Catalano v. George F. Watts Corp.

152 N.E. 46, 255 Mass. 605, 1926 Mass. LEXIS 1142

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: May 25, 1926
• Status: Published

Opinion

Carroll, J.

The plaintiff, employed by the general contractor in the erection of a building, was injured by reason of the negligence of the defendant’s employees, the defendant being a subcontractor on the job. The plaintiff was paid compensation under the workmen’s compensation act by the Travelers Insurance Company, the, insurer of his employer, and this action is now prosecuted against the defendant for the benefit of the insurance company. In the Superior Court the defendant’s demurrer was sustained.

It was decided in Bindbeutel v. L. D. Willcutt & Sons Co. 244 Mass. 195, 198, where both contractors were insured under the workmen’s compensation act, that the servant of a subcontractor could not recover against the general contractor under G. L. c. 152, § 15, when the employee has been paid compensation by the insurer of his employer. It was said in that case that all employees were to receive the same compensation, "and no advantage was given the employees of the subcontractor over the employees of the general contractor.” This rule applies equally to the employees of the general contractor, under the act. They are to receive no greater benefit than the employees of the subcontractor. All employees upon the same job are to be treated equally, each receiving the same compensation measured by earning . capacity and the extent of the injury.

The plaintiff does not allege that the defendant was not insured, and the question does not arise on this demurrer what remedy, if any, the insurer of the injured employee has against an employer on the same job who is not insured under the act.

The case is in this court on a report. The ruling sustaining the demurrer was correct; judgment is to be entered for the defendant.

So ordered.