In re Cannon

• Decision Date: 20 November 1917
• Docket Number: 10,057
• Citation: 117 N.E. 658,66 Ind.App. 1
• Parties: IN RE CANNON
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

117 N.E. 658

66 Ind.App. 1

IN RE CANNON

No. 10,057

Court of Appeals of Indiana

November 20, 1917

From the Industrial Board of Indiana.

Certified question of law.

Proceedings under the Workmen's Compensation Act in the matter of one Charles Cannon. Certified question of law by the Industrial Board.

Question answered.

OPINION

BATMAN, J.

Under the provisions of § 61 of the Workmen's Compensation Act of 1915 (Acts 1915 p. 392), as amended by the act of 1917 (Acts 1917 p. 154), the Industrial Board has certified to this court a certain question of law, based upon the facts presented by a proceeding pending before that body, seeking the opinion of this court for guidance in determining such proceedings.

The statement of facts as submitted by the board is as follows "On the 16th day of October, 1916, one Charles Cannon was in the employment of the Advance Rumely Company at an average weekly wage of $ 14.57; that on said date the said employe received a personal injury by an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment, resulting in the complete amputation of his left foot through the instep or tarsal bones; that the employer had actual personal knowledge of the accident and injury of the said Charles Cannon at the time that it occurred."

Upon the foregoing facts the Industrial Board submits the following question: "Is the employe entitled to one hundred and fifty (150) weeks' compensation at the rate of $ 8.01 per week under the provision of clause (b) of section 31 of the Indiana Workmen's Compensation Act?"

In determining this question, we shall assume from the statement of facts that the injured employe suffered the loss by separation of his entire left foot at the ankle joint. With such assumption it is clear that he is entitled to an award of compensation at the rate of $ 8.01 for a period of 125 weeks, as provided in clause (e) of § 31 of the Indiana Workmen's Compensation Act supra, which reads as follows: "(e) for the loss by separation of one foot at or above the ankle joint * * * 125 weeks." This is true because of the express language of the statute as quoted.

If however, the facts are or were such as to constitute a loss by separation of a part of a foot, less than the entire foot at the ankle joint, involving the loss by separation of all the toes of such foot, the period of compensation would not be determined by an application of clause (b) of § 31 of the Indiana Workmen's Compensation Act, supra, which reads as follows: "(b) for the loss by separation of more than two phalanges of a finger or of a whole finger or toe * * * 30 weeks." This is true for the reason that such clause, in so far as it relates to the fixing of compensation for the loss by separation of a whole finger or toe, is expressly limited to the loss of a single one of such members, and a fair interpretation of the language used does not permit that its application be enlarged to include a loss by separation of...