Pearson's Case
Pearson's Case
Opinion of the Court
The employee, a member of the highway department of Chelmsford, was fatally injured on March 12,1954, when the town truck he was driving was struck by a railroad train at a grade crossing in the town. At the time, as ordered by his superior, he was transporting pea stone, which had been purchased by the town, from the seller’s premises to a gravel pit for storage. The reviewing board affirmed and adopted the findings and decision of the single member awarding compensation to his dependent widow. From a decree of the Superior Court awarding compensation, the insurer appealed.
Succinctly stated, the single member made these findings. The employee’s death arose in the course of his employment. His injury “arose out of his employment, since the nature, incidents and obligations of his contract of employ
The reviewing board was not required to find that the deceased’s conduct was in violation of G. L. c. 90, § 15, as amended. Many of the cases relied upon by the insurer can no longer be cited for the proposition that the deceased was acting in violation of law. See Borden v. New York, N. H. & H. R.R. 339 Mass. 266, 269-270. It is not of consequence to determine whether as matter of terminology the employee’s death was, or was not, due to an injury “arising out of an ordinary risk of the street. ’ ’ See G. L. c. 152, § 26 (as amended through St. 1945, c. 623, § 1). His place of employment at the time of his injury was where he was, whether it be a public way, private way, or railroad right of way. Egan’s Case, 331 Mass. 11, 14. We observe no error of law in the findings of the board, which are supported by the evidence.
The final decree is affirmed and costs and reasonable expenses under G. L. c. 152, § 11A, inserted by St. 1945, c. 444, as amended, shall be allowed by the single justice.
So ordered.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Arthur W. Pearson's (dependent's) Case
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published