Poppleton v. Rollins, Inc.

• Decision Date: 02 April 1987
• Docket Number: No. 86-230,86-230
• Citation: 44 St.Rep. 644,226 Mont. 267,735 P.2d 286
• Parties: Evelyn Frances POPPLETON, Claimant and Respondent, v. ROLLINS, INC., Employer, and Home Indemnity Company, Defendant and Appellant.
• Court: Montana Supreme Court

Page 286

735 P.2d 286

226 Mont. 267

Evelyn Frances POPPLETON, Claimant and Respondent, v. ROLLINS, INC., Employer and Home Indemnity Company, Defendant and Appellant.

No. 86-230.

Supreme Court of Montana.

Submitted on Briefs Sept. 11, 1986.

Decided April 2, 1987.

Marra, Wenz, Johnson & Hopkins; Thomas A. Marra, Great Falls, for defendant and appellant.

Burgess, Joyce & Whelan; Thomas J. Joyce, Butte, for claimant and respondent.

TURNAGE, Chief Justice.

Rollins, Inc., and Home Indemnity Co., defendants and appellants, appeal an order of the Workers' Compensation Court allowing Evelyn Frances Poppleton, claimant and respondent, to pursue a claim for workers' compensation benefits. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

One issue is presented for our review:

Did the Workers' Compensation Court err when it held that a claimant may receive benefits under both the Occupational Disease Act and the Workers' Compensation Act?

Respondent Poppleton was employed as an officer manager of Orkin Exterminator Co., a division of Rollins, Inc., from 1976 to November 4, 1980. On June 10, 1980, while at work, she was overcome by fumes that invaded the workplace. Although she missed a few days of work because of the incident, Poppleton continued to work for Orkin until November 4, 1980. On that date she quit for medical reasons.

Respondent filed a claim for benefits in June 1980 with the Division of Workers' Compensation (the Division). The Division treated the claim as one for occupational disease benefits. In its October 23, 1981, notice of determination, it concluded that respondent was entitled to total disability benefits at the rate of $98.67 per week from November 4, 1980, the date of termination of her employment, to July 14, 1981, the date of examination by Dr. Anderson, who advised her to seek employment in a chemical-free environment.

On November 12, 1981, respondent filed a request for rehearing. A hearing examiner appointed by the Division denied the request on the basis of untimeliness. This ruling was affirmed by the Administrator of the Division of Workers' Compensation.

In April 1983, respondent requested the Division to allow her to file a claim for workers' compensation benefits for the incident which occurred on June 10, 1980. Poppleton stated that at the time of the determination of her claim, she did not realize that the accident might constitute an injury and, as such, would fall under the Workers' Compensation Act. The Division granted Poppleton's request. In response to this action, appellants filed a motion for summary judgment, alleging that respondent's claim should be barred by the doctrine of res judicata or collateral estoppel since she had already received benefits under the Occupational Disease Act.

A hearing examiner was appointed by the Division on July 27, 1983, to rule on appellants' motion for summary judgment. The examiner granted appellants' motion and ruled that respondent's claim was barred by res judicata. Respondent then appealed to the Administrator of the Division. The Division adopted the hearing examiner's proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Respondent appealed the Division's ruling to the Workers' Compensation Court. The Workers' Compensation Court reversed the ruling of the Division and denied appellants' motion for summary judgment. The Workers' Compensation Court found that res judicata does not apply to the case at bar and allowed respondent to seek coverage under the Workers' Compensation Act. Appellants timely filed notice of appeal from this ruling.

One issue is presented for our review:

Did the Workers' Compensation Court err when it held that a claimant may receive benefits under both the Occupational Disease Act and the Workers' Compensation Act?

The standard for review in workers' compensation cases differs with findings of fact and conclusions of law. When reviewing questions of fact, our examination is limited to whether the record contains substantial credible evidence supporting the court's findings. Ridenour v. Equity Supply Co. (Mont.1983), 665 P.2d 783, 40 St.Rep. 1012. When reviewing questions of law, or how particular findings of fact apply to the law, our scope of review is much broader. The appropriate standard of review is simply whether the lower court's interpretation of the law is correct. "We are not bound by the lower court's conclusion and remain free to reach our own." Wassberg v. Anaconda Copper Co. (Mont.1985), 697 P.2d 909, 912, 42 St.Rep. 388, 391. Sharp v. Hoerner Waldorf Corp. (1978), 178 Mont. 419, 584 P.2d 1298.

The issue in this case is one of law. Appellants contend the Workers' Compensation Court erred when it reversed the hearing examiner's ruling that Poppleton's workers' compensation claim is barred by res judicata. Appellants claim that because Poppleton could have raised the issue before the Workers' Compensation Division that she suffered a compensable injury, she cannot raise that issue now.

In Brault v. Smith (Mont.1984), 679 P.2d 236, 239, 41 St.Rep. 527, 530, citing Fox v. 7-L-Bar Ranch Co. (1982), 198 Mont. 201, 645 P.2d 929, this Court held the necessary criteria for applying the doctrine of res judicata are:

(1) the parties or the privies must be the same; (2) the subject matter of the action must be the same; (3) the issues must be the same and relate to the same subject matter; and (4) the capacities of the persons must be the same in relation to the subject matter and issues between them. [Emphasis added.]

The doctrine of res judicata will not hold if any of the cited sections are not present. In the case at bar, it is apparent that the issues involved in claims for benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act and the Occupational Disease Act are not the same. Under the Workers' Compensation Act, an injury is defined as "a tangible happening of a traumatic nature from an unexpected cause or unusual strain resulting in either external or internal physical harm and such physical condition as a result therefrom and excluding disease not traceable to injury ..." Section 39-71-119, MCA. Under the Occupational Disease Act an occupational disease is defined as "all diseases arising out of or contracted from and in the course of employment." Section 39-72-102(11), MCA. The definition of "injury" and "occupational disease" have different requirements. Although it is possible that a worker could suffer an injury and an occupational disease arising out of a single incident, it does not follow that the above-mentioned legal definitions are the same or even similar.

Res judicata has been defined further as "... a judicially created doctrine which literally means a matter adjudged. A final judgment rendered upon the merits without fraud or collusion, by a court of competent jurisdiction, is conclusive of causes of action and of facts or issues thereby litigated." 46 Am.Jur.2d Judgments, Sec. 394. (Emphasis added.) Res judicata requires that a "court of competent jurisdiction" has rendered a final judgment.

Poppleton initially brought her claim for benefits to the Division, where, without any factual determination, "occupational disease" was stamped on Poppleton's application. The Division then found that Poppleton had suffered an occupational disease and awarded benefits. The Division of Workers' Compensation is authorized to determine whether a claimant has suffered an occupational disease. Section 39-72-202, MCA. However, the Division is not authorized to consider any claim under the Workers' Compensation Act. Section 39-71-2905, MCA, states in pertinent part: "... The workers' compensation judge has exclusive jurisdiction to make determination under Chapter 71 [workers' compensation] ..."

When the Division determined that Poppleton suffered an occupational disease, it effectively rendered Poppleton...