Opinion ID: 1848381
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Intent of Employee.

Text: . . . In deciding a motion for summary judgment the court first examines the moving papers to see if the moving party has made a prima facie case for granting summary judgment. If he has, the court must then examine the opposing party's affidavits and other proof to determine whether the facts are shown which the court deems sufficient to entitle the opposing party to a trial. Hyland Hall & Co. v. Madison Gas & Electric Co. (1960), 11 Wis. 2d 238, 247, 248, 105 N. W. 2d 305. In support of the motion the appellant relies upon the following undisputed facts which are contained in its affidavit: (1) A shack had been provided for the temporary storage of materials such as those in question; (2) Transportation of supplies was provided by special company trucks deployed for such purposes; (3) Moore was to meet a friend after work and was thus anxious to leave work as quickly as possible; and (4) It was more convenient to place the supplies in his trunk than to walk to the shack. The appellant contends that these facts when applied to Restatement, 1 Agency 2d, p. 504, sec. 228 (2), present more than a prima facie case. Sec. 228 (2) states: Conduct of a servant is not within the scope of employment if it is different in kind from that authorized, far beyond the authorized time or space limits, or too  little actuated by a purpose to serve the master. (Emphasis supplied.) Relying upon Strack v. Strack (1961), 12 Wis. 2d 537, 107 N. W. 2d 632, it would have this court hold as a matter of law that Moore was acting solely for his own convenience and was therefore not acting within the scope of his employment. To determine a question as a matter of law, the facts or reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom must lead only to one conclusion as to each necessary ultimate fact. Hardscrabble Ski Area v. First Nat. Bank (1969), 42 Wis. 2d 334, 166 N. W. 2d 191. The respondents correctly distinguish the Strack Case, supra , by indicating that there the employee's purpose and intent were not controverted. An examination of the affidavits opposing the motion for summary judgment reveals the following controverting testimony of Mr. Moore: Q. Now, were you carrying this dry-wall equipment and the powder dry wall back to the Charles Maier shop for their benefit? A. Well, yes. . . . Q. And why did you retain the bucket, the sponge, and the partial bag of dry wall? . . . A. Well, it was only a partial bag of dry wall, and I figured I could use that at another job some place. It was quicker for me. It would just get thrown around in the hallway there and get wasted. It was quicker for me to put that stuff in my car than it would be to walk way over to the shanty and put it into the shanty, that's all. . . . Q. Now, it was your intention to drive that material to your employer? A. Yes, sir. (Emphasis supplied.) Restatement, 1 Agency 2d, p. 523, sec. 236, states: Conduct may be within the scope of employment, although done in part to serve the purposes of the servant or of a third person.  Relying on this principle the respondents contend that Moore may have been actuated at least in part by a purpose to serve his employer and that a question of fact is presented for the trier of fact. If more than one conclusion can in fact be drawn as to Moore's intent, the determination was for the trier of fact, and the denial of the motion for summary judgment was proper. The trial court determined that an issue of fact was presented: . . . While there is other testimony in the adverse examination of Thomas J. Moore that would suggest that his placing the equipment of the Charles Maier & Son Company in his car was merely incidental to the purpose of his trip in which he was involved in the collision, nevertheless, the conflict in the testimony raises an issue of fact as to whether Thomas J. Moore was acting within the scope of his employment at the time of the collision.