173 Wis. 267 | Wis. | 1921
The fundamental issue in these actions presents the inquiry, Did the Industrial Commission correctly find that the plaintiff, Porter, at the time he sustained the injury to his eye in November, 1916, was not an employee of the Wisconsin State Register Company within the contemplation of the workmen’s compensation act? • The trial court held that the undisputed facts permit of but one inference, namely, that he was an employee of the company when he suffered the injury to his eye. Sec. 2394 — 7, Stats., defines the term “employee” as used in the workmen’s compensation act: “(4) Every person in the service of another under any contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written.” This act also provides (sub. 1, sec. 2394 — 191 that:- “The findings of fact made by the commission acting within its powers shall, in the absence of fraud, be conclusive,” and that the order or award of the Commission may be reviewed by action in court in the manner prescribed in the act. Among the grounds upon which the order or award may be set aside are: “(1) That the commission acted without or in excess of its powers; . , .” “(3) That the findings of fact by the commission do not support the order
“In-the field of inferences from evidentiary facts their action is final and controlling under the authority conferred upon them by law, unless it appears that there is no reasonable basis for their conclusions under the facts and circumstances before them and thus rendering their action without or in excess of their powers.”
In passing judgment on the Commission’s award to ascertain whether or not it is supported by the evidence before them, it must be borne-in mind that there are two kinds of facts — evidentiary facts and inferential facts. The word “fact” as employed in the legal sense includes “those conclusions reached by the trier from sifting testimony, weighing-evidence, and passing on the credit of the witnesses, and it does not denote those inferences drawn by the trial court from the facts ascertained and settled by it.” 3 Words & Phrases, 2638; Ripon H. Co. v. Haas, 163 Wis, 592, 158 N. W. 330. It is well established that if there is any evidence-to support findings this' court cannot disturb the Commission’s order. ; True, as the trial court declared, the evidentiary facts before the Commission are not conflicting, but it is clear that the question presented to.the Commission was to ascertain whether or not Mr. Porter, was an employee within the -contemplation of the workmen’s compensation act. The conclusion was to be ascertained from the evidence before it. An examination of the- evidentiary facts adduced before the-Commission clearly .permitted-of-the different inferences:
We do not perceive how this in any sense constitutes a fraud in procuring the order of the Commission denying compensation. It is manifest that the allegations of fraud are barren of any facts showing that the Commission’s order was based on or procured by fraud. It is considered that the allegations of fraud are wholly insufficient and do not constitute a cause of action for relief on this ground. It must be held that the circuit court erred in reversing the award of the Industrial Commission. The action of the Wisconsin State Register Company against the Commission and the Insurance Company, in the light of the fact that Porter’s injury is not compensable, is also without merit and must be dismissed.
By the Court. — The judgment in the action of Porter v. Industrial Commission and the Insurance Company is reversed, and the cause remanded with direction to award judgment affirming the order of the Industrial Commission; and the judgment in the action of the Wisconsin State Register Company v. Industrial Commission and the Insurance Company is reversed, with direction to enter judgment dismissing the complaint.