194 Wis. 489 | Wis. | 1928
The following opinion was filed November 8, 1927:
The sole question presented here is whether or not there is evidence sufficient to sustain the finding of the Industrial Commission that the deceased employees were at the time they met their death performing services growing out of and incidental to their employment. Workmen’s Compensation Act, sub. (2), sec. 102.03.
It is undisputed that if they were not performing service growing out of and incidental to their employment the master is not liable under the workmen’s compensation act. Radtke Bros. & Korsch Co. v. Rutzinski, 174 Wis. 212, 183 N. W. 168; Hoenig v. Industrial Comm. 159 Wis. 646, 150 N. W. 996. It is equally well established that the findings of the Industrial Commission must be supported by evidence and cannot be sustained if they are based upon mere conjecture. Wm. Esser & Co. v. Industrial Comm. 191 Wis. 473, 211
There being nothing in the evidence to show what the deceased employees were doing at the instant immediately preceding the accident, may it be inferred, nothing appearing to the contrary, they having entered upon the performance of their duties and being found at a point where they might properly be in the performance of their duties, that they continued in the discharge of their duties? It is certainly just as reasonable to suppose that one of the men may have fallen into the water and the other taken the automobile to
It is considered that when it is established that employees have entered upon the performance of their duties and are found at a place where they might properly be in the discharge of those duties, nothing appearing to the contrary, the presumption of continuity obtains, and the evidentiary facts support the inference that at the time of the accident the employees were performing a service for the employer growing out of and incidental to their employment. Ellis v. State, 138 Wis. 513, 119 N. W. 1110; Heileman B. Co. v. Industrial Comm. 161 Wis. 46, 152 N. W. 446; Interlake P. & P. Co. v. Industrial Comm. 186 Wis. 228, 202 N. W. 175.
The circumstance most strongly relied upon to repel this presumption is the fact that the deceased employees were not accustomed to use the automobile in the discharge of their duties and that under ordinary circumstances it was not necessary for them to do so. No one knows the circumstances which induced one or the other or both of the deceased employees to use the automobile. It might have been properly employed in the discharge of their duties, it might have been used for some other purpose. No circumstance points significantly either way. In this situation it is considered that the presumption of the continuity of a state of things once established must prevail.
By the Court. — Judgment in each case affirmed, with costs.
A motion for a rehearing was denied, with $25 costs, on January 10, 1928.