Miller v. State Comp. Comm'r.

Decision Date05 October 1943
Docket Number(No. 9499)
Citation126 W.Va. 78
CourtWest Virginia Supreme Court
PartiesGray Miller v. State Compensation Commissioner et al.
Workmen's Compensation

A workman who, after the conclusion of his day's work, was injured upon a roadway not shown to be a plant facility, after having left his employer's plant, in the absence of a showing of a special contract provision or special circumstances, has not suffered a compensable injury.

Appeal from Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board.

Proceedings under the Workmen's Compensation Act by Gray Miller for compensation for death of Luther W. Miller, employee, opposed by the United States Coal & Coke Company, employer. From a decision of the Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board affirming an award made by the Compensation Commissioner, the employer appeals.

Reversed and remanded.

Arthur S. Dayton and Charles Love, for appellant. Patrick J. Flanagan, for appellees.

Kenna, Judge:

Gray Miller, as the partially dependent father of Luther W. Miller, was awarded compensation due to the accidental death of the latter on December 31, 1941, while employed at the No. 6 operation of United States Coal & Coke Company near Gary, McDowell County, West Virginia. The Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board affirmed the Commissioner's finding, and the employer prosecutes this appeal, contending that the proof before the Commissioner fails to establish that the death of Luther W. Miller was caused by an accident occurring in the course of and resulting from his employment.

Decedent was employed at the tipple of the No. 6 operation of the employer as what is called a "car dropper", his duties being to release the brakes on the empty coal cars above the tipple on the siding upon which the tipple stood so that they would move by gravity under the tipple. After they were loaded, they were again permitted to move by gravity farther down the siding so that the track under the tipple was cleared for more "empties". The sidetrack upon which the tipple stood extended above and below the tipple and was graded so that when the railroad placed empty cars above the tipple they could move by gravity to and, when loaded, pass the loading point, and could thereafter be held by their brakes on the siding before reaching the main line.

The relative location of the employer's plant units of its operation No. 6, as they appear from the testimony and from a sketch, not drawn to scale, by attorney for claimant, appear to be as follows: The tipple faced the railroad and siding, which run parallel to its face and quite close thereto. Immediately beyond the railroad and running parallel is a creek, and beyond that, a distance of what may be treated as a short city block is the main highway, running parallel to the tipple, the railroad and the creek. On the plat the railroad lies west of the tipple so that the creek and main road are beyond in the same direction. There is a connecting road leading to employer's No. 6 operation running east at right angles to the main road, located south of the tipple about the same distance as that between the tipple and the main road. It was on the railroad crossing over this road that Luther Miller was injured. The mine office and the bathhouse maintained for the employees evidently are located between a half to three-quarters of a mile from the railroad and the tipple upon this improved minor roadway.

The decedent lived with his father who was employed by the same employer at its No. 3 operation, the record not establishing what, if any, relationship the decedent's living quarters bore to his contract of employment, nor that his method of going to and from work was in any manner related to that contract. See in general annotations in 145 A. L. R. 1033, 97 A. L. R. 555, and other annotations there cited.

On the day of his death the decedent had, as was his custom, come to work in a Ford "pick-up truck" belonging to one of his fellow-workmen, the truck being parked near the company bathhouse between one-half and threequarters of a mile from Miller's working place at the tipple and sidetrack, and about the same distance from the crossing at which the accident occurred, both being west of the bathhouse. When Miller had finished his day's work, he walked to the bathhouse, bathed and changed, after which he met his companion with the "pick-up truck", got into it with four others and started for home. Miller and one companion rode in the body of the truck, the three others occupying the driver's seat. After they had driven west between a half and three-quarters of a mile, traveling the same roadway used...

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5 cases
  • Morris v. State Compensation Com'r, 10340
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • 30 Abril 1951
    ...that a spirit of liberality should be employed in applying the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act. Miller v. Compensation Com'r, 126 W.Va. 78, 81, 27 S.E.2d 586; Chiericozzi v. Compensation Com'r, 124 W.Va. 213, 217, 19 S.E.2d 590; Lester v. Compensation Com'r, 123 W.Va. 516, 520,......
  • Bilchak v. State Workmen's Compensation Commissioner, s. 12811
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • 1 Julio 1969
    ...or contractual requirements, is not compensable. Carper v. Workmen's Compensation Commissioner, Supra; Miller v. State Compensation Commissioner et al., 126 W.Va. 78, 27 S.E.2d 586. Certainly, if the deceased men had been killed while using the public highway or while crossing the bridge ov......
  • Maryland Paper Products Co. v. Judson, 131
    • United States
    • Court of Appeals of Maryland
    • 3 Marzo 1958
    ...or has left, the employer's premises.' Cf. Wiles v. American Oil Co., 105 Pa.Super. 282, 161 A. 467, and Miller v. State Compensation Commissioner, 126 W.Va. 78, 27 S.E.2d 586; Watson v. Grimm, 200 Md. 461, 467, 90 A.2d In Maryland several modifications of the general rule have taken place,......
  • Emmel v. State Compensation Director
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of West Virginia
    • 16 Noviembre 1965
    ......STATE COMPENSATION DIRECTOR, and Fesenmeier Brewing Co. No. 12479. Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. ...103, 106 S.E.2d 920; Miller v. State Compensation Commissioner, 126 W.Va. 78, 27 S.E.2d ......
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