Thomas v. William M. Cady Lumber Co.

2 La. App. 320, 1925 La. App. LEXIS 452
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 6, 1925
DocketNo. 2299
StatusPublished

This text of 2 La. App. 320 (Thomas v. William M. Cady Lumber Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Thomas v. William M. Cady Lumber Co., 2 La. App. 320, 1925 La. App. LEXIS 452 (La. Ct. App. 1925).

Opinion

REYNOLDS, J.

This a suit by Mary Thomas as Tutrix of ' Laura Van Dyke against William M. Cady Lumber Company, Inc., to recover compensation under the [321]*321workmen’s compensation act for the death of her brother, Wesley Van Dyke.

And it is agreed by counsel for plaintiff and defendant that the only' issue in the case is as to the age of Laura Van Dyke, the beneficiary under the statute.

Under paragraphs (h) and (k) of Section 8 of Act 20 of 1914 as amended by Act 43 of 1922, Laura Van'Dyke would be entitled to compensation for the death of her brother Wesley Van Dyke only if she was under 18 years of age at the time of his death and then only until she attained the age of 18 years.

Plaintiff contends that Laura Van Dyke, was born on November 10, 1906.

Admittedly her ' brother, Wesley Van Dyke, was killed on October 6, 1922.

Compensation is therefore claimed for her from October 6, 1922, to November 10, 1924.

Defendant contends that plaintiff has not established with reasonable certainty that Laura Van Dyke was under 18 years of age at the time of her brother’s death.

OPINION

In support of her contention that Laura Van Dyke was under 18 years of age on October 6, 1922, plaintiff, on the first trial, introduced the testimony of (Bertha Robinson who testified:

(Page 12).
“Q. When was Laura Van Dyke born?
“A. On November 10, 1906.
(Page 14).
“Q. Is there anything that makes you recall when Laura was born?
“A. I remember when she was born because I nursed her. I was her nurse.
“Q. Have you any other reason to recall?
“A. I taken care of her while my mother helped my father work.
(Page 15).
“Q. Are you positive' as to the date of Laura’s birth? ■
“A. Yes, sir; November 10th, 1906.
“Q. That was the date of Laura’s birth?
“A. Yes, Sir.”
Mary Thomas testified, on the second trial, page 1.
“Q. How long has Laura Van Dyke been living with you?
“A. Eleven going on twelve years.
“Q. How old is Laura?
“A. Seventeen and will be eighteen her next birthday.
“Q. When is her next birthday?
“A. November 10 th.
“Q. Then, as I understand it, Laura will be eighteen years’ old on November 10th, 1924?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. When was she born?
“A. In 1906.
“Q. What date?
“A. The tenth of November.
(Page 2).
“Q. Prom whom did you receive the information as to the age of Laura?
“A. Prom my sister-in-law, Rosa Van Dyke.
(Page 3).
“Q. How did you get your information from your sister-in-law at San Antonio, Texas ?
“A. She was living at Bunkie, Louisiana, at the time, and my sister-in-law was at my home and visiting me when this child was here, and I asked her age.
“Q. You got it then from her in person?
“A. Yes, sir, not once but several' times.
(Page 4).
“Q. Have you heard Laura’s age discussed amongst her relatives and the members of her family, within the last year or so?
“A. Yes, sir, we’ve discussed it.
“Q. How many members of Laura’s family have you heard discuss it, that is, discuss her age?
“A. Please repeat the question.
“Q. I asked you how many members of Laura’s family have you heard discuss Laura’s age?
“A. I don’t know just how many. My sister-in-law and myself and my family— I guess that was about all — I don’t remember just how many.
[322]*322(Page 6).
“Q. Now, did I understand you to say that you remembered the age of this child by reason of the fact that your sister-in-law had two children born on the 10th of December?
“A. No, sir, one, a boy born on December 10 — after Laura was born.
(Page 7).
“Q, You have no personal knowledge of the birth of this child, have you or not?
“A. Only what they told me.
“Q. How 'old was this child when she came to live with you?
“A. She was six years old.
“Q. When did she come to live with you?
“A. In 1913, I think it was in August, 1913, if I am not mistaken, I think it was.
“Q. In 1913?
“A. Yes, sir, I think it was in 1913.
“Q. And you say that she was six years <nd when she came to live with you?
“A. She was going on six. She came to me in August, in the summer months, and she would be six in November of that year.
“Q. In 1913, in November, she would be six?
“A. I think so.
“Q. You are sure that she wasn’t over six?
“A. No, sir, she wasn’t.
“Q. It is a fact, then, that they told you, in August, 1913?
“A. I didn’t say positively August, but in the summer months.
“Q. They told you in the summer of 1913, when she came to you, that she was already six years old? .
“A. In her sixth year.
(Page 8).
“Q. . Going on six?
“A. When .1 inquired as to her age they said she was six years old.
“Q. Then, in November, 1913, did you count her age as being six, or seven, years old?
“A. She would have been seven. She came to me in the summer months — she would have been seven.
(Page 9).
“Q. When was the first time that you told Mr. Dawkins, or anybody else, that you knew the age of this child?
“A. I don’t know what date it was, but when Mr.

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State v. Gibbs
95 So. 716 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1923)

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2 La. App. 320, 1925 La. App. LEXIS 452, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thomas-v-william-m-cady-lumber-co-lactapp-1925.