Court Opinion

ID: 6437054
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-25 12:13:26.759051+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:52:25.890010
License: Public Domain

Carroll, J.
The plaintiff was employed as a watchman in his employer’s store; he also had charge of the checking room. At the employer’s request he was appointed a special police officer, and each year it was necessary for him to go to police headquarters to be sworn to fulfil the duties of his office. On the last day of March, he was notified by his superintendent that he was to report the next morning at police headquarters, Pemberton Square, Boston. He left the employer’s place of business about thirty minutes after nine o’clock on the morning of April 1, and walked toward Pemberton Square. While crossing Tremont Street, near Scollay Square, he was struck by an automobile and injured. He was awarded compensation. The insurer appealed. The question in the case is, Did the injury arise out of his employment?
In this Commonwealth in proceedings under the workman’s compensation act, to be entitled to compensation the injury must arise out of or be caused by the employment. It has been held that an injury resulting from a collision with an automobile, moving on a public street, is not an injury which under ordinary circumstances arises out of the employment; although at the time the employee is engaged in the employer’s business. It has been held that the danger of being struck by a passing automobile does not arise out of the employment, but is a danger peculiar to public travel, to which all pedestrians upon the public ways are exposed. Gardner’s Case, 247 Mass. 308. See Braley’s Case, 237 Mass. 105; Hewitt’s Case, 225 Mass. 1; Donahue’s Case, 226 Mass. 595; Whitley’s Case, post, 211; Blakely’s Case, post, 212. The same principle has been applied in all these cases and is decisive of the case at bar. Moran’s Case, 234 Mass. 566, and Cook’s Case, 243 Mass. 572, are not controlling. The case is governed by Gardner’s Case, supra.
The decree must be reversed, and a decree entered for the insurer.

So ordered.