56 Ga. App. 397 | Ga. Ct. App. | 1937
The plaintiff filed with the Department of Industrial Relations a claim for compensation for a hernia alleged to have been sustained while working in the scope of and in the course of his employment with Foremost Dairies. From an adverse finding of the department he appealed to the superior court, where the judgment of the department was affirmed, and the case is before this court for review.
To be entitled to compensation for a hernia the claimant must prove, among other things, that it appeared suddenly and immediately following an accident. See section 2(e) of the workmen’s compensation act (Ga. L. 1920, p. 167). Code, § 114-412. In the present case the claimant testified that while working on his job about midnight on June 28, 1936, he slipped and fell against a York machine which was in the path of his duties; that he did not at once report his injury to anybody, because he feared he might be discharged by his employer; that without going to a physician he purchased a necessary truss and had been wearing it ever since, and had not been able to obtain employment; that on the night following his injury he was unable to work, informing his employer only that he was sick, but that the next night he performed his duties; that on July 13, 1936, he was discharged, at which time he informed the manager that he had received the injury. Two physicians testified to the presence of the hernia, but were unable to state at what time it originated, there being no bruise upon the body at the time of the examination. Undisputed testimony was to the effect that the claimant was worthy of belief on oath. The manager of the plant where the claimant had been employed testified that the claimant was an agitator, had been found asleep on the job at night where his vigilance was necessary, talked too much for good discipline among the employees; that about a week before the dismissal he had the claimant sent to his office, and informed him that unless his ways were
Judgment affirmed.