Court Opinion

ID: 9623750
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 06:42:41.723612+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:34.478817
License: Public Domain

BROWN, Justice,
specially concurring.
In affirming this case the majority relies principally on Baker v. Wendy’s of Montana, Inc., Wyo., 687 P.2d 885 (1984). Had I participated in that case I would have dissented.
The majority opinion in this case holds: “ * * * [The] employer of the injured or deceased employee who is contributing to the compensation fund in behalf of the worker’s account, is absolutely immune from all common-law tort remedies arising out of the injury to or death of the employee — including causes of action for intentional tort. * * *”
The majority holding is broad enough to protect an employer from civil liability even if the employer kills or orders the killing of his employee when the employee is working within the scope of his employment. Surely the architects of our worker’s compensation scheme did not intend that an employer be immune from civil liability when intentionally killing or maiming an employee. I see nothing in the legislative history of our worker’s compensation laws that suggests an intent to render an employer immune with respect to his intentional torts. I do not think the grand trade-off or compromise referred to in this case, and in the Baker case, encompassed an employer’s intentional tort. An employee certainly is not protected under all circumstances if he is injured.
Under the rationale of this case and Baker, if an employer intentionally forced an employee’s hand into a buzz saw, the employer would be immune from civil liability because of worker’s compensation. On the other hand, if an employee, intentionally, or through culpable neglect, put his hand into a buzz saw, he could not collect worker’s compensation benefits.
I, nevertheless, concur in affirming this case. I do not believe that the conduct of appellee amounted to an intentional tort. It’s conduct was negligent in the extreme, but not intentional.