Court Opinion

ID: 9520922
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 01:53:16.258398+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:47:14.480114
License: Public Domain

Carr, J.
This is an action for damages based on the claim that defendant was guilty of negligence in failing to perform a duty owing to plaintiff for her safety. It appears from the declaration that on January 30,1950, and for some time prior thereto, plaintiff was employed by defendant at the latter’s so-called Vernor plant in the city of Detroit, that she entered the premises through the plant gate about 6:30 in the morning, that she proceeded to the building in which she worked, and that while ascending the approach to said building she slipped, fell, and was injured. It was further averred that *494defendant failed in its duty to keep the stairway “in safe condition for its employees and particularly this plaintiff,” to provide adequate lighting, to keep the steps free from water, ice, and snow, and to provide a suitable handrail for use in ascending the stairway.
It further appears from the declaration that, following the occurrence in which she was injured, defendant made payments to plaintiff under the provisions of the workmen’s compensation act, at the rate of $24 per week from February 2, 1950, to September 7, 1950, when such payments were discontinued. Thereafter plaintiff filed application with the compensation commission for hearing and adjustment of claim. Such hearing was duly held before a deputy commissioner who determined that under the facts disclosed by the proofs plaintiff was not entitled to compensation. On appeal such finding was sustained by the commission. Thereafter application for leave to appeal to this Court was made, and on September 3, 1952, such application was denied.
Following the action above referred to,, plaintiff instituted the present suit on the theory that she was entitled to recover damages in an action of trespass on the case based on the alleged tortious conduct of the defendant. Motion to dismiss the declaration was filed by defendant, it being asserted that at the time of the injury to plaintiff she and defendant were subject to the workmen’s compensation law of the State, that exclusive jurisdiction with reference to the matters alleged in the declaration was vested in accordance with the provisions of said act, that plaintiff’s rights had been fully adjudicated, that, having selected her forum, recourse to the courts in the tort action was barred, and that submitting her claim to arbitration constituted a full release of the defendant under the provisions of CL 1948, § 416.1 (Stat Ann 1950 Rev § 17.212). *495Following a hearing, the motion was denied and, on leave granted, defendant has appealed.
In the case of Mackin v. Detroit-Timkin Axle Co., 187 Mich 8, this Court upheld the constitutionality of the workmen’s compensation law.* There the plaintiff brought an action in tort to recover damages for personal injuries suffered, as it was alleged, because of defective installation and equipment in the defendant’s plant. In bar of such action defendant pleaded the workmen’s compensation act, and at the conclusion of the proof the trial court directed a verdict in its favor. In considering the various objections urged against the validity of the statute, the Court said (p 13):
“It can be assumed without misgiving that there is no vested right in any remedy for a tort yet to happen which the Constitution protects. Except as to vested rights, the legislative power exists to change or abolish existing statutory and common-law remedies.' Common and statute laws only remain in force until altered or repealed.” ■
The Court concluded that the objections to the act based on constitutional grounds were not tenable, and that provisions thereof applicable under the facts in the case were valid. The judgment entered on the directed verdict was accordingly affirmed.
The purpose and scope of the workmen’s compensation act have been considered by this Court in many cases since the decision in the Mackin Case. In Twork v. Munising Paper Co., 275 Mich 174, the factual situation presented was analogous to that in the case at bar. There the plaintiff brought suit in the circuit court to recover damages resulting from injuries caused by the inhalation of chlorine and other dangerous gases while in the employ of *496defendant. Prior thereto he had made application for compensation under the provisions of the workmen’s compensation act. A hearing was duly had before a deputy commissioner, and an award was denied on the ground that plaintiff had not suffered an accidental injury arising out of and in the course of his employment. No appeal was taken. The proceeding under the compensation act was pleaded by defendant in its answer to the declaration in the tort case, and said case was dismissed. On appeal to this Court the order was affirmed, the Court declaring (p 179) that the compensation law “is a substitute for former rights of action and any law actions which might remain unaffected by the substitution may effectually be terminated by part 6, § 1, thereof.” The section referred to is above cited as CL 1948, §416.1 (Stat Ann 1950 Rev §17.212). It reads as follows:
■ “If the employee, or his dependents, in ease of his death, of any employer subject to the provisions of this act files any claim with, or accepts any payment from such employer, or any insurance company carrying such risks, or from the commissioner of insurance on account of personal injury, or makes any agreement, or submits any question to arbitration under this act, such action shall constitute a release to such employer of all claims or demands at law, if any, arising from such injury.”
