Case ID: wis_184/html/0281-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Rosenberry, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Hasenfus and another, Appellants, vs. Industrial Commission of Wisconsin and another, Respondents.
    
      May 10
    
    June 3, 1924.
    
    
      Workmen’s compensation: Usual course of employer’s business: Fireworks display at summer resort: Independent contractor.
    
    Where plaintiff, operating a pleasure resort, employed one D. H. to set off fireworks which were furnished by plaintiff and set off upon his premises for his benefit and under his direction, and authorized the employment of an assistant whose compensation Ws paid by plaintiff, an award under the provisions of the workmen’s compensation act against plaintiff for an injury received by such assistant was not improper, either on the ground that deceased was not in an employment which was in the usual course of the business of the plaintiff or because D. H. was an independent contractor, p. 283.
    Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Dane county: E. Ray Stevens, Circuit Judge.
    
      Affirmed.
    
    
      John Hubert, deceased, was a resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the husband of the claimant, Gertrude Hu-bert.- William Hasenfus owned and conducted a summer resort and hotel at Bay Shore Park in the village of Peshtigo, Marinette county. On July 4, 1922, John Hubert was visiting his brother, Dennis Hubert. Dennis Hubert was a member of the local fire department and was employed by William Hasenfus to- set off a quantity of fireworks on the evening of July 4, 1922. Dennis was to receive $10 for his services, and was to get whatever assistance was necessary, for which William Hasenfus was to pay the sum of $5. While engaged in setting off the fireworks a bomb exploded. John Hubert sustained injuries from which he subsequently died. A claim was filed under the workmen’s compensation' act, the Industrial Commission awarded compensation, and this action was begun in the circuit court for Dane county to review the award. From the judgment of the circuit court affirming the award the plaintiffs appeal.
    For the appellants there was a brief by Lamfrom & Tighe, attorneys, and Leon B. Lamfrom and A. J. Engelhard, of counsel, all of Milwaukee, and oral argument by Leon B. Lamfrom.
    
    For the respondent Industrial Commission there was a brief by the Attorney General and Mortimer Levitan, assistant attorney general, and oral argument by Mr. Levitan.
    
   Rosenberry, J.

Plaintiffs urged two propositions: first, that John Hubert was not in an employment which was in the usual course of the business of the plaintiff William Hasenfus; second, that Dennis Hubert was an independent contractor.

(1) Sub. (4) of sec. 2394 — 7, Stats., provides who shall be considered an employee, and excepts "any person whose employment is not in the usual course of the trade, business, profession, or occupation of his employer.” The contention of plaintiffs is that the employment in which John Hubert was engaged was not one incidental to the running of an amusement park as usually conducted, but that it was exceptional and outside of the usual methods of conducting that business, and it is argued that on no other Fourth of July within many years previous had there been a display of fireworks in this particular park. It is said that there is a' distinction between the terms “usual business” and “usual course of businessthat the latter expression is much more restricted than the former. The Industrial Commission found against the plaintiff’s contention. The plaintiff was engaged in the business of operating a pleasure resort, and in the usual course of his business he did those things which were reasonably calculated to attract patronage to his place. The employment of fireworks upon the Fourth of July for such a purpose is a usual and ordinary one, and while the employment itself was but temporary, the very nature of the plaintiff’s business was such that persons were employed temporarily for the purpose of attracting crowds and patronage to plaintiff’s resort. The usual course of his business was to provide unusual attractions and the very nature of the business required that they be of a temporary character. This case is ruled by Holmen C. Asso. v. Industrial Comm. 167 Wis. 470, 167 N. W. 808; F. C. Gross & Brothers Co. v. Industrial Comm. 167 Wis. 612, 167 N. W. 809.

(2) The deceased was employed by Dennis Hubert pursuant to the directions given by the plaintiff Hasenfus. He did not receive his compensation from Dennis but from Hasenfus, and there is no evidence which brings his case within the doctrine of Weyauwega v. Industrial Comm. 180 Wis. 168, 192 N. W. 452. What was done here, so far as the record discloses, was done under and pursuant to the direction of Hasenfiis, and Dennis Hubert was in no aspect of the case an independent contractor. The fireworks were furnished by Hasenfus, set off upon his premises, for his benefit, and under his direction.

By the Court. — Judgment-affirmed. Appellants to.pay clerk’s fees, otherwise no costs to be taxed.