Commission of Finance v. Industrial Commission
Commission of Finance v. Industrial Commission
Opinion of the Court
Review of an Industrial Commission order adjudging that the claimant, Donald E. MacCartle, was entitled to workmen’s compensation for injuries sustained in an auto .accident. Reversed.
In 1945, legislation was expanded to include a “partner” as well as an “employee”
Under the Act there is no authority to cover a person as a partner, if in fact he is not one. This is true whether he asserts such status innocently or not, or whether or not the Fund takes his word for it. It is as though an employer would list a person as an employee who never worked for him. In such event we think any attempt at coverage, although innocently indulged, would do violence to any legislative authority delegated to the Fund and to the spirit of the Act itself. Consequently it would be a nullity. Were we to conclude otherwise, it would appear that many novel situations could arise, wherein the Fund would be on the risk for those not enumerated in the Act, and for whom the Act never was intended.
Although this court ordinarily will sustain the Commission’s conclusions if bas
. Title 35-1-43, Utah Code Annotated 1953.
. Title 31-19-14, Utah Code Annotated 1953 providing for cancellation of a policy, “either by agreement between the industrial commission and the employer or in case of nonpayment of premium by tliirty clays’ notice * * * to the industrial commission and the employer.” This assumes the coverage of an insurable person within the meaning of the Act, not a purported partner who actually is not a partner.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- COMMISSION OF FINANCE OF UTAH (administering the State Insurance Fund) v. INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF UTAH, and Donald E. MacCartle
- Status
- Published