Stein v. Packard Motor Car Co.

178 N.W. 61, 210 Mich. 374
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 7, 1920
DocketDocket No. 90
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 178 N.W. 61 (Stein v. Packard Motor Car Co.) 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
Stein v. Packard Motor Car Co., 178 N.W. 61, 210 Mich. 374 (Mich. 1920).

Opinion

Brooke, J.

On March 4, 1918, claimant received an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment. The injury consisted in the breaking of both bones of the left forearm. Claimant was at once taken to the office of Dr. George, at the company’s plant. (Dr. George devotes his time to the treatment of defendant’s injured employees and is in charge of defendant’s compensation department.) The arm was put in a splint and was set the following day at Harper hospital under a fluoroscope. Claimant carried his arm in a cast.

On the 8th day after the injury, he returned to work and from that time up to the date of the hearing before the industrial accident board he qontinued in [376]*376the employment of the defendant, earning wages as great as or greater than he received at the date of his injury. He made a claim in writing for compensation on December 10, 1918 — nine months and some days after the receipt of the injury. Interrogated with reference to the written notice, he testified:

“Q. Was that the first one? * * *
“A. Yes, sir. * * *
“Commissioner Reaves: Yes, 1918. There is our stamp as we received it there, just to identify it. Did you ever make any claim to the Packard Motor Car Company prior to the time that you sent this in?
“A. No, before that I asked Dr. George what he could do about it and he said he didn’t think he could do nothing so I went back to work. I said I couldn’t lay around ten weeks and accept $2 a week and so I went back to work and put in my time.
“Q. What did you say at that time?
“A. I asked him what they could do for the time I lost. He said they wouldn’t do anything on account of not being off two weeks. I says I can’t lay off. I says, my arm is in a cast and I can just as well sit there as sit home so I went out there and did all I could with one hand and got my pay for it.
“Q. Do you remember the exact words you used at that time to Dr. George?
“A. That is about what I told him.
“Q. Asked him what they were going to do about it?
“A. I asked him what they were going to do about the time I lost. He said I didn’t lay off two weeks. I said, T can’t lay off two weeks just to wait for it,’ and so I went in on the 8th day.
“Q. Did you ever say anything about it to him after that?
“A. No, he is the only man I talked with about it. He told me that. That is all I thought I could get.
“Q. After December 10, you filed your claim with us?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Did you file claim at the same time with the Packard Motor Car Company?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. Filed the original with them and copy with us?
[377]*377“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. I think that is all.
“By Mr. Smith: Q. In your affidavit, Mr. Stein, is that your signature there (indicating) ?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Do you remember Signing that at Mr. Coolidge’s request?
“A. Yes.
“Q. In this affidavit you say:
“ ‘Plaintiff further states that he was informed by said Dr. George and likewise hy an expert surgeon called in for consultation hy said respondent that the chances for success and of said proposed operation were far from sure. Plaintiff further states that at this time he first became aware of the fact that his injury was permanent and that the condition of his arm would not improve; that he thereupon refused to submit to such operation and promptly thereafter served and filed notice of claim for injury authorized under the compensation law of the State of Michigan.’
“This notice which has been called to your attention; you recall swearing to this in your affidavit?
“Mr.-Coolidge: Is that sworn to?
“Q. Stated; you recall signing that statement?
“A. Yes.
“Q. And that is the first time you filed any notice with the Packard Motor Car Company or with the accident board under the compensation law?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Arbitrator Joncas: What is the date of that statement?
“Q. The statement is dated the 8th of February, 1919, and notice of the claim was dated December 10, 1918. That is your signature there?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. And that is the notice that was served on the Packard Motor Car Company at that time?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. And all you talked with Dr. George about just about the time of the accident was about your loss of time, as you stated?
“A. Yes, that is all.
“Q. Now,—
“A. I didn’t know at that time the way the arm was going to come out.
[378]*378“Q. No, you didn’t know that until after this session at the hospital when you talked about the operation?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. That is the first time you thought you ought to file claim against the company?
“A. .He gave me good advice my arm would be all right so I went by his instructions thinking it would turn out that way.
“Q. If it had turned out and you hadn’t found out you couldn’t get a guaranteed operation you didn’t have any intention of making a claim as you did, in other words?
“A. No, if I could use all my arm.
“Q. And the first time you got around and determined you wanted to make a claim was when they told you they couldn’t guarantee it and you made up your mind you didn’t want to take a chance on the operation?
“A. Yes.
“Q. Now, I notice in this first part of December there is quite a little time lost there. Were you away or did you stop work or what was that lay-off?
“A. December after the accident?
“Q. Yes.
“A. Yes, I had sickness at home in the family.
“Q. So you say that lay-off in the latter part of November and first of December was due to that sick- ■ ness?

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
178 N.W. 61, 210 Mich. 374, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stein-v-packard-motor-car-co-mich-1920.