Hayes v. Boutell

August 12, 1925, Rutherford B. Hayes, an employee of defendant F.J. Boutell, was struck by an automobile, and the artery in his right ankle was cut, and his right calf, knee, and hip bruised. Weekly compensation was by approved agreement. April 24, 1926, Mr. Hayes was able to and did resume and perform his former work and so continued until May 13, 1928, when he was found dead in a bathroom of his boarding house. An autopsy disclosed that his death was caused by a ruptured aneurism of the aorta. October 13, 1928, Esther Hayes, his widow, filed claim for an award as a dependent and alleged that the injuries to the deceased in August, 1925, produced the ruptured aneurism in May, 1928. Defendants filed a denial of dependency and of causal connection between the injuries and death, gave notice of failure to make claim in season, and invoked the statute of limitations. Testimony was taken before a deputy commissioner, and plaintiff was denied an award. Upon review, under appeal by both parties, the commission awarded compensation to plaintiff and her minor child as dependents. Defendants review by certiorari.

There was opinion testimony by medical witnesses in support of the finding of the commission that the mentioned injuries caused the aneurism of the aorta two years later. In such case we may not substitute our judgment for that of the commission, although we are impressed by the testimony of another medical witness, of long practice and practical knowledge of aneurisms, that no such causal connection, as here claimed, between the injuries and the aneurism has ever been known and is absolutely impossible. The responsibility for finding facts is with the commission and we may not reverse on the ground that a finding is contrary to the great weight of evidence.

The claim for compensation in this case is barred by the statute. 2 Comp. Laws 1929, § 8431. Mr. Hayes resumed his former employment in April, 1926, and continued therein until his sudden death on May 13, 1928, without claim of disability, or of disability in fact, and without continuing compensation.

This case is on all fours with Millaley v. City of GrandRapids, 231 Mich. 10, and, unless that case is overruled, the award in this case cannot stand. In subsequent cases, under facts showing timely initial claim, award, and continued disability, we pointed out the inapplicability of the Millaley Case (Hovey v. GeneralConstruction Co., 242 Mich. 84; Greene v. City of Ann Arbor,242 Mich. 452; Gallup v. Western Board Paper Co.,252 Mich. 68), but we have not overruled our holding therein, and, under like facts, the Millaley Case is decisive. The opinion by the commission did not touch this point, and counsel for plaintiffs insist that the point was not urged before the commission. Counsel for defendants strenuously insist that the point was not only pleaded but was presented in argument before the commission. We are governed by the record, and find that the statute of limitations was pleaded, and, in the absence of some showing of waiver, we must assume that the point made was presented.

The award is vacated, with costs to defendants.

CLARK, McDONALD, POTTER, SHARPE, NORTH, and FEAD, JJ., concurred. BUTZEL, C.J., did not sit.