Arrington v. Stone & Webster Engineering Corp. , 264 N.C. 38 ( 1965 )

140 S.E.2d 759 (1965) 264 N.C. 38

Prince ARRINGTON, Jr., Employee,
v.
STONE & WEBSTER ENGINEERING CORPORATION, Employer, and Royal Indemnity Company, Carrier.

No. 203.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

March 17, 1965.

Allsbrook, Benton & Knott, Roanoke Rapids, for plaintiff.

Smith, Moore, Smith, Schell & Hunter and Stephen Millikin, Greensboro, for defendants.

MOORE, Justice.

Plaintiff's argument for reversal of the superior court judgment is but an elaboration of the reasoning, conclusions and findings contained in the following excerpts from the opinion and award of the Full Commission:

"Over the years the Commission has awarded compensation for disfigurements for loss of internal organs or loss of use of said organs when the outward observable blemish or mark was negligible or almost non-existent. Awards have been made in many cases for the loss of the senses of taste and smell as disfigurement. admittedly, there has been some question as to the Commission's authority, as a matter of law, to enter awards where the disfigurement is not of the type that is readily discernible to outward observation. Any such question appears to have been resolved in favor of such awards by virtue of the 1963 amendment to General Statutes 97-31(22) and the addition of General Statutes 97-31(24). These amendments do not apply to the subject case. However, such amendments in the opinion of the Full Commission serve to clarify and make certain the Commission's position with respect to awards for disfigurement in a case such as that now before the Full Commission.

"The loss of plaintiff's senses of taste and smell is a serious loss, perhaps much more serious than the loss of two teeth, as in the case of Davis v. [Sanford] Construction Company, 247 N.C. 332 (101 S.E.2d 40). The senses of taste and smell are very closely allied with the teeth in relation to a worker obtaining proper nourishment to enable him to gain the strength to work and earn wages. The Workmen's Compensation Act is to be liberally construed."

"* * * The complete and permanent loss by plaintiff of his senses of taste and smell is likely to handicap the plaintiff in securing or retaining employment as a laborer, is likely to cause an impairment of his future wageearning capacity, and constitutes serious facial or head disfigurement."

Under the present law, G.S. § 97-31(24), an award of compensation for loss of sense of taste or smell would unquestionably be sustained, where from the circumstances it could be reasonably presumed that the workman suffered diminution of his future earning power by reason of such loss. In 1963, G.S. § 97-31 was amended by striking a clause from subsection (22) thereof and adding subsection (24). S.L.1963, c. 424. The amending statute is not retroactive. The accident in question occurred in 1961. Therefore, plaintiff's claim based on loss of senses of taste and smell must be considered in the light of the provisions of G.S. § 97-31 as they existed prior to the 1963 amendment and at the time of the injury.

The pertinent provisions of G.S. § 97-31 are discussed and construed in Davis v. Sanford Construction Co., supra (1957), which involved a claim for loss of two upper front teeth. The question was whether the loss was compensable as a disfigurement. At the time the opinion was delivered the following subsections of G.S. § 97-31 were in force:

"``(v) In case of serious facial or head disfigurement, the Industrial Commission shall award proper and equitable compensation not to exceed three thousand five hundred dollars. * * *

"``(w) In case of serious bodily disfigurement, including the loss of or permanent injury to any important external or internal organ or part of the body for which no compensation is payable under the preceding subsections, but excluding the disfigurement resulting from permanent loss or permanent partial loss of use of any member of the body for which compensation is fixed in the above schedule, the Industrial Commission may award proper and equitable compensation not to exceed three thousand five hundred dollars ($3,500.00); provided, that the Industrial Commission may not make an award for permanent partial or permanent total disability, and also for bodily disfigurement resulting from loss of, or permanent injury to, any internal organ, the loss of which, or the injury to which resulted in such permanent partial or permanent total disability.'

[Note: Subsections (v) and (w) have since been codified as (21) and (22). S.L.1957, c. 1221, amended subsection (w) to insert the words which are italicized thereinabove and to add the proviso following the semi-colon; it also increased the maximum payable compensation in (v) and (w) from $2500 to $3500. This 1957 amending statute became effective on 10 June 1957. The Davis opinion was filed on 11 December 1957, after the effective date of the amendment. However, the opinion discusses the subsections as they were before the 1957 amendment. But this fact has no significance either in the Davis case or the case at bar.]

The following excerpts from the Davis opinion have authoritative bearing upon the question for decision in the instant case:

"In express terms, the Commission based its award of $450.00 on G.S. 97-31(w). The factual basis therefor is that plaintiff ``suffered the loss of or permanent injury to an important organ of the body, for which no compensation is payable under the provisions of G.S. 97-31(a) through (v).'

