Overcash v. Yellow Transit Co.

• Decision Date: 02 May 1944
• Docket Number: 38865
• Parties: Nora E. Overcash v. Yellow Transit Company, a Corporation, Appellant
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

180 S.W.2d 678

352 Mo. 993

Nora E. Overcash v. Yellow Transit Company, a Corporation, Appellant

No. 38865

Supreme Court of Missouri

May 2, 1944

Rehearing Denied June 5, 1944.

Appeal from Laclede Circuit Court; Hon. W. E. Barton Judge.

Reversed and remanded (with directions).

J. B Dudley, Duke Duvall and Henry I. Eager for appellant; Michaels, Blackmar, Newkirk, Eager & Swanson of counsel.

(1) This court must first decide whether the Missouri Workmen's Compensation Commission had the jurisdiction and power to adjudicate the questions here involved, or whether it is merely a semi-judicial and administrative body; and if the latter is true, the court must direct the commission to dismiss this claim and these proceedings. State ex rel. Brewen-Clark Syrup Co. v. Commission, 320 Mo. 893, 8 S.W.2d 897; Oren v. Swift & Co., 330 Mo. 809, 51 S.W.2d 59; Liberty Mutual v. Jones, 334 Mo. 932, 130 S.W.2d 945; DeMay v. Liberty Foundry, 327 Mo. 495, 37 S.W.2d 640; Kelly v. Howard, 233 Mo.App. 474, 123 S.W.2d 584; Pfitzinger v. Shell Pipe Line Corp., 266 Mo.App. 861, 46 S.W.2d 955; Waterman v. Chicago Bridge & Iron Works, 328 Mo. 688, 41 S.W.2d 575; Leichty v. K.C. Bridge Co., 162 S.W.2d 275. (2) The Kansas Workmen's Compensation Commission had full and prior jurisdiction to make its award. Sec. 44-506, G. S. Kansas, 1935; Consolidated Realty Co. v. Richmond Hotel & Building Co., 69 S.W.2d 985; Lowe v. Copeland, 13 P.2d 522, 125 Cal.App. 315; Gypsy Oil Co. v. Escoe, 258 P. 906, 126 Okla. 3; Sturmer v. Travelers Ins. Co., 279 Ill.App. 607; Colvin v. Tomlinson, 293 S.W. 313; Gund v. Roulier, 188 N.W. 185, 108 Neb. 589; Hoffman v. Employers' Liability Assur. Corp., 146 Ore. 66, 29 P.2d 557; Clark v. Bauner Packing Co., 12 Okla.App. 87; Gale v. J. Kennard & Sons, 182 Mo.App. 498, 165 S.W. 842; National Match Co. v. Empire Storage & Ice Co., 19 S.W.2d 565; Scheer v. Trust Co. of St. Louis, 330 Mo. 149, 49 S.W.2d 135; Boillot v. Income Guaranty Co., 124 S.W.2d 608; State ex rel. Buchanan County v. Patton, 271 Mo. 554, 197 S.W. 353. (3) The Kansas award was valid, exclusive and controlling and was res adjudicata. Sec. 44-501, G.S. Kansas, 1935; Wors v. Tarlton, 95 S.W.2d 1199; Chicago, R.I. & P. Ry. v. Schendel, 270 U.S. 611; Winschel v. Stix, B. & F. Co., 77 S.W.2d 488; Pfitzinger v. Shell Pipe Line, 226 Mo.App. 861, 46 S.W.2d 955; State ex rel. Baer v. Producers Gravel Co., 341 Mo. 1106, 111 S.W.2d 521; State ex inf. Wilkerson v. Mo. Utilities, 345 Mo. 732, 137 S.W.2d 456. (4) Full faith and credit under Section 1, Article IV, Constitution of United States, requires the recognition in Missouri of the binding effect of the Kansas statutes and the Kansas proceedings to the exclusion of all others. Harbis v. Cudahy Packing Co., 241 S.W. 