Deep Rock Oil Co. of Wisconsin v. Derouin

216 N.W. 505, 194 Wis. 369, 1927 Wisc. LEXIS 71
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 6, 1927
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 216 N.W. 505 (Deep Rock Oil Co. of Wisconsin v. Derouin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Deep Rock Oil Co. of Wisconsin v. Derouin, 216 N.W. 505, 194 Wis. 369, 1927 Wisc. LEXIS 71 (Wis. 1927).

Opinion

Owen, J.

The award was against the Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company and the Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin. The applicant’s decedent was in the employ of the Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company at the time he sustained injuries resulting in his death. The Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company did not carry insurance. The Industrial Commission found that the Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company was a contractor under Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin, and rendered the award against Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin pursuant to the provisions of sec. 102.06, Stats., which provides:

“An employer subject to the provisions of sections 102.03 to 102.34, inclusive, shall be liable for compensation to an employee of a contractor or subcontractor under him who is not subject to sections 102.03 to 102.34, inclusive, or who has not complied with the conditions of subsection (2) of section 102.28 in any case where such employer would have been liable for compensation if such employee had been working directly for such employer.”

Sub. (2) of sec. 102.28 requires all employers under the act to carry compensation insurance. As the Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company did not carry compensation insurance, the Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin is subject to the award if in fact the Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company was a contractor under it. The Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin contends that the Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company was not a contractor under it, and hence it was not subject to the award under the statutory provisions referred to.

The Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin was and is engaged in marketing the refined products of the Shaffer [371]*371Oil & Refining Company, known and designated as “Deep Rock Products.” For such purpose it owned certain plants, buildings, and service stations in Brown county, Wisconsin. On the 16th day of March, 1925, it entered into certain leases and agreements with the Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company, and whether the Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company was a contractor under Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin depends upon the effect of such leases and agreements.

The first of such agreements to which we shall refer is called the “Bulk Station Agreement.” That agreement recites that the Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin is desirous of marketing its products in Brown county through a local organization, and that it is contemplated and desired that said local organization shall continue and enlarge the business as far as possible developed in that territory. To this end the Wisconsin Company “hereby leases and rents to the second party [Brown County Company] the plants, buildings, and stations of said Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin and Home Oil Company, so to do, which said plants, buildings, and stations are now located in the cities of Green Bay and De Pere, Brown county, Wisconsin, on property owned by Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin It is then provided that “this lease is made subject to all the terms, provisions, and conditions set forth in ‘Exhibit C,’ hereto attached and made a part hereof.” The lessee agrees to faithfully comply with all the provisions of Exhibit C, and to indemnify and hold harmless the lessor against any injury to or death of any persons or damages to property resulting from any failure to comply with all such provisions. (Exhibit C was not introduced in evidence and the import of that provision of the lease does not appear.) The lease.is to continue for the term of one year. The rental is fixed at $43.50 per annum plus one quarter of one cent on each and every gallon of petroleum products sold by said first party to said second party at said station. Lessor agrees to re[372]*372place all portions of physical property when they become worn out. Lessee agrees to deliver up the property at the expiration of the lease in as good condition as when the same was entered upon by the said lessee, “loss by fire and inevitable accident and ordinary wear and tear excepted.” Lessor agrees to furnish lessee its refined products at such stations in such quantities as may be ordered by the lessee, and the lessee agrees to handle lessor’s products exclusively at such stations. It is agreed that goods so ordered shall be delivered at a price f. o. b. the refinery of Shaffer Oil & Refining Company, located at Cushing, Oklahoma, with shipping charges allowed to the destination on a railroad to which the same may be consigned.' It is agreed that the lessor will insure the property so leased, but that the lessee will upon demand repay to the lessor the amount of the premiums. Lessee is required to maintain the property in the best condition and repair possible, but it shall not be liable for extraordinary repairs necessitated by acts of God or other causes beyond its control. The lessee agrees to pay all taxes, licenses, and inspection fees assessed or levied against the property. In case of the failure on the part of either party to" carry out the terms of the lease or agreement, it is provided that the other party may terminate the lease. The lease contains a further stipulation to the effect that if the lessee desires to install additional bulk-distributing stations, the ■lessor may purchase or lease the site or sites and supply all lumber and material for the erection of such additional stations, and such additional stations shall automatically come under the terms of this agreement. It is further stipulated that if the lessor installs other stations in the territory, such stations will be leased to the lessee. It is further stipulated that the lessor will not sell “Deep Rock” products to any person or corporation other than the lessee for resale within the territory covered by this agreement. It is further agreed that upon the termination of the lease by lapse of time or [373]*373otherwise the lessee will assign and transfer to first party or to such other, person or persons as first party may direct in writing the corporate stock issued by second party.

The second agreement is a lease by the Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin to the Brown County Deep Rock Oil Company of the filling stations of the Deep Rock Oil Company of Wisconsin owned or controlled by it in Brown county. This is called the “Service Station Agreement.” It is made subject to the provisions of the “Bulk Sales Agreement.” The lessee agrees that it will handle only the “Deep Rock” products through such stations; that should lessee sell gasoline or kerosene through the filling station at less than the service station price furnished to the lessee by the lessor, and if at any time the lessee violates this portion or any other portion of this agreement, lessor may at its option immediately terminate this agreement. Lessee also releases, relinquishes, discharges, and agrees to indemnify, protect, and save harmless lessor from any and all claims, demands, and liabilities for any loss, damage, injury, or other casualty to life or property (whether it be that of either of the parties hereto or third .persons) and do persons (whether they be employees of either of the parties hereto or third persons) by reason of any leakage, fire, or explosion of or from said equipment or appliances or any part thereof or of any oil or gas contained therein or thereabout through any defect in the construction, installation, use, or operation of such equipment or appliances of the property herein referred to.

The legal relations existing between the Brown County Company and the Wisconsin

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
216 N.W. 505, 194 Wis. 369, 1927 Wisc. LEXIS 71, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/deep-rock-oil-co-of-wisconsin-v-derouin-wis-1927.