Case Name: Before State Industrial Commission. In the Matter of the Claim of Elizabeth Christian, for Compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Law for the Death of Her Husband, James B. Christian, v. State Conservation Commission, Employer, and State Insurance Fund, Insurance Carrier
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1920-05-05
Citations: 191 A.D. 635
Docket Number: 
Parties: Before State Industrial Commission. In the Matter of the Claim of Elizabeth Christian, for Compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Law for the Death of Her Husband, James B. Christian, v. State Conservation Commission, Employer, and State Insurance Fund, Insurance Carrier.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 191
Pages: 635–638

Head Matter:
Before State Industrial Commission. In the Matter of the Claim of Elizabeth Christian, for Compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Law for the Death of Her Husband, James B. Christian, v. State Conservation Commission, Employer, and State Insurance Fund, Insurance Carrier.
Third Department,
May 5, 1920.
Workmen's Compensation Law — death of game protector of Conservation Commission caused by accidental injury — pneumonia contracted in course of employment.
The death of a game protector of the State Conservation Commission was caused by an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment, within the meaning of the Workmen’s Compensation Law, where it appears that, while trying to remove a plug from a State boat in order to let the water out of it, he was compelled to work with his arm and shoulder under water, and as a result he contracted lobar pneumonia which together with heart toxeima caused his death.
H. T. Kellogg and Woodward, JJ., dissent, with opinion.
Certification by the State Industrial Commission to the Appellate Division, under section 23 of the Workmen’s Compensation Law (as amd. by Laws of 1917, chap. 705), of the following question: “ Was the death of James B. Christian due to accidental injuries arising out of and in the course of his employment as a game protector of the Conservation Commission of the State of New York within the provisions of chapter 67 of the Consolidated Laws, being chapter 816 of the Laws of 1913, as re-enacted and amended by chapter 41 of the Laws of 1914 and amended by chapter 316 of the Laws of 1914, as further amended by the Laws of 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1918, known as the Workmen’s Compensation Law? ”
Charles D. Newton, Attorney-General [E. C. Aiken, Deputy Attorney-General, of counsel], for the State Industrial Commission.
William M. Nicoll, Jr., for the employer and insurance carrier.

Opinion:
John M. Kellogg, P. J.:
The question is certified upon the following findings of fact: While said James B. Christian was engaged in the regular course of his employment, while fixing the State boat George D. Pratt for winter quarters and while trying to remove a plug from the bottom of the said boat in order to let water out of the boat, the said James B. Christian was compelled to work with his arm and shoulder in the water in removing the said plug, as a result of which he contracted lobar pneumonia which together with heart toxeima caused his death on December 10, 1918.
" 'The word "accident" is susceptible of and has received many definitions, varying with the connection in which it is used . As used in an indemnity policy, such as this, we are of the opinion that the word " accident " means an undesigned and unforeseen occurrence of an afflictive or-unfortunate character, resulting in bodily injury to a person other than the insured.' " (Melcher v. Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corp., 226 N. Y. 51, 56; Lewis v. Ocean Acc. & G. Corp., 224 id. 18, 20, 21; Matter of Rist v. Larkin & Sangster, 171 App. Div. 71.)
To " injure " means to harm, to inflict damage or detriment upon, to impair or deteriorate in any way; to subject to any deleterious or noxious action or influence, hurt, harm, a word of very wide application, as to injure property by misuse or neglect or injure the health by overwork or dissipation. To injure another's reputation by slander, to injure the cause of morality by bad example. (Standard Dictionary.)
The meaning of the words " accidental personal injury " used in a statute which is to be liberally construed towards an unfortunate employee would seem to follow from these authorities and bring this case within the act; that the employee met his death from the work he was doing in the course of his employment is beyond question.
Compensation has been awarded in the following cases as accidental injuries: Anthrax: Brintons, Limited, v. Turvey, (L. R. [1905] A. C. 230; 7 W. C. C. 1); Bradbury's Workmen's Compensation Law (3d ed.) 394. This case was cited in Lewis v. Ocean Acc. & G. Corp. (224 N. Y. 18, 21). (See, also, Hiers v. Hull & Co., 178 App. Div. 350.) Glanders: Hood & Sons v. Maryland Casualty Co. (206 Mass. 223; 92 N. E. Rep. 329).
Sunstrokes and heat strokes: Hernon v. Holahan (182 App. Div. 126); Campbell v. Clausen-Flanagan Brewery (183 id. 499); Ismay, Imrie & Co. v. Williamson (99 L. T. 595; 1 B. W. C. C. 232). (See Bradbury's Workmen's Compensation Law [3d ed.], 444.)
Frost bite: Phonville v. New York & Cuba Mail Steamship Co. (187 App. Div. 912; 226 N. Y. 622).
Inhalation of poisoning fumes: O'Dell v. Adirondack Electric Power Co. (181 App. Div. 910; 223 N. Y. 686).
Standing in an unnatural position with consequent lameness: Karlin v. Kamber & Co., Inc. (18 State Dept. Rep. 561; 188 App. Div. 941).
I conclude that the death resulted from an accidental injury and favor an affirmative answer.
All concur, except H. T. Kellogg, J., dissenting with an opinion, in which Woodward, J., concurs.