960; Mitchell v. Smelting & Refining Co., 202 Mo.App. 251, 215 S.W. 506; Daggett v. K.C. Structural Steel Co., 334 Mo. 207, 65 S.W.2d 1036; Warren v. American Car Co., 327 Mo. 755, 38 S.W.2d 718; Kemper v. Gluck, 327 Mo. 733, 39 S.W.2d 330; Barlow v. Shawnee Inv. Co., 229 Mo.App. 51, 48 S.W.2d 35; Adams v. Continental Life, 340 Mo. 417, 101 S.W.2d 75; Simms v. Truscon Steel Co., 343 Mo. 1216, 126 S.W.2d 204; Hartman v. Union Electric, 331 Mo. 230, 53 S.W.2d 241; Muse v. Whitney, 227 Mo.App. 640, 56 S.W.2d 848; Knaup v. Western Coal Co., 342 Mo. 210, 114 S.W.2d 969; Cox v. Missouri Pacific, 332 Mo. 991, 61 S.W.2d 962; Mangiaracino v. Laclede Steel, 347 Mo. 36, 145 S.W.2d 388; Scott v. White Eagle Oil Co., 47 F.2d 615; Sloan v. Appalachian Power Co., 27 F.Supp. 108; Tidwell v. Chattanooga Boiler Co., 43 S.W.2d 221; Biddy v. Bluebird Air Service, 30 N.E.2d 14; Bradford Electric Co. v. Clapper, 286 U.S. 145; Martinez v. Fritz, 165 A. 873; Alaska Packers Assn. v. Industrial Acc. Comm. of California, 294 U.S. 532; Pacific Employers' Ins. Co. v. Industrial Acc. Comm. of California, 306 U.S. 493; State ex rel. Weaver v. Mo. Workmen's Comp. Comm., 339 Mo. 150, 95 S.W.2d 641; Weiderhoff v. Neal, 6 F.Supp. 798; 134 A.L.R. 1472; DeGray v. Miller Bros., 106 Vt. 259, 173 A. 556; Esmar v. Haeussler, 341 Mo. 33, 106 S.W.2d 412; Hall v. Wilder Mfg. Co., 316 Mo. 812, 293 S.W. 760; Lieber v. Lieber, 239 Mo. 1, 143 S.W. 458. (5) Claimant is estopped to claim otherwise and has elected the Kansas remedy. Tidwell v. Chattanooga Boiler Co., 163 Tenn. 420, 43 S.W.2d 221; 45 S.W.2d 528; Renick v. Missouri Pacific, 95 S.W.2d 872; Canadian Pacific v. Morin, 54 F.2d 246; DeGray v. Miller Bros. Constr. Co., 173 A. 556; Biddy v. Bluebird Air Service, 30 N.E.2d 14; Wible v. Wible, 153 Kan. l.c. 434, 110 P.2d 761; Hughey v. Ware, 34 N.M. 29, 276 P. 27; Henderson Tire & Rubber Co. v. Gregory, 16 F.2d 589; Delta Realty Co. v. Hunter, 347 Mo. 1108. (6) Whether for constitutional reasons or as a matter of comity it would be and is entirely unseemly and unjust to permit a second award in Missouri. Hughey v. Ware, 276 P. 27; Minto v. Hitchins Co., 198 N.Y.S. 610; Martinez v. Fritz, 165 A. 873; DeGray v. Miller Bros., 173 A. 556; Spohn v. Industrial Comm., 32 N.E.2d 554; Biddy v. Bluebird Air Service, 374 Ill. 506, 30 N.E.2d 14; Annis v. Pilkewitz, 287 Mich. 68, 282 N.W. 905; Tidwell v. Chattanooga Boiler Co., 163 Tenn. 420, 43 S.W.2d 221; Ohio v. Chattanooga Boiler Co., 289 U.S. 439; Shout v. Gunite Concrete & Constr. Co., 41 S.W.2d 629; Harbis v. Cudahy Packing Co., 211 Mo.App. 118, 241 S.W. 960; Mitchell v. Smelting & Refining Co., 202 Mo.App. 251, 215 S.W. 506; Knaup v. Western Coal Co., 342 Mo. 310, 114 S.W.2d 969; Cox v. Missouri Pacific, 61 S.W.2d 962; Mangiaracino v. Laclede Steel, 347 Mo. 36, 145 S.W.2d 388; Interstate Power Co. Industrial Comm. of Wisconsin, 234 N.W. 889.

Charles F. Tucker, William C. Reynolds, Paul C. Sprinkle and Sprinkle & Knowles for respondent.

