Court Opinion

ID: 9851553
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:14:56.13083+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:49.708674
License: Public Domain

Townsend, Judge,
concurring specially. It is my opinion that the judgment of the Deputy Director of the Workmen’s Compensation Board holding that the board had jurisdiction to reopen the award so as to consider the conflicting issues arising between two insurers of the employer was error. Code (Ann.) § 114-706, to which the hearing director refers in his findings of fact, contemplates only disagreements between the employer and the employee. This disagreement solely concerns the two insurance carriers. I think the issue was settled by Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. v. Morgan, 199 Ga. 179 (33 S. E. 2d 336), where the Supreme Court, in answer to a certified question, replied that, The State Board of Workmen’s Compensation does not have jurisdiction to review the award approved by it to determine which insurance company’s policy covered the injury to the employee after the time for appeal had passed. It is urged that there the insurer seeking to have the award modified contended, after agreeing- to pay compensation, that it had no coverage, whereas here the insurer admits that it and the other insurer both have coverage and that they are jointly and severally liable. This situation would mot alter the board’s lack of jurisdiction, but to my mind it would cure the objections to an equity suit for the same relief which existed in Glens Falls Indem. Co. v. Liberty Mutual Ins. Co., 202 Ga. 752 (44 S. E. 2d 543), where it was held, in the same controversy, that as to an insurer who is not liable but who voluntarily assumes to pay an award, his negligence will estop him from a suit in equity seeking subrogation. If the liability here is, as it appears to be, a joint and several obligation of both parties, then the payment by National Union Insurance Company of the award in this case is not a voluntary payment. In any event, since the board is without jurisdiction to re-open the award after the time for appeal has passed, except on a change of condition or some like dispute between the employer and the employee, this action decides nothing except the lack of *700jurisdiction of the board at this time. I accordingly concur in the judgment of reversal.