108 Wash. 71 | Wash. | 1919
The purpose of this action was to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to he due to the negligence of the defendant. The cause was tried to the court and a jury, and resulted in a verdict in favor
The respondents are copartners operating a. mine near the town of Burke, in the state of Idaho. On the 3d day of July, 1917, the appellant, while employed in the mine, sustained the injuries on account of which he instituted this action. The action was brought in the superior court of Spokane county, in this state. There was no pleading or proof as to what the laws of Idaho were relative to accidents of this character. In the absence of such pleading and proof, it will be presumed that the laws of Idaho are the same as the laws of this state.
In this state there is a law known as the workmen’s compensation act (Rem. Code, § 6604-1 et seq.), wherein it is provided that relief to workmen for injuries occurring in extra hazardous work are withdrawn from private controversy. In section 2 (Id., § 6604-2) of the act, work in mines is specified as extra hazardous. In section 8 (Id., § 6604-8) of the act, as originally passed, there was preserved a right of action against an employer who had defaulted in any payment that he was required to make under the act to the accident fund. In 1917 (Laws of 1917, ch. 120, p. 487, § 5), the section of the original act giving a right of action against a defaulting employer was amended. In the amended section, the right of action against a defaulting employer by the injured employee was not preserved. Other means were provided by which compulsory payment could be made to the accident fund. This amendment was in full force and effect at the time the appellant’s accident occurred.
It thus appears that, had the appellant sustained the injuries for which he complains in this state, he
The judgment will be affirmed.
Holcomb, C. J., Tolman, Mackintosh, and Mitchell, JJ., concur.