The record clearly discloses that there is sufficient competent evidence to sustain the award of the Missouri Compensation Commission, and the record clearly discloses that the facts found by the Commission support its award. Secs. 3708, 3732, R.S. 1939; Oren v. Swift & Co., 51 S.W.2d 59; Kelly v. Howard, 123 S.W.2d 548; Sec. 44-506, General Statutes of Kansas, 1935; Kellog v. Insurance Co., 155 S.W.2d 512; Toon v. Evans Coffee Co., 103 S.W.2d 533; Daggett v. Structural Steel Co., 65 S.W.2d 1036; Hart v. Insurance Co., 79 S.W.2d 793; Lembaugh v. Life Ins. Co., 84 S.W.2d 208; Muze v. Whitney & Son, 56 S.W.2d 848; Cole County v. Central Mo. Trust Co., 257 S.W. 774; Ill. Fuel Co. v. Railroad Co., 8 S.W.2d 834; Adams v. Continental Life Ins. Co., 101 S.W.2d 75; Barnett v. Colonial Hotel Bldg. Co., 119 S.W. 471, 137 Mo.App. 636; Peck v. International Harvester Co., 186 S.W. 574, 194 Mo.App. 128; Fields v. Equitable Life Ins. Co., 118 S.W.2d 521; Lukens v. International Life Ins. Co., 191 S.W. 418; Wastun v. Lincoln Natl. Life Ins. Co., 12 F.2d 422; Hugue-Kellogg Co. v. Canning Co., 22 F.2d 384; Lincoln Natl. Life Ins. Co. v. Hammer, 41 F.2d 12; Consolidated Flour Mills v. File, 110 F.2d 926; Secs. 3713, 3722, 3763, R.S. 1939; Sec. 44-523, General Statutes of Kansas, Annotated, 1935; Sec. 60-3105, General Statutes of Kansas, Annotated, 1935; Womach v. St. Joseph, 100 S.W. 443; Healy v. Moore, 100 S.W.2d 601; Hocken v. Allstate Ins. Co., 147 S.W.2d 182; State of Ohio v. Chattanooga Boiler Co., 289 U.S. 439, 53 S.Ct. 663; Alaska Packers Assn. v. Industrial Acc. Comm. of California, 294 U.S. 532, 55 S.Ct. 518; Pacific Employers' Ins. Co. v. Industrial Acc. Comm. of California, 306 U.S. 493, 59 S.Ct. 629; Klaxon v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 61 S.Ct. 1020; U.S. Casualty Co. v. Hoage, 77 F.2d 542; American Mut. Liability Ins. Co. v. McCaffrey, 37 F.2d 870; State ex rel. Weaver v. Mo. Workmen's Comp. Comm., 95 S.W.2d 641, 339 Mo. 150; Hungate v. Hudson, 169 S.W.2d 682; Wilson & Co. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 254 S.W.2d 266, 300 Mo. 1; Sec. 42-528, General Statutes of Kansas, 1935; Employers' Liability Ins. Co. v. Mattlock, 150 Kan. 292; Powell v. Crow, 102 S.W. 1024, 204 Mo. 481; Hocken v. Allstate Ins. Co., 147 S.W.2d 182, 235 Mo.App. 991; Shout v. Gunite Concrete & Constr. Co., 41 S.W.2d 629, 226 Mo.App. 388; McKesson-Fuller-Morrison v. Industrial Comm., 255 N.W. 396; Mingue's Case, 183 N.E. 847; McLaughlin's Case, 174 N.E. 338; Gilbert v. Mould Co., 167 N.Y.S. 274, 180 A.D. 59; Inter-State Power Co. v. Industrial Comm., of Wisconsin, 234 N.W. 889; Phillips v. Air Reduction Sales Co., 85 S.W.2d 551, 337 Mo. 587.

OPINION

Douglas, J.

Nora Overcash, widow of Charles E. Overcash who died from injuries received in an accident near Hazel Green, Missouri, while driving a truck for his employer. Yellow Transit Company, was awarded $ 10,968.60 by the Workmen's Compensation Commission. The award was affirmed by the circuit court and the transit company appeals.

The question for decision is whether a prior award by the Kansas Workmen's Compensation Commission bars recovery of a second award for the same injury from the Missouri Workmen's Compensation Commission. We rule the recovery of a second award is barred.

Charles Overcash was a transport truck driver. In the early part of 1941 he was living in Kansas City, Mo. The transit company is an Oklahoma corporation with its principal office in Oklahoma City and is a common carrier of freight by motor vehicle operating in various states including Kansas and Missouri. It maintained a division terminal and freight depot at Baxter Springs, Kansas for trucks from St. Louis, Kansas City, Dallas and Oklahoma City. In March, 1941, Overcash went to the Oklahoma City office of the transit company to apply for a job. He was directed to see Charles Stewart at Baxter Springs, Kansas. Stewart was the Superintendent of drivers and was in sole charge of employing drivers. Overcash went to Baxter Springs where he saw Stewart and filled out an...