Scheer v. Holmes

164 N.W. 423, 197 Mich. 628, 1917 Mich. LEXIS 639
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 27, 1917
DocketDocket No. 134
StatusPublished

This text of 164 N.W. 423 (Scheer v. Holmes) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scheer v. Holmes, 164 N.W. 423, 197 Mich. 628, 1917 Mich. LEXIS 639 (Mich. 1917).

Opinion

Moore, J.

(dissenting). Herbert R. Holmes was engaged in the trucking business on March 2, 1915, and was operating under the workmen’s compensation act of the State of Michigan, with the Royal Indemnity Company as the insurer under said act. On that date Carl Scheer, an employee of said respondent, re[629]*629ceived an injury to his right leg, and on March 23, 1915, he and said* Eoyal Indemnity Company, as insurer, entered into an agreement regarding the payment of compensation, which compensation was paid to him as long as he lived.

On April 26, 1915, Mr. Scheer died, leaving the claimant, his widow, as the only dependent. Claim was made for compensation. The case was brought on for hearing before an arbitration committee who rejected the claim. The claimant appealed to the industrial accident board, and the same was set for a hearing. The respondents were not at the hearing because, it is said in the brief, the street car traffic broke down, and their representative was delayed, so that he did not get to Lansing from the city of Detroit until after the case had been heard by the industrial accident board. The industrial accident board awarded compensation to said claimant at the rate of $5.50 a week for 300 weeks. A motion for a rehearing was overruled by the industrial accident board.

This proceeding is to review the action of the industrial accident board in making its award. The determining question is: Was there evidence legally justifying the decision of the accident board that Mr. Scheer died as the result of an injury while in the employ of Mr. Holmes? It is not disputed that while so employed on March 2, 1915, while unloading a box of hardware weighing about 800 pounds, the box fell upon the right leg of Mr. Scheer, inflicting considerable injuries, but it is insisted there is no legal proof that these injuries caused the death of Mr. Scheer.

Section 12 of part 3 of Act No. 10, Extra Session of 1912 (2 Comp. Laws 1915, § 5465), makes findings of fact made by the accident board conclusive in the absence of fraud, if any competent legal evidence is produced to sustain the facts so found. This section has frequently been construed by this court. Some [630]*630of the decisions are: Rayner v. Furniture Co., 180 Mich. 168 (146 N. W. 665, L. R. A. 1916A, 22, Am. & Eng. Ann. Cas. 1916A, 386); Reck v. Whittlesberger, 181 Mich. 463 (148 N. W. 247, Am. & Eng. Ann.. Cas. 1916C, 77.1) ; Hills v. Blair, 182 Mich. 20 (148 N. W. 243); Estate of Beckwith v. Spooner, 183 Mich. 332 (149 N. W. 971, Am. & Eng. Ann. Cas. 1916E, 886); Redfield v. Insurance Co., 183 Mich. 638 (150 N. W. 362); Buhse v. Iron Works, 194 Mich. 413 (160 N. W. 557).

The record is. not as satisfactory as could be desired. Some of the witnesses were dull and made contradictory statements, possibly because they did not understand the questions put to them. The claimant testified that at the timé of the accident her husband was a strong* healthy man weighing about 160 pounds; that she met him at the door when he was brought home, and she and his boss helped him into the house; that his leg was swollen from the day he got hurt; that a doctor was called; that Mr. Scheer was confined to his bed, except as he supported himself on two crutches; that he did not improve, and another doctor was called, until six in all had been in attendance upon him, when he died.

“Q. Did Dr. De Witt ever tell you at that time that your husband would not live?
“A. Yes, he told me.
“Q. When was that, how long before his death?
“A. That was just before they operated on him. He said your husband is going to die. He heard him.
“Q. Was it spoken loud enough so he could hear?
“A. Yes; it was spoken loud enough. * * *
“Q. Do you remember the exact words Dr. De Witt used when he said your husband would not live?
“A. He said, ’Your husband is going to die.5 That is all I understand.
“Q. How long afterwards was it before he died?
“A. Why, I guess it was going on the second week, or third week; I don’t remember any more.”

[631]*631The record does not disclose anything further about the operation. She testified on cross-examination:

That there were times during his illness as a result of the accident when Mr. Scheer was out of his mind.

“Q. When your husband came home Mr. Holmes was with him?
“A. Yes.
“Q. The injury was to his knee?
“A. His right leg.
“Q. Whereabouts; was there a bruise on his leg or foot?
“A. Yes; there was a couple of bruises on the middle part of his leg,
“Q. About halfway between the knee and the ankle?
“A. No. * * *
“Q. No. You say the leg was getting better; the swelling was going down; it was getting better wasn’t it?
“A. I don’t know; I didn’t have the feeling of it.
“Q. And you don’t know what caused the condition of your husband’s health do you?
“A. No.
“By Mr. MeCredie: Q. You say the swelling went up his hip and into his side?
“A. Yes.
“Q. You say in the first instance it was swollen from the knee down and then the swelling went up the leg?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Did the swelling go out of the leg or not?
“A. No.
“Q. Then it still continued and the side began to swell?
“A. Yes.
“Q. And could you say that he never after the accident stepped on his foot?
“A. No; he never. * * *
“By Arbitrator Baugh: Q. After the swelling started to go into his side was his leg swollen from the hip into the side?
“A. Yes.
“Q. It came up the right leg and was swollen up to the hip?
[632]*632“A. Yes; the whole lower part of his body was swollen.
“Q. Was the right limb swollen?
“A. His hip was swollen.
“Q. Just his hip?
“A. More than his hip; the lower part of his body was all swollen.
“Q. Was the left leg swollen?

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Related

Rayner v. Sligh Furniture Co.
146 N.W. 665 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1914)
Reck v. Whittlesberger
148 N.W. 247 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1914)
Hills v. Blair
148 N.W. 243 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1914)
Estate of Beckwith v. Spooner
149 N.W. 971 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1914)
Redfield v. Michigan Workmen's Compensation Mutual Insurance
150 N.W. 362 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1915)
Buhse v. Whitehead & Kales Iron Works
160 N.W. 557 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1916)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
164 N.W. 423, 197 Mich. 628, 1917 Mich. LEXIS 639, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scheer-v-holmes-mich-1917.