Opinion ID: 1752811
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: Orrin H. Bush, an attorney specializing in probate and estate planning, was a partner with defendant law firm Parmenter, Forsythe, Rude & Dethmers. On Tuesday, October 5, 1971, Bush left his office in Muskegon to attend a trust and investment seminar in Grand Rapids, some 40 miles away. The seminar, offered by Old Kent Bank, lasted from approximately 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., when the meeting adjourned to an adjoining room for drinks and light snacks provided to the participants by the bank. Bush remained for the cocktail hour, having an estimated two drinks. He left the seminar about 6 p.m. and drove back to Muskegon. The whereabouts of Bush for the next two hours is unknown. [1] At 8:15 p.m., he visited Tony's Club, a restaurant-cocktail lounge in Muskegon Heights, [2] looking for two or three fellows. Tony Lakos, the owner of the club, noted that Bush did not have anything to drink at his place, nor did the attorney appear to be intoxicated. Bush left Tony's Club immediately after learning that his friends had gone across the street to a nightclub called the Nitehawk. Bush arrived at the Nitehawk sometime before 8:30 p.m. and remained there until the nightclub closed at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 6. During the six hours at the Nitehawk, Bush had several beers and mixed drinks, danced with two or three women and talked with several patrons. After the Nitehawk closed, Bush drove east for six or seven blocks to Alice's Restaurant, arriving between 2:30 a.m. and 2:45 a.m. He was described by witnesses there as ornery and mean. Although no one stated that Bush was staggering or had slurred speech, it was apparent that he had been drinking. Bush ordered and consumed a hamburger and a cup of coffee. In the course of the meal, Bush attempted to pick a fight with another customer and with the 14-year-old dishwasher. [3] He also annoyed a woman patron, despite her requests to be left alone. Bush also appeared to be forgetful. Upon returning to his seat after the altercation with the customer, he asked the cook for his hamburger and coffee. Despite the fact that Bush had eaten the meal only a few minutes earlier, the cook decided that it would be futile to argue with him, so she cooked a second meal without charge. Since it was apparent to the employees at Alice's that Bush was in no condition to drive, they tried to get him to take a cab home. At one point they even offered to pay his fare, but he refused. Bush left the restaurant a little after 3 a.m. Wednesday, October 6, 1971. At approximately 3:10 a.m., Bush was killed in his car three and one-half miles from Alice's Restaurant by a 12-gauge shotgun blast to the right side of his face and head. No one was ever charged with the murder, but the Muskegon Police Department's theory is that Bush was the victim of an attempted armed robbery by one or more unknown assailants. A blood test taken from decedent indicated a 0.21% level of alcohol in his blood at the time of death. In June 1974, the referee held that, although Bush's actions at the Nitehawk and Alice's constituted a deviation from his employment, the deviation had ended when Bush left Alice's and drove in the direction of his home. [4] He was finishing his business trip, the referee noted. Therefore, the death occurred during the course of employment [and] compensation is to be paid. The Workers' Compensation Appeal Board (WCAB) unanimously reversed in June 1976, holding that the deviation was of such a personal nature and for such an extended period that it terminated the business nature of the return trip home. 1976 WCABO 2962. The Court of Appeals in turn unanimously reversed the WCAB, finding that [t]he appeal board's somewhat emotional rationale fails to withstand critical analysis. Bush v Parmenter, Forsythe, Rude & Dethmers, 79 Mich App 49, 52; 261 NW2d 51 (1977). The Court held that neither the passage of time nor the nature of the deviation proximately contributed to decedent's fatal wound, id., 55, and remanded the case for a factual determination of whether Bush was returning home when he was shot. We denied leave to appeal. 404 Mich 827 (1979). On remand, the WCAB confirmed the referee's determination of five years earlier that decedent was finally on his way home when he was killed and reluctantly awarded benefits. 1979 WCABO 1356, 1362. We denied defendant's application for leave to appeal prior to decision by the Court of Appeals. 407 Mich 872 (1979). In January, 1980, the Court of Appeals denied leave to appeal in an unpublished memorandum order (Docket No. 45866). We granted leave at 409 Mich 946 (1980).