New York Casualty Co. v. Young Men's Christian Ass'n

119 F.2d 387, 1941 U.S. App. LEXIS 3716
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedApril 17, 1941
DocketNos. 11739, 11740
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 119 F.2d 387 (New York Casualty Co. v. Young Men's Christian Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
New York Casualty Co. v. Young Men's Christian Ass'n, 119 F.2d 387, 1941 U.S. App. LEXIS 3716 (8th Cir. 1941).

Opinions

STONE, Circuit Judge.

The widow of Arthur Andrews recovered a judgment for personal injuries resulting in his death against the Young Men’s Christian Association. Andrews v. Young Men’s Christian Association of Des Moines, 226 Iowa 374, 284 N.W. 186. At the time of the injury to Andrews, the Association had three liability policies as follows: One by the New York Casualty Company on an elevator liability policy; one by the Employers Mutual Casualty Company on a public liability policy; and one by the Central Surety and Insurance Corporation on a workmen’s compensation liability policy.

After affirmance of the above personal injury judgment, the New York company filed its complaint for a declaratory judgment that it was not liable under its policy. The Association answered praying a declaration of liability against the New York company and also filed a cross-complaint bringing in the Employers and the Central and asking declarations of liability against each of them. Those two companies answered denying liability. The facts were stipulated. A declaratory judgment was entered against the New York company and in favor of the Employers and of the Central. The New York company brings its appeal (No. 11,739) and the Association brings its cross-appeal (No. 11,740) to test [388]*388the liability of the Employers and of the Central.

Since the liability of each of these companies depends upon the provisions of the particular policy and upon the state of facts here, one statement of such facts may be set forth and thereafter the application of such facts to each policy examined separately.

Facts.

The pertinent facts here are that Andrews was a skilled workman out of regular employment who had been employed by the Works Progress Administration. The Administration had requested the Association to furnish work for him and for others. While Andrews was working inside an elevator shaft in the Association building repairing a bracket on the basement elevator door, the elevator descended into the basement injuring him so severely as ultimately to cause his death.

During the time Andrews had been working at the Association building he had been doing different kinds of work in the building under the direction and supervision of the superintendent of the building and he was working under the direction of the superintendent in the particular work in which he was engaged at the time of the injury. The work and labor to be done by him was selected by and the work done in the manner directed by the superintendent and the hours of such work were directed and designated by the Association within the limits of the provisions and regulations of the W, P. A. The W. P. A. had the right at any time to withdraw Andrews and the other workers from the services they were rendering in the Association building and the Association had a similar right to dispense with such services. The Association had nothing to do with the hiring or discharge or payment of Andrews or any of these workers.

The bracket which Andrews was repairing at the time of the accident was on the inside of a door opening into the elevator shaft. This door was attached to the shaft and not to the elevator. It performed no function other than as a part of the machinery enabling the door into the shaft at the basement story to be opened and closed. To do this repair work it was necessary to keep the doors open and for Andrews to mount a ladder in the shaft pit, there to remove the bracket and, after welding it, to replace it. The superintendent of the Association aided Andrews by holding a light.

At the time Andrews was working in the shaft the elevator was being operated for the transportation of persons from one floor to another. The Superintendent had twice instructed the elevator operator not to bring the elevator below the first floor until he told him otherwise. In spite of such instructions, the elevator descended below the first floor while Andrews, who was standing on a ladder, was replacing the bracket. Andrews was knocked from the ladder and injured.

New York Casualty Company.

The obligation of this policy was — with certain 'expressed exclusions — to protect against bodily injuries “by any person or persons not employed by the Assured as the result of an accident occurring by reason of the existence, maintenance or use, of any elevator or elevating or lowering device which is described in Declaration 4, its well, shaft or hoistway or the machinery, equipment or appliances used in connection therewith and appurtenant thereto.” The here pertinent exclusions in the policy were as follows :

“This policy shall not cover:
“(a) * * *
“(b) * * *
“(c) bodily injuries or death caused by the construction, reconstruction, demolition or extraordinary repair of any elevator or hoisting device, or the building or structure within which it is contained; but privilege is granted under this policy to make such ordinary alterations and repairs as are necessary to the care of any elevator covered herein and its maintenance in good condition, including the renewal of existing mechanical equipment, provided that such elevator shall not be used for service while such work is being done;
“(d) the liability imposed or assumed by the Assured under any Workman's Compensation Statute;
“(e) the liability of the Assured to employees which is based on the relationship of master and servant.”

The New York company advances several claims why this accident was not within the provisions of the policy. It is necessary to examine but one of these. That contention is that the policy excluded injuries to employes and that Andrews was, at the time of injury, an employe of the [389]*389Association within the meaning of the policy. This position is well taken. Not only does this policy, in the liability clause, expressly confine liability to “any person or persons not employed by the Assured” but the provision covering exclusions expressly excludes liability under any workmen’s compensation statute and “the liability of the Assured to employes which is based on the relationship of master and servant.” The last quoted expression makes it very clear that the policy intended to exclude from liability an injury to anyone who might be regarded as an employe under the relationship of master and servant.

At the time of this injury, Andrews was an employe as regards the relationship of master and servant because he occupied that status known to the law as a “loaned” employe and because the doctrine of loaned employe is recognized in Iowa. Lembke v. Fritz, 223 Iowa 261, 272 N.W. 300; Traynor v. Keefe Con. Co., 199 Iowa 575, 202 N.W. 218; Norton v. Day Coal Co., 192 Iowa 160, 180 N.W. 905; Ash v. Century Lbr. Co., 153 Iowa 523, 133 N.W. 888, 38 L.R.A.,N.S., 973. As to the general doctrine see Marion Steam Shovel Co. v. Bertino, 82 F.2d 541, this Court.

The determination of the trial court that Andrews was not such a servant at the time of the accident is based upon the conclusion that, although “the evidence does disclose that at the time of the injury the superintendent of the Y. M. C. A.

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119 F.2d 387, 1941 U.S. App. LEXIS 3716, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/new-york-casualty-co-v-young-mens-christian-assn-ca8-1941.