Millers' Indemnity Underwriters v. Green
Millers' Indemnity Underwriters v. Green
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal by the Millers^ Indemnity Underwriters from a judgment awarding Robert F. Green and his wife, Ora E. Green, compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Law of this state (Vernon’s Annv Civ. St. iSupp. 1918, arts. 52-16 — 1 to 5246 — 91) for the death of their son, Robert Lee Green.
Only two issues of fact were made in the trial: (1) As to whether the appellees were “dependent parents” within the meaning of that term as used in the law (article 5246— 15, Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes, 1918 Supp.); (2) as to whether the appellees were entitled to a lump sum settlement. Both of these issues were submitted to a jury arid decided in appellees’ favor. Appellant contends that it was entitled to a peremptory instruction in its favor as to these two issues of fact, and we make the following statement to be considered in connection with our disposition of these contentions:
Appellant’s -brief contains an interesting history of the development of the Compensation Law, and reference to a great many decisions that have dealt with such laws and applied them to facts analogous to those presented by this case. The question as to the construction of the term “dependency,” as used in such laws, has been frequently before the courts, and.two of the Courts of Civil Appeals of this state have already had occasion to consider this vei-y provision of our own statute. Southern Insurance Co. v. Hibbs,'221 S. W. 303; Lumbermen’s Reciprocal Association v. Warner, 234 S. W. 545. We therefore omit any extended discussion of such question. In the case first .cited the court said:
“The question-of dependency is one of fact rather than a question of law, and each ease must rest on its own facts. The test of dependency is, not whether the family could support life without the services or contributions of the deceased but whether they depended upon them as part of their income or means of living. Bradbury, Workmen Compensation, pp. 571 to 573. All the cases seem to hold that partial dependency is all that is required, and a mere temporary intermission in the performance of services or the making of contributions will not destroy dependency.”
This statement seems to be well sustained by the authorities. Note, Ann. Cas. 1913E, 481; Ann. Cas. 1918B, 750, 760, 761; Hon-nold on Workmen’s Compensation, §§ 71-77; *981 2S R. C. L. p. 770; and, in addition, authorities cited in the two cases above referred to. Appellees’ evidence shows that they had in the past received from their son. material -and needed contribution to their support, both in labor and money. They testified that they expected to receive and depended on receiving such aid in the future; and the jury were warranted in finding that their •expectations were well founded. The authorities cited sustain the action of the trial court in submitting the issue in this case to the jury. The court submitted the issue of dependency in this language:
“Were the defendants Robert E. Green and Ora E. Oreen, as parents of Robert Lee Green, deceased, dependent wholly or in part upon the labor of the deceased, Robert- Lee Green?”
The appellant’s third proposition complains of this method of submitting the issue, and the fourth proposition asserts that the court erred in not submitting appellant’s requested issue as follows:
“Were the defendants, Robert F. Green and Ora E. Green, taking into consideration their ■condition and circumstances in life, whatever you may find that and those to be, dependent upon Robert Lee Green at the time of his death?”
If it be true that the law intended by the word “dependent” to include not only those who were wholly dependent, but also those partially dependent, as lias been held in the authorities already cited, we can see no good reason' to hold that it would be error for the court to put the issue as stated; otherwise a jury would be left to conjecture as to such matter. In both the Texas eases cited the issue as to partial dependency was submitted, as in this case, though no objection appears to have been made by the appellants in those cases on that account. We overrule these two propositions.
“Were the amounts that Robert Lee Green gave to his parents, if any, prior to his death, voluntary gifts?”
This requested issue called for a finding of an evidentiary fact, and there was no error in refusing it. R. O. S. art. 1985.
“Would a failure of the plaintiff, Millers’ Indemnity Underwriters, to make a lump sum settlement with the defendants of the compensation, if any, owing them on account of the death of the said Robert Lee Green, work a manifest hardship and injustice to the defendants, Robert F. Green and Ora E. Green?”
Two grounds of error are urged under this proposition: First, that, under the undisputed evidence, no award of a lump sum settlement' would be authorized; second, that “said issue does not submit the question if this is a ‘special case’ where, in the judgment of the jury, manifest hardship and injustice -would otherwise result unless the association were compelled to redeem its' liability in a lump sum.” The statute authorized the award of a lump sum settlement in ease of death or total permanent disability “in special cases where, in the judgment of the board, manifest hardship and injustice would otherwise result.” Vernon’s Texas Statutes, 1918 Supp. art. 5246 — S3. The decision as to the question is committed to the “judgment of the board” or to that of the district court in case of transfer of the proceedings .to such court. Texas Employers’ Insurance Association v. Downing, 218 S. W. 120 (11); Lumbermen’s Reciprocal Association v. Behnken, 226 S. W. 157 (5); Texas Employers’ Insurance Association v. Boudreaux, 213 S. W. 674. This provision vests the trial court with large discretionary powers, and the appellate courts should not attempt to review their action on such matters unless there is manifest abuse of such discretion. We think there is no such abuse shown in this case. Authorities already cited, and McMullen v. Gavette Construction Co., 207 Mich. 586, 175 N. W. 120; Stephenson v. State Industrial Commission (Okl.) 192 Pac. 580. As to the second ground of objection to this issue, we do not think there was any error in the failure of the court to include in the submission of the issue the inquiry as to whether it was a “special case.” The Legislature prescribed what constituted such special cases, and “where, in the judgment of the board, manifest hardship and' injustice would otherwise result,” such a special case is presented.
We are inclined also to think that the assignment itself is not sufficient to present this point. The assignment is that:
“The court erred in' rendering the judgment which it did render herein, said judgment neither following the pleadings in the case nor the verdict of the jury, nor is the same in accordance with the law with reference to the workmen’s Compensation Act.”
This was the objection made in the motion for new. trial. If appellant’s counsel had in mind the objection which he now urges under the assignment, the language of his objection was not calculated to call it ,to the attention of the trial court, and such objections made for the first time on appeal are not regarded with favor. Schuster v. Frendenthal, 74 Tex. 53, 11 S. W. 1051.
This disposes of all of the propositions advanced by the appellant. We find no reversible error presented, and the judgment will be affirmed.
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Reference
- Full Case Name
- MILLERS’ INDEMNITY UNDERWRITERS v. GREEN Et Al.
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- 19 cases
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- Published