State Ex Rel. Mountain Fuel Co. v. Trent

Browning, Judge:

Relator, Mountain Fuel Company, a corporation, seeks a writ of mandamus directing the respondent, State Compensation Commissioner, to classify an accident occurring in relator’s mine on October 23, 1946, as a “catastrophe” within the meaning of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, and to credit the charges heretofore made against relator’s account accordingly.

The accident occurred when thirteen of relator’s employees were exposed to a quantity of carbon dioxide gas or “black damp”. One employee died immediately as a result of such exposure, one other was declared to be permanently…