{ "id": 8611377, "name": "W. H. ROWE v. THE ROWE-COWARD COMPANY, Employer, and UNITED STATES FIDELITY AND GUARANTY COMPANY, Carrier", "name_abbreviation": "Rowe v. Rowe-Coward Co.", "decision_date": "1935-09-18", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "484", "last_page": "490", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "208 N.C. 484" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "207 N. C., 785", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8628560 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/207/0785-01" ] }, { "cite": "201 N. C., 556", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626771 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/201/0556-01" ] }, { "cite": "201 N. C., 701", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8627675 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/201/0701-01" ] }, { "cite": "204 N. C., 123", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8612552 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/204/0123-01" ] }, { "cite": "207 N. C., 317", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625723 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/207/0317-01" ] }, { "cite": "206 N. C., 562", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8631660 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/206/0562-01" ] }, { "cite": "202 N. C., 388", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626606 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/202/0388-01" ] }, { "cite": "202 N. C., 256", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625743 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/202/0256-01" ] }, { "cite": "205 N. C., 786", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8631505 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/205/0786-01" ] }, { "cite": "199 N. C., 28", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8594938 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/199/0028-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 684, "char_count": 17247, "ocr_confidence": 0.449, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.3276380310378552e-07, "percentile": 0.7907190728108087 }, "sha256": "b57f09bff8453ba95c7f315fa1ff37208e985be5aefc954905eda1bead7cb1aa", "simhash": "1:9515fbbaf062d61f", "word_count": 2928 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:53:32.811961+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Stagy, C. J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case." ], "parties": [ "W. H. ROWE v. THE ROWE-COWARD COMPANY, Employer, and UNITED STATES FIDELITY AND GUARANTY COMPANY, Carrier." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "ClaeKSON, J.\nThe first question presented: \u201cDid the filing of a counterclaim in an action at law brought by a third party against the employee bar the employee from later proceeding under the Workmen\u2019s Compensation Act when the judgment on counterclaim was unfavorable to the employee?\u201d We think not, under the facts and circumstances of this case.\nN. 0. Code 1931 (Michie), sec. 8081 (r), (Public Laws 1929, ch. 120, sec. 11) in part is as follows: \u201cThe rights and remedies herein granted to an employee where be and bis employer have accepted the provisions of this chapter, respectively, to pay and accept compensation on account of personal injury or death by accident, shall exclude all other rights and remedies of such employees, his personal representative, parents, dependents, or next of kin, as against employer at common law, or otherwise, on account of such injury, loss of service, or death: Provided, however, that when such employee, his personal representative, or other person may have a right to recover damages for such injury, loss of service, or death, from any person other than such employer, he may institute an action at law against such third person or persons before an award is made under this chapter, and prosecute the same to its final determination; but either the acceptance of an award hereunder, or the procurement of a judgment in an action at law, shall be a bar to proceeding further with the alternate remedy,\u201d etc.\nIt was admitted by defendants that \u201cthe defendant employer had five or more employees, and that the U. S. F. & Gr. Company was the insurance carrier, and admitted that the plaintiff suffered an injury by accident on 29 March, 1933.\u201d\nIt will be noted that the plaintiff filed his claim for compensation with the N. C. Industrial Commission. A suit was instituted by 0. H. Humphreys against plaintiff, growing out of the automobile collision, claiming damage, and the plaintiff in this action sets up a counterclaim for damage. Humphreys recovered a judgment of $1,625 against plaintiff, and plaintiff was allowed nothing on his counterclaim. Thereafter, plaintiff pursued his remedy before the Industrial Commission.\n\u201cIt is generally conceded by all courts that the various compensation acts were intended to eliminate the fault of the workman as a basis for denying recovery.\u201d Chambers v. Oil Co., 199 N. C., 28 (33); Michaux v. Bottling Co., 205 N. C., 786 (788).