Pynchon v. State of Illinois — 2 Ill. Ct. Cl. 337

EDWARD A. PYNCHON v. STATE OF ILLINOIS.

Case summary

Claimant, a civil engineer employed by the Rivers and Lakes Commission, lost his personal surveying instruments when a state-owned motor boat capsized in the Big Muddy River. The court awarded him $129.50 for the loss, finding he was entitled to compensation for property lost while trying to save state property.

Claim type: Property Damage

AI-generated summary from the opinion text — may contain errors. The opinion text and PDF above are the official record.

Headnotes

DAMAGES-facts held sufficient to justify Court in making award

DAMAGES-facts held sufficient to justify Court in making award where employee lost property. The claimant was employed as civil engineer by the Rivers and Lakes Commission, and while trying to save property of the State, he lost his surveying instruments in the Big Muddy River. Held, that he is entitled to an award for the amount of the property lost by him. Ben. F. Glahn, for Claimant. P. J. Lucey, Attorney General, and Arthur R. Roy, Assistant Attorney General, for State. The claimant while employed by the Rivers and Lakes Commission in July, 1912, to do some work in connection with the Big Muddy River survey near DeSoto, Illinois, was instructed by the engineer in charge of their camp to take a motor boat, and proceed down the river to Murphysboro, Illinois, for the purpose of completing some unfinished work at that place. While going down the river, the boat which was occupied by claimant and another employee, struck a snag and capsized, throwing claimant and the other occupant into the river. It was necessary in making this trip, for claimant

EDWARD A. PYNCHON

STATE OF ILLINOIS.

Opinion filed December 17, 1914.

Ben. F. Glahn, for Claimant.

P. J. Lucey, Attorney General, and Arthur R. Roy, Assistant Attorney General, for State.

The claimant while employed by the Rivers and Lakes Commission in July, 1912, to do some work in connection with the Big Muddy River survey near DeSoto, Illinois, was instructed by the engineer in charge of their camp to take a motor boat, and proceed down the river to Murphysboro, Illinois, for the purpose of completing some unfinished work at that place.

While going down the river, the boat which was occupied by claimant and another employee, struck a snag and capsized, throwing claimant and the other occupant into the river.

It was necessary in making this trip, for claimant to carry his own personal belongings, together with several instruments belonging to the State, that were used in connection with this line of work.

When the boat capsized, it sank, and claimant did all in his power to save the property of the State, and succeeded in saving valuable property, consisting of levels, notes and memoranda that were worth about two hundred ($200.00) dollars. Due to his efforts to save the State's property, he was unable to save his own personal belongings and now seeks to recover for the loss of same. [*338]

The Rivers and Lakes Commission, after investigating this accident, realized the justice of claimant's demand, and in their annual report to the Governor of the State of Illinois, in 1912, recommended, that this claim amounting to one hundred twenty-nine and fifty hundredths ($129.50) dollars, be paid.

It is the judgment of this Court, that an award be made to claimant for one hundred twenty-nine and fifty hundredths ($129.50) dollars.