It is interesting to note that in the Tworlc Case plaintiff argued that the employer, having denied in the proceeding before the department of labor and industry that an accidental injury had occurred,, should be held estopped to claim in the tort action in circuit court that said court was without jurisdiction in the premises. In discussing the argument it was pointed out in the opinion of this Court that plaintiff was not at liberty to follow diverse theories, that the parties having submitted themselves *497to the provisions of the compensation law were not at liberty to adjudicate differences other than before the department, and that the decision of the deputy commissioner was res judicata.
A like situation was involved in Morris v. Ford Motor Company, 320 Mich 372. There the plaintiff, claiming that he had suffered an injury arising out of and in the course of his employment, sought compensation in accordance with the statute. The commission concluded that he had not sustained a personal injury within the purview of the act and declined to make an award. No review of the order entered was attempted. Thereafter action was started in the circuit court of Wayne county to recover damages on the theory of tort liability. Motion to dismiss was made, defendant asserting that plaintiff’s remedy, if any, was under the workmen’s compensation act, that he had elected his forum, and that the decision of the compensation commission was res judicata. The trial court granted the motion to dismiss and plaintiff appealed, asserting that under the facts the compensation commission was without jurisdiction because the statute was not applicable. In affirming the order of the circuit court it was pointed out in the unanimous Opinion of this Court that in the proceeding under the compensation act plaintiff alleged an injury arising out of and in the course of his employment, and that under the statute exclusive jurisdiction over the issue raised was vested in the compensation commission. It was further declared (p 374) that the filing of the claim constituted “a release of all claims at law arising from the injury.” The Court further stated that (p 375):
“Plaintiff proceeded before the compensation commission on the theory that his injury arose out of and in the course of his employment, but, now, in an action at law, proceeds on the theory that it did *498not so arise. Having adopted one theory before the compensation commission, he may not thereafter bring other proceedings based upon an inconsistent, opposite theory or claim. Mintz v. Jacob, 163 Mich 280; Donovan v. Curts, 245 Mich 348; Mertz v. Mertz, 311 Mich 46.”
In Totten v. Detroit Aluminum & Brass Corporation, 344 Mich 414, plaintiff brought an action of trespass on the case to recover damages on the ground that defendant, his employer, had breached a duty owing by it to plaintiff because of the status of the latter as an employee. Defendant moved for judgment on the pleadings, which motion was denied by the trial court. On appeal the order was reversed, the Court holding that (p 418):
“Our workmen’s compensation act taken in its entirety and read in light of the title to the act, as we construe it, bars plaintiff’s action. Plaintiff’s action is of such a nature as not now cognizable by a Michigan court of common-law jurisdiction.”
See, also, Dershowitz v. Ford Motor Company, 327 Mich 386.
The averments of plaintiff’s declaration in the case at bar clearly rest on the theory that the duty owing to her by defendant, and which she asserts was breached, arose from the employer-employee relation. Her assertion that defendant “neglected and refused to keep the stairway in safe condition for its employees and particularly this plaintiff” is significant. In accord therewith is her averment that said stairway was customarily used by the plaintiff and other employees entering the plant. No claim is made that she was on the premises of the defendant except as an incident of the relation existing between the parties. She took the position in the proceeding before the deputy commissioner, and on appeal before the workmen’s compensation *499commission, that she had sustained an injury arising out of and in the course of her employment. It may be noted further that, as appears from the records of this Court, she has sought, by motion filed May 31, 1956, a reconsideration of the order denying leave to appeal, thus, in effect, renewing her assertion that she was entitled to compensation under the provisions of the statute. Under the circumstances presented this Court declined to grant reconsideration of its order made on September 3, 1952. There can be no question, however, as to the basis of plaintiff’s claim with reference to her right to recover damages from defendant. Such claim clearly rests on the employer-employee relationship, which is asserted in the declaration in the instant case as well as in the compensation proceeding-
The principles recognized and applied in the above decisions- control the disposition of the case at bar. The trial court was in error in denying the motion to dismiss. The order from which the appeal has been taken is reversed and the case remanded with directions to set aside said order and to grant the motion to dismiss.
Dethmers, C. J., and Sharpe, Boyles, and Kelly, J J., concurred with Carr, J.

 PA 1912 (1st Ex Sess), No 10.