248 N.W. 283 | Minn. | 1933
H.F. Dirks and Elmer Dirks were copartners engaged for many years in the general merchandise business in Springfield, Minnesota, under the firm name and style of H. F. Dirks Son. The Maryland Casualty Company was their insurer. Respondent Ostlie was, in a small way, engaged in the general electrical sales and service business in Springfield and operated a shop therein. His work was performed both at the shop and away from it.
In 1926 H.F. Dirks became the owner of a two-story building in Springfield, into which was moved from an adjoining building the merchandise and other property of the partnership. A monthly rental of $90 was paid by the firm to H.F. Dirks. The first floor was occupied by the partnership as a store; the second floor was used in part by it for storage purposes and also contained rooms *35 suitable for professional offices. A dentist who had been occupying these offices vacated. For some time thereafter they were used for storage. In January or February, 1931, work was started in the remodeling of these rooms into living quarters. Various craftsmen — a carpenter, plumber, painter, decorator, and an electrician (Ostlie) — were employed for that purpose. Ostlie was injured after being engaged in electric wiring therein for about two hours.
The referee found that Ostlie was not an employe of the partnership, but that he was an independent contractor, and denied compensation. On appeal to the commission, it found (one member dissenting) that Ostlie suffered an accidental injury to his person, and that said accidental injury arose out of and in the course of his employment with his employer, and awarded compensation.
We assume without deciding that Ostlie was an employe.
However, it is claimed by relators that the employment of Ostlie was casual and not in the usual course of business of his employer. To be excluded from compensation on this ground the employment must be both casual and not in the usual course of the business of the employer. 1 Mason Minn. St. 1927, § 4268; Carter v. W. J. Dyer Bro.
A person may, of course, be engaged in more than one business. The renting of this one apartment, however, cannot properly be classified as a business or occupation in and of itself. The word "business" as used in 1 Mason Minn. St. 1927, § 4268, was defined in State ex rel. Lennon v. District Court,
To hold otherwise than we have here would result in awarding compensation to an injured employe hired to do work, no matter how remote that work may be from the usual business of the employer. Such a holding would be contrary not only to the letter but to the purpose and intent of the statute. Upon the facts the employment here in question was not covered by the workmen's compensation act, and the award must be set aside. So ordered.
Reversed.