Mossman v. Chicago & Southern Air Lines

• Decision Date: 08 July 1941
• Citation: 153 S.W.2d 799,236 Mo.App. 282
• Parties: MELBA MAY MOSSMAN, APPELLANT, v. CHICAGO AND SOUTHERN AIRLINES, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION, AND GREAT AMERICAN INDEMNITY COMPANY, A CORPORATION, RESPONDENTS
• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals

153 S.W.2d 799

236 Mo.App. 282

MELBA MAY MOSSMAN, APPELLANT, v. CHICAGO AND SOUTHERN AIRLINES, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION, AND GREAT AMERICAN INDEMNITY COMPANY, A CORPORATION, RESPONDENTS

Court of Appeals of Missouri, St. Louis

July 8, 1941

Motion for rehearing overruled September 12, 1941.

Appeal from Circuit Court of St. Louis County.--Hon. Peter T Barrett, Judge.

AFFIRMED.

Judgment affirmed.

A. A Alexander for appellant.

(1) Sec. 3695, R. S. Mo. 1939 (Sec. 3305, R. S. Mo. 1929); Sec 3710, Subdivision (b), R. S. Mo. 1939 (Sec. 3320, R. S. Mo. 1929); Sec. 3709, R. S. Mo. 1939 (Sec. 3319, R. S. Mo. 1929); Sayles v. Kansas City Structural Steel Co. (Mo.), 128 S.W.2d 1046, 1050, et seq.; Soars v. Soars-Lovelace, Inc. (Mo.), 142 S.W.2d 866, 869; Sec. 3709, R. S. Mo. 1939 (Sec. 3319, R. S. Mo. 1929); State ex rel. Allen, supra, 1033, et seq.; Sayles v. Kansas City Structural Steel Co., supra, 1052, et seq. (2) Sayles v. Kansas City Structural Steel Co. (Mo.), 128 S.W.2d 1046, 1052-1054; State ex rel. Mills v. Allen et al. (Mo.), 128 S.W.2d 1040, 1042, 1044 and 1046. (a) Provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act are to be liberally construed and award shall not be declared inoperative or void for omissions of a technical nature. Sec. 3695, R. S. Mo. 1939 (Sec. 3305, R. S. Mo. 1929); Sec. 3709, R. S. Mo. 1939 (Sec. 3319, R. S. Mo. 1929); Sec. 3710, R. S. Mo. 1939 (Sec. 3320, R. S. Mo. 1929); Newman et al. v. Rice, Stix Dry Goods Co. (Mo.), 73 S.W.2d 264, 269 (3) Where the contract of employment is made without the State of Missouri, but the accident and injury or death for which compensation claim is made, occurred within the State of Missouri, the Compensation Act of Missouri governs. Sec. 3700, R. S. Mo. 1939 (Sec. 3310, R. S. Mo. 1929); Elsas v. Montgomery Elevator Co. (Mo.), 50 S.W.2d 130, 133; Bolin v. Swift & Co., 335 Mo. 732, 73 S.W.2d 774, 778; State ex rel. Weaver v. Missouri Workmen's Compensation Commission et al. (Mo.), 95 S.W.2d 641, 643 et seq. (4) (a) "Conflict of Laws" (J. H. Beall), Vol. 2, page 1327, paragraph 403; Rounsville v. Central R. R. Co., 87 N.J. 371, 94 App. 392; Anderson v. Jarrett Chambers Co., 210 A. D. 543, 206 N.Y.S. 458, 10 Corn L. Q. 364; Norwich Union Ins. Co. v. Wilson, 17 S.W.2d 68, 43 S.W.2d 473. (b) "After recovery in one State, suit may be brought in the other State, but in the judgment credit should be given for the amount already recovered." Jenkins v. Hogan & Sons, Inc., 177 A. D. 36, 163 N.Y.S. 707; Gilbert v. Les Lauries C. M. Co., 180 A. D. 59, 167 N.Y.S. 274; In re McLaughlin's Case, 274 Mass. 217, 174 N.E. 338; Salvation Army v. Industrial Comm., 263 N.W. 34, 219 Wis. 343, 101 A. L. R., p. 1443; Interstate Power Co. v. Industrial Commission, 203 Wis. 466, 234 N.W. 889; McKesson, Fuller, Morrison Co. v. Industrial Commission, 212 Wis. 507, 250 N.W. 396. (5) (a) Restatement of the Law--Conflict of Laws, American Law Institute, par. 403, p. 489; McLaughlin's Case, 274 Mass. 217, 174 N.E. 338, 11 B. V. L. Rev. 413, 44 Harvard L. Rev. 987, 6 Notre Dame L. R. 386; Johnson v. Carolina, C. & O. Ry. Co., 191 N.C. 75, 131 S.E. 390, 40 Harvard Law Review 130, 21 Ill. Law Rev. 184, 24 Mich. Law Rev. 852; Salvation Army v. Industrial Comm., 263 N.W. 149, 219 Wis. 343, 101 A. L. R. 1440. (b) Gieseking v. Litchfield & L. M. Ry. Co., 94 S.W.2d 375. (6) Thurman v. Fleming-Young Coal Co., 49 S.W.2d 288, 291, 292. (7) If there is not sufficient competent evidence in the record to support the Commission's finding, the appellate court will set aside such finding. Teague et al. v. Laclede-Christy Clay Products Co. et al., 52 S.W.2d 880, 882, et seq.; Sawtell v. Stern Bros., 44 S.W.2d 264; Kenser v. Ely Walker Dry Goods Co., 48 S.W.2d 167; Allison v. Eyerman Const. Co., 43 S.W.2d 1063; Adams v. Lilbourn Grain Co., 48 S.W.2d 147, 150. (8) If the Commission's award is based on an erroneous conclusion of law, as applied to the facts, it is the duty of the court to remand the cause to the Commission. Any doubt as to right of compensation should be resolved in favor of employee. Elsas v. Montgomery Elevator Co., 50 S.W.2d 130, 133; Cotter v. Valentine Coal Co., 14 S.W.2d 660; Ransdell v. International Shoe Co., 44 S.W.2d--; Keithley v. Stone & Webster Engineering Corp., 49 S.W.2d 296, 301.

