Walker v. White Agencies, Inc.

• Decision Date: 23 July 1993
• Citation: 641 So.2d 795
• Parties: Penny V. WALKER v. WHITE AGENCIES, INC. AV92000085.
• Court: Alabama Court of Civil Appeals

Page 795

641 So.2d 795

Penny V. WALKER v. WHITE AGENCIES, INC.

AV92000085.

Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama.

July 23, 1993.

Rehearing Denied March 18, 1994.

Certiorari Denied May 27, 1994

Alabama Supreme Court 1930921.

Hugh M. Caffey, Jr., Brewton, for appellant.

Michael Gillion and Joseph R. Sullivan of Miller, Hamilton, Snider & Odom, Mobile, for appellee.

YATES, Judge.

White Agencies, Inc., (employer) filed a "Petition for Declaratory Relief Pursuant to Alabama Workmen's Compensation Act," alleging that Penny V. Walker (employee) was injured on April 11, 1990, while driving home after completing a normal working day, and requesting that the trial court determine whether the employee's injury was compensable under the Workmen's Compensation Act. The employee responded, stating that her injuries were compensable because, she claimed, inter alia, that the employer effectively furnished her transportation and on the date of her injury, instructed her to report to work in Pensacola, Florida, and return home to Atmore, Alabama. Subsequently, the employer filed a motion for summary judgment.

The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the employer and found that, because the injuries occurred while the employee was driving home from work, the accident did not "arise out of and in the course of [the employee's] employment" and that the employee was not entitled to recover from the employer.

As a general rule, accidents that occur while the employee is driving to and from work are not considered to arise out of and in the course of his or her employment. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Smallwood, 516 So.2d 716 (Ala.Civ.App.1987). However, there are several exceptions to the general rule. Id. The trial court further found that none of the recognized exceptions to the general rule applied in the present case.

The employee appeals to this court, and argues that the particular facts of her case afford her coverage under exceptions to the general rule. She first claims that, because the employer paid her automobile payment and insurance and her gasoline expenses, her transportation expenses constituted part of the consideration paid for services. Therefore, she claims the workers' compensation laws would apply and she is entitled to benefits under the travel expense exception. Bell v. General American Transportation Corp., 52 Ala.App. 123, 290 So.2d 184 (Ala.Civ.App.1973). In Bell, the employee was paid mileage expense to and from the jobsite.

Although the employer responded that the employee's deposition testimony established that the above-mentioned payments were merely in lieu of raises in salary and, therefore, the travel expense exception did not apply, the record contains evidence which disputes this contention. The record reflects that in addition to specific payments for gasoline each month, the employer, on behalf of the employee, made payments for gasoline for seven...