Printable Format44-527. Final receipts. At the time of making any final payment of compensation, the employer shall be entitled to a final receipt for compensation, executed and acknowledged or verified by the worker, which final receipt may be in form a release of liability under this act, and every such final receipt for compensation or release of liability or a copy thereof shall be filed by the employer in the office of the director within 60 days after the date of execution of such final receipt or release of liability, and if the employer shall fail or neglect to so file such final receipt or release of liability, the same shall be void as against the worker.
The director shall accept, receipt for, and file every agreement, finding, award, agreement modifying an award, final receipt for compensation or release of liability or copy thereof, and record and index same, and every such agreement, finding, award, agreement modifying an award, final receipt or release, shall be considered as approved by the director and shall stand as approved unless said director shall, within 20 days of the date of the receipt thereof, disapprove same in writing and notify each of the parties of his disapproval, giving his reasons therefor, sending a copy of the same to each of the parties by certified mail, return receipt requested. No proceedings shall be instituted by either party to set aside any such agreement, release of liability, final receipt for compensation or agreement modifying an award, unless such proceedings are commenced within one year after the date any such agreement, release of liability, final receipt for compensation or agreement modifying an award has been so filed and approved by the director.
History: L. 1927, ch. 232, § 27; L. 2000, ch. 160, § 12; July 1.
Source or prior law:
L. 1917, ch. 226, § 15; R.S. 1923, 44-527.
Law Review and Bar Journal References:
Application of statute considered in survey of law of workmen's compensation, Thomas M. Van Cleave, Jr., 12 K.L.R. 360 (1963).
"Workers Compensation Review," Patrick Nichols, J.K.T.L.A. Vol. XVI, No. 1, Special section, 4 (1992).
CASE ANNOTATIONS
Explanation, see Revisor's Note under article title, chapter 44, article 5.
Cases through 1973
IN GENERAL (1-5)
1. Stipulation to settle under workmen's compensation act held valid. Fuller v. Wright Bros., 106 Kan. 676, 189 P. 142 (1920).
2. Director (commissioner) has jurisdiction to hear and determine any question pertaining to the right of a workman to compensation. Employers' Liability Assurance Corp. v. Matlock, 151 Kan. 293, 301, 98 P.2d 456 (1940).
3. Administrator settled wrongful death claim without suit; general release; proceeds distributable under K.S.A. 60-3203. Holmes, Administrator v. Price, 186 Kan. 623, 624, 352 P.2d 5 (1960).
4. This section applies only to final receipts and releases of liability and awards; K.S.A. 44-551 covers examiners; 20-day period of K.S.A. 44-527 does not apply to examiner's decisions. Franklin v. Watkins, 190 Kan. 374, 375, 375 P.2d 618 (1962); reversing Franklin v. Watkins Inc., 189 Kan. 495, 496, 370 P.2d 405 (1962).
5. Cited; agreement must be disapproved by director, unless compensation has been paid in conformity with the requirements of the act for the injury sustained. Drennon v. Braden Drilling Co., Inc., 207 Kan. 202, 206, 483 P.2d 1022 (1971).
FINALITY OF RECEIPT (7-11)
7. Commissioner without authority to review award after final payment thereof, even if petition therefor is filed before final payment. Bailey v. Skelly Oil Co., 153 Kan. 378, 379, 380, 110 P.2d 746 (1941).
8. Order on petition and stipulation held an award; no jurisdiction to set aside award after final payment; "award" not listed in proviso. Farr v. Mid-Continent Lead & Zinc Co., 150 Kan. 292, 92 P.2d 124 (1939); affirmed 151 Kan. 51, 98 P.2d 437 (1940).
9. Director cannot review modified award after final payment. Yehle v. Stamey-Tidd Const. Co., 150 Kan. 440, 446, 94 P.2d 328 (1939).
10. If final payment has been made a complete finality is reached and no further proceedings can be entertained by commission (director); same finality as court judgment after appeal time has passed. Farr v. Mid-Continent Lead & Zinc Co., 151 Kan. 51, 64, 98 P.2d 437 (1940).
11. Effect of execution of final receipt and release from liability considered. Corvi v. Crowe Coal & Mining Co., 119 Kan. 244, 245, 248, 237 P. 1056 (1925).
