Court Opinion

ID: 9739682
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:19:27.363273+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:13.441216
License: Public Domain

GARRARD, Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. Hensler elected to pursue a claim for worker's compensation and secured a recovery thereunder.
The majority correctly recognizes that Hensler could pursue a civil remedy against his co-employee if they were both engaged in horseplay at the time of the incident. The reason is that the injury would then be deemed not to have occurred within the employment and the Act would not apply. Weldy, 616 N.E.2d at 406.
Here Hensler has already successfully asserted that the Act does apply. He cannot have it both ways. His present action is barred by the prior successful prosecution of his claim for compensation. Accordingly, the *827trial court should have dismissed his claim for lack of jurisdiction.