Court Opinion

ID: 9534810
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:42:52.251708+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:32:36.381341
License: Public Domain

KAUGER, Justice,
concurring specially:
I note that certiorari was granted on November 21, 1989. In Gaines v. Sun Refinery & Mktg., 790 P.2d 1073, 1081 (Okla.1990), which was mandated on May 4, 1990, we held that:
“Henceforth, and until such time as cases shall come before us tried after mandate herein, when a medical report which is the sole basis for an award or denial of award is held to be incompetent or non-probative as evidence under Rule 20 of the Rules of the Workers’ Compensation Court, this Court will reverse the judgment on which it is based and remand for further proceedings, ...”
I concur here because this cause preceded Gaines. The Workers’ Compensation Court heard this matter on March 24, 1988. I write to re-emphasize that when cases reach us which have been tried after May 5, 1990, employers and employees alike, must present competent evidence of injury at the time of trial — there will be no more “overs”. This rule is necessary to preserve judicial economy, and to assure that there will be a meaningful end to litigation.