Case ID: minn_137/html/0395-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Quinn, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

NELS C. LUND v. MINNEAPOLIS FIRE DEPARTMENT RELIEF ASSOCIATION.
    
    July 6, 1917.
    Nos. 20,398— (127).
    Action barred by statute oí limitations.
    A member of the Minneapolis Fire Department Relief Association made application to be placed, upon its pension roll, which application was denied. No other steps were taken for over 12 years, when this action was brought. Held, that the cause of action was barred by the statute of limitations.
    Action in the district court for Hennepin county to compel defendant to place plaintiff upon its pension rolls and. to pay him a pension. The casé was tried before Molyneaux, J., and a jury which answered in the affirmative the question: “Did the plaintiff, Neis C. Lund, while employed as. a fireman, receive injuries or disabilities which unfitted him for the duties of an active fireman at the time he ceased to be a fireman ?” The court made findings and ordered judgment that plaintiff be placed on the rolls of defendant as of March 5, 1902, as a disabled fireman and that he have judgment for arrears as a pensioner at the rate of $15 per month from that date. From an order denying its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial, defendant appealed.
    Reversed.
    
      J. A. Will, for appellant.
    
      Cary & Phelps, for respondent.
    
      
       Reported in 163 N. W. 742.
    
   Quinn, J.

This is an action to compel the defendant to place plaintiff upon its pension roll and to pay him a pension at the rate of $15 per month from March 5, 1902. The trial court made findings and ordered judgment in favor of plaintiff. From an order denying its motion for judgment notwithstanding the findings, or for a new trial, defendant appealed.

Defendant is a Minnesota corporation, its purpose being to afford relief to such active members of the Minneapolis Fire Department as become sick, injured or disabled, to provide pensions for disabled firemen, and to relieve widows and orphans of deceased members.

November 29, 1889, plaintiff became á member of the Minneapolis Fire Department and remained an active fireman therein until March 5, 1902, at which time he was discharged for cause. Plaintiff was a member of the defendant association during the time he was a member of the fire department, covering a period of a little over 12 years. March 25, 1902, he made application to be placed upon the pension roll of defendant, which was refused. No other steps were taken to enforce his right until the bringing of this action in 1915.

The by-laws of defendant provide, among other things: That firemen who, through injury or sickness, have become so disabled as to be incapacitated for the duties of active firemen, but not so as to render them incapable of performing manual labor, shall be placed on the pension roll and entitled to receive pensions from the time of their retirement at the rate of $15 per month. It is under this provision that plaintiff seeks to recover in this action.

If the plaintiff, while an active fireman, sustained injuries which incapacitated him for the duties of fireman, he was entitled to be placed on the pension roll of the association upon application. A cause of action arose in favor of plaintiff at the time of the refusal of defendant to place him upon the pension roll. This action was commenced in 1915, more than 12 years thereafter. The cause of action was barred by the statute of limitations. The defendant is entitled to judgment. It is so ordered.

Reversed.