Opinion
No. 29317
Decided March 22, 1944.
Workmen's compensation — Silicosis — Mandamus — Writ not issued to compel payment from occupational disease fund — Dependents and next of kin received payment from employer.
Where an injured workman and, after his death, his dependents and next of kin have sought and received payment from the employer for all injuries from silicosis growing out of the workman's employment and death, the Industrial Commission may not be compelled by mandamus to allow further compensation or benefits to such workman's dependents from the state occupational disease fund.
IN MANDAMUS.
Relator filed a petition in mandamus praying for a writ to compel the Industrial Commission to grant compensation, as provided in the Workmen's Compensation Law and particularly as provided by Sections 1465-68, 1465-68 a, 1465-68 b 1405-68 c, and 1465-78 to and including Section 1465-82 of the General Code of Ohio and for medical and funeral expenses.
The petition alleged that Harold Campbell was an employee of the National Fireproofing Corporation, a contributor to the state insurance fund, and while so employed contracted silicosis and was totally disabled as a result of silicosis from December 13, 1938, to July 31, 1941; that as a direct and proximate result of contracting silicosis, Harold Campbell died on July 31, 1941; that the relator, Herbert L. Campbell, a minor, and Avanell Campbell, his mother, were wholly dependent upon decedent during his lifetime and at his death; and that within six months application was filed with the Industrial Commission for death benefits and funeral expenses, which claim was disallowed by the Industrial Commission.
The answer of the Industrial Commission and its members admitted: The employment of Harold Campbell by the National Fireproofing Corporation, a complying employer; that while so employed Harold Campbell contracted silicosis and became disabled as a result thereof and died on or about July 31, 1941; that Herbert L. Campbell, a minor, is the only son of Harold Campbell, deceased; that Avanell Campbell is the surviving spouse of Harold Campbell; that both widow and son were wholly dependent upon decedent during his lifetime and at his death; and that Avanell Campbell filed an application for an award for death benefits and funeral expenses, which was disallowed by the Industrial Commission. The answer further set up the following history in relation to the claims growing out of the contracting of silicosis by Harold Campbell:
"March 27, 1939 — Application of Harold Campbell for compensation filed, Claim No. 17260.
"July 27, 1939 — Application disallowed for the reason that proof of record showed claimant was not injuriously exposed to silica dust in his employment in Ohio for periods amounting in all to at least five years, as required under Section 1465-68 a and that his disability therefore is not the result of a compensable occupational disease.
"Aug. 25, 1939 — Application for rehearing of claim filed.
"Oct. 26, 1939 — Application for withdrawal of rehearing application filed.
"Oct. 27, 1939 — Petition of Harold Campbell against the National Fireproofing Corporation for negligently causing him to contract the disease of silicosis filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Hocking county, Ohio.
"July 25, 1940 — Application for withdrawal of rehearing application allowed by commission.
"July 31, 1941 — Death of Harold Campbell
"Sept. 23, 1941 — Action for personal injuries, filed by Harold Campbell against the National Fireproofing Corporation, revived in name of Avanell Campbell, administratrix.
"Nov. 18, 1941 — Application of Avanell Campbell, administratrix, filed with the Probate Court of Hocking county, Ohio, for authority, consent and direction to accept offer of the National Fireproofing Corporation to pay $1,750 for settlement of pending suit in Common Pleas Court and also of wrongful death claim.
"Nov. 18, 1941 — Entry journalized in Probate Court in Hocking county, Ohio, granting authority and consent of court to said settlement and for execution of complete release.
"Nov. 18, 1941 — Journal entry filed in Common Pleas Court of Hocking county rendering judgment for $1,000 in favor of Avanell Campbell administratrix, and against the National Fireproofing Corporation.
"Dec. 31, 1941 — First proof of death and preliminary application filed with commission by Mrs. Avanell Campbell (Claim No. OD 17260) for death benefits and funeral expenses of Harold Campbell.
"Aug. 31, 1942 — Application for death benefits and funeral expenses disallowed by order of commission."
