112 N.E. 571 | NY | 1916
This is an appeal by Saunders Brothers, the general employer, from an order of the Appellate Division, third department, affirming by a divided court an award of the workmen's compensation commission made to Rose Dale, widow, and to the children, for the death of Frank Dale. The only question in the case is whether Dale was employed by Saunders Brothers at the time of his death within the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Act. Saunders Brothers urge that he was the special employee of one Walsh and that the special employer should pay and the general employer should not. The facts are undisputed and are as follows:
On October 10, 1914, the day when Dale received the injuries resulting in his death, he resided at 26 Cornell street, Auburn, New York, and was on that date, and for several years prior thereto had been, employed as a driver of a team and wagon by Saunders Bros., who were engaged in the business of brick making at Auburn, New York. Saunders Bros. also hired out their teams for trucking purposes and furnished drivers with the teams and received therefor $5.50 a day for driver, team and wagon. Walsh owned a sand bank adjoining the brick yard of Saunders Bros., one outlet of which was through the property of Saunders Bros. On said date *62 Walsh requested of Saunders Bros. a team, wagon and driver for the purpose of having some sand delivered to Walsh's customers in the city of Auburn. Saunders Bros. sent Dale with a team and wagon. This arrangement was frequently made between Saunders Bros. and Walsh. Upon receiving from Walsh an order for a team, Saunders Bros. selected the driver to go on the work with the team. The wages of Dale were paid by Saunders Bros., namely, $2.00 per day, Saunders Bros. receiving from Walsh for the team and driver $5.50 per day. The duties of Dale were to go to the Walsh sand pit, load his wagon with sand, and deliver the sand in the city of Auburn at places designated by Walsh. Walsh had no power to discharge Dale nor any control over him except to direct where the sand should be taken. Saunders Bros. saw Dale about every two hours during the day and sometimes gave directions as to how Dale should drive. On said date while Dale was assisting in loading the sand into the wagon on Walsh's premises, a sand bank fell on him, and crushed him against the wagon, causing injuries from which he died the same day.
In negligence cases the question often arises as to the proper application of the doctrine of respondeat superior when an employee whose negligence causes an accident is at the time in the general pay and service of one and under the control and direction of another. The latter has been held liable as a special employer when it could be said that the employee was his servant at the time of the accident in a sense and degree which served to impose liability for negligence. (Higgins v. WesternUnion Telegraph Co.,
The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs.
WILLARD BARTLETT, Ch. J., COLLIN, CUDDEBACK, HOGAN and SEABURY JJ., concur; HISCOCK, J., concurs in result.
Order affirmed. *64