{ "id": 5329104, "name": "Thurman F. CLARK, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. DUVAL CORPORATION and Continental Casualty Company, Insurer, Defendants-Appellees", "name_abbreviation": "Clark v. Duval Corp.", "decision_date": "1971-06-18", "docket_number": "No. 625", "first_page": "720", "last_page": "722", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "82 N.M. 720" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "487 P.2d 148" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M. Ct. App.", "id": 9025, "name": "Court of Appeals of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "71 N.M. 175", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 5346436 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1962, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/71/0175-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 N.M. 297", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2802936 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1966, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/77/0297-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 N.M. 380", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2807475 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1967, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/77/0380-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 N.M. 408", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2806030 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1967, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/77/0408-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 N.M. 207", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2718242 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/68/0207-01" ] }, { "cite": "75 N.M. 672", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 5372643 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1965, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/75/0672-01" ] }, { "cite": "62 N.M. 47", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2712798 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1956, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/62/0047-01" ] }, { "cite": "60 N.M. 432", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1590384 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1956, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/60/0432-01" ] }, { "cite": "130 A.L.R. 963", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "year": 1940, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "44 N.M. 556", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1566857 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1940, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/44/0556-01" ] }, { "cite": "46 N.M. 10", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1563093 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1941, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/46/0010-01" ] }, { "cite": "75 N.M. 174", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 5377165 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1965, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/75/0174-01" ] }, { "cite": "79 N.M. 74", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2738290 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1968, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/79/0074-01" ] }, { "cite": "79 N.M. 711", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2740742 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/79/0711-01" ] }, { "cite": "79 N.M. 25", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 2736605 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/79/0025-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 403, "char_count": 7493, "ocr_confidence": 0.703, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.3605970447737978e-07, "percentile": 0.6353961176887146 }, "sha256": "fd6f140d0a845d1be15e08daf89ae603ca8f53b95d172feb915b4ab335fdb590", "simhash": "1:36a2e0423a524d6e", "word_count": 1258 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:16:32.756560+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "SPIESS, C. J., and HENDLEY, J., concur." ], "parties": [ "Thurman F. CLARK, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. DUVAL CORPORATION and Continental Casualty Company, Insurer, Defendants-Appellees." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nWOOD, Judge.\nThe appeal in this workman\u2019s compensation case involves notice under \u00a7 59-10 \u2014 13.-4, N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 9, pt. 1). Plaintiff suffered an injury in an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment. There is no question as to the employer\u2019s knowledge of the accident and of a \u201cno lost time\u201d injury where medical attention was provided by the employer. Our concern is with the employer\u2019s knowledge of a \u201ccompensable\u201d injury. See Smith v. State, 79 N.M. 25, 439 P.2d 242 (Ct.App.1968). Compare Rohrer v. Eidal International, 79 N.M. 711, 449 P.2d 81 (Ct.App.1968). The issues are: (1) whether the trial court found as a fact that there was no notice of a compensable injury and (2) whether there was notice of a compensable injury as a matter of law.\nDid the trial court find as a fact that there was no notice of a compensable injury?\nWhile the trial court\u2019s findings of fact refer to evidence bearing on the notice question, there is no specific finding under the \u201cFindings of Fact\u201d concerning notice of a compensable injury. However, one of the conclusions of law reads:\n\u201cPlaintiff is not entitled to recover any compensation benefits from Defendants under the Workmen\u2019s Compensation Act of New Mexico, and Plaintiff\u2019s Complaint should be dismissed with prejudice for the reason that plaintiff did not give the defendant Notice of a compensable injury within the time and manner provided by law.