Court Opinion

ID: 9852407
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:30:05.946593+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:27.582811
License: Public Domain

IRWIN, Justice
(dissenting).
In my opinion, the record conclusively shows the following facts:
(1) There was an understanding or agreement between the employer and the employees that the employer would furnish transportation from the well location in Texas, to and from the employees’ homes in Laverne, Oklahoma.
(2) As a general rule the employees would travel from the well location in Texas to their homes in Laverne, Oklahoma, and return, every three days in the transportation furnished by the employer.
(3) Claimant was one of the employees for whom employer furnished transportation and claimant had not been home for three days.
(4) Employer furnished claimant with transportation to his home at the end of three days and claimant sustained his injuries on the return trip to the well location.
Under the above facts, I am of the opinion that the understanding or agreement to furnish the transportation was an incident to the employment of claimant and that claimant sustained his injuries during the period of time that employer was furnishing him transportation to and from the place of employment as an incident to the employment.
Therefore, I am of the opinion that the case of R. J. Allison, Inc. v. Boling, 192 Okl. 213, 134 P.2d 980, is controlling in the instant action. In that case we held:
“The general rule that an injury suffered by an employee while on his way to *985or from his regular work does not arise ‘out of and in the course of his employment’, as that expression is used in the Workmen’s Compensation Law (85 O.S. 1941 § 11), does not apply where the employee sustains an accidental injury while going to or returning from his place of work (1) to perform a special task, outside his regular working hours, and at the request of his employer, or (2) where the employer agrees, as an incident to the employment, to transport the employee to and from his place of work.” (Emphasis mine.)
I therefore respectfully dissent to the opinion promulgated by a majority of my associates.
I am authorized to state that Mr. Chief Justice BLACKBIRD and Mr. Justice WILLIAMS concur in the views herein expressed.