Summary
restating dependency test to involve a consideration of "the legal or moral obligations of the employee" to provide support
Summary of this case from Dunnavant v. Newman Tire Co.Opinion
43504.
ARGUED MARCH 6, 1968.
DECIDED JUNE 5, 1968. REHEARING DENIED JUNE 24, 1968.
Workmen's compensation. Hall Superior Court. Before Judge Kenyon.
Smith, Cohen, Ringel, Kohler, Martin Lowe, Williston C. White, for appellants.
Telford, Wayne Stewart, Jeff C. Wayne, for appellee.
1. Dependency, under the Workmen's Compensation Act, does not depend on whether the alleged dependent could support herself without decedent's earnings, or so reduce her expenses that she would be supported independently of his earnings, but whether she was supported in whole or in part by such earnings, under the circumstances indicating an intent on the part of the deceased to furnish such support.
2. That a wife could only demand support from her husband does not prevent dependency upon her son as a fact.
ARGUED MARCH 6, 1968 — DECIDED JUNE 5, 1968 — REHEARING DENIED JUNE 24, 1968 — CERT. APPLIED FOR.
The mother, claimant here, the father, a 15-year-old daughter, and the son, 21 years of age, lived in the same household in which the father paid the household expenses. The 21-year-old son was killed in an accident and it is stipulated that the death arose out of and in the course of employment. Everything is stipulated except dependency which is disputed. The evidence shows that the son contributed weekly amounts ranging from $10 to $20 or more and averaged approximately $15 per week to the mother. She used this money for medicine, doctors' bills and things she needed around the house, as well as for clothes and shoes, but not for household expenses. These contributions had been made over a period of two years. The son also contributed some money to the sister, but that is not material as she is not a claimant here. The mother testified that the husband bought the groceries himself and did not give her money to do so. She further testified that her husband gave her no money, but did pay all the expenses of the household. Since the death of the son, the mother has had a heart attack, but, at the time of the hearing, was working. The standard of living of the family had decreased at the time of the hearing, mainly due to the fact that the father was out of work. The mother is the only member of the family who claims dependency under the Workmen's Compensation Act. It is contended by the appellants and the evidence shows that it cost the father approximately $15 per week to board the son, for which no payment was made to him.
"Legally speaking, Mrs. [Cooley] could only demand support from her husband, but this does not prevent dependency upon her son, as a fact." Glens Falls Indem. Co. v. Jordan, 56 Ga. App. 449, 457 ( 193 S.E. 96). And partial dependency of the mother may be established though the son's contributions to her be at irregular intervals and of irregular amounts. Glens Falls Indem. Co. v. Jordan, supra, at p. 456. "Dependency does not depend on whether the alleged dependents could support themselves without decedent's earnings, or so reduce their expenses that they would be supported independent of his earnings, but on whether they were in fact supported in whole or in part by such earnings, under circumstances indicating an intent on the part of the deceased to furnish such support." Glens Falls Indem. Co. v. Jordan, supra, at p. 453. The question of dependency is one of fact, to be determined according to the facts and circumstances of each particular case, from the amounts, frequency and continuity of actual contributions of cash and supplies, the need of the claimant, and the legal or moral obligations of the employee. Maryland Cas. Co. v. Campbell, 34 Ga. App. 311 ( 129 S.E. 447). "Standard of living" is a generic term and is question of fact rather than law, where evidence is sufficient to sustain a finding of dependency. London Guarantee c. Co. v. Bernstein, 74 Ga. App. 692 (1a) ( 41 S.E.2d 810). The question here is: Did the evidence demand a finding as a fact that the claimant (mother) was not partially dependent upon the deceased son for support? If so, the judgment should be reversed, otherwise affirmed. In the case of Glens Falls Indem. Co. v. Jordan, supra, the court held: While ordinarily no exact standard for the determination of dependency is prescribed by statute, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to formulate such a standard, it may be said in general terms that a "dependent" is one who looks to another for support, or is dependent upon another for the ordinary necessities of life, for a person of his class and position; and that, to be entitled to compensation as a dependent, one need not deprive himself of the ordinary necessities of life to which he has become accustomed. It follows that dependency does not depend on whether the alleged dependents could support themselves without decedent's earnings, or so reduce their expenses that they would be supported independently of his earnings, but whether they were supported in whole or in part by such earnings, under the circumstances indicating an intent on the part of the deceased to furnish such support. The Supreme Court of Georgia in Savannah Electric Co. v. Bell, 124 Ga. 663, 664 ( 53 S.E. 109), in defining dependency in a damage suit by a mother for wrongful homicide of her child, held as follows: "There may have been some person, other than the deceased, who was charged with the legal duty of supporting the mother, and against whom, in case of failure to render such support, an action would lie. But it is not the purpose of the statute to require, as a condition precedent to a mother's recovery for the homicide of a child, that she should exhaust every legal right she possessed against every person or all property charged with her support. The right of action consists in the contribution by the child and the fact that, under the circumstances as they existed at the time of the homicide, the mother was dependent upon such child in whole or in part for her support. See Central of Ga. R. Co. v. Henson, 121 Ga. 462 ( 49 S.E. 278); Richmond R. Co. v. Johnson, 89 Ga. 560 ( 15 S.E. 908); Smith v. Hatcher, 102 Ga. 158 ( 29 S.E. 162). Also in the case of Fuller v. Inman, 10 Ga. App. 680 ( 74 S.E. 287), construing Code § 4424 of Civil Code of 1910, now Code § 105-1307, the mother is permitted to recover, notwithstanding the father of the child is in life, in good health, living with the family, and exercising his personal rights up to the time of the child's death. The case of Smith v. Travelers Ins. Co., 71 Ga. App. 24, 25 ( 29 S.E.2d 709) is distinguishable from this case because the mother in that case was the head of the household and the amount contributed by the son would in that instance be charged against the amount used for his board, but, in the present case, such is not the case.
The case of Bituminous Cas. Corp. v. Williams, 80 Ga. App. 337 (2) ( 56 S.E.2d 157) is a total dependency case and is not under rule of partial dependency.
While we find no Georgia cases directly in point under the Workmen's Compensation Act, the Act is to be liberally construed. We think there is ample evidence to support the finding that the mother was partially dependent upon the deceased son for support and in such instances in the absence of fraud the findings of the board are binding upon this court. The ruling of the lower court is therefore affirmed.
Judgment affirmed. Jordan, P. J., and Deen, J., concur.