Texas Compensation Insurance Co. v. Matthews
Texas Compensation Insurance Co. v. Matthews
Opinion of the Court
In this workmen’s compensation case, the only question is whether the injuries of the plaintiff were sustained in the course of her employment. Trial was to the court without a jury upon an agreed statement of facts. Judgment was for the plaintiff. The Court of Civil Appeals sitting in Dallas affirmed, one justice dissenting. 504 S.W.2d 545. We agree with the views of the dissenting justice; and accordingly we reverse.
The facts of the case are fully and fairly set out in the opinion of the Court of Civil Appeals; and the authorities are ably and fairly set out in the majority and in the dissenting opinions. Reference is here made to those writings. Our opinion, therefore, need not be repetitious.
The plaintiff, Ester Matthews, was injured when she fell in a public street while going to work. She has two claims, here combined. She fell (1) when she stepped off the curb onto some debris, and (2) some time later when she slipped on some grease in the middle of the street. The street runs in front of her employer’s premises.
As described in the opinion of the Court of Civil Appeals, the plaintiff’s contention is that she was required to use this particular route in getting to work because of a construction barrier placed adjacent to her employer’s building by an independent contractor of her employer. Other members of the public using the sidewalk were also required to cross the street at this point; and the plaintiff was injured within the white cross-walk markers placed in the street by the city for members of the general public as well as the plaintiff and her fellow employees. The plaintiff was not required to use this particular route to reach her work.
The general rule, and it is a well settled rule, is that the benefits of the workmen’s compensation statute do not apply to injuries received going to and from work. Texas General Indemnity Co. v. Bottom, 365 S.W.2d 350 (Tex. 1963); Shelton v. Standard Ins. Co., 389 S.W.2d 290 (Tex. 1965); Viney v. Casualty Reciprocal Exchange, 82 S.W.2d 1088 (Tex.Civ.App.1935, writ refused); Dishman v. Texas Employers’ Ins. Ass’n, 440 S.W.2d 727 (Tex.Civ.App.1969, writ refused n. r. e.). An exception to this rule is made in cases which have formed the “access doctrine,” —cases in which the employer has evidenced an intention that the particular access route or area be used by the employee in going to and from work, and where such access route or area is so closely related to the employer’s premises as to be fairly treated as a part of the premises. Lumberman’s Reciprocal Ass’n. v. Behnken, 112 Tex. 103, 246 S.W. 72 (1922); Kelty v. Travelers Ins. Co., 391 S.W.2d 558 (Tex.Civ.App.1965, writ ref’d. n. r. e.).
The Behnken opinion, our leading case on the “access doctrine” exception discusses and distinguishes American Indemnity Co. v. Dinkins, 211 S.W. 949 (Tex.Civ.App.1919, writ refused). The Behnken opinion points out that in Dinkins, “Dink-ins’ right to use the street was not derived from his employment [as it was in Behnken]. The injury occurred at a place provided by the city for public use, and not at a place furnished by Dinkins’ employer, as a special mode of access to his work.” 246 S.W. at 75. This Court in Behnken indicated that it agreed with the Dinkins holding, —that the injury was not compensable because it was suffered going to and from work, though close to the entrance of the employer’s place of business and used by many employees.
The judgments of the courts below are reversed, and judgment is here rendered that the plaintiff take nothing.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting)-
This dissent is respectfully submitted. This writer would adopt the reasoning, language and result of the majority opinion of the court of civil appeals. 504 S.W.2d 545.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- TEXAS COMPENSATION INSURANCE COMPANY, Petitioner, v. Ester G. MATTHEWS, Respondent
- Cited By
- 22 cases
- Status
- Published