Robinson v. State , 93 Conn. 49 ( 1918 )

It is not necessary to discuss the motion to correct, any further than to say that paragraph twelve of the Commissioner's finding, which states that Robinson's object in crossing the road was to converse with Palmer, is an inference of fact which is supported by the evidence. Paragraph fourteen is a conclusion of law which is decisive of the case, and the motion to correct this paragraph attempts to raise the same questions of law which are raised by the first, second and fifth assignments of error, namely, whether the court erred in holding that upon the facts found Robinson's injury did not arise in the course of his employment.

Robinson was employed to supervise and inspect the work done by the rest of the gang, and also to assist in the work. If his injury arose out of and in the course of either branch of his work, his dependent is entitled to compensation.

There is nothing in the finding to indicate how long Robinson intended to talk with Palmer. We have only the bare fact that he started to cross the road, and the fair inference from the surrounding circumstances that his object was to engage in conversation with Palmer for some length of time, however short. The finding that Robinson also performed such physical labor on the road as was in his judgment necessary, indicates that the due performance of his supervisory work did not require his continuous presence at any particular place on the roadway, and did not require his uninterrupted attention.

The burden of proof was, of course, on the claimant to show that Robinson's injury arose out of and in the course of his employment. That it arose out of his employment is not denied; and in this respect the case at bar differs from Jacquemin v. Turner SeymourMfg. Co., 92 Conn. 382, 103 A. 115, and from all the other cases cited, in which the injury did not arise from a risk incidental to the performance of the contract of employment.

The injury also happened at a place where Robinson might reasonably be, consistently with the due performance of his supervisory duties, and in this respect the case at bar differs from O'Toole's Case,229 Mass. 165, 118 N.E. 303, and from Reed v. Great Western Ry.Co., L. R. (1909) App. Cas. 31, and from the numerous other cases where the injured employee was confined by the nature of his employment to some particular place or machine, and had left that place or machine at the time of the injury.

Finally, Robinson's employment as foreman did not require his uninterrupted attention. No doubt he was expected to work on the road in the larger intervals of his supervisory employment, but he was necessarily a foreman at all times and his conduct must be measured accordingly.

Upon the findings of the Commissioner, the case turns on the question whether one employed as foreman of a repair gang on a much-traveled State highway steps outside of his employment as matter of law, because he starts to cross the road, in response to a friendly salutation, for the purpose of conversation, when there is no evidence as to how long he intended to talk, and no evidence that his starting to cross the road did interfere, or that his intended conversation would have interfered, with the due performance of his work as foreman. We think this question must be answered in the negative.

There is error, and the case is remanded with direction to set aside the judgment and to recommit the cause to the Commissioner for an award in favor of the claimant.

In this opinion the other judges concurred.