Goodrich v. Indus. Accident Comm'n

140 P.2d 405, 22 Cal. 2d 604, 1943 Cal. LEXIS 208
CourtCalifornia Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 3, 1943
DocketL. A. 18601
StatusPublished
Cited by23 cases

This text of 140 P.2d 405 (Goodrich v. Indus. Accident Comm'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Goodrich v. Indus. Accident Comm'n, 140 P.2d 405, 22 Cal. 2d 604, 1943 Cal. LEXIS 208 (Cal. 1943).

Opinions

CARTER, J.

Petitioners, dependents of Claude E. Goodrich, deceased, seek annullment of an order of the Industrial Accident Commission denying compensation for his death as the result of an injury which they assert arose out of and occurred in the course of his employment.

Goodrich was employed on a monthly basis by the H. L. , Whiston Drilling Company, engaged in drilling oil wells, as drilling superintendent. The commission found that drilling operations of the employer were being conducted at a place six-tenths of a mile from the employer’s office and one and seven-tenths miles in the same direction from Goodrich’s home; that Goodrich had no regular hours of duty and was subject to call at all hours of the day and night; that Goodrich “carried on much of the business of the employer from said employee’s home by means of the telephone there located,” and he was authorized by the employer in the discretion of the employee to conduct the employer’s business at “any place where the same could be conveniently conducted ' and was authorized to conduct the business of said employer from and at either the office of said employer or the home of said employee among other places”; that there was a telephone in the office; that at the time of the injury to Goodrich which resulted in his death he “was on his way from said oil well to his said home, having proceeded past said employer’s office enroute. Said employee’s sole purpose in said journey [607]*607was to inform his wife of the probability that he would work at said oil well throughout the night and it was said employee’s intention at said time and place after completing said errand to return to said oil well.”

Goodrich left his home about 7 p. m. the day of the injury in the car furnished by his employer to go to the above-mentioned place of work on a “fishing” job, stating to his wife that he would possibly be gone all night and that she should not worry. The work in progress required the removal of a casing from the well being drilled. A cutting tool for that purpose had been ordered between 7 and 8 p. m., and was supposed to arrive at the well in one to one and one-half hours. Goodrich had remained at the office of Owens, the man from whom the tool was ordered, for about one and one-half hours waiting for it. When he left for the well it was understood that Owens would bring the tool there when it arrived. Shortly before 10 p. m. Goodrich and the workmen under him were waiting at the well for the tool to arrive. Mr. Gieck, who was observing the operations, testified that Goodrich said he wished to go home and inform his wife that he would be working all night; that he did not want to telephone her as it would frighten her and awaken his minor child who had had a tooth pulled. The night was cold and Gieck, having a heater in his car, offered to take Goodrich home. His offer was accepted and they proceeded directly toward Goodrich’s home. About a half a block therefrom the accident occurred which ■ resulted in the death of Goodrich.

The employer, who was at the well shortly before 10 p.m., . testified that Goodrich said to him that he was going home for the above-mentioned purpose and expected to be back by the time the tool arrived. To the employer’s suggestion that because of the cold weather Goodrich go to the office and wait for the cutting tool and telephone his wife from there, Goodrich made no reply. Several of the employees at the well in Goodrich’s charge testified that when he left he said he was going to telephone to ascertain why the tool had not arrived.

Goodrich had no regular hours, came and went as he pleased and exercised considerable discretion in the performance of his duties. He transacted some of his employer’s business from his home and used his telephone there for that purpose.

There are many acts of an employee for his personal [608]*608convenience, comfort or welfare, the doing of which do not necessarily take him out of the course of his employment, even though done away from the premises of the employer. (California Cas. Ind. Exch. v. Industrial Acc. Com., 21 Cal.2d 751 [135 P.2d 158].) Various instances of that character have been considered by the appellate courts: Drinking wine because of indisposition (Elliott v. Industrial Acc. Com., 21 Cal.2d 281 [131 P.2d 521]; smoking (Whiting-Mead Com. Co. v. Industrial Acc. Com., 178 Cal. 505 [173 P. 1105, 5 A.L.R. 1518]); going to obtain a slicker to wear in the performance of his duty (Western Pacific R. R. Co. v. Industrial Acc. Com., 193 Cal. 413 [224 P. 754]); going to obtain an overcoat (Leffert v. Industrial Acc. Com., 219 Cal. 710 [28 P.2d 911]); going into a hallway to obtain fresh air (F. W. Woolworth Co. v. Industrial Acc. Com., 17 Cal.2d 634 [111 P.2d 313]); going to obtain water for a fellow employee who had fainted (County of Los Angeles v. Industrial Acc. Com., 89 Cal.App. 736 [265 P. 362]); returning from purchasing a package of cigarettes for employee’s own use (Western Pipe etc. Co. v. Industrial Acc. Com., 49 Cal.App.2d 108 [121 P.2d 35]); domestic servant sewing a hem on her dress (Employers’ etc. Corp. v. Industrial Acc. Com., 37 Cal.App.2d 567 [99 P.2d 1089]).

It has been said that even though an employee may be going to or from his place of employment on a mission personal to himself if he is also on a substantial mission of his employer which is the major factor in the movement, he may still be said to be within the course of his employment. (Western States Gas & Elec. Co. v. Bayside Lumber Co., 182 Cal. 140 [187 P. 735]; Ocean A. & G. Corp. v. Industrial Acc. Com., 132 Cal.App. 207 [22 P.2d 537]; Gagnebin v. Industrial Acc. Com., 140 Cal.App. 80 [34 P.2d 1052]; Fenton v. Industrial Acc. Com., 44 Cal.App.2d 379 [112 P.2d 763].)

If it be assumed that the instant case does not fall strictly within either one of the foregoing rules, when they are considered together in light of the facts established, it is clear that the death occurred in and arose out of the course of employment. Goodrich was on call twenty-four hours a day. He held a position where he exercised considerable discretion in the performance of his duties. He conducted some of the business of his employer from his home, using the telephone there and was reimbursed for long distance calls. Working

[609]*609at night on the occasion in question, it was to be anticipated that he might return to his home which was only a short distance away to advise his wife that he was going to work all night, although he had previously advised her that he probably would be so engaged. Although his employer suggested he telephone his wife from the office, he did not forbid Goodrich to return home to speak to his wife. Several witnesses stated that Goodrich said he was going home to telephone with regard to the delivery of the cutting tool which was required before work could proceed. The making of.

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Goodrich v. Indus. Accident Comm'n
140 P.2d 405 (California Supreme Court, 1943)

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Bluebook (online)
140 P.2d 405, 22 Cal. 2d 604, 1943 Cal. LEXIS 208, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/goodrich-v-indus-accident-commn-cal-1943.