Court Opinion

ID: 9690204
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:56:38.818552+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:54.072949
License: Public Domain

WUEST, Justice
(concurring specially).
I concur with the majority on the intentional tort issue. Jensen’s pleadings fail to meet the intent requirement of the intentional tort exception.
I concur specially on the second issue. “[EJvery person, including a minor, ... under any contract of employment ” is an employee covered by workers’ compensation. SDCL 62-1-3 (emphasis added). We must construe workers’ compensation statutes liberally to provide coverage. S.D. Med. Serv., 303 N.W.2d at 361. Construed liberally, the “any contract of employment” language of SDCL 62-1-3 should be understood to include “voidable” employment contracts entered into with minors.
With the exception of intentional torts, workers’ compensation is an employee’s exclusive remedy for injury arising out of the course of employment. SDCL 62-3-2. The vast majority of jurisdictions hold that workers’ compensation is the exclusive remedy for illegally employed minors, and therefore, such coverage bars suit for damages. See, i.e., Hill v. Moskin Stores, Inc., 52 Del. 424, 159 A.2d 299, aff'd, 53 Del. 117, 165 A.2d 447 (1960); Lockard v. St. Maries Lumber Co., 76 Idaho 506, 285 P.2d 473 (1955); Rasi v. Howard Mfg. Co., 109 Wash. 524, 187 P. 327 (1920); Bingham v. Lagoon Corp., 707 P.2d 678 (Utah 1985); Foundry Appliance Co. v. Ratliff, 113 Ohio St. 1, 148 N.E. 237 (1925); Winn-Lovett Tampa, Inc. v. Murphree, 73 So.2d 287 (Fla.1954); Carlton v. Parker Dairy Co., 367 Mich. 23, 116 N.W.2d 212 (1962); Allossery v. Employers Temporary Serv., Inc., 88 Mich.App. 496, 277 N.W.2d 340 (1979); Danek v. Meldrum Mfg. & Engineering Co., Inc., 312 Minn. 404, 252 N.W.2d 255 (1977); Balogh v. Ladanye, 59 N.J.Super. 132, 157 A.2d 350 (1960), but see Thompson v. Family Godfather, Inc., 212 NJ.Super. 270, 514 A.2d 875 (Law Div. 1986) (new statute); O’Rourke v. Long, 41 N.Y.2d 219, 359 N.E.2d 1347, 391 N.Y.S.2d 553 (1976); Lengyel v. Bohrer, 372 Pa. 531, 94 A.2d 753 (1953); Gaston v. San Ore Constr. Co., 206 Kan. 254, 477 P.2d 956 (1970). See generally 1 C Larson, Workmen’s Comp. Law § 47.52(a). Such analysis is consonant with the purpose and policy of workers’ compensation.
MILLER, C.J., and HERTZ, Circuit Court Judge, Acting as a Supreme Court Justice, join this special writing.