Johnson v. Insurance Co. of North America

CULPEPPER, Judge.

This is a workmen’s compensation case. From an adverse judgment, plaintiff appealed.

The issues are: (1) Was plaintiff permanently and totally disabled beyond the date on which compensation payments were stopped? (2) Under the evidence, which shows plaintiff has permanently lost 15% of the function of his left thumb, should compensation benefits be allowed on the basis of permanent partial loss of use of the thumb, the hand, the arm or the body? (3) Penalties and attorney’s fees ?

Plaintiff, a 60 year old white male, worked as a roughneck on an oil rig. On January 27, 1969, he…