Opinion
No. 32514.
July 13, 1948.
(Syllabus.)
1. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION — Employee's right of action for injuries, and jurisdiction of courts thereover, with certain exceptions, abrogated by Workmen's Compensation Law.
Employee's right of action for injuries arising out of and in course of hazardous employment and jurisdiction of courts thereover, with certain exceptions, are abrogated by Workmen's Compensation Law (85 O.S. 1941 § 1[ 85-1] et seq.)
2. SAME — Principal employer not liable in tort for injuries to employee of independent contractor.
Liability of the principal employer under the terms of the Workmen's Compensation Law of this state to provide compensation for injuries to an employee of an independent contractor is exclusive and such employee is without right to maintain action in tort against the principal employer on account of such injuries.
Original proceeding in the Supreme Court by Deep Rock Oil Corporation et al. for writ of prohibition against the Honorable Bob Howell, Judge of the District Court of Seminole County, Oklahoma, et al. Writ granted.
Pierce, Rucker, Mock, Tabor Duncan, of Oklahoma City, and Horsley, Epton Culp, of Wewoka, for petitioners.
Sandlin Balch, of Wewoka, and Homer Bishop, of Seminole, for respondents.
R.H. Wills, J.H. Crocker, J.P. Greve, J.H. Woodard, Ben Hatcher, and Oscar E. Swan, Jr., all of Tulsa, Rainey, Flynn, Green Anderson and Richardson, Shartel, Cochran Pruet, all of Oklahoma City, Anglin, Stevenson Huser, of Holdenville, Hudson, Hudson Wheaton, A.M. Covington, Victor Mieher, and Booth Kellough, all of Tulsa, A.R. Daugherty, of Oklahoma City, and Don Emery, R.B.F. Hummer, Rayburn L. Foster, L.A. Rowland, Alton H. Rowland, A.M. Ebright, Hayes McCoy, J.E. Jarvis, and R.O. Mason, all of Bartlesville, amici curiae.
This is an original proceeding for a writ prohibiting respondent from further exercising jurisdiction in cause No. 24179, pending in the district court of Seminole county, wherein one Charles L. Vannoy is plaintiff and the petitioners herein are defendants.
It is recognized by the parties to this proceeding, and it so appears to the court, that the sole question for determination is the jurisdiction of the district court to entertain a common law action for damages by an employee of an independent contractor who has complete insurance coverage, as required by the Workmen's Compensation Act, against the principal contractor where such employee received an accidental injury in the course of his employment by reason of the negligence of the principal contractor. It is also recognized that the same issue was the major question involved in cause No. 32328, styled Mid-Continent Pipe Line Co. v. Wilkerson, 200 Okla. 335, 193 P.2d 586, and at the instance of respondents the determination of this proceeding was held in abeyance pending the determination in cause No. 32328. And it now appearing that the decision therein is determinative of the question presented here, we are of the opinion that the writ should be granted. We adopt as the law of this case the first and second paragraphs of the syllabus in Mid-Continent Pipe Line Co. v. Wilkerson, supra.
Writ granted.
HURST, C.J., DAVISON, V.C.J., and WELCH, ARNOLD, and LUTTRELL JJ., concur. CORN, J., dissents.