Miller v. Ellis

• Decision Date: 06 April 1956
• Citation: 11 Terry 11,50 Del. 11,122 A.2d 314
• Parties: , 50 Del. 11 Charles R. MILLER, Plaintiff, v. Harry ELLIS, Defendant.
• Court: Delaware Superior Court

Page 314

122 A.2d 314

11 Terry 11, 50 Del. 11

Charles R. MILLER, Plaintiff, v. Harry ELLIS, Defendant.

Superior Court of Delaware, New Castle County.

April 6, 1956.

William Prickett, Wilmington, for plaintiff.

John S. Walker and Frank J. Miller, Wilmington, for defendant.

LAYTON, Judge.

On June 6, 1954, the plaintiff was employed by Petrillo Brothers, Inc., at their sand lot as a laborer. He was working in a stone hopper when he was injured by a truck, owned and operated by the defendant, which rolled backwards into the hopper crushing him against its side.

Plaintiff elected to receive compensation pursuant to 19 Del.C. § 2344. At that time, and until June 23, 1955, 19 Del.C. § 2363(b) permitted an employer (or his insurance carrier) ¹ who had paid Workmen's Compensation to an injured employee, to become subrogated to his rights. Such an employer could sue a third party for injuries to the employee provided that any judgment so obtained over and above the compensation paid out went to the employee.

On June 4, 1955, American Surety Company, the insurance carrier of the employer, commenced this action in the name of the injured employee. On June 23, 1955, Title 19, Chapter 23 (The Workmen's Compensation Act) was amended in numerous respects. Insofar as concerns the question here presented, an amendment to Title 19, § 2363, now permits an employee injured by some one other than a natural person in the same employ, ² having elected to receive compensation, to sue such third person within 260 days of the date of the accident. If the employee does not elect to bring an action, then, for the remaining period permitted by the Statute of Limitations (105 days), the employer or his insurance carrier may maintain the action. The amendment reads:

' § 2363. Third person liable for injury; right of employee to sue and seek compensation; right of employer and insurer to enforce liability; notice of action; settlement and release of claim, effect; amount of recovery; reimbursement of employer or insurer; expenses of recovery, apportionment; compensation benefits

'(a) Where the injury for which compensation is payable under this chapter was caused under circumstances creating a legal liability in some person other than a natural person in the same employ ³ or the employer to pay damages in respect thereof, the acceptance of compensation benefits or the taking of proceedings to enforce compensation payments shall not act as an election of remedies, but such injured employee or his dependents or their personal representative may also proceed to enforce the liability of such third party for damages in accordance with the provisions of this section. If the injured employee or his dependents or personal representative does not commence such action within 260 days after the occurrence of the personal injury, then the employer or its compensation carrier may, within the period of time for the commencement of actions prescribed by statute, enforce the liability of such other person in the name of that person. Not less than 30 days before the commencement of the suit by any party under this section, such party shall notify, by registered mail at their last known address, the Industrial Accident Board, the injured employee, or in the event of his death, his known dependents, or personal representative or his known next of kin, his employer and the workmen's compensation insurance carrier. Any party in interest shall have a right to join in said suit.'

Paragraphs 12 and 13 of defendant's answer are as follows:

'12. Assuming without conceding that the amendments to 19 Del.C. Sec. 2363 (Senate Bill 448, Section 21 and House Bill 310,) do not govern this action, plaintiff has elected to take compensation under Delaware Workmen's Compensation Act, 19 Del.C. Ch. 63, and therefore, is barred, under 19 Del.C. Sec. 2363 from proceeding against defendant on the claim alleged.

'13. Assuming without conceding that the amendments referred to in paragraph 12, above, govern this action and assuming without conceding that on the basis of the facts and the law defendant was a natural person in the same employ as plaintiff at the time of the accident, i. e. the employ of Petrillo Brothers, Inc., then by virtue of his election to take compensation under the Delaware Workmen's Compensation Act, plaintiff is barred from proceeding against defendant on the claim, alleged, and American Surety Company and/or Petrillo Brothers, Inc., cannot maintain the action because the remedy of subrogation against a natural person in the same employ no longer exists.'

By paragraph 12, defendant asserts that plaintiff, Miller, having elected to receive compensation, is not entitled to maintain this action. This is true but the amendment to the complaint showing that it is being maintained by employer's insurance carrier nullifies this argument.

By paragraph 13 of his answer, defendant is apparently contending that the amended Section 2363 must be given a retroactive effect. If this were done and if the status of defendant were that of 'a natural person in the same employ of the employer', then it would result that the right of subrogation granted to the employer (or insurance carrier) has been extinguished. ^{4 4} This would be so because at the time the suit was started, Section 2363 did not prohibit an action against a wrongdoer who was a 'natural person in the same employ' but to hold the amended act applicable bars the right to sue such 'natural person in the same employ.'

It is axiomatic that Courts do not favor retroactive legislation. As stated in Distefano v. Lamborn, 7 Terry 195, 83 A.2d 300, 301:

'It is further contended that subsection 5 of Sec. 2 (the amendment) renders the Act retroactive in effect, thereby including within its purview accidents happening prior, as well as subsequent to, May 27, 1949. Whether or not a statute is to be given a retroactive effect is a matter of legislative intent and Courts are extremely reluctant to arrive at such a construction unless the language of the statute permits of no doubt as to the meaning of the Legislature. In this connection Am.Jur. Vol. 50, Sec. 478 states the law to be this: 'Sec. 478. General Rules as to Interpretation.--The question whether a statute operates retrospectively, or prospectively only, is one of legislative intnet. In determining such intent, the courts have evolved a strict rule of construction against a retrospective operation, and indulge in the presumption that the legislature intended statutes, or amendments thereof, enacted by it to operate prospectively only, and not retroactively. Indeed, the general rule is that they are to be so construed, where they are susceptible of such interpretation and the intention of the legislature can be satisfied thereby, where such interpretation does not produce results which the legislature may be presumed not to have intended, and where the intention of the legislature to make the statute retroactive is not stated in express terms, or clearly, explicitly, positively, unequivocally, unmistakably and unambiguously shown by necessary implication or terms which permit no other meaning to be annexed to them, preclude all questions in regard thereto, and leave no reasonable doubt thereof. Ordinarily, an intention to give a statute a retroactive operation will not be inferred. If it is doubtful whether the statute or amendment was intended to operate retrospectively, the doubts should be resolved against such operation.' * * *'

See also Monacelli v. Grimes, 9 Terry 122, 99 A.2d 255 and Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. v. Mullen, 2 W.W.Harr. 55, 119 A. 314.

An examination of the amended Section 2363 demonstrates that the very language is that of amendment rather than repeal. Furthermore, it is clear that rights of parties are affected in several ways, viz.:

(1) Employee no longer has to elect between compensation or suit at law.

(2) No right of action now...