Opinion ID: 1917872
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether Plaintiff Was Within Scope of His Employment.

Text: Tucker was employed by Electronic as an outside salesman to call on retail stores in the city of Milwaukee. He would usually commence work between 8 and 8:30 a. m. by either reporting at Electronic's place of business or making his first call on a retailer. His workday ended at about 5 p. m. He drove his own automobile and received no reimbursement for expenses in operating it. However, there was installed in the car a two-way radio owned by Electronic for demonstration purposes. Tucker's compensation consisted of a weekly drawing advance of $100 to be credited against commissions. On the day of the accident Electronic held a grand opening of its industrial department at its place of business and its retail salesmen, including Tucker, were required to be there to assist with it. Silverman, president of Electronic, testified that during the afternoon Tucker stated he was not feeling well and was going home. This is not disputed by Tucker. Tucker left and shortly thereafter the accident occurred. Silverman further testified that he went to the scene of the accident, that Tucker told him there that he had not been feeling well and was on his way home when the accident occurred and that Tucker made no statement then that he intended to deliver any merchandise that afternoon for Electronic. Tucker testified that when he left Electronic that afternoon he took with him some needles to deliver to one customer and some tubes to deliver to another and that he was on the way to make these deliveries when the accident occurred. Electronic introduced into evidence its records with respect to these two customers, which records disclosed no transactions with them on the day of the accident and no withdrawal of merchandise from stock by Tucker to make such claimed deliveries. Thus the evidence was in dispute with respect to the purpose of the trip Tucker was making at the time the accident happened. Under one view of the evidence the sole objective of the trip was to return home because he was not feeling well. Under the other version Tucker was on the way to make deliveries of merchandise for his employer. The jury by its answer No to the question of the verdict accepted the first-stated version, and there is ample evidence to sustain its finding. Therefore, there is no merit to appellant's contention that Tucker at the time of the accident was acting within the scope of his employment as a matter of law.