"With reference to (w), it would seem that ``the loss or permanent injury to any important organ of the body for which no compensation is payable under the preceding subsections' may be the basis for a separate award only if it results in ``serious bodily disfigurement.' Such loss or permanent injury to an important organ of the body is not something different from or in addition to ``serious bodily disfigurement' but rather, as indicated by the word ``including,' an instance of what may constitute ``serious bodily disfigurement.' While (v) does not refer in express terms to the loss of or permanent injury to any important organ of the face or head, we think it clear that such loss, if in fact a ``serious facial or head disfigurement,' is compensable thereunder.

"If plaintiff's loss of his two upper front teeth constitutes serious disfigurement within the meaning of G.S. 97-31, it would seem inescapable that this would be a ``serious facial or head disfigurement' compensable under (v) rather than a ``serious bodily disfigurement' compensable under (w).

"* * * it appears clearly that the full Commission considered (w) rather than (v) the pertinent provision and that it interpreted (w) as authority for an award for loss or permanent injury to any important organ of the body, for which no specified compensation for a definite period was payable under the preceding subsections of G.S. 97-31, without regard to whether such loss constituted ``serious bodily disfigurement.' Hence, the full Commission's findings of fact were made under misapprehension as to the applicable law. * * *"

"Under our decisions, there is a serious disfigurement in law only when there is a serious disfigurement in fact. A serious disfigurement in fact is a disfigurement that mars and hence adversely affects the appearance of the injured employee to such extent that it may be reasonably presumed to lessen his opportunities for remunerative employment and so reduce his future earning power. True, no present loss of wages need be established; but to be serious, the disfigurement must be of such nature that it may be fairly presumed that the injured employee has suffered a diminution of his future earning power. Stanley v. Hyman-Michaels Co., [222 N.C. 257, 22 S.E.2d 570], supra; Branham v. [Denny Roll &] Panel Co., [223 N.C. 233, 25 S.E.2d 865], supra; Larson, Workmen's Compensation Law, Vol. 2, sec. 58-32; also, see (dictum) Marshburn v. Patterson, 241 N.C. 441, 448, 85 S.E.2d 683."

Among other things, the Davis case holds, in effect, that subsection (w) deals with disfigurement of the body as distinguished from disfigurement of the head. Subsection (v) deals exclusively with disfigurement of the face and head. The distinction is implicit in the statute; the General Assembly made provision for compensation for disfigurement of the head and body in separate subsections, and made compensation for head disfigurement mandatory and compensation for bodily disfigurement discretionary. The 1957 amendment of subsection (w) does not so extend its meaning as to override the distinction. Had the General Assembly intended to extend the amendatory provisions to subsection (v), it would have expressly or by reference incorporated them therein. "Where there are two provisions in a statute, one of which is special or particular and the other general, which, if standing alone, would conflict with the particular provision, the special will be taken as intended to constitute an exception to the general provision, as the General Assembly is not presumed to have intended a conflict." 4 Strong: N.C.Index, Statutes, s. 5, pp. 182, 183.

The Commission undoubtedly recognized the distinction discussed above, for it held that the loss of the senses of taste and smell "constitutes serious facial or head disfigurement within the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Act, for which proper and equitable compensation is $1000.00. G.S. § 97-31(21)." As noted above, subsection (21) was formerly subsection (v). We agree that the organs of taste and smell are organs of the head. But we do not agree that loss of the senses of taste and smell is compensable under the subsection applicable to head disfigurement. That subsection provides for compensation only in case of "serious facial or head disfigurement." As stated in Davis, "there is a serious disfigurement in law only when there is a serious disfigurement in fact." "A disfigurement * * * is a blemish, a blot, a scar or a mutilation that is external and observable, marring the appearance." Branham v. Panel Co., 223 N.C. 233, 25 S.E.2d 865. Loss of the senses of taste and smell is not in fact a disfigurement of the face or head.

We are urged to reverse the superior court judgment because the Industrial Commission has heretofore made awards "in many cases for the loss of the senses of taste and smell as disfigurement." The Commission's interpretation of the statute is persuasive but not controlling. "The interpretation by the department responsible for the administration of a legislative act is helpful to a court when called upon to construe legislative language. In re Application for Reassignment [of Pupils], 247 N.C. 413, 420, 101 S.E.2d 359. The construction placed upon legislation by the officer charged with administration thereof will be given due consideration by the courts, although such construction is not controlling. If there should be a conflict between administrative interpretation and the interpretation of the courts, the latter will prevail. Campbell v. Currie, 251 N.C. 329, 333, 111 S.E.2d 319." Faizan v. Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Co., 254 N.C. 47, 57, 118 S.E.2d 303. The interpretation of the Commission is in conflict with the decisions of this Court.

Affirmed.