200 Mich. 177 | Mich. | 1918
This action at law is brought under the “Death Act” to recover damages for the negligent killing of a workman who met his death by the falling of the walls of defendant’s plant, which had been destroyed by fire. The same accident occasioned the case of Opitz v. Hoertz, 194 Mich. 626, which came to this court on certiorari to the industrial accident board. In that case the question of liability for compensation was not disputed, the contested question being which defendant was liable. In the instant case plaintiff seeks to recover damages under a declaration counting on defendant’s negligence. At the close of the case defendant moved for a directed verdict upon three grounds, which, briefly stated, were:
(1) The parties were operating under the workmen’s compensation law and proceedings must be had under that law.
(2) Decedent’s widow and dependent had filed claim for compensation under that act, which fact barred an action at law and required that compensation be received under its provisions.
(8) The proof did not show instantaneous death.
The court directed a verdict on the first of these grounds.
We find it unnecessary to discuss the reasons given by the learned circuit judge for his action as we are clearly of opinion that defendant must prevail on the
Upon the trial defendant admitted its liability under the act and offered to pay compensation according to its provisions. We therefore have this situation presented: The dependent deliberately makes claim for compensation under the terms of the workmen’s compensation act; the employer admits liability. The act itself provides, section 1, part 6 (2 Comp. Laws 1915, § 5488) :
“If the employee, or his dependents, in case of his death, of any employer subject to the provisions of this act files any claim with, or accepts any payment from such employer, or any insurance company carrying such risks, or from the commissioner of insurance on account of personal injury, or makes any agreement, or submits any question to arbitration under this act, such action shall constitute a release to such employer of all claims or demands at law, if any, arising from such injury.”
This section makes the filing of a claim a “release” of “all claims and demands at law,” and is one of the essential features of the acf This court and other courts of last resort have so frequently commented on the purposes of this act and similar legislation in other States, that it is unnecessary to here repeat what has so often been said, further than to say, that among its purposes was the elimination of expense and delays growing out of litigation between employees and em
We repeat that we have not before us the question of a mistaken election of remedy; nor have we before us the question of an employee engaged in interstate commerce, as was the case of Waters v. Guile, 234 Fed. 532, and kindred cases, where it is held that congress, acting under the commerce clause of the Federal Constitution, has occupied the field, and the Federal employers’ liability act of April 22, 1908, affords the sole and exclusive remedy for injuries, received, a doctrine which was accepted by this court in Carey v. Railway Co., ante, 12. But the doctrine of these cases is based on the theory that congress, having legislated upon a subject committed to it, has, thereby, excluded the State from legislation on the same subject, and that, therefore, the State legislation must fail when sought to be applied to employees engaged in interstate commerce. But here we are dealing with a Michigan employer and a Michigan employee and a Michigan statute enacted within the scope of the power of the Michigan legislature. By its express terms the employer is released from liability in a suit at law by the filing of á claim for compensation under this act. The dependent of decedent having claimed compensation under the act, and the employer, defendant here, having admitted liability and offered to pay compensation under its provisions, nothing remains except to
The judgment must be affirmed.