\nIn the Humphrey case, being an action at law, fault would bar a recovery, as it no doubt did, as the plaintiff recovered nothing in that case.\nThe act to be construed says, \u201cbut either the acceptance of an award hereunder, or the procurement of a judgment in an action at law, shall be a bar to proceeding further with the alternate remedy.\u201d Plaintiff did not procure a judgment in the Humphreys case \u2014 an action at law.\nThe section in controversy has been heretofore considered by this Court. In Brown v. R. R., 202 N. C., 256 (264), is the following: \u201cIt is further provided in sec. 11 of ch. 120, Public Laws 1929 (N. C. Code, 1931, sec. 8081 [r]), that when \u2018such employee, his personal representative, or other person may have a right to recover damages for such injury, loss of service, or death, from any person other than such employer, he may institute an action at law against such third person or persons before an award is made under this chapter, and prosecute the same to its final determination; but either the acceptance of the award hereunder, or the procurement of a judgment in an action at law, shall be a bar to proceeding further with the alternate remedy.\u2019 This provision manifestly precludes an employee who has been awarded and paid compensation by his employer for an injury under the provisions of the North Carolina Workmen\u2019s Compensation Act, from prosecuting an action against a third person for damages for the same injury; and also precludes an employee who has recovered damages for his injury from a third person, from claiming compensation from his employer under the act.\u201d\nIn Phifer v. Berry, 202 N. C., 388 (392), we find: \u201cThe first provision restricts the employee, his personal representative, or other person, to recovery by one of the alternate remedies. If he has a right to recover damages from any person other than the employer, he may institute an action at law before an award is made, and may prosecute his suit to its final determination; but if he procures a judgment in the action at law, he is barred of his remedy for an award under the Workmen\u2019s Compensation Law, and if he accepts an award, he is barred of his remedy in the action at law. He may recover by one of the alternate remedies, but not by both. Though he may proceed concurrently against the employer and a third person, he cannot recover both compensation under the act, and damages in an action at law. Ilonnold on Workmen\u2019s Compensation, 154, sec. 41; Horsman v. Richmond, F. & P. R. Co., 151 S. E. (Va.), 158. But, as pointed out by Connor, J., in Brown v. R. R., ante, 256, 264, this does not affect the right of the employer or of the insurance carrier who has paid the award, to maintain an action against a third party who has wrongfully caused the injury for which compensation was given.\u201d\nWe think the statute clearly indicates that the injured employee should be compensated either by an award under the provisions of the act, \"or the procurement of a judgment in an action at law.\u201d The acts of this nature are usually liberally construed so that injured employees are compensated, and technicalities and refinements are not looked on with favor by the courts. The accident involved occurred on 29 March, 1933. The amendment to sec. 11, as originally written, was ratified on 12 May, 1933 (Public Laws N. 0., 1933, ch. 449). It is conceded by all parties that the rights are to be determined under the section existing prior to the amendment of 1933.\nThe second question presented: \u201cIs there competent evidence that the plaintiff was totally disabled for a period of forty-eight (48) weeks?\u201d We think so.\nThe plaintiff testified: \u201cI lost in time, 48 weeks, or 11 months.\u201d Dr. L. S. Booker testified: \u201cI would say it was about 12 weeks before he could resume the type of work which he has testified that he did. For the balance of the 12 months, I would say that he was partially disabled.\u201d\nThe Full Commission found: \u201cAccording to the uncontradicted testimony of the claimant as to it, he was wholly and totally incapacitated during a period of 48 weeks, and the Full Commission so finds. The claimant received a broken nose, a broken jaw, a broken arm, two scalp wounds requiring six stitches, the loss of four teeth, and several cuts and bruises. As, a result of these injuries, he incurred extensive hospital and medical bills.\u201d\nIt is settled in this jurisdiction that where there is any competent evidence to support findings of Industrial Commission, such findings will be sustained though reviewing court may disagree with them. Smith v. Hauser & Co., 206 N. C., 562 (563).\nIn Morgan v. Cloth, Mills, 207 N. C., 317 (322), we find: \u201cIt is settled by a wealth of authorities that the Industrial Commission's findings of fact on competent evidence are conclusive.\u201d\nThe third question presented: \u201cWas the plaintiff an employee of the Eowe-Coward Construction Company within the meaning of the Compensation Act, rather than an executive officer at the time of the injury ?