Case Name: SCROGGINS v. CORNING GLASS COMPANY
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1969-12-01
Citations: 382 Mich. 628
Docket Number: Calendar No. 10, Docket No. 52,008
Parties: SCROGGINS v. CORNING GLASS COMPANY.
Judges: Dethmers, Kelly, T. M. Kavanagh, and Adams, JJ., concurred with T. Gr. Kavanagh, J.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 382
Pages: 628–632

Head Matter:
SCROGGINS v. CORNING GLASS COMPANY.
Opinion of the Court.
1. Workmen’s Compensation — Proximate Cause — Finding of Fact —Constitutional Law — Statutes—Evidence.
Proximate causality in workmen’s compensation eases is a determination within the province of the finder of fact, and in accordance with the Constitution and statutes, when the workmen’s compensation appeal board makes a finding of faet which is supported by evidence in the record, the Supreme Court must accept the board’s finding of fact (Const 1963, art 6, §28; CL 1948, §§411.1, 412.12, 413.12).
2. Same — Finding of Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board— Evidence — Intoxication—Back Injury.
The Supreme Court must accept the finding of faet by the workmen’s compensation appeal board supported by evidence in the record that voluntary intoxication of claimant was due to job-incurred baek injury and under the circumstances did not disqualify him from benefits under the workmen’s compensation act, there being no finding by the board that the intoxication was wilful misconduct (Const 1963, art 6, § 28; CL 1948, § § 411.1, 412.12, 413.12).
3. Same — Back Injury — Intoxicating Liquor — Discharge—Finding by Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board.
Finding by workmen’s compensation appeal board that plaintiff suffered a loss of wage-earning capacity due to a coneeded job-ineurred injury to his back, which injury led to his discharge for working under the influence of intoxicating liquor, is affirmed where supported by plaintiff’s evidence, not contradicted, that he had to drink to ease the pain from the injury (Const 1963, art 6, § 28; CL 1948, § 413.12).
References for Points in I-Ieadnotes
[1-3] 58 Am Jur, Workmen’s Compensation § 530.
[4, 5] 58 Am Jur, Workmen’s Compensation § 198.
4. Same — -Disqualification for Benefits — Intoxicating Liquor— Proximate Cause.
Voluntary intoxication does not necessarily disqualify an injured employee from benefits under the workmen’s compensation act where it is found as a faet from supporting evidence that proximate causality between the injury and disability for work due to intoxication was not broken (Const 1963, art 6, § 28; CL 1948, §§411.1, 412.12, 413.12).
Dissenting Opinion.
T. E. Brennan, C. J.
5. Workmen’s Compensation — Back Injury — Intoxicating Liquor —Proximate Cause.
Claim that plaintiff’s discharge from employment, due to on-the-job intoxication, was proximately caused by 8-year-old injury to back held, patently unworthy of belief and so contrary to public policy as not to be acceptable in proceeding to recover workmen’s compensation.
Appeal from Court of Appeals, Division 3, Hol-brook, P. J., and Burns and McGregor, JJ., affirming the Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board.
Submitted June 9, 1969.
(Calendar No. 10, Docket No. 52,008.)
Decided December 1, 1969.
10 Mich App 174, affirmed.
Application by James H. Scroggins against Corning Glass Company for workmen’s compensation benefits because of a back injury arising out of and in the course of his employment. Award to plaintiff by referee. Defendant appealed to Workmen’s Compensation Appeal Board. Affirmed. Defendant appealed to the Court of Appeals. Affirmed. Defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Milton L. Zentmyer, for plaintiff.
Wilcox (& Robison, for defendant.

Opinion:
T. Gr. Kavanagh, J.
On April 25, 1955, James H. Scroggins injured his back while working for the defendant Corning Glass Works. Corning paid him compensation until he returned to work as a plant guard following corrective surgery.
Scroggins continued his work as a plant guard until December 28, 1963, at which time Corning discharged him for working while under the influence of intoxicating beverages.
He filed a claim for workmen's compensation and asserted that his injury in 1955 caused his discharge because, he testified, he had to drink to ease the pain from the injury.
The workmen's compensation appeal board affirmed his award, holding that his testimony that drink was the only way he could find to kill the pain demonstrated that the disability originated with the personal injury. The board said: "It is our firm conviction plaintiff has and continues to suffer a loss of wage-earning capacity due to a conceded job-incurred injury, which injury precipitated the problem which led to his discharge. The record shows no contrary evidence."
The Court of Appeals affirmed the award. , 10 Mich App 174.
The appellant asserts that voluntary intoxication which results in discharge breaks the causal connection between the injury and his disability for work.
We do not agree.
Proximate causality is a determination within the province of the fact finder. We are constrained by the Constitution and statute to accept the findings of fact by the workmen's compensation appeal board if supported by any evidence in the record.
Prom his argument it appears the appellant considers voluntary intoxication such wilful misconduct as will disqualify a claimant from benefits under the act.
We concede that this may often be true as a matter of fact, but, in tbe absence of administrative finding of such, fact based upon proof or permissible inference from proof, we are powerless to change the result.
We cannot rule as a matter of law in the face of testimony that the only way he could find to kill the pain was to drink that James Scroggins' intoxication amounted to wilful misconduct. If the employer could have proved otherwise he should have done so.
Affirmed. Costs to appellee.
Dethmers, Kelly, T. M. Kavanagh, and Adams, JJ., concurred with T. Gr. Kavanagh, J.
Black, J., concurred in the result.
Const 1963, art 6, § 28.
CL 1948, § 413.12 (Stat Ann 1968 Bey § 17.186).
"If the employee is injured by reason of his intentional and wilful miseonduet he shall not receive compensation under the provisions of this act." PA 1912 (1st Ex Sess), No 10, pt 2, § 2 (CL 1948, § 412.2 [Stat Ann 1968 Rev § 17.152]).
If an employee suffers a compensable injury causing continuing pain which can be relieved only by drinking to the point of intoxication or by taking incapacitating drugs, or by undergoing disabling surgery he may still receive compensation.
While an employee has the duty to treat his injury, his refusal to treat or his manner of treatment must be shown by the employer to constitute wilful misconduct to disqualify the employee under the Michigan act:
"In an action to recover damages for personal injury sustained by an employee in the course of his employment, or for death resulting from personal injuries so sustained, it shall not be a defence:
"(a) That the-employee was negligent, unless and except it shall appear that such negligence was wilful." PA 1912 (1st Ex Sess), No 10, pt 1, § 1 (CL 1948, § 411.1 [Stat Ann 1968 Rev § 17.141]).