SETTING ASIDE RELEASE (14-18)
14. Release procured by improper influence, duress or fraud is not binding on workman. Oresnik v. Packing Co., 117 Kan. 670, 232 P. 1022 (1925).
15. Setting aside release procedure to be followed as outlined by act. Murphy v. Continental Casualty Co., 134 Kan. 455, 458, 7 P.2d 84 (1932).
16. Cancellation of release on ground of mutual mistake or fraud.
(a) Rubins v. Lozier-Broderick & Gordon, 160 Kan. 499, 504, 505, 163 P.2d 364 (1945);
(b) Tatham v. Clemens Coal Co., 141 Kan. 704, 706, 42 P.2d 986 (1935);
(c) Murphy v. Continental Casualty Co., 134 Kan. 455, 458, 7 P.2d 84 (1932);
(d) Walker v. Kansas Gasoline Co., 130 Kan. 576, 579, 287 P. 235 (1930);
(e) Reaves v. Swift & Co., 124 Kan. 622, 626, 261 P. 576 (1927);
(f) Harp v. Red Star Milling Co., 121 Kan. 451, 456, 247 P. 856 (1926);
(g) Brown v. Kansas Buff Brick Co., 120 Kan. 335, 337, 243 P. 304 (1926);
(h) Tucker v. Atchison, T. & S.F. Rly. Co., 120 Kan. 244 (Syl), 243 P. 269 (1926);
(i) Oresnik v. Packing Co., 117 Kan. 670, 232 P. 1022 (1925);
(j) Rider v. Railway Co., 112 Kan. 765, 212 P. 678 (1923);
(k) Bidnick v. Armour Co., 113 Kan. 277, 214 P. 808 (1923);
(l) Koshka v. Railroad Co., 114 Kan. 126, 129, 217 P. 293 (1923);
(m) Crawn v. Packing Co., 111 Kan. 573, 207 P. 793 (1922);
(n) Blackburn v. Brick & Tile Co., 107 Kan. 722, 193 P. 351 (1920);
(o) Miller v. Gas & Fuel Co., 108 Kan. 124, 193 P. 896 (1920);
(p) Smith v. Kansas City, 102 Kan. 518, 171 P. 9 (1918);
(q) Vogler v. Bowersock, 102 Kan. 456, 170 P. 805 (1918);
(r) Dotson v. Manufacturing Co., 102 Kan. 248, 250, 169 P. 1136 (1918);
(s) Weathers v. Bridge Co., 99 Kan. 632, 637, 638, 162 P. 957 (1917);
(t) Odrowski v. Swift & Co., 99 Kan. 163, 162 P. 268 (1916).
17. Release for fraud or incapacity joined with action for compensation. Pulley v. Chicago R.I. & P. Rly. Co., 122 Kan. 269, 271, 251 P. 1100 (1927).
18. Release and settlement must be verified and filed within sixty days; provision is constitutional.
(a) Allen v. Kansas City Fibre Box Co., 122 Kan. 178, 179, 251 P. 191 (1926);
(b) Harrigan v. Western Coal & Min. Co., 133 Kan. 573, 578, 300 P. 1115 (1931);
(c) Harris v. Southwestern Milling Co., 125 Kan. 243, 244, 263 P. 785 (1928);
(d) Rodarmel v. Salt Co., 101 Kan. 141, 143, 165 P. 668 (1917).
Cases after 1973
19. Action to set aside settlement agreement, final receipt and release held barred by section. Bitnoff v. Southwest Rendering, 223 Kan. 334, 335, 336, 573 P.2d 1033.
20. Oral settlement agreement not submitted to and approved by director prior to claimant's death held compensation not yet due and therefore abrogated. Barncord v. Kansas Dept. of Transportation, 4 Kan. App. 2d 368, 370, 371, 372, 373, 606 P.2d 501.
21. Cited in holding that compensation award following settlement hearing before ALJ subject to review and modification under K.S.A. 44-528. Redgate v. City of Wichita, 17 Kan. App. 2d 253, 256, 836 P.2d 1205 (1992).
22. Exclusion of certain lump-sum settlements under K.S.A. 44-528 held constitutional. Peterson v. Garvey Elevators, Inc., 252 Kan. 976, 979, 850 P.2d 893 (1993).