Associated Indemnity Corp. v. Wilson

21 S.W.2d 314
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedOctober 1, 1929
DocketNo. 10562.
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 21 S.W.2d 314 (Associated Indemnity Corp. v. Wilson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Associated Indemnity Corp. v. Wilson, 21 S.W.2d 314 (Tex. Ct. App. 1929).

Opinion

VAUGHAN, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment rendered in a compensation suit. Appellee was the defendant in the trial court and filed his cross-action to recover against appellant, under the Workmen’s Compensation Daw (Rev. St. 1925, arts. 8306-8309), for the death of his twelve year old son¡ Ernest Wilson, who was killed at 1 a. m. .on August 21, 1927, while delivering milk in the city of Dallas, Tex. Appellee was awarded 360 weeks’ compensation at $15.58 per week. Appellant give timely notice of appeal and filed suit to set aside the award. Appellee, in his cross-action filed in said suit, alleged the injuries and death of the said Ernest Wilson as the result of his fall from Metzger Bros.’ wagon while he was delivering milk for and as an employee of said Metzger Bros. Ap-pellee alleged that he is the sole beneficiary of the deceased minor, that he is therefore entitled to compensation for 360 weeks at $20 per week, and that payment thereof Should be made in a lump sum. Appellant answered said cross-action by a general denial, denied that the deceased minor was an employee of Metzger Bros, at the time of his injuries, and alleged that, if the deceased minor had ever been employed by Metzger Bros., such employment was in violation of the Child Labor Law of the state of Texas (Pen. Code 1925, arts. 1573-1578a). Trial resulted in a judgment in favor of appellee for 360 weeks’ compensation at $11.50 per week, the rendition of which is now before us, under appropriate assignments of error, for review and revision.

In answer to the special issues on which the cause was submitted, the jury found the following facts: That Ernest Wilson was an employee of Metzger Bros, at the time of his injury on August 25,1927; that said injuries so received naturally resulted in his death; that Ernest Wilson was in the course of his employment as an employee of Metzger Bros, at the time and on the occasion he received said 'injuries; that the average weekly wages of Ernest Wilson at.the time and on the occasion he sustained said injuries was $20 per week; that a manifest injustice would result to appellee in the event a lump sum payment of compensation is denied him.

There being sufficient evidence to support the above findings of fact by the jury, same are adopted as part of the findings by this court. In addition thereto we find, from the undisputed evidence, the following: That Metzger Bros., the employer of the deceased minor, Ernest Wilson, prior to and at the time said minor received his injuries, (had obtained and there was in force a workmen’s compensation policy issued by appellant; that as an employee of Metzger Bros, said Ernest Wilson was covered and protected by the terms of said policy; that Metzger Bros, was engaged in the dairy business; that the property upon which said dairy business was conducted consisted of about 500 acres of land south of ahd contiguous to the city of Dallas; that said city at that time had a population of 158,000, as shown by the last federal census; that Metzger Bros, owned and had on said land about 80 head of milk cows, with the following property located on said land, used by them in connection with said dairy business: Two 700-gallon capacity churns operated by machinery, propelled by electric motors and leather belts attached to said motors and shafts about 40 feet long, which carried about six belts; that there were eight pasteurizers in the same building, and milk was treated in large rotating vats by steam heat, operated by direct drive motors hooked together; that the milk was pasteurized by steam heat, applied on the inside of the vat or vessel containing the milk; that two or three trucks without guards to haul cans around were in the room where the milk was churned and pasteurized; that barns for work stock were located on the premises about 200 yards from the churn room; that there was a paint shop and a blacksmith shop on the premises, maintained only for the purpose of painting and repairing equipment used in connection with the said dairy business; that there was also an ice factory, operated for the purpose of manufacturing-ice to be used in the operation of said dairy; that steam for pasteurizing milk was obtained from a boiler located about 50 yards from the .building in which the churns and pasteurizers are located; that the boiler was heated with gas; that, in addition to the milk obtained from 80 cows owned by Metzger Bros., milk was purchased by Metzger Bros, from small dairies and other producers of milk in many sections of Dallas and adjoining counties; that all of the above equipment for churning and pasteurizing milk was used by Metzger Bros, for the purpose of conducting their dairy, in churning and pasteurizing milk, separating milk, making buttermilk, cottage cheese, and bottling milk, to be sold to consumers; that a machine was maintained and operated for the bottling of milk; that this machine automatically sealed the bottles, cut off the milk, and placed stoppers in the bottles; that a conveyer received and held the bottles, which was operated by an electric motor, the capacity of the bottling machine being about 60 bottles per minute; that there were several intricate parts to this machine; that a large metal tank, operated by a motor, was used for washing and sterilizing the bottles; that in sterilizing the bottles boiling water was used; that on said 500 acres the only business engaged in by Metz- *316 ger Bros, was that of a dairy, all of the machinery located thereon being used by them in the operation of that business; that on or about August 25, 1927, the date Ernest Wilson received his injuries, said minor was in the employ of Metzger Bros., was employed to do general work around the dairy, to do anything that was to be done when he was needed, which included helping the drivers in delivering milk; that the deceased minor, Ernest Wilson, was directed by Metzger Bros.’ night foreman to assist an employee, Bill Smith, who operated a milk route for Metz-ger Bros., in the delivery of milk, and he was working under said instructions at the time he was injured, about 1 a. m., August 25, 1927, in the city of Dallas, while he was engaged in taking milk from the wagon to a customer and bringing back empty bottles, in the performance of his duties for Metzger Bros.; that at the time of his death Ernest Wilson was twelve years and nine months of age; that his mother was dead and his father, the appellee, is the only beneficiary under the Workmen’s Compensation Act; that Ernest was the oldest of four sons of appellee.

We have carefully considered each of appellant’s propositions upon which its appeal is predicated, and find that, in order to dispose of the many propositions urged, it is only necessary to review in this opinion the propositions presenting the following contentions: (1) That the deceased minor, Ernest Wilson, was employed by Metzger Bros., in violation of the Child Labor Law, in that (a) said minor was working in or about a factory containing dangerous machinery; (b) that he was engaged as a messenger in a city of more than 15,000 population; and (c) he was working at 1 a. m., in violation of the law prohibiting him being directed or being permitted to work between the hours of 10 p. m. and 5 a. m. (2) The submission of certain issues and instructions given in connection therewith.

Was said minor employed by Metzger Bros, to labor in or about a factory, workshop, or in messenger service, in violation of article 1573, Tex. Rev. Crim. Stats.

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21 S.W.2d 314, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/associated-indemnity-corp-v-wilson-texapp-1929.