The second defense in the answer set up more in detail the judgment recovered by Avanell Campbell, as administratrix, in the case originally brought by her husband, the application to the Probate Court of Hocking county and the authorization of such Probate Court to Avanell Campbell, as executrix of the estate of her deceased husband, to settle all claims arising out of the action brought by her husband against the National Fireproofing Corporation and all claims of the next of kin growing out of the death of Harold Campbell for the sum of $1,750 to be paid by the National Fireproofing Corporation in settlement of all claims; that the National Fireproofing Corporation had paid to Avanell Campbell, as administratrix of her husband's estate, the sum of $1,750 and that she had executed a release on behalf of herself and all others beneficially interested in full satisfaction and final discharge of any and all claims arising out of the death of her husband.
The third defense in the answer challenged the sufficiency of the facts stated in the petition to constitute a cause of action in mandamus entitling the relator to the relief prayed for.
By stipulation the entire record before the Industrial Commission and all the records and papers of the Common Pleas Court of Hocking county in case No. 8632 and all of the records and papers in case No. 4425 of the Probate Court of Hocking county were submitted as the entire evidence in the instant case.
Mr. Abram Cunix, Mr. Hubert Lappen and Mr. John C. Fontana, for relator.
Mr. Thomas J. Herbert, attorney general, Mr. Robert E. Hall and Mr. C.G.L. Yearick, for respondents.
The question presented by the pleadings and record is whether the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Hocking county in the case of Avanell Campbell, Administratrix of the Estate of Harold Campbell, Deceased, Plaintiff, v. National Fireproofing Corporation, Defendant, in the sum of $1,000 for the personal injury sustained by her husband and the making of a claim for damages for wrongful death for the benefit of herself and her minor son, both of which claims were settled by order of the Probate Court of Hocking county for the sum of $1,750, constitute a bar to the participation of the widow and relator (son) in the state occupational disease fund.
During his lifetime Harold Campbell made application to the Industrial Commission for compensation growing out of his contracting silicosis while in the employ of the National Fireproofing Corporation. This application was disallowed, whereupon an application for rehearing of the claim was filed. Later claimant made application to withdraw his rehearing application. Thereafter Harold Campbell brought an action in the Court of Common Pleas of Hocking county against the National Fireproofing Corporation for negligently causing him to contract the disease of silicosis. After the bringing of such action the Industrial Commission allowed Harold Campbell's application for the withdrawal of the rehearing application. Shortly thereafter Harold Campbell died and the action in the Common Pleas Court of Hocking county was revived in the name of Avanell Campbell, administratrix. Thereafter Avanell Campbell, as administratrix, made application to the Probate Court of Hocking county in which it was stated:
"Your applicant further represents that on behalf of the estate of Harold Campbell and on behalf of Avanell Campbell, widow of said Harold Campbell, and on behalf of Herbert Lawrence Campbell, a minor aged eight years, a son of said Harold Campbell, the sole next of kin of decedent and the only persons having a pecuniary interest in his life, she made a claim against the National Fireproofing Corporation for damages for causing the wrongful death of said Harold Campbell. Your applicant further represents that said the National Fireproofing Corporation has denied any and all liability for causing the death of said Harold Campbell but has proposed to settle all claims of the estate of said Harold Campbell, his administratrix and the next of kin of the said Harold Campbell and all other persons beneficially or pecuniarily interested in the life of the said Harold Campbell, including both said action No. 8632 in the records of the Court of Common Pleas, Hocking county, Ohio, and any other cause of action which the said administratrix and said persons beneficially or pecuniarily interested in the life of said Harold Campbell may have, for the sum of seventeen hundred and fifty dollars ($1,750). Your applicant believes that it will for the best interests of said estate, said next of kin and all other persons beneficially interested or entitled, to accept said proposition in settlement."
Thereafter the Probate Court of Hocking county entered an order reciting the facts in connection with Harold Campbell's employment, his action against his employer, his death, the appointment of the administratrix, the next of kin, and other pertinent facts and ordering as follows:
"It is further ordered that said administratrix, as a part of the settlement, consent and agree to the rendering of a verdict in her favor in said suit No. 8632 in the records of the Court of Common Pleas, Hocking county, Ohio, in which she is plaintiff and the National Fireproofing Corporation the defendant, in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) and that said administratrix accept payment of said judgment as part of the payment of the said sum of seventeen hundred and fifty dollars ($1,750) herein provided to be paid to her.
