In Re Securing Compensation by Lee Yit Kyau Pang

32 Haw. 699, 1933 Haw. LEXIS 22
CourtHawaii Supreme Court
DecidedApril 22, 1933
DocketNo. 2098.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 32 Haw. 699 (In Re Securing Compensation by Lee Yit Kyau Pang) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Hawaii Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Securing Compensation by Lee Yit Kyau Pang, 32 Haw. 699, 1933 Haw. LEXIS 22 (haw 1933).

Opinion

*700 OPINION OP THE COURT BY

PARSONS, J.

This case is before us upon questions of law certified by the industrial accident board of the City and County of Honolulu, under the provisions of section 3641, R. L. 1925.

The statement of facts contained in the board’s reservation, omitting nonessentials, is as follows: “One Pang Ko Ak, a Chinese alien, employed by C. Q. Yee Hop and Company, Limited, the Employer’s Liability Assurance Corporation, Limited, insurance carrier, was killed in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, on October 10, 1932, and said death arose out of and in the course of such employment. He left surviving him a widow, Lee Yit Kyau Pang, and three minor children, Pang Youk Chow, twelve years of age, Pang Hong Lam, nine years of age, and Pang Kim Young, seven years of age. * * * The aforesaid widow and minor children were bom in Hawaii. Lee Yit Kyau Pang married Pang Ko Ak at Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, on December 13,1916. In 1928, the widow and three minor children left for China on a temporary visit and were still there at the time of the death of Pang Ko Ak. Her visit lasted four and one-half years, during which time she was supported by her husband. She always intended to return, and her legal domicile was Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. The widow returned to Honolulu on December 21, 1932, and was restored to American citizenship on December 23, 1932.”.

*701 The reserved questions are as follows: “1. Does .‘actually residing within the United States’ in section 3611, E. L. Territory of Hawaii 1925 mean legal domicile? 2. Does ‘actually residing within the United States’ section 3611, E. L. Territory of Hawaii 1925 exclude those not physically present within the United States but temporarily in a foreign country for any purpose? 3. Does ‘actually residing within the United States’ section 3611, E. L. Territory of Hawaii 1925 exclude those not physically present within the United States but temporarily outside of the United States for any purpose? 4. Did the Act of September 22, 1922, chapter 411, section 3-A and 3-B, 42 Stat. 1022, as amended by Act of March 3, 1931, chapter 422, section 4-A, 46 Stat. 1511, section 9 and 369a, Title 8, U. S. C. A. and the repeal of the Act of September 22, 1922, chapter 411, section 5, 42 Stat. 1022, section 370, Title 8, U. S. C. A. by the Act of March 3, 1931, Chapter 422, section 4-B, 46 Stat. 1512, so change the status and rights of the widow to citizenship as to make her a dependent under the Act, irrespective of whether or not she was actually residing within the United States? 5. Does ‘actually residing within the United States’ section 3611, E. L. Territory of Hawaii 1925, include those whose legal domicile and residence is in the United States but who are temporarily out of the United States or in a foreign country?”

These questions are not argued as above presented by either side. The issue agreed upon and submitted by counsel, as presently appears, in effect obviates the necessity of consideration by us of question four and of the remaining four questions as above set forth, except in so far as the last named questions apply to the specific facts in this case. Quoting from the brief of counsel for the insurance carrier and employer: “There is no dispute that the children who were born here are dependents under *702 the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The widow by her marriage, the employer claims, became a Chinese alien, and in December 23, 1932, she was naturalized under the federal law. The sole question is whether the claimant as well as the children is a dependent under the Workmen’s Compensation Law.” The claimant does not deny the alienage of the widow at the date of her husband’s injury and death and, in effect, accepts the employer’s above quoted statement of the issue before us. Quoting from her counsel’s brief: “The sole question is whether the widow is a dependent within the purview and meaning of the Workmen’s Compensation Act. Determination of this question depends upon the construction and meaning of section 3611, R. L. of Hawaii 1925 which states: ‘An alien shall not be considered a dependent within the meaning of this chapter unless actually residing within the United States, and any alien dependent leaving the United States shall thereupon lose all right to any benefits under this chapter.’ ”

The arguments, orally and in the briefs, are consistent with the above quoted statements of counsel. No other primary issue has been argued or need be considered. Restated then, the primary question before us is: Is the widow, in the circumstances set forth in the above quoted statement of facts, entitled to compensation under the provisions of our Workmen’s Compensation Law, as a dependent of the late Pang Ko Ak? Admittedly, as above set forth, “determination of this question depends upon the construction and meaning of section 3611, R. L. of Hawaii 1925,” which the parties, as above appears, agree is applicable. Omitting the portions not presently relevant said section provides: “The following persons, and they only, shall be deemed dependents and entitled to compensation under the provisions of this chapter; * * *.the widow only if living with the deceased, or. actually de *703 pendent, wholly or partially, upon him. * * * The relation of dependency must exist at the time of the injury.” Then follows the paragraph quoted as above set forth by the claimant, namely: “An alien shall not be considered a dependent within the meaning of this chapter unless actually residing -within the United States, and any alien dependent leaving the United States shall thereupon lose all right to any benefits under this chapter.” Under express provision of the Act, “dependency,” it is noted, refers to the time of injury. “Injury” as expressly defined by the Workmen’s Compensation Act “includes death resulting from injury within six months.” At the time of decedent’s death, on October 10, 1932, his widow was in China where she had been since 1928. Her return to Honolulu and her restoration to American citizenship were in December, 1932. She therefore was not, in October, 1932, a “dependent” within the meaning of the Act unless she was at that time “actually residing within the United States.” Claimant argues that the words “actually residing within the United States,” as above used, have the same meaning as have the words, domiciled within the United States. In the interpretation of particular statutes the words “residence” and “domicile” have frequently been given the same meaning. In the statute now under consideration the word “actually” adds something to the word “residing” and, as we interpret it, differentiates the combination from that of “constructively residing” or “legally residing.” That the latter term generally connotes “domicile” is not helpful to the claimant here.

The words “actual residence” and “actual resident” in different contexts have had frequent judicial attention. Thus: “As contradistinguished from a person’s 'legal residence,’ he may have an 'actual residence’ in another state or country. He may abide in one country, without surrendering his legal residence in another, if he so in *704 tends. His ‘legal residence’ may be merely ideal, bnt his ‘actual residence’ must be substantial.

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32 Haw. 699, 1933 Haw. LEXIS 22, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-securing-compensation-by-lee-yit-kyau-pang-haw-1933.