J. H. Mohlman Co. v. American Grocery Co.
J. H. Mohlman Co. v. American Grocery Co.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The bill in this case was filed by the complainant to have the defendant, the American Grocery Companj’, declared insolvent. After hearing, a decree of insolvency was entered and a receiver appointed. Among the claims presented to the receiver was one by Dr. A. Nelson, for medical services rendered by him to one Charles Landhagen, a boy whu had been in the employ of the grocery company. The claim having been rejected by the receiver, Dr. Nelson appealed to the chancellor, and the hearing of this appeal by one of the vice-chancellors resulted. in the
The following facts appeared from the proofs submitted to the vice-chancellor: Landhagen, the boy to whom the physician’s services had been rendered, was kicked by one of the company’s horses, while engaged at work in their stable, and received a severe injury to his jaw. He was immediately taken by another employe of the company (one Schriever) to the doctor’s office for treatment. Schriever, upon being asked by the doctor who would be responsible for his bill, replied that the American Grocery Company would be good for it.. During the course of the treatment, which extended over a period of more than two months, it became necessary, in the judgment of the doctor, tq have an intradental plate made for the boy. This work required the services of an expert dentist, and the physician so advised a Mr. O’Brien, another employe of the grocery company, who was in the habit of accompanying Landhagen on his visits to the doctor’s office. At the same time that tire doctor advised O’Brien of the necessity of this' plate he asked him who would pay the dentist’s bill, and the latter referred him to the grocery company’s cashier. The doctor then called upon the cashier, who, in turn, applied to the company’s manager for instructions, and was told by the manager to refer the doctor to the Fidelity and Casualty Company, a corporation which had insured the grocery company against liability for accidents to its employes. The cashier obeyed this instruction of the manager, and the doctor then called up the casualty company on the telephone, and was informed by the agent of the casualty company who answered his call not to-go ahead with the case until that company, had looked into the matter, and that if he sent the boy to the dentist, and incurred any bill, he would have to pay it out of his own pocket. No other communications were had by the doctor with the employes or agents of the grocery company relating to compensation for his services, so far as the proofs in the case show.
It was not contended that the statement made by Schriever that the American Grocery Company would be good for the physician’s bill imposed any liability upon that corporation; in
We do not think the deduction drawn by the vice-chancellor from the failure of the grocery company’s manager to repudiate liability on its part, and his referring the doctor to the casualty company, is justified.. The question of the company’s liability was one with which the manager was not concerned. He knew that, if it existed, the company was protected against loss by reason thereof through its contract with the casualty company. He properly concluded, therefore, that as the casualty company was ultimately liable, if liability existed at all, for the expenses incurred on account of the boy’s injuries, that company, and not the grocery company, was tire one to determine whether or not the proposed expenditure should be made. His reference of the physician to the casualty compan3r was tantamount to saying: “We have no responsibility in this matter; if the boy has any claim, the casualty company must pay it; they, therefore, and not the American Grocery Company, are the ones by whom the question of incurring this proposed expense must be passed upon.” Instead of being an affirmation of the grocery company’s liability, and a notification-, to the physician that he was
Finding nothing in the evidence submitted to the court below from which a promise on the part of the grocery company to pay the claimant for his services can fairly be implied, we conclude that the order appealed from should be reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- J. H. Mohlman Company v. The American Grocery Company
- Status
- Published