Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 2001

The court held that the statute governing Oklahoma's executive cabinet permits a Governor to establish the cabinet within forty-five days of assuming office but does not permit the Governor to alter it afterward.

The court held that the Workers’ Compensation Court had jurisdiction to declare facially void the portion of its earlier order that required the Multiple Injury Trust Fund to begin permanent-total-disability payments before the employer finished paying permanent-partial-disability benefits.

The court held that the discovery rule applies to libel claims involving publications likely to be concealed, and that disputed questions about when the plaintiff knew or should have known of the publication are for the jury.

The court affirmed the jury’s verdict that the insurer breached its implied duty of good faith and fair dealing, upheld submission of punitive damages without the statutory cap, and upheld the $1.5 million punitive award.