"The court hereby consents to the acceptance by said administratrix of said sum of seventeen hundred and fifty dollars ($1,750) in full payment of all claims of said estate, said administratrix, the said heirs and next of kin of said Harold Campbell and all other persons beneficially interested or entitled."
This journal entry was approved by three attorneys for the administratrix.
It is the contention of relator that the settlement authorized by the Probate Court contemplated the settlement of all actions against the employer on behalf of the next of kin, but did not release any possible action that might accrue on behalf of Harold Campbell's dependents under the Workmen's Compensation Law. There is no dispute among counsel that actions for wrongful death and for personal injury do not arise out of the same right.
Relator contends that the decision in this case should be governed by the principle announced in the case of State, ex rel. Trumbull Steel Co., v. Industrial Commission, 106 Ohio St. 82, 138 N.E. 530; while respondents contend that the principle announced in the case of Industrial Commission v. Broskey, 128 Ohio St. 372, 191 N.E. 456, is controlling.
We are of the opinion that the case of State, ex rel. Trumbull Steel Co., v. Industrial Commission, supra, is not pertinent for the reason that that case was based upon Section 1465-76, General Code, which section had been repealed prior to Harold Campbell's employment by the National Fireproofing Corporation. Furthermore, the settlement in the Trumbull Steel Company case was specifically limited "in full satisfaction of all claims and demands against said Trumbull Steel Company, by reason of the death of said decedent," whereas in the instant case the authorization by the Probate Court to settle and the settlement covered not only the claim arising out of the death of Harold Campbell but the action originally brought by Harold Campbell in the Court of Common Pleas of Hocking county and "all claims of said estate, said administratrix, the said heirs and next of kin of said Harold Campbell and all other persons beneficially interested or entitled."
We are of the opinion that the facts in the instant case bring it within the doctrine of the Broskey case, supra, wherein it was held:
"Additional workmen's compensation will not be awarded a claimant who after receiving an award, sued his contributing employer for damages for the identical personal injuries for which he claims further compensation, and by way of settlement of that suit received a substantial sum which he acknowledged to be satisfactory and in consideration of which he executed to his employer a complete release against all past, present and future claims."
It must be borne in mind that neither Harold Campbell nor his dependents could claim compensation from both the employer and the state occupational disease fund. Harold Campbell and his dependents elected to look to the employer for all damages. Having done this and having been paid in full the amount agreed upon and having released the employer of all claims of all kinds and no effort having been made to repudiate the settlement with the employer or to restore the fruits of the settlement, it follows that an election was made and that the dependents have no right to pursue a claim for compensation from the state occupational disease fund.
In the course of their brief counsel for relator say: "Another significant fact is that no guardian was ever appointed for Herbert L. Campbell, a minor son, for the settlement of a claim amounting to more than $500 if the contention of the respondents is to be accepted that he received $750."
In the first place the answer makes no claim as to the distribution of the fund arising from a settlement under the wrongful death statute. We assume that relator is referring to Section 10507-5, General Code, relative to accounting by a guardian. This section has no application in view of the record in this case.
Section 10509-167, General Code, provides in part:
"An action for wrongful death must be brought in the name of the personal representative of the deceased person, but shall be for the exclusive benefit of the surviving spouse, the children and other next of kin of the decedent. * * * Such personal representative, if he was appointed in this state, with the consent of the court making such appointment, may, at any time before or after the commencement of the suit, settle with the defendant the amount to be paid."
There was no necessity for the appointment of a guardian of the minor until after the settlement had been made and distribution ordered pursuant to Section 10509-168, General Code. The record does not disclose any order of distribution by the Probate Court, but even when made, it cannot affect our question here.
There being no duty resting upon respondents in the premises, a peremptory writ of mandamus is denied and the cause dismissed at relator's costs.
Writ denied.
WEYGANDT, C.J., MATTHIAS, HART, ZIMMERMAN, BELL and WILLIAMS, JJ., concur.