Eckhardt v. Industrial Commission

7 N.W.2d 841, 242 Wis. 325, 1943 Wisc. LEXIS 216
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 14, 1943
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 7 N.W.2d 841 (Eckhardt v. Industrial Commission) 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
Eckhardt v. Industrial Commission, 7 N.W.2d 841, 242 Wis. 325, 1943 Wisc. LEXIS 216 (Wis. 1943).

Opinions

Rosenberry, C. J.

The defendant, Campbell’s Dollar Stores, Inc., hereinafter referred to as “Campbell’s,” is engaged in conducting a mercantile business at Waupaca, Wisconsin. The facts as to which there is no substantial dispute were found by the Industrial Commission as follows :

“Findings of Fact.
“That applicant was manager of respondent’s store at Waupaca, Wisconsin; that respondent leased the building containing the store, in the second story of which was an apartment suitable and used for living quarters; that applicant moved into the apartment at the request of respondent and received as wage $13 per week and the use of the apartment; that one of the purposes of having the applicant live in the apartment was so that the respondent might have someone present who would be able to watch over and protect, respondent’s property in case of contingency, and another reason was to provide on occasion a convenient place to stay for others of respondent’s employees who might be required to visit AVaupaca from time to time in the course of respondent’s business; that whenever other employees so stayed at the apartment they customarily paid the applicant for their accommodations ; that the apartment was used by and was exclusively under the control of the applicant; that applicant took care of the store, kept books and records, and at times built fires and swept sidewalks; that she made daily reports *328 to the respondent; that sometimes these reports were made in the store and at other times in applicant’s apartment; that respondent knew of such practice as to the place of making reports and acquiesced in it; that on January 14, 1941, applicant arose at about 5 a. m., dressed, made and drank a cup of coffee and prepared to have breakfast; that she discovered that she needed a certain paper in order to make out a daily report to the respondent, which she had commenced in her apartment the night before; that she started for the door of her apartment, intending to go downstairs and into the store in order to procure the missing paper; that before she reached the door of her apartment she fell on the floor of the dining room and fractured her hip; that at the time of her fall she had the key to the store in her hand; that she had not opened the store for the business of the day, nor had she previously left her apartment on that day.
“Based upon these facts the commission finds that applicant, when injured, was not performing service growing out of and incidental to employment, and that her injury did not arise out of employment; that when injured applicant was going to work in the ordinary and usual way, but that she was not on the premises of her employer; that the premises constituting the apartment were not controlled and maintained by the employer; that most of the furnishings of the apartment were supplied by the employee, and that she maintained the apartment in all respects as her private dwelling place; that such use and control of the premises established them as her own and not as the employer’s; that applicant, when injured, was engaged in performing no other service for the employer than going to her work.”

Upon the basis of these findings the commission concluded that appellant was not entitled to compensation, dismissed the application, and discharged the employer and the insurance carrier from liability.

Two1 questions are involved: (1) Is there credible evidence to sustain the finding that Caroline Eckhardt when injured, was not performing services growing out of and incidental to her employment; and

*329 (2) Is there credible evidence to sustain the finding that Caroline Eckhardt’s injury did not arise out of her employment ?

The claimant argues that a question of law and not of fact is presented because there is no conflict in the evidence. It is true that the witnesses do not contradict each other but that fact does not support claimant’s position. Where undisputed facts permit of different inferences a question of fact and not of law is presented. Tiffany v. Industrial Comm. (1937) 225 Wis. 187, 273 N. W. 519. See also Scandrett v. Industrial Comm. (1940) 235 Wis. 1, 291 N. W. 845; Voll v. Industrial Comm. (1941) 239 Wis. 71, 300 N. W. 772. In this connection, the rule laid down in Weyauwega v. Industrial Comm. (1923) 180 Wis. 168, 192 N. W. 452, is applicable. If when a rule of law is applied to undisputed facts, a final conclusion results, the question presented is one of law. If something more than the application of a rule of law is required in order to reach a final conclusion, a question of fact is presented. Whether the record presents a question of law or a question of fact arises most frequently on motions to' direct a verdict or in the review of orders setting aside a verdict, see Digests, Trial, Province of Court and Jury. It has been the long-established rule in this state that a verdict may properly be directed only when evidence gives rise to no dispute as to the material issues or only when evidence is so clear and convincing as reasonably to permit unbiased and impartial minds to come to but one conclusion. Kroger v. Cumberland Fruit Package Co. (1911) 145 Wis. 433, 130 N. W. 513; Rusch v. Sentinel-News Co. (1933) 212 Wis. 530, 250 N. W. 405. This rule is applicable to the finding of the Industrial Commission. Weyauwega v. Industrial Comm., supra. See also M. Carpenter Baking Co. v. Dept. of Agr. & M. (1935) 217 Wis. 196, 257 N. W. 606; Tiffany v. Industrial Comm., supra.

*330 In this case no rule of law can be, applied to the undisputed facts which will give the final result. Before the rule of law can be applied inferences must be drawn or the facts interpreted. That the minds of reasonable men may logically come to different conclusions upon the facts of this case does not admit of doubt. The examiner found one way, the Industrial Commission found the other way. The circuit court affirmed the Industrial Commission and on appeal this court is divided. Division of opinion does not arise' from’a difference as to the-law to be applied to the facts but because different inferences of fact are drawn.

It is quite true that the finding of the Industrial Commission cannot be demonstrated to be correct. If the facts admitted of such a demonstration a question of law would be presented and not of fact. Applying- the law to one set of inferences, the conclusion of the commission is reached. Applying, the law to another set of inferences, the conclusion of the examiner is reached. The drawing of inferences being for the commission under the statute, its conclusion as affirmed by the trial court must stand..

That the claimant was not upon the premises of her employer at the’time she received her injury does not admit of doubt. She had the exclusive possession of the rooms which she said she occupied as her home. It is undisputed that, when other employees visited Waupaca from time to- time, she furnished them with lodging and meals and compensation therefor was paid to her for her own use. There is no question but that her possession was exclusive and subject at all times to her control.

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Bluebook (online)
7 N.W.2d 841, 242 Wis. 325, 1943 Wisc. LEXIS 216, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/eckhardt-v-industrial-commission-wis-1943.