\u201d We think there was sufficient competent evidence for the Commission to find that plaintiff was an employee.\nThe plaintiff testified, in part: \u201cI was superintendent and secretary-treasurer of the Eowe-Coward Company. On 29 March, 1933, . . . I was secretary-treasurer of the corporation, and also general superintendent of construction. I looked after plumbing and heating myself; that is in addition to my duties as officer of the company. I classified myself as an employee of the company \u2014 I was both an officer and an employee; fixed salary. . . . On the day I was injured, I had gone to Lexington for the purpose of closing out the proposition there and making final settlement. I got final payment that day. I had been there several times during the job, before the day I was injured. At the starting of the contract, I was actually on the job about two weeks, until they got the work well under way; then I left and went back at intermittent times, once or twice a week. I have been in this business since 1904. In the way of work, I have done everything from apprenticeship up. . . . The day I was injured, I had gone to Lexington for final inspection and final settlement. We were there from 2:30 to 7:30. . . . It was both an inspection tour and a labor job. I helped carry in two radiators that day; helped carry them in and connect them. I performed manual labor in connecting the radiators.\u201d\nFrom the evidence in this case, Commissioner Dorsett found that the claimant, at the time of his accidental injury, had not been off on a mission of a purely executive nature, but at the time was doing the work of an ordinary laborer or employee. This finding of fact was sustained and approved by the Full Commission.\nIn Hunter v. Auto Co., 204 N. C., 123 (125), it is said: \u201cThe boundary line between employee and executive in compensation cases was sketched, by implication at least, in the case of Hodges v. Mortgage Co., 201 N. C., 701. The Court said: 'The majority of the decided cases adhere to what may be called the dual capacity doctrine; that is to say, that executive officers of a corporation will not be denied compensation merely because they are executive officers if, as a matter of fact, at the time of the injury they are engaged in performing manual labor or the ordinary duties of a workman. Hence, one of the fundamental tests of the right to compensation is not the title of the injured person, but the nature and quality of the act he is performing at the time of the injury/\u201d .\n\u00a5e think the evidence sufficient for the Industrial Commission to base the finding of fact that the plaintiff was an employee. \u201cThe findings of fact of a member of the Industrial Commission in a hearing before him under the Workmen\u2019s Compensation Act, approved by the Full Commission upon appeal, is conclusive upon the courts when supported by any sufficient evidence.\u201d Southern v. Cotton Mills, 200 N. C., at p. 165; West v. East Coast Fertilizer Co., 201 N. C., 556 (558); Morgan v. Cloth Mills, supra; Holmes v. Brown, 207 N. C., 785 (786).\nFor the reasons given, the judgment of the court below is\nAffirmed.\nStagy, C. J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.", "type": "majority", "author": "ClaeKSON, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Guthrie & Guthrie and E. G. Bryson for plaintiff.", "Thomas A. Banks for defendants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "W. H. ROWE v. THE ROWE-COWARD COMPANY, Employer, and UNITED STATES FIDELITY AND GUARANTY COMPANY, Carrier.\n(Filed 18 September, 1935.)\n1. Master and Servant F a \u2014 Where employee does not obtain judgment on his counterclaim in action by third person, he may proceed under the act.\nClaimant filed proceedings for compensation before the Industrial Commission, and pending an award, filed a counterclaim in a suit at law instituted against him by a third person, which suit involved the same accident resulting in the injuries for which he sought compensation. Claimant recovered nothing on his counterclaim, but judgment was rendered in favor of the third person in the suit at law. Held: Claimant was not barred by filing the counterclaim from thereafter prosecuting his claim before the Industrial Commission, since claimant recovered no judgment on the counterclaim, and the intent of the statute, N. C. Code, 8081 (r), being that an injured employee should be compensated either by an award or by the \u201cprocurement of a judgment in an action at law,\u201d and the rights of the parties being determined by the act prior to its amendment by eh. 449, Public Laws of 1933, the accident having occurred prior to the effective date of the amendment.\n3. Same\u2014\nThe Compensation Act will be liberally construed to afford employees compensation for injuries sustained by them, and technicalities and refinements are not looked on with favor by the courts.\n3. Master and. Servant F h\u2014\nIn this case held,: There was sufficient competent evidence to sustain the Industrial Commission\u2019s finding that claimant was totally disabled for a period of forty-eight weeks.