Court Opinion

ID: 9744115
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:53:56.921101+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:46.786897
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion
Prime, J.
— The majority opinion in this case is one in which I have great difficulty finding any ground of agreement. It offends my sense of justice and I cannot concur.
These appellants were the wife and children of a man who was killed in performing work which he did every day of his life on his job. This consisted of testing an automobile for a potential customer of the firm for which he worked.
The fact that he was on his way home when the accident occurred should have no bearing on the case. I am sure that the deceased spent a great deal of his time road testing customer’s cars looking for various mechanical flaws at odd hours.
In my opinion the fact that he was in a tavern when the person asked him to test his car should have no bearing on the case. To bring this up is prejudicial and immaterial to the case. This man could have been at home drinking a beer or a glass of milk when the owner of the car asked him to road test it. Would this have been different than the existing circumstances?
This appeal is simply a case of determining the age old question of “when is an occurrence in the course of employment.”
*678This claimant was dressed in his work uniform as assistant service manager at the time. What is more natural than to respond to a request for service when asked? This man was not an ordinary workman in a factory. He was a service manager. It is safe to say that he received many calls for service away from the garage. To say that he was completely off the job the minute he left the garage is the wrong application of the law in my opoinion.
I wish to point out that the hearing member who heard the testimony in this case held in favor of the claimant.
The books are replete with cases which always resolve questionable or doubtful cases in favor of the employee. The law should be applied in a broad-gauged and enlightened manner.
The majority opinion does just the opposite here.
Therefore I cannot concur with such a decision and I wish to register my dissent.
Note. — Reported in 225 N. E. 2d 854.