Hicks v. Piedmont Cold Storage, Inc.

515 S.E.2d 532, 335 S.C. 46, 1999 S.C. LEXIS 72

• Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Decided: April 5, 1999
• Docket: 24928
• Status: Published

Opinions

FINNEY, Chief Justice:

We granted a writ of certiorari to review the Court of Appeals’ decision in Hicks v. Piedmont Cold Storage, Inc., 324 S.C. 628, 479 S.E.2d 831 (Ct.App.1996). We reverse.

The children of the deceased, Joseph Hicks, Sr., brought this workers’ compensation action against employer, Piedmont Cold Storage, seeking death benefits. Hicks was killed while repairing the personal vehicle of the plant manager on a Saturday at Piedmont Cold Storage. The single commissioner, affirmed by the appellate panel of the commission, denied the claim finding that Hicks did not: (1) work regularly on Saturdays; (2) clock in on the date of the accident; or (3) benefit Piedmont in any way on the day of the accident. The commissioner also found that Hicks worked for the personal benefit of Lewis and therefore his death did not result from an injury by accident arising out of and in the course of his employment with Piedmont.

The circuit judge reversed and held the tasks performed by Hicks at the time of his death were incidental to his employment. Further, he found the accident occurred: (1) on Piedmont premises; (2) with Piedmont tools; and (3) while he performed a task under the direction and supervision of his superior. The circuit judge concluded the commission’s decision was against the substantial weight of the evidence and ordered Piedmont to pay death and funeral benefits to the minor children. The Court of Appeals affirmed.

Piedmont contends the Court of Appeals and circuit court erred in reversing the commission’s decision because it was supported by substantial evidence. Further, Piedmont asserts the Court of Appeals and circuit court substituted their judgment for that of the workers’ compensation commission on questions of fact. We agree.

The findings of an administrative agency are presumed correct and will be set aside only if unsupported by substantial evidence. Rodney v. Michelin Tire Corp., 320 S.C. 515, 466 S.E.2d 357 (1996). A court shall not substitute its judgment for that of the agency as to the weight of the evidence on questions of fact. Rodney, supra. The court may reverse the decision if substantial rights of the appellant have been prejudiced because the administrative findings, inferences, conclusions or decisions are clearly erroneous in view of the reliable, probative and substantial evidence of the whole record. Id.

The key factor in determining the children’s entitlement to compensation here is whether the work benefitted the employer. Fountain v. Hartsville Oil Mill, 207 S.C. 119, 32 S.E.2d 11 (1945) (workers’ compensation benefits denied because the employee’s activity provided no benefit to the employer). The employee in Fountain was injured during regular working hours while working at his supervisor’s private residence and we held there was no coverage. Here, the decedent was being paid by his supervisor for work done on the supervisor’s personal vehicle on a non-work day at the employer’s business. The record shows that Hicks did not regularly work on Saturdays and did not clock in on the day of the accident.

There is substantial evidence in the record supporting the commission’s finding that the work performed by Hicks did not benefit Piedmont and was for the personal benefit of the plant manager. The findings of fact must be affirmed if they are supported by the evidence. Parsons v. Georgetown Steel, 318 S.C. 63, 456 S.E.2d 366 (1995). Based on the reasoning in Fountain, the accident here was outside the course of decedent’s employment. Further, the circuit court and Court of Appeals substituted their judgment for that of the commission in finding that Hicks conferred some benefit on Piedmont. The supervisor did not lose any time from work as the repair was being done on a Saturday.

The substantial evidence rule controls here, and accordingly the decision of the Court of Appeals is

REVERSED.

MOORE, WALLER, and BURNETT, JJ., concur. TOAL, J., dissenting in separate opinion.