\n4. Master and Servant F i\u2014\nThe findings of fact by the Industrial Commission will be sustained on appeal when they are supported by any competent evidence.\n5. Master and Servant F a \u2014 Evidence held sufficient to support finding that claimant, at time of injury, was an employee and not an executive.\nThe evidence tended to show that claimant, the secretary-treasurer of defendant employer, went to another city to inspect a job which defendant employer was completing, that claimant did manual labor on the job in installing radiators, and that claimant was injured in an automobile accident occurring while he was returning home from the job. The Industrial Commission affirmed the finding of the hearing Commissioner that claimant, at the time of his accidental injury, had not been off on a mission of a purely executive nature, but at the time was doing the work of an ordinary laborer or employee, and awarded compensation. Held; The evidence was sufficient to support the Commission\u2019s finding that claimant, at the time of the injury, was an employee, which finding is conclusive upon the courts upon appeal.\nStact, C. J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.\nAppeal by defendants from Devin, J., at February Term, 1935, of Dubham.\nNo error.\nTbis was a claim under the Workmen\u2019s Compensation Act of North Carolina, in which the claimant sought to recover compensation for injuries which he alleges were sustained by him in the course of his employment.\nThe agreed facts are as follows: On 29 March, 1933, about 11 P. M., the claimant, while returning to his home in Durham from Lexington, North Carolina, where he had been on business for his company, received injuries when the car which he was driving collided with an automobile being driven by one C. H. Humphreys.\nOn 13 July, 1933, the claimant, through his counsel, Guthrie & Guthrie, filed claim for compensation, etc., and request for hearing with the North Carolina Industrial Commission; and pursuant to which a hearing was set by the Commission for 5 September, 1933, and all parties duly notified.\nOn 25 August, 1933, the claimant addressed a letter to the North Carolina Industrial Commission stating, among other things, the following : \u201cI understand the hearing has been set for 5 September. For the present, I do not desire to press this claim, and therefore, withdraw it until further notice to you if I shall conclude later on to renew my claim before your Commission. I have a suit pending in Durham Superior Court against Mr. Humphreys which I shall press, and I do not desire, unless you are otherwise notified, to press my claim before the Commission.\u201d\n0. H. Humphreys had brought suit against the claimant in the Superior Court of Durham County. On 22 May, 1933, the claimant filed answer to this suit, and set up a counterclaim for the sum of $15,000, which was $5,000 in excess of his insurance liability, for damages sustained by him. as the direct and proximate result of the alleged careless, reckless, and negligent acts of the said C. H. Humphreys causing the collision.\nThe case came on for hearing before the Superior Court of Durham County at the April Term, 1934. The claimant being represented by Fuller, Reade & Fuller, counsel for the Insurance Company, which carried liability on the claimant\u2019s car; and Guthrie & Guthrie, special counsel employed by the claimant himself. Upon issues properly submitted to the jury, an adverse judgment was entered against the claimant, allowing him nothing on his counterclaim and awarding damages in favor of Humphreys against the claimant in the sum of $1,625.\nThereafter, on 17 July, 1934, the claimant addressed a letter to the North Carolina Industrial Commission, referring to his previous-correspondence and stating the following: \u201cThe suit in question has been tried in the Superior Court and I did not recover against Mr. Humph-reys, and have received no compensation for my injuries by virtue of the suit, and I desire please to now proceed with the prosecution of my claim before the Commission.\u201d\nPursuant to his request, notices were sent out by the Commission to parties interested, to the effect that the case had been set for hearing in Durham on 4 September, 1934, on which date the case duly came on for hearing before Commissioner Dorsett. Commissioner Dorsett denied compensation and dismissed the case. The claimant appealed from the award of the Commissioner Dorsett, to the Full Commission, and, upon review, the Full Commission reversed and set aside the award of Commissioner Dorsett, and directed the payment of compensation. Whereupon the defendants appealed to the Superior Court of Durham County.\nThe case was duly heard upon the record before his Honor, W. A. Devin, who- approved and confirmed the award of the Full Commission; thereupon, the defendants excepted, assigned error, and appealed to the Supreme Court.\nGuthrie & Guthrie and E. G. Bryson for plaintiff.\nThomas A. Banks for defendants." }, "file_name": "0484-01", "first_page_order": 550, "last_page_order": 556 }