Hickman v. Western Heating and Air Conditioning Co.
| Decision Date | 01 August 1962 |
| Docket Number | No. 3259.,3259. |
| Citation | 207 F. Supp. 832 |
| Parties | Leona HICKMAN, Administratrix of the Estate of Kavanaugh E. Hickman, Deceased v. WESTERN HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY, Inc., an Illinois Corporation, and W. S. Supply and Furnace Company, Inc., an Illinois Corporation. |
| Court | U.S. District Court — Northern District of Indiana |
James K. Whitaker, Bomberger, Wilson & Belshaw, Hammond, Ind., for plaintiff.
Spangler, Jennings, Spangler & Dougherty (William Spangler), Gary, Ind., for defendant.
Plaintiff, Administratrix of the Estate of Kavanaugh E. Hickman, deceased, has sued for the wrongful death of her husband. It is alleged that Plaintiff's decedent was employed by the Defendants, Western Heating and Air Conditioning Company, Inc., and W. S. Supply and Furnace Company, Inc., and that on July 28, 1961, while in the course of employment, Plaintiff's decedent was killed as a result of the negligent acts of the Defendants' agents and servants while unloading furnaces from a truck. It is further alleged Defendants did not insure their liability to employees or make proof to the Industrial Board of Indiana of their financial ability as required by Workmens Compensation laws, and that accordingly, Plaintiff has a claim at law against Defendants for Wrongful Death in the amount of $150,000.00.
Defendants have filed a Motion to Dismiss the action on grounds that Plaintiff's sole and exclusive remedy, even if the facts as alleged are true, is a claim for compensation before the Industrial Board of Indiana under the Workmens Compensation Act. Plaintiff contends that by virtue of the facts alleged in her Complaint that she has an election to proceed in a suit at law for Wrongful Death and is not confined to a claim for compensation before the Board.
There is no allegation that Defendants have specifically rejected the provisions of the Workmens Compensation Act, nor an allegation that Defendants have chosen to be exempt from the provisions of said Act.
The Workmens Compensation Act provides that an employer bound by the Act shall be liable to any employee and his dependents for personal injury or death by accident arising out of, and in the course of, employment only to the extent and manner specified in the Act. Burns Ann.St. § 40-1205 (1962-Cum. Supp.). The rights and remedies granted to an employee subject to the Act on account of personal injury or death by accident are sole and exclusive of all other rights and remedies against the employer. Burns Ann.St. § 40-1206 (1962-Cum.Supp.). In other words, if an employer is subject to, and bound by, the Act, an employee may seek recourse for injuries arising out of and in the course of employment only by proceeding before the Industrial Board of Indiana as prescribed by the Act. The Act specifically abolishes common law actions against an employer subject to Its provisions.
With certain exceptions not relevant here, employers and employees may be exempted from the operation of the compensation provisions of this Act by complying with statutory notice of exemption. Burns Ann.St. § 40-1203 (1952 Repl.). But, an employer or employee within the application of the Act who does not give notice of exemption as provided for is conclusively presumed to have accepted it. Burns Ann.St. § 40-1202 (1962-Cum.Supp.); Seaton v. United States Rubber Co., 223 Ind. 404, 61 N.E.2d 177 (1945); Pearson v. Rogers Galvanizing Co., 115 Ind.App. 426, 59 N.E.2d 364 (1945).
Plaintiff argues that failure to comply with § 40-1205, (insuring their liability to employees or making proof to the Industrial Board of Indiana of their financial ability), renders Defendants amenable to suit at law for wrongful death. She contends that such failure to comply does not bind either plaintiff or defendant under the Act and gives her an election to proceed in this Court.
Legislative action rebuts Plaintiff's argument and strongly indicates that failure to comply with financial proof requirements under § 40-1205 is not tantamount to exemption and rejection of coverage by the Act. Prior to 1937, Burns Ann.St. § 40-1602...
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IN RE M.M.D.
...an exemption contained in the original statute, such omission is presumed to be deliberate."); Hickman v. Western Heating and Air Conditioning Co., 207 F. Supp. 832, 834 (N.D.Ind. 1962) ("A statutory amendment which changes the language of a prior statute indicates a legislative intention t......
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Monroe v. Sisters of Saint Francis Health Servs., Inc.
...likewise subject to the Act. Kottisv. U.S. Steel Corp., 543 F.2d 22, 24 (7th Cir.1976) (quoting Hickman v. W. Heating & Air Conditioning Co., 207 F.Supp. 832, 833 (N.D. Ind. 1962)). See also Sims v. U.S. Fid. & Guar. Co., 782 N.E.2d 345, 349—50 (Ind. 2003) (exclusivity provision bars a cour......
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Walton v. U.S. Steel Corp., Case No. 2:10-cv-188
...likewise subject to the Act. Kottis v. U.S. Steel Corp., 543 F.2d 22, 24 (7th Cir. 1976) (quoting Hickman v. W. Heating & Air Conditioning Co., 207 F.Supp. 832, 833 (N.D. Ind. 1962)). See also Sims v. U. S. Fid. & Guar. Co., 782 N.E.2d 345, 349-50 (Ind. 2003) (exclusivity provision bars a c......
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Kottis v. U.S. Steel Corp.
...courts have repeatedly held that the remedy provided by the Act is exclusive. As Judge Beamer said in Hickman v. Western Heating & Air Conditioning Co., 207 F.Supp. 832, 833 (N.D.Ind.1962), "The rights and remedies granted to an employee subject to the Act on account of personal injury or d......