Gignac v. Studebaker Corp.

Michigan Supreme Court

Gignac v. Studebaker Corp.

152 N.W. 1037, 186 Mich. 574, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 723

CourtMichigan Supreme Court

DecidedJune 7, 1915

DocketDocket No. 145

StatusPublished

Cited by19 cases

This text of 152 N.W. 1037 (Gignac v. Studebaker Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Gignac v. Studebaker Corp., 152 N.W. 1037, 186 Mich. 574, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 723 (Mich. 1915).

Pincite

Opinion

Brooke, C. J.

The facts involved in this case may be briefly stated as follows: The claimant, a young man about 20 years of age, was employed by the defendant corporation as a checker. At the rear of the plant operated by appellant was a side track of the railroad company, running along the side of the platform where empty cars were placed to be loaded with automobiles. It was claimant’s duty to check each automobile as it was placed in the car. When the string of cars was loaded, it was customary to remove it to another track a short distance away from the platform. On the evening before the accident, claimant had checked a string of cars which stood beside the platform. Returning to his work the following morning, he found that those cars had been removed from the front of the platform to the other side track. Desiring to assure himself that he had properly checked the automobiles in this particular string of cars, he crossed over to the track upon which they stood, [576]*576and there made the necessary examination. Returning to the plant, he found that in his absence another string of cars was being placed upon the track in front of the platform, the engine being still attached thereto. Without stopping to see where the trainmen were, and without knowing but what they were signaling this train to back up or go ahead, he attempted to cross through between the water tank and the end car, and in so doing he placed his right foot on a coupling. The engine came back and caught his foot, crushing it so that it was necessary to amputate his five toes.

Compensation for said injury was allowed by the arbitration board, which award was afterwards affirmed by the Industrial Accident Board. But one question is raised upon the record. It is the claim of the appellant that the claimant was guilty of intentional and wilful misconduct as a matter of law. Section 2 of part 2, Act No. 10, Extra Session 1912 (2 How. Stat. [2d Ed.] § 3948), is as follows:

_ “If the employee is injured by reason of his intentional and wilful misconduct, he shall not receive compensation under the provisions of this act.”

Appellant cites and relies upon the following cases: Johnson v. Marshall Sons. & Co., 22 T. L. R. 565, 75 L. J. K. B. 868; Hill v. Consolidated Mines, 12 B. C. 118, 1 B. W. C. C. 436; Johnson v. Marshall Sons & Co., 94 L. T. 828, 8 W. C. C. 10; Leishman v. Dixon, 47 Scottish L. R. 410, 3 B. W. C. C. 560; John v. Coal Co., 4 W. C. C. 15; George v. Coal Co., 78 L. J. P. C. 47, 25 T. L. R. 57. These cases all arose in foreign jurisdictions and under statutes containing somewhat different language from that used in the Michigan act. The question has twice been presented to this court, in the case of Clem v. Motor Co., 178 Mich. 340 (144 N. W. 848), and again in the case of Rayner v. Furniture Co., 180 Mich. 168 (146 N. W. 665).

While it is quite clear that the claimant’s injury [577]*577was brought about by his own gross negligence, we are of opinion that it cannot be said as a matter of law that he was guilty of such intentional and wilful misconduct as would defeat his recovery. Our own adjudicated cases cited above are conclusive upon this point.

The judgment is affirmed.

McAlvay, Kuhn, Stone, Ostrander, Bird, Moore, and Steere, JJ., concurred.

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Brooke, C. J.

The facts involved in this case may be briefly stated as follows: The claimant, a young man about 20 years of age, was employed by the defendant corporation as a checker. At the rear of the plant operated by appellant was a side track of the railroad company, running along the side of the platform where empty cars were placed to be loaded with automobiles. It was claimant’s duty to check each automobile as it was placed in the car. When the string of cars was loaded, it was customary to remove it to another track a short distance away from the platform. On the evening before the accident, claimant had checked a string of cars which stood beside the platform. Returning to his work the following morning, he found that those cars had been removed from the front of the platform to the other side track. Desiring to assure himself that he had properly checked the automobiles in this particular string of cars, he crossed over to the track upon which they stood, [576]*576and there made the necessary examination. Returning to the plant, he found that in his absence another string of cars was being placed upon the track in front of the platform, the engine being still attached thereto. Without stopping to see where the trainmen were, and without knowing but what they were signaling this train to back up or go ahead, he attempted to cross through between the water tank and the end car, and in so doing he placed his right foot on a coupling. The engine came back and caught his foot, crushing it so that it was necessary to amputate his five toes.

Compensation for said injury was allowed by the arbitration board, which award was afterwards affirmed by the Industrial Accident Board. But one question is raised upon the record. It is the claim of the appellant that the claimant was guilty of intentional and wilful misconduct as a matter of law. Section 2 of part 2, Act No. 10, Extra Session 1912 (2 How. Stat. [2d Ed.] § 3948), is as follows:

_ “If the employee is injured by reason of his intentional and wilful misconduct, he shall not receive compensation under the provisions of this act.”

Appellant cites and relies upon the following cases: Johnson v. Marshall Sons. & Co., 22 T. L. R. 565, 75 L. J. K. B. 868; Hill v. Consolidated Mines, 12 B. C. 118, 1 B. W. C. C. 436; Johnson v. Marshall Sons & Co., 94 L. T. 828, 8 W. C. C. 10; Leishman v. Dixon, 47 Scottish L. R. 410, 3 B. W. C. C. 560; John v. Coal Co., 4 W. C. C. 15; George v. Coal Co., 78 L. J. P. C. 47, 25 T. L. R. 57. These cases all arose in foreign jurisdictions and under statutes containing somewhat different language from that used in the Michigan act. The question has twice been presented to this court, in the case of Clem v. Motor Co., 178 Mich. 340 (144 N. W. 848), and again in the case of Rayner v. Furniture Co., 180 Mich. 168 (146 N. W. 665).

While it is quite clear that the claimant’s injury [577]*577was brought about by his own gross negligence, we are of opinion that it cannot be said as a matter of law that he was guilty of such intentional and wilful misconduct as would defeat his recovery. Our own adjudicated cases cited above are conclusive upon this point.

The judgment is affirmed.

McAlvay, Kuhn, Stone, Ostrander, Bird, Moore, and Steere, JJ., concurred.

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152 N.W. 1037, 186 Mich. 574, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 723, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gignac-v-studebaker-corp-mich-1915.

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