Lashly, Lashly, Miller & Clifford, Clark M. Clifford and Robert G. Maysack for respondents.

(1) (a) Deceased's average annual earnings exceeded $ 3600, so that he was excluded from the act as an employee under R. S. Mo. 1939, sec. 3695 (a), (R. S. Mo. 1929, sec. 3305 (a)); R. S. Mo. 1939, sec. 3695 (a) (R. S. Mo. 1929, sec. 3305 (a)); R. S. Mo. 1939, sec. 3710 (a) (b) (R. S. Mo. 1929, sec. 3320 (a) (b)); State ex rel. Mills v. Allen, 344 Mo. 743, 128 S.W.2d 1040; Sayles v. Kansas City Structural Steel Co., 344 Mo. 1046, 128 S.W.2d 1046; Soars v. Soars-Lovelace, Inc. (Mo.), 142 S.W.2d 866. (b) There were no change of grade in Mossman's employment when his designation was changed from first pilot to reserve pilot. R. S. Mo. 1939, sec. 3710 (b) (R. S. Mo. 1929, sec. 3320 (b)); Buckley v. Elmira Coal Co. (Mo. App. 1937), 104 S.W.2d 724; Soars v. Soars-Lovelace, Inc. (Mo.), 142 S.W.2d 866; (c) R. S. Mo. 1939, sec. 3710 (d) (R. S. Mo. 1929, sec. 3320 (d)); R. S. Mo. 1939, sec. 3710 (d) (R. S. Mo. 1929, sec. 3320 (d)); Hartman v. Union Electric Co., 331 Mo. 230, 53 S.W.2d 241; Jackson v. Curtiss-Wright Airplane Co., 334 Mo. 805, 68 S.W.2d 715. (2) (a) Adams v. Continental Life Ins. Co., 340 Mo. 417, 101 S.W.2d 75, 83; Daggett v. Kansas City Structural Steel Co., 334 Mo. 207, 65 S.W.2d 1036, 1039; Beall Bros. Co. v. Industrial Commission, 341 Ill. 193, 173 N.E. 64. (b) The Industrial Commission of Illinois had jurisdiction over controversy and had right and authority to approve the compromise lump-sum settlement between the parties. Smith-Hurd's Illinois Statutes, Chapter 48, secs. 139, 142 (2); Joseph H. Weiderhoff v. Neal (Mo.), 6 F.Supp. 799; Beall Bros. Co. v. Industrial Commission, 341 Ill. 193, 173 N.E. 64. (c) Approval of lump-sum settlement by Industrial Commission of Illinois was an award and a judgment which became res adjudicata when not appealed from. 71 C. J. 941, sec. 699; Federated Metals Corp. v. Boyko, 11 N.J. M. 807, 168 A. 672; Dyer v. Industrial Commission, 364 Ill. 131, 4 N.E.2d 82; Centralia Coal Co. v. Industrial Commission, 297 Ill. 451, 130 N.E. 727; Mangani v. Hydro, 119 N.J. L. 71, 194 A. 264; Nevels v. Walbridge Aldinger Co., 278 Mich. 214, 270 N.W. 272, 274; Anderson v. Clark Equipment Co., 278 Mich. 492, 270 N.W. 761, 763. (d) The approved Illinois lump-sum settlement, being an award and judgment res adjudicata, must be given full faith and credit in Missouri. United States Constitution, Art. IV, Sec. I; 71 C. J. 1195; sec. 1100; In re Phillips, 206 A.D. 314, 200 N.Y.S. 639; Ocean Acc. & Guarantee Corp. v. Pruitt (Tex. App.), 58 S.W.2d 41; Joseph H. Weiderhoff v. Neal (Mo.), 6 F.Supp. 799. (3) Complete release signed by claimant contemporaneously with Illinois lump-sum settlement showed intention of parties that it should be in full satisfaction of claimant's rights under the laws of all states, so that claim under Missouri act is barred. Mullen v. Merchants Nat. Bank (N.H. Sup.), 184 A. 565, 566; McFarland v. Mo. P. Ry. Co., 125 Mo. 253, 28 S.W. 590; Sunlight Carbon Co. v. St. L. S. F. R. Co. (C. C. A. 8), 15 F.2d 802, 807; Miller v. Floyd, 181 Ill.App. 230, 245.

