Van Simaeys v. George R. Cook Co.

167 N.W. 925, 201 Mich. 540, 1918 Mich. LEXIS 768
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 3, 1918
DocketDocket No. 26
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 167 N.W. 925 (Van Simaeys v. George R. Cook 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
Van Simaeys v. George R. Cook Co., 167 N.W. 925, 201 Mich. 540, 1918 Mich. LEXIS 768 (Mich. 1918).

Opinion

Stone, J.

This case is before us upon certiorari to the industrial accident board, which board allowed the claim of the applicant. The applicant had been working for the respondent George R. Cook Company, with his team of horses, doing general teaming work for about five months before his injury, and had been paid [541]*541by the day. A few days prior to his injury, however, a new arrangement was made between the applicant and said respondent whereby the applicant, together with a number of other employees, agreed to haul a quantity of dirt to make a certain fill, at the rate of 65 cents, then later 75 cents per load. While so engaged applicant received injuries, which he claims arose out of and. in the course of his employment, resulting in permanent disability. The respondent, as an employer of labor, was operating under the workmen’s compensation act, and was insured by the Prudential Casualty Company. The applicant, if an employee, which is the sole question in the case, was also operating thereunder. The respondents claim that the applicant was an independent contractor. The applicant relies upon the case of Tuttle v. Lumber Co., 192 Mich. 385, as justifying the finding of the board.

The contract was oral, and its terms were testified to by the applicant and another witness. We will briefly refer to the testimony to ascertain whether or not an inference of control of manner of the work of applicant by the respondent George R. Cook Company may be gathered, which, as matter of fact, warranted the finding. The injury occurred on October 17, 1916. The applicant testified before the arbitration committee, in part, as follows:

“Q. Who were you working for?
“A. For Cook. George R. Cook.
“Q. That is the respondent in this case — George R. Cook Company?
“A. Paying is done always by Jim Cook, by his Vivn'HiPT* »
“Q. Who hired you?
“A. The foreman.
“Q. Who is the foreman?
“A. John Reaum.
“Q. Who was he foreman for?
“A. For the company, Cook, for George and Jim Cook. * * * He has got 2,000 loads .of dirt to fill [542]*542in there and we get 65 cents a load. That was on the start. Then I had that only seven days. Then raise the price to 75. * * *
“Q. Who told you where to get this dirt?
“A. The man on the street.
“Q. Who told you where to get that dirt — did anybody?
“A. There was Jim, the contractor; we got orders from him to do it; we could not do it our own way.
“Chairmcm Reaves: He asked you who told you to go and get that dirt.
“Q. Who told you? What is the name of the man that told you to go and get that dirt?
“A. Jim Cook.
“Q. Who is, Jim Cook?
C'A. That is brother from George Cook.
“Q. Who told you where to take this dirt?
“A. Jim Cook, of course I don’t know—
“Q. Now, I don’t want you to say anything — you are not supposed to do anything but answer my questions. We will find out what you don’t know later on. Who loaded this dirt into your wagon?
“A. I am loading the dirt.
“Q. You loaded it in. Who unloaded it?
“A. I unload; of course.
“Q. What work were you doing before you started hauling this dirt?
“A. Scraping. * * *
“Q. Everybody had to haul the dirt away?
“A. Yes.
“Q- What time did you go to work in the morning?
“A. Seven o’clock.
“Q- Who told you to come to work there at 7 o’clock?
“A. That was our orders. That is orders when we start at seven o’clock, to quarter of five at night.
“Q. Who told you that was your hours?
**A.* Tlx© forGinpii
“Q- On the 17th of October, 1916, just tell them what happened, how you got hurt?
“A. Well, I was loading, and the dirt was kind of hard, and I was loading and I jumped on the wagon and turned the horses around and my front wheel must have fell in a hole, and my horses got scared and began to kick, and I was turned around to go on [543]*543that place where the dirt was loose, and the horses kick and start to run, and I fall between the pole and the two horses.
“Q. What happened to you ?
“A. I got my leg broken right here (indicating). * * *
“Q. On that job what did you furnish yourself besides yourself?
“A. He hires me and my team, that is all.
“Q. He hires you and the team? •
“A. My team and the wagon, too.
“Q. That was your wagon, too?
“A. My wagon and my horses.”

On cross-examination he testified:

“Q. You went there when you wanted to, didn’t you?
“A. No.
“Q. Sometimes you had nine or ten loads a day?
“A. I usually had twelve loads a day.
“Q. Did you sometimes have nine or ten?
“A. I don’t think I had. * * *
“Q. When you had your wagon full all that was necessary for you to do was to drive away?
“A. No. I got to see that the foreman see the load.
“Q. The foremán checked off your load?
“A. Yes.
“Q. They didn’t care how many loads you took?
“A. Well, no; no, sir.
“Q. You could come on there at any time you wanted to, couldn’t you?
“A. No, sir; had to start at 7, finish at 5. * * *
“Q. When you got your wagon loaded you drew out and the foreman took a check on your load?
“A. Yes, sir.

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Bluebook (online)
167 N.W. 925, 201 Mich. 540, 1918 Mich. LEXIS 768, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/van-simaeys-v-george-r-cook-co-mich-1918.