Miller Scrap Iron Co. v. Boncher

173 Wis. 257 | Wis. | 1921

Owen, J.

It is appellants’ contention that the award made by the Industrial Commission should be vacated and set aside because the prosecution of the common-law action by the administratrix of the estate of Joseph Boncher against the Miller Scrap Iron Company and Herman Miller to recover damages for his death operated as a waiver on the part of Mary Boncher of any claim for compensation against the {Miller Scrap Iron Company under the workmen’s compensation act, secs. 2394 — 25 to 2394 — 31, inclusive. Their argument in this behalf is based on the provisions of sub. 2, sec. 2394 — 25, Stats. 1919, which provides that “the commencement of an action by an employee against a third party for damages by reason of an accident covered hy secs. 2394 — 3 to 2394 — 31, inclusive, or the adjustment of any such claim, shall operate as a waiver of any claim for compensation against the employer.” It is to be observed that the express terms of this statutory provision do not provide that the commencement of an action by a personal representative of a deceased employee against a third person shall operate as a Avaiver, on the part of the personal representative, of any claim for compensation against the employer for the death of the emplee. Appellants contend that, although not so expressly stated, nevertheless the statute should be so construed m order to carry out the manifest legislative intent. Our views with reference to this will appear as we proceed.

The original action brought by the administratrix was based on secs. 13702 and 13703 of Howell’s Michigan Statutes, which provided, in effect, that whenever the death of a person shall be caused by wrongful act which would, if death had not ensued, have entitled the party injured to maintain an action therefor, the person who would have been liable if death had not ensued shall be liable to an action for damages notwithstanding the death, which shall be brought by and in the name-of the personal representatives of such deceased person. It was also provided that the amount recovered in any such action should be distributed to the persons and in the proportions provided by law in relation to the distribution of personal property left by persons dying-intestate. The money recovered in an action so authorized constitutes assets of the estate. Findlay v. C. & G. T. R. Co. 106 Mich. 700, 64 N. W. 732; Carbary v. Detroit U. Ry. 157 Mich. 683, 122 N. W. 367. The widow had no peculiar interest in the money which might have been recovered in that action. Her interest therein was no different from that of her interest in any other personal propertjr asset of the estate. Heirs, whether dependent or not, were entitled to participate in the amount recovered. The trial of that action, therefore, was entirely with the administratrix. She was subject to no direction or control except by the court which appointed her. If this cause of action constituted an asset of the estate, it was the duty of the administratrix to prosecute it if it seemed to be the beneficial thing to do from the standpoint of the estate. The widow enjoyed no power of direction or control over the action of the administratrix in this respect. If this be true, it is difficult to perceive why anything which the administratrix might have done in that action should be construed as a waiver on the part of the widow to compensation under the workmen’s compensation act.

It was the duty of the administratrix to act for the'benefit of the estate and not for the benefit of the widow. If there was a conflict between the interest of the widow and the interest of the estate, she had but one course to pursue, and that was to be faithful to the interest of the estate without regard to its effect upon the interest of the widow. Counsel for appellants seem to appreciate this legal truth, but they rely upon the fact, as asserted by them, that Mrs. Boncher had procured the appointment of the administratrix,-had induced the commencement of the common-law action, had participated in that case throughout and had controlled' the same, .and alter judgment, was obtained against Herman Miller-she had procured a reversal of such judgment, to the prejudice of the Miller Scrap Iron Company ánd the Georgia Casualty Company. Of course as a matter of law Mrs. Boncher had no control whatever over that action. The ad-ministratrix had absolute control over it, and Mrs. Boncher had no legal power or control over the administratrix.' It matters not what the moral influence of Mrs. Boncher was over the administratrix or the extent to which the "adminis-tratrix deferred to the requests, suggestions," and" "advice of Mrs. Boncher in the prosecution of "that cáse. Whatever was done by the administratrix was done upon her own responsibility, in a legal sense, and she alone can be held to an account of the manner in which she had discharged her duties towards the estate.

Compensation under the workmen’s compensation act belongs exclusivel}!- to the dependents of the deceased, — in this cáse his widow. Such compensation does not become assets of the estate, and the administrators of the estate have nothing to do with it. The liability of Herman Miller and that of the Miller Scrap Iron Company are not only distinct liabilities arising from different considerations, but they are liabilities to different parties. The liability of Herman Miller is to the estate of the deceased under the Michigan statute. The liability of the Miller Scrap Iron Company is to the widow under the Wisconsin workmen’s compensation act. [There is no logic which will justify the conclusion that the prosecution of the action by the admin-istratrix against Herman Miller for the benefit of .the estate can operate as a waiver by the widow of her right to compensation under the.Wisconsin workmen’s compensation act against the Miller Scrap Iron Company. The’language of the statute does not expressly declare a'waiver under such circumstances, and the foregoing considerations are suffi-dent reasons for us to decline to so construe it. Waiver is generally defined as the voluntary relinquishment of a known right, and it must be predicated upon the conduct of the party charged therewith. To say that Mrs. Boncher waived her right to compensation because the administratrix prosecuted the common-law action would be a misuse of the term. . The action of the administratrix cannot constitute waiver on the part of Mrs. Boncher according to the'ordinary significance of that term. If it was the legislative intent to deprive Mrs. Boncher of compensation, the legislature most signally failed to express that intent, and it would be judicial usurpation for us to supply it by construction A The equities of this case occasion no regret for' the conclusion which we feel imperative, arid if the legislative intent is otherwise than here determined, there is ample opportunity for an early amendment of this statute.

It follows that the facts pleaded before the Industrial Commission by the plaintiffs here as a defense to the application for compensation constituted no defense thereto. Such facts constituting no defense, the Industrial ■ Commission was not required to make findings with reference thereto, and its failure so to do, which plaintiffs assign as error, is wholly immaterial. It mattered not whether those facts were true or false, and the Industrial Commission properly disregarded them in arriving at its conclusions and award. '

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.