Freedman v. Industrial Accident Commission

154 P.2d 922, 67 Cal. App. 2d 629, 1945 Cal. App. LEXIS 1188
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJanuary 23, 1945
DocketCiv. 7115
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 154 P.2d 922 (Freedman v. Industrial Accident Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Freedman v. Industrial Accident Commission, 154 P.2d 922, 67 Cal. App. 2d 629, 1945 Cal. App. LEXIS 1188 (Cal. Ct. App. 1945).

Opinions

ADAMS, P. J.

In. this proceeding the Industrial Accident Commission made a finding that “John Ross, applicant, while employed as a grape picker, on September 22, 1943, near Modesto, California, by M. J. Freedman and Ed Hasson, then and there engaged in a joint enterprise to their mutual advantage and profit, to wit: the harvesting of grapes on the ranch of and owned by defendant M. J. Freedman; sustained injury occurring in the course of and arising out of his employment and held that Hasson and Freedman were jointly and severally liable for an award in favor of John Ross. Freedman has sought a review by this court contending that the commission erred in finding that he and Hasson were engaged in a joint enterprise. He also contends that the evidence before the commission shows that Ross was not an employee of petitioner but was an employee of Hasson, acting as an independent contractor, and that petitioner is not liable for the award made to Ross.

As we construe the findings of the commission, the award is based upon the proposition that Hasson and Freedman were engaged in a joint enterprise, and that the liability of both Hasson and Freedman flows from this fact. Our first inquiry is, then, whether the testimony before the commission is sufficient to support a finding that Hasson and Freedman were engaged in such an enterprise or adventure.

In 30 American Jurisprudence 681, section 7, the relation of joint adventurers is said to be created where two or more persons combine their money, property or time in the conduct of some particular line of trade, or for some particular business deal, agreeing to share jointly, or in proportion to the capital contributed, in the profits and' losses, assuming that the circumstances do not establish a technical partnership. Also (p. 682, § 11) that a joint proprietary interest and a [631]*631right of mutual control over the subject matter of the enterprise or over the property engaged therein is essential to a joint adventure.

In Beck v. Cagle, 46 Cal.App.2d 152, 161 [115 P.2d 613], the court held that to constitute a joint enterprise the parties must have a community of interest in the purposes of the undertaking and equal authority or right to direct the movements and conduct of each other in connection therewith; they must share in the losses, if any, and there must be a close and even fiduciary relationship between them. In Stoddard v. Goldenberg, 48 Cal.App.2d 319, 324 [119 P.2d 800], it was said that an indispensable feature of a joint venture is an agreement by the parties to it to share jointly in the profits and losses. (Also see Enos v. Picacho Gold Min. Co., 56 Cal.App.2d 765, 771 [133 P.2d 664].) In Quinn v. Recreation Park Association, 3 Cal.2d 725, 728 [46 P.2d 144], the court said that in order to establish the existence of a joint adventure there must be proof of a community interest, and a sharing of profits. (Citing 14 Cal.Jur. 761; Dempsey-Kearns Theatrical etc. Enterprises v. Pantages, 91 Cal.App. 677 [267 P. 550].) In United Farmers Association v. Sakiota, 7 Cal.App.2d 559, 560 [46 P.2d 770], it is stated that the relationship of joint adventurers is similar to that of partners in that an essential element is that the parties share in the profits and losses. In Spier v. Lang, 4 Cal.2d 711, 715 [53 P.2d 138], it is said that joint participation in the control and management of a business is one of the indicia of a joint adventure ; that the usual test of a partnership between the parties to a joint adventure is their intent to become partners. The relation of joint adventurers is controlled largely by the principles or rules applicable to partnerships, though joint adventures are usually confined to a single transaction.

Also see 48 American Law Reports 1055, as to what amounts to a joint adventure.

The evidence in the proceeding, ■ which is contained in the return filed by respondents, shows that Freedman was operating a vineyard, and, desiring to harvest the grapes growing upon a 30-acre portion of same, approached Hasson and asked him if he could secure a gang of pickers. Hasson replied that he could and asked what Freedman would pay. The latter agreed to pay 13 cents per box for the grapes picked, and to pay $1.00 per ton to Hasson for his trouble in hiring the [632]*632gang. Hasson hired the pickers including Ross. The latter had been working but three hours when he was struck in the eye by a vine, thus sustaining the injury for which award was made. Ross testified that at the time of the injury he called Hasson; that Freedman was on the premises and that, Hasson fold Freedman to take him (Ross) to a doctor and that Freedman took him to a doctor at Turlock and paid the bill; that Hasson had hired him, and told him he would get 13 cents per box, and that Hasson paid him $5.25 for the three hours’ work he had done. When asked if Freedman came around to see how he picked—whether he picked too many leaves— he stated that he saw him there one time, but that Freedman .did not say anything to him. He also testified that Hasson had taken him out to Freedman’s place and had shown him the row to pick on; that at the time he started to work he. did not see Freedman.

Hasson testified that Freedman asked him to get a gang of men to pick grapes, and said he would pay 13 cents per box, and pay him $1.00 per ton for his trouble to hire the gang; that he hired men, Ross among them, and told them' they were to work for Freedman; that when he arrived at the vineyard with the men Freedman showed him what to do, showed him the boxes;.that when he brought Ross out he did not take him to Freedman; .that Freedman told him to check the boxes and “look at the men to clean the grapes as a foreman,, to look after the job’’; that Freedman gave him the money for the total number of boxes picked each week; that after getting tab from the winery Freedman- gave him a.check for his $1.00 per ton, and that-he averaged $12 or $14 or $15 per day on the $1.00 per ton; that the men struck and wanted to quit and Freedman told him to give them more money; that the men went to Freedman who agreed to. pay 14 cents; that when Ross got hurt and came to him, he called Freedman and asked what he should do, and that Freedman took Ross to a doctor. When asked if he took out insurance he replied that he was not a contractor, but a foreman. He testified, however, -that at the .same time he had ‘a gang on another ranch; that he then put another man in-his place as foreman at Freedman’s, and paid such man himself, after collecting from Freedman; •that.he continued to go up to Freedman’s two or three hours a week, and .on Saturdays got the book from the man he had put in his place, and turned the,.book in to Freedman.

[633]

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Dills v. Delira Corp.
302 P.2d 397 (California Court of Appeal, 1956)
Griffith v. Bucknam
184 P.2d 179 (California Court of Appeal, 1947)
Martter v. Byers
171 P.2d 101 (California Court of Appeal, 1946)
Freedman v. Industrial Accident Commission
154 P.2d 922 (California Court of Appeal, 1945)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
154 P.2d 922, 67 Cal. App. 2d 629, 1945 Cal. App. LEXIS 1188, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/freedman-v-industrial-accident-commission-calctapp-1945.