Nagy v. Continental Die Casting Corp.

Wiest, C. J. Plaintiff was a common laborer in the employ of the Continental Die Casting Corporation and claims that, on the 28th day of February, 1936, while engaged, with a fellow worker, in emptying an iron barrel of zinc scrap metal, he suffered a ‘ ‘ right indirect inguinal hernia. ’ ’ A previous barrel of scrap had been emptied upon the floor and it was while emptying the second barrel upon the pile from the first that he claims he felt a sharp pain and the hernia followed. He kept at work thereafter until discharged in May, 1936, and at times was engaged in lifting boxes weighing about 60 pounds. The barrel was tipped over with the top resting upon the pile of scrap from the previous barrel and then the bottom tilted up to spill the contents. This had been a part of his work for some time but, he claims, that the barrel was heavier than usual. No claim is made of slipping or of any unusual circumstances except the weight of this barrel. *164 The department, after criticizing onr holdings, stated: ‘ ‘ The commission of labor and industry is justified in grasping at a straw to make industry absorb, as a cost of production, its human wreckage or rather the rehabilitation and compensation of same, and in so doing it is merely following a clearly defined public demand, based upon a re-awakened public conscience, as evidenced in the unemployment insurance act already enacted and the occupational disease act and other social legislation under consideration by the legislature, including, incidentally, compensation for hernia even though unaccidental.” Of course, we shall limit consideration, as the department should have done, to applicable law. The opinion of the department is only helpful in vacating the award. Our previous holdings on the issue here presented clearly dispose of the case, and we cannot help observing that the department departed therefrom with the fillip that they were “justified in grasping at a straw. ’ ’ There was no accidental injury. The instant case is ruled by Perkins v. Jackson Cushion Spring Co., 206 Mich. 98; Sinkiewicz v. Lee & Cady, 254 Mich. 218; Marlowe v. Huron Mountain Club, 271 Mich. 107; Williams v. National Cash Register Co., 272 Mich. 553; Allen v. Wolverine Express, Inc., 279 Mich. 621; Waites v. Briggs Manfg. Co., 280 Mich. 185. The award is vacated, with costs to defendants. Butzel, Bushnell, Sharpe, Potter, Chanuler, North, and McAllister, JJ., concurred.