allow any other evidence to be submitted which will reflect upon the question of whether or not the trip to the convention was authorized or sanctioned by the employer.