New Amsterdam Casualty Co. v. Reinhart & Donovan Co.

This cause presents an appeal from a judgment of the district court of Oklahoma county, wherein a demurrer was sustained to plaintiffs in error's petition. It was pleaded that John Clemens, plaintiff in error, was in the employ of John C. Stewart, who was a subcontractor, under defendants in error Reinhart Donovan, a corporation, principal contractor. E. W. Walker was the owner of the building being constructed. The New Amsterdam Casualty Company was insurance carrier of John C. Stewart. Injury to John Clemens arose out of and in the course of his employment with Stewart. The New Amsterdam Casualty Company, under its liability, paid compensation to Clemens and received an assignment of Clemens' pretended claim against Walker and Reinhart Donovan.

Clemens contends that the compensation paid under the Workmen's Compensation Act was not exclusive, and that he is entitled to an additional sum against defendants below for pain and suffering. The New Amsterdam Company seeks to recover from defendants below, defendants in error, for the amount it paid Clemens pursuant to the workman's compensation policy.

In this cause there is no question under the pleadings but that John C. Stewart occupied the position of subcontractor.

The same contentions are here made as were made in No. 17075, Calvin Fox et al. v. Chas. M. Dunning et al., 124 Okla. 228,255 P. 582. The same authorities are presented there as here. The decision there is decisive of the issue here, the syllabus of that cause is adopted as the syllabus here, and the judgment of the lower court in this cause is affirmed.

BRANSON, C. J., MASON, V. C. J., and PHELPS, LESTER, HUNT, CLARK, and HEFNER. JJ., concur.