Ginther v. J. P. Graham Transfer Co.

33 A.2d 923, 348 Pa. 60, 148 A.L.R. 704, 1943 Pa. LEXIS 496

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: March 26, 1943
• Docket: Appeal, 25
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Patterson,

This is an appeal involving tbe application of tbe Workmen’s Compensation Law.

On tbe evening of February 13, 1939, Carl Gintber, employed by tbe J. P. Graham Transfer Company, appellant, as mechanic and truck operator, was ordered to make a delivery to tbe plant of tbe Townsend Company at Fallston, Pennsylvania, a distance of two and one-half miles from appellant’s place of business. Robert D. Cooper and William Romigb, part time employees of appellant but not on duty that evening, accompanied him. Gintber did not follow tbe most direct route to Fallston but digressed a distance of about one-half mile and stopped at a roadhouse, known as the Clyde House. Tbe period of time elapsing was about twenty minutes, during which Ginther and Romigb bad a few drinks but did not become intoxicated. Upon leaving tbe Clyde House Romigh began to drive, Cooper sat in tbe middle, and Gintber on tbe right side of tbe seat. The merchandise was delivered and tbe return trip covered tbe same route. Upon approaching the Clyde House, Gintber ordered Romigb to stop tbe truck and be got out to assist a friend whose car bad stalled. Tbe trip was resumed shortly thereafter. No stop was made at tbe Clyde House on this return trip. After having returned to the direct route and while proceeding thereon at a speed of about thirty-five miles per hour Ginther told Romigh he was going too fast and ordered him to slow down. Within a few seconds thereafter Romigh failed to negotiate a turn in the highway leading through a railroad underpass and crashed into an abutment. Ginther sustained injuries, as a result of which he died. Sara Ginther, appellee, widow of Carl Ginther, filed a claim petition with the Workmen’s Compensation Board. J. P. Graham Transfer Company and its insurance carrier, Globe Indemnity Insurance Company, appellants, denied liability for the reason that the deceased was not in the course of employment at the time of the accident. It is argued, in support of . this contention, (1) that he had violated specific instructions of the employer forbidding the use of intoxicants while on duty and carrying passengers; (2) that he had deviated from the direct route to the Townsend plant; and (3) that he permitted another, Romigh, to perform the duties entrusted to him. Compensation was awarded by the board. The Superior Court reversed the decision of the Common Pleas Court of Beaver County which set aside the award: Ginther v. J. P. Graham Transfer Co., 149 Pa. Superior Ct. 635. This appeal followed.

We are all in accord with the conclusion of the Superior Court that there was no causal connection between the violation of orders relating to drinking while on duty and carrying passengers and the accident, and that deceased was not in the position of a trespasser: Dickey v. Pittsburgh & Lake Erie R. R. Co., 297 Pa. 172, 175. The fact that there had been a deviation is immaterial. The evidence clearly shows that at the time of the accident the truck was being operated on the most direct route toward the employer’s place of business: Webb v. North Side Amusement Co., 298 Pa. 58. A majority of this Court, however, is of opinion that at the time of the accident deceased had removed himself from the course of his employment by reason of Ms unauthorized delegation of the duty entrusted to him. When Ginther left the wheel and delegated its operation to another he completely abandoned his most important service to the employer and was not in the course of his employment within the meaning of the Workmen’s Compensation Act. 1

This is not a ease where an emergency had arisen from which authority to so delegate a duty may be implied. See Matzek v. United Storage & Trucking Co., 122 Pa. Superior Ct. 146. We are fully cognizant that this act is remedial and is to receive a liberal construction: Ottavi v. Timothy Burke Stripping Co., 140 Pa. Superior Ct. 389, 395. There are certain limitations beyond which it was not the intention of the legislature to extend responsibility of an employer for injuries sustained by an employee. The act was never intended to make the employer an insurer of the safety of all employees. “The employer is not an insurer of the life and health of his employees; his liability for compensation is found only in the terms of that statute: Lacey v. Washburn & Williams Co., 309 Pa. 574. To say that Ginther remained in the course of his employment under the circumstances here presented would deprive the employer of the control of his business and of the person to whom he had entrusted duties concomitant with the furtherance of that business. To permit an employee entrusted with the performance of a particular duty to delegate that duty to another, when he has no authority to so delegate, and no emergency making such an arrangement.necessary arises, 2 would tend to destroy the relation of master and servant. It would permit the employee to remove from the employer all control over that employee and his activities, to which he is entitled by virtue of, and which is necessary to, the existence of the relation of master and servant. President Judge Reader, in a well considered opinion, correctly held “The employee by such an act relinquishes control of the agency imposed upon him by the employer, and so long as that agency is under the control of the person to whom he has relinquished it, we think he is without the course of his employment.”

Judgment reversed and here entered for the appellants.

1 Tlie Act of June 2, 1915, P. L. 736, Art. Ill, section 301, as amended, provides that the term “injury by an accident in the course of his employment” shall include “. . . . injuries sustained while the employee is actually engaged in the furtherance of the business or affairs of the employer. . . .”

2 When questioned as to whether Ginther was able to drive the truck, Romigh testified as follows (p. 44-a, notes of testimony) : “Q. Was Oarl able to drive this truck? A. Sure.”