ANDERSON, J. Hughes, P. J., and McCullen, J., concur.

OPINION

ANDERSON, J.

--This is an appeal from a judgment of the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, which affirmed a final award of the Missouri Workmen's Compensation Commission, is an action brought by Melba May Mossman, widow and dependent of Russell C. Mossman, against the Chicago and Southern Air Lines, Inc., employer, and the Great American Indemnity Company, insurer, for compensation for the death of her husband, who had been accidentally killed while employed as a pilot for said air lines. The Commission found that the deceased Mossman was not an employee of the said Chicago and Southern Air Lines, Inc., within the meaning and intent of Section 3305, Revised Statutes of Missouri 1929 (now Sec. 3695, R. S. Mo. 1939), because his average annual earnings exceeded the sum of $ 3600.

At the hearing before the Referee, it was admitted that Russell C. Mossman was in the employ of the Chicago and Southern Air Lines, Inc., and met his death while in the course of his employment, on August 5, 1936, which death was caused by the falling of an airplane near Lambert Field in St. Louis County, Missouri. The employer was a major employer under the Missouri Workmen's Compensation Act, and the Great American Indemnity Company was the insurance carrier covering the employer's liability under the compensation act.

The evidence showed that deceased Mossman was first employed by the Chicago and Southern Air Lines, Inc., in June, 1935, as a pilot, under a contract of employment made in Chicago, Illinois, about June 1, 1935, between deceased and Bruce E. Braun, Vice-President in charge of operations for the Air Lines Company. Mossman went to work on June 15, 1935. There was no contract for any definite length of time of service. Mossman could quit at any time, and the employer could discharge him at any time.

Thereafter he continued to work as a pilot, until June, 1936, at which time the employer discontinued the use of Stinson planes which it had theretofore been using, and substituted Lockhead Electra planes in their place. This latter type of plane represented improved equipment, which enabled the employer to reduce its force of first pilots, and, because of the rule of seniority, Mossman was at said time demoted from first line pilot to "reserve" pilot, in which capacity he worked from June...