Court Opinion

ID: 9723014
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 10:00:02.495023+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:43.780598
License: Public Domain

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE CRAVEN, dissenting: I dissent. The majority refuses to acknowledge the validity of the dual capacity doctrine and in doing so erroneously ignores the plain holding of the supreme court in Laffoon v. Bell & Zoller Coal Co. (1976), 65 Ill. 2d 437, 359 N.E.2d 125. Section 5(a) of the Workmen’s Compensation Act (111. Rev. Stat. 1973, ch. 48, par. 138.5(a)) was adopted as an equitable tradeoff between employees covered by the Act who, under its provisions, no longer had to prove fault to receive compensation, and employers, whose liabilities to their employees were limited under the Act. This system has generally worked to the benefit of both parties but on occasion breaks down. It has long been held that an employee may recover from a third-party tortfeasor irrespective of his corresponding relief against his employer under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. (Kennerly v. Shell Oil Co. (1958), 13 Ill. 2d 431, 150 N.E.2d 134.) To extend fairness and equality to employees whose employers also occupy the position of such third-party tortfeasors, the dual capacity doctrine has been created. “[A]n employer normally shielded from tort liability by the exclusive remedy principle may become liable in tort to his own employee if he occupies, in addition to his capacity as employer, a second capacity that confers on him obligations independent of those imposed on him as employer.” 2A Larson, Law of Workmen’s Compensation §72.80 (1976). In one form or another, the principle that an employer cannot accept the benefits of two positions and the liabilities of only one has been recognized by different courts throughout the country. Reed v. Steamship Yaka (1963), 373 U.S. 410, 10 L. Ed. 2d 448, 83 S. Ct. 1349; Douglas v. E. & J. Gallo Winery (1977),_Cal. App. 3d_, 137 Cal. Rptr. 797; Mazurek v. Skaar (1973), 60 Wis. 2d 420, 210 N.W.2d 691; Bright v. Reynolds Metal Co. (Ky. 1973), 490 S.W.2d 474; State v. Luckie (Fla. App. 1962), 145 So.2d 239; Kelly, Workmens Compensation and Employer Suability: The Dual-Capacity Doctrine, 5 St. Mary’s L.J. 818 (1974). In Illinois, the doctrine originally found expression in Marcus v. Green (1973), 13 Ill. App. 3d 699, 300 N.E.2d 512, a case similar to the one at bar. Subsequent to that decision, several appellate courts sought to limit this holding by restricting the application of the dual capacity doctrine to the particular facts of Marcus. (See, e.g., Carey v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. (1977), 48 Ill. App. 3d 482, 363 N.E.2d 400; Dintelman v. Granite City Steel Co. (1976), 35 Ill. App. 3d 509, 341 N.E.2d 425; Kim v. Raymond (1976), 44 Ill. App. 3d 37, 358 N.E.2d 34; Rosales v. Verson Allsteel Press Co. (1976), 41 Ill. App. 3d 787, 354 N.E.2d 553; Walker v. Berkshire Foods, Inc. (1976), 41 Ill. App. 3d 595, 354 N.E.2d 626.) However, the supreme court, by its clear recognition of the dual capacity doctrine in Laffoon, breathes new life into Marcus as the rule in Illinois. Justice Kluczynski in the Laffoon opinion set forth the example of two men working on a beam, both of whom are injured. In the context of Laffoon, the writer asked whether it made sense for one of the men, working for a subcontractor who has workmen’s compensation insurance, to collect workmen’s compensation benefits from his employer and yet have a right of action against the general contractor for negligence while the second man, working for a subcontractor who did not have workmen’s compensation insurance, had to look to the general contractor for workmen’s compensation benefits and could not, because of the exclusive remedy provision, seek recompense from the general contractor for the latter’s tort liability. The same question can be asked here. The supreme court’s conclusion that to allow section 5(a) to operate in this fashion results in an “arbitrary classification” (65 Ill. 2d 437,445) and is not to be tolerated should have been reached by the majority of this court. The attempt to distinguish the holding of Laffoon ignores the lack of a difference between its facts and two hypothetical workmen who may fall from scaffolding. One, employed by a subcontractor, may collect workmen’s compensation benefits and still maintain a structural work action against the owner of the premises. The other, who is employed by the owner, is limited under section 5(a) to relief under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. That the supreme court reached its result in Laffoon on different facts does not negate the fact that in doing so they clearly adopted the dual capacity theory. I would reverse the decision of the trial court and remand with directions to reinstate the plaintiff s complaint. My view is not limited to the cause of action stated under the Structural Work Act, but would apply as well to the count alleging defendant’s common law negligence as an owner of the premises. The majority, however, has seen fit to adopt the unfortunate opinion that section 5(a) may operate to shield an employer from all liabilities to his employees no matter in what capacity he harms them. With that conclusion I cannot agree.