\u201d (Emphasis added)\nPlaintiff asserts this \u201cconclusion of law\u201d is erroneous because the trial court found there was no notice of compensable injury as a matter of law. Plaintiff also claims the \u201cconclusion\u201d is erroneous because not supported by findings going to the ultimate facts. See Walter E. Heller & Company of Cal. v. Stephens, 79 N.M. 74, 439 P.2d 723 (1968). He further contends there is substantial evidence in the record for the trial court to consider upon the issue of notice; that the trial court did not consider this evidence, and the cause should be remanded with instructions to the trial court to consider this evidence and enter a finding on the question of notice. See Geeslin v. Goodno, Inc., 75 N.M. 174, 402 P.2d 156 (1965).\nWe agree with the plaintiff to this extent \u2014 there is evidence on the issue of whether the employer had notice of a compensable injury and this evidence is conflicting. We do not agree that the trial court failed to consider this evidence, failed to find on the issue, or ruled on the notice question as a matter of law.\nThe emphasized portion of the conclusion is a finding of fact although \u201cintermingled with the conclusion of law.\u201d Pankey v. Hot Springs Nat. Bank, 46 N.M. 10, 119 P.2d 636 (1941); Tres Ritos Ranch Co. v. Abbott, 44 N.M. 556, 105 P.2d 1070, 130 A.L.R. 963 (1940). Further, the emphasized words are a finding of ultimate fact. Geeslin v. Goodno, Inc., supra. Substantial evidence supports this finding. Contrary to plaintiff\u2019s contentions, we cannot say that the record, considered as a whole, shows the trial court failed to exercise its discretion in making this finding, nor can we say that the trial court\u2019s conclusion as to notice was based on an erroneous view as to the law of notice. See Kuert v. Kuert, 60 N.M. 432, 292 P.2d 115 (1956).\nAdmittedly the finding is not \u201cseparately stated and numbered\u201d as a finding of fact as required by \u00a7 21-1-1(52) (B) (a) (2), N.M.S.A.1953 (Repl.Vol. 4). Since the-finding is clear, and the only fault with the finding is that it is mislabeled, plaintiff is not prejudiced. We decline to remand the case to require the trial court to remove the finding from its conclusions and include it under the findings of fact. White v. Morrison, 62 N.M. 47, 304 P.2d 572 (1956); compare Martinez v. Research Park, Inc., 75 N.M. 672, 410 P.2d 200 (1965); Moore v. Moore, 68 N.M. 207, 360 P.2d 394 (1961).\nWas there notice of a compensable injury as a matter of lazv?\nPlaintiff states: \u201cFor the same-reasons that no additional notice was required in Geeslin v. Goodno, Inc., 77 N.M. 408, 423 P.2d 603 (1967) * * * no additional notice was required in the instant case, as a matter of law, * * *\u201d This, second Geeslin decision (for Geeslin I, see Geeslin v. Goodno, Inc., 75 N.M. 174, supra), does not support plaintiff\u2019s claim that there was notice of a compensable injury as a matter of law. In Geeslin, II, supra, notice was found as a fact by the trial' court and the New Mexico Supreme-Court\u2019s \u201cholding\u201d that \u201c* * * appellants had actual knowledge of the accident and injury. * * *\u201d is based on the facts found by the trial court.\nPlaintiff seems to contend that under Geeslin II, supra, notice of a compensable injury is not required; that notice of an accident and an injury is sufficient. Geeslin II, supra, does not so hold. The opinion expressly states: \u201cThe employer had notice of a compensable injury * * Geeslin II, supra, did not change the requirement that there must be notice of a compensable injury. Smith v. State, supra. The question of notice of a compensable injury is one of fact. Geeslin I, supra.\nPlaintiff asserts: \u201cThe purpose of the notice provision of the statute [\u00a7 59 \u2014 10\u2014 13.4, supra] is to allow the employer, or its insurance company, to investigate the accident. * * *\u201d citing Collins v. Big Four Paving, Inc., 77 N.M. 380, 423 P.2d 418 (1967). His contention is that since the employer had notice of an accident and injury, the notice requirement was satisfied even though under the evidence the trial court could properly find there was no notice of a compensable injury. Plaintiff\u2019s contention is incorrect.\nThe purpose of the notice requirement \u201c * * * is to enable the employer to investigate the facts while they are accessible and, if necessai-y, to employ doctors so as to speed recovery * * Waymire v. Signal Oil Field Service, Inc., 77 N.M. 297, 422 P.2d 34 (1966). Another purpose of the notice requirement is to allow the employer to protect himself against simulated or aggravated claims. Lozano v. Archer, 71 N.M. 175, 376 P.2d 963 (1962).\nIn Collins v. Big Four Paving, Inc., supra, the defendants had knowledge \u201cof all known facts.\u201d We cannot hold, as a matter of law, that defendants had such knowledge in this case because there is evidence that defendants had no knowledge of plaintiff\u2019s physical condition for months. Plaintiff did not ask defendants to provide medical attention and did not claim he was -entitled to compensation until his suit was filed. The notice requirement cannot be considered satisfied as a matter of law because of the evidence that defendants had no knowledge of facts indicating additional medical attention was necessary and that defendants had no knowledge of the fact that plaintiff considered his claim to be compensable.\nSince the purpose of the notice requirement was not satisfied as a matter of law, and since the evidence on the question of notice of a compensable injury was conflicting, the trial court did not err in failing to resolve the notice issue in plaintiff\u2019s favor as a matter of law.\nThe judgment of dismissal is affirmed.\nIt is so ordered.\nSPIESS, C. J., and HENDLEY, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "WOOD, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Richard E. Ransom, Smith, Ransom & Deaton, Albuquerque, for plaintiff appellant.", "Robert E. Sabin, Bob F. Turner, Atwood, Malone, Mann & Cooter, Roswell, for defendants-appellees." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "487 P.2d 148\nThurman F. CLARK, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. DUVAL CORPORATION and Continental Casualty Company, Insurer, Defendants-Appellees.\nNo. 625.\nCourt of Appeals of New Mexico.\nJune 18, 1971.\nRichard E. Ransom, Smith, Ransom & Deaton, Albuquerque, for plaintiff appellant.\nRobert E. Sabin, Bob F. Turner, Atwood, Malone, Mann & Cooter, Roswell, for defendants-appellees." }, "file_name": "0720-01", "first_page_order": 776, "last_page_order": 778 }