Matter of Schultz v. . Champion W. Mfg. Co. , 230 N.Y. 309 ( 1921 )

This appeal is from an order of the Appellate Division, third department, affirming, one of the justices dissenting, an award of the state industrial commission, made to the widow and minor children of Herman G. Schultz, deceased. The award was made upon the theory that Schultz sustained fatal injuries arising out of and in the course of his employment by the Champion Welding and Manufacturing Company. The business of this company was "welding and machine work." Schultz was the foreman of its shop and also looked after certain outside work. Shortly after five o'clock in the afternoon on the 10th of September, 1919, he left the shop to take charge of an outside job. The employer had an automobile which Schultz, at times, was permitted to use and which he did on this occasion. After he had finished his day's work he drove the car to his own home, it being left entirely to him to determine whether he would take it there or back to his employer's garage. His compensation in no way depended upon the use of the car and when he decided to take it to his own home his relation was that of a borrower. He kept the car over night and in the morning started to drive it, on a public highway, to his employer's place of business. While doing so the car collided with another car and he received injuries from which he died shortly thereafter.

His injuries did not arise out of and in the course of his employment. The risk involved in using the car to go to the place where he was employed on the occasion referred to was no more a risk of the business of the employer than it would have been had he walked. The words "arising out of and in the course of the employment" have a clear and definite meaning and relief under the statute can only be given when the injuries arise both out of and in the course of the employment. (Matter of Heitz v.Ruppert, 218 N.Y. 148; Matter of Daly v. Bates Roberts,224 N.Y. 126.) This injury did not arise out of either. It occurred while he was on the way to the place where he was employed and before the time when he was to go to work.

This court has recently held that where an employee is injured while on his way to the place where he is to render service, such injuries do not arise out of the employment and are not connected therewith. (Matter of Kowalek v. New York Consolidated R.R.Co., 229 N.Y. 489; Pierson v. Interborough Rapid TransitCo., 184 App. Div. 678; affd., 227 N.Y. 666.)

The order of the Appellate Division and the award of the state industrial commission should, therefore, be reversed, and the claim dismissed, with costs in this court and in the Appellate Division against the state industrial commission.

HISCOCK, Ch. J., HOGAN and CRANE, JJ., concur; CARDOZO, POUND and ANDREWS, JJ., dissent.

Ordered accordingly.