133 P.2d 927 | Idaho | 1943
Lead Opinion
Lloyd F. Linder suffered a concededly compensable accident March 31, 1941, while in the employ of appellant City of Payette, resulting in a Colles fracture of his right wrist and a crushing of the left elbow joint and a fracture of the left humerus at the juncture of *445 the middle and lower third. June 10, his right wrist was surgically healed with, as determined by the board, residual permanent injury as compared to 5% amputation of the arm at the wrist. The left arm was progressively healing, when, June 14, 1941, Linder was drowned. Upon application by respondent, as administrator of Linder's estate, and after hearing, the board awarded compensation for the injury to Linder's left arm comparable to 50% loss of one arm midway between the elbow and the shoulder, being 125 1/2 weeks compensation at $9.24 a week. Appellants contend that sufficient time had not elapsed following the injury and prior to Linder's death for the board to thus determine the extent of the injury to the left arm, and that the administrator is not the proper party to recover the compensation.
As we understand the admissions made upon oral argument, both parties concede the award falls under Sec.
"It was in the nature of a judgment for liquidated damages for the loss of the eye, and the right to enforce payment survived." Haugse v. Sommers Bros. Mfg. Co.,
And see Barry v. Peterson Motor Co.,
In both the Haugse and Thacker cases, supra, the situation was exactly the same with regard to the surviving of the award as liquidated damages, and recovery of the unpaid total or residue was granted to the administratrices. While the authority of the administratrices was not therein challenged, the awards, being liquidated damages, inured to the employe and not to his *446 dependents. The mere fact that the award herein, as in the Thacker case, supra, was made after the workman's death, does not affect the situation, because the only ground upon which such an award survives is that it was liquidated damages inuring to the benefit of the employe, becoming part of his estate, and, therefore, not compensation for disability which otherwise might cease with his death.1 In other words, the award to survive must have been an award to the employe and the right thereto, though not determined fixed at the time of the accident and before his death. If the award is not under the special schedule, the authorities almost uniformly hold it does not survive; therefore, the dependents could make no claim. See authorities in note 1.
"One whose employment brings him within the scope and benefits of the Workmen's Compensation Law is entitled to compensation for loss of earning capacity due to injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment. And one who is dependent upon such employee, at the time of the accident, as provided by statute, if the employee dies as a result of the accident, is entitled to compensation for loss of support due to the death, but is not entitled to compensation for loss of earning capacity of the employee during his lifetime." Rand v. Lafferty Transportation Co.,
This award was therefore properly recoverable by the administrator.
"The unpaid part of the award belonged to the estate of Myra Fisk * * *: It was the exclusive duty of her administrator to collect it. * * * This duty was imposed upon him by general statute. He was the sole and only person legally authorized to collect it * * *." State Insurance Fund v. Hunt,
And see Secs. 15-4102 and 15-802,3 I. C. A.
"The administrator is the official and legal representative and trustee of the heirs and creditors; and it is his duty to protect and conserve the estate." Wiesenthall v. Goff, (Ida.)
(Holland v. Kelly,
The disposition of this award and its exemption under Sec.
"At common law the administrator or executor was the legal beneficiary in all policies payable to the insured. * * * The policy descended to him. Our system differs, in that *448
personalty descends to the heirs, with a special interest in the administrator. But, so far as affects this question, the difference is purely ideal. In either case, the personal representative must collect and administer upon it. Although set apart under the statute, the money is administered upon, and until so set apart is a part of the estate." (In re Miller's Estate,
In re Pillsbury's Estate,
The order is therefore affirmed. Costs awarded to respondent.
Holden, C.J., Budge and Dunlap, JJ., concur.
Concurrence Opinion
I concur in affirmance of the award, on the specific ground that the claim had arisen in favor of the employee prior to his death and therefore became an asset of his estate, which his administrator had a right to demand and collect. (Sec. 15-802, I. C. A.)