Court Opinion

ID: 9666901
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 01:29:58.5322+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:33.463252
License: Public Domain

On Applications for Rehearing.
PER CURIAM.
Counsel for the defendant has requested that we clarify our interpretation of LSA-R.S. 23:1021(11) by granting a rehearing, or, in the alternative, by issuing a per curiam in this case. Although we thought we had made ourselves clear, we shall nevertheless explain the extent of our decree.
LSA-R.S. 23:1021(11) 1 has been a source of repeated confusion. In the case of Rylander v. T. Smith & Son, Inc., 177 La. 716, 149 So. 434, wé stated that one of the purposes of the Workmen’s Compensation Statute was to insure the employee against the loss or diminution of earning capacity. We held that compensation should be based upon the number of days the workman could have secured employment had he not been injured. The test employed was ability to work. In Calhoon v. Meridian Lumber Co., 180 La. 343, 156 So. 412, we said that economic conditions, which compelled an employee to work half time, would not prevent his recovery of workmen’s compensation on the basis of a six day week. In Jarrell v. Travelers Ins. Co., 218 La. 531, 50 So.2d 22,. we attempted to straighten out apparent difficulties and clarify our former decisions. We held that an injury had the effect of depriving a workman of his ability to work at full time employment in the future, and' that he should be compensated on a six day work week. The ability to work test was-again employed in Troquille v. Lacaze’ Estate, 222 La. 611, 63 So.2d 139.
The use of the word “customarily” in Caddo Contracting Co. v. Johnson, 222 La. 796, 64 So.2d 177, was not intended to mean that an employee’s weekly wages would be computed upon the number of days he actually or customarily worked for the particular employer, by whom he was employed at the time of the injury. We were referring to the fact that the average able-bodied employee customarily worked six days a week.
After determining an employee’s-daily wage, the six day week is to be employed in calculating his weekly wage. If he is injured, he is deprived of this ability to work six days per week, and remuneration is awarded him for this deprivation. This test must be applied regardless of the number of days he works for the particular employer, by whom he is employed at the time of his injury.
*955Since we are convinced that our decree is correct, both applications for rehearing are refused.
HAWTHORNE, J., concurs, in the decree.

. “ ‘Wages’ means the daily rate of pay at which the service rendered by the injured employee is recompensed under the eon-tract of hiring in force at the time of the injury.”