Case Name: JACKSONVILLE PAPER COMPANY, a corporation, v. FRED. E. THURMAN
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1944-01-07
Citations: 153 Fla. 906
Docket Number: 
Parties: JACKSONVILLE PAPER COMPANY, a corporation, v. FRED. E. THURMAN.
Judges: BUFORD, C. J., TERRELL and CHAPMAN, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Florida Reports
Volume: 153
Pages: 906–907

Head Matter:
JACKSONVILLE PAPER COMPANY, a corporation, v. FRED. E. THURMAN.
16 So. (2nd) 289
June Term, 1943
January 7, 1944
Division A
Rehearing Denied January 26, 1944
Hoffman & Robinson and Ragland, Kurz & Layton, for appellant.
Mitchell D. Price, Zaring & Florence and Hendricks & Hendricks, for appellee.

Opinion:
ADAMS, J.:
Appellant appeals from a $12,500.00 judgment by appellee for the loss of the thumb and three fingers on his right hand while employed by appellant to operate a paper cutting machine. The gist of negligence charged was failure to main tain the machine in á reasonably safe condition. Pleas of not guilty and contributory negligence were interposed. The latter went out on demurrer and the case was tried in keeping with such ruling^. .
It is claimed that the plea was good as a predicate to prove mitigation of damages. The plea was not so framed. It was filed as a plea in bar. Nevertheless it was not available in any regard inasmuch as appellant had rejected the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act and by so doing it was precluded from pleading contributory negligence. Sec. 440.06, Fla. Stat. 1941. Appellant relies on our opinion in Tampa Electric Company v. Hardy, 139 Fla. 142, 190 So. 478, however there the hazardous occupation statute (Sec. 769.01, Fla. Stat. 1941) applied whereas here it does not.
We have given careful consideration to the other questions and find them without merit and an opinion thereon would serve no useful purpose.
The judgment is affirmed.
BUFORD, C. J., TERRELL and CHAPMAN, JJ., concur.