I JOHN AI. DOLE, No. 3624, VIRGIL J. GUIMOND,No. 3625 AND GEORGE W. JOHNSON, No. 3628, Claimants, v. STATE OF ILLINOIS, Respondent. .
Case summary
Three employees of independent contractors sought damages for typhoid fever allegedly contracted from drinking contaminated water at Manteno State Hospital. The court dismissed the claims because the State was engaged in a governmental function and not liable for negligence, and the complaints failed to state a cause of action.
Cases cited: Hardware Mutual Casualty Company vs. State of Illinois, 11 C. C. R. 300; Crabtree vs. State, 7 C. C. R. 207; Garbutt vs. State, 10 C. C. R. 37
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Headnotes
- WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION Am-employees of independmt contractornot employees of State- State not lzable for conzpensation under. Employee of private person engaged i n construction work on State Institution, under contract between State and such person, and in performance thereof, is not a n employee of State, but an employee of independent contractor, and if injured while so employed no claim lies against State therefor under Workmen's Compensation Act.
- P LEADING - compluznt fading t o set f o r t h cause of action - will be disnazssed. Where complaint on its face fails to set forth any fact showing any liability on the part of the State, for the payments of moneys sought thereunder, it is wholly insufficient and must be dismissed. ' C HARITABLE INSTITUTIONS - conduct of governmental functzon. In the conduct of the Manteno State Hospital, same being a Charitable Institution, the State exercises a governmental function.
- SAME-neglzgence of oncers or enzployees of-State n o t legally o r equitu6ly lzable for- award f o r o n grounds of equity and good consczence cannot be made. The State is not legally or equitably liable for injuries sustained by a person, resulting from the malfeasance, misfeasance or negligence of the officers, agents or employees of its Charitable Institutions, under any theory of law or equity.
During the month of August, 1939, the Consolidated Construction Company and the Permanent Construction Company were engaged in certain construction work at the Manteno State Hospital, a public institution owned and - operated by the State of Illinois. Claimant, George IT.Johnson, was then in the employ of the Permanent Construction Company, and claimants, John M. Dole and Virgil J. Guimond, were in the employ of the Consolidated Construction Company. The complaints allege that while so employed and working at the Manteno State Hospital, claimants drank water furnished and supplied for &inking purposes from the wells of the hospital; that the water was contaminated and impure, and contained disease germs and typhoid baccilli ; that as a result of drinking this water they became ill with [*124] typhoid fever, were unable to work for a long period of time, and incurred doctor,, hospital, and nursing bills; that as a result of the illness they suffered permanent impairment of I their health. Each of the claimants asks damages in the amount of $5,000.00, and in addition, an award for medical services and supplies in the following amounts: John M. Dole, $250.00, Virgil J. Guimond, $800.00, and George W. Johnson, $200.00. The claims are before the court on respondent's motion to dismiss.
None of the claimants was an employee of the State; they were all employees of independent contractors, so that they do not come within the provision of the Workmen's Compensation Act. The complaints contain no allegation of any contractual relationship between claimants and respondent, c,ontain no allegation of any applicable statutory or constitutional provision, and contain no allegation of any legal or equitable duty or obligation. They contain no allegation of any breach of duty, and they are insufficient to state a cause of action in tort.
Furthermore, the State, in the maintenance of the Manten0 State Hospital, is engaged in a governmental function, and when so engaged is not liable for the negligence of its officers, servants, or agents. The doctri'ne of respondeat superior does not apply. Hardware Mutual Casualty Compafiy vs. State of Illinois, 11 C. C. R. 300.
Awards can be made by this court only in those cases where claimants would be entitled to redress against the State either at law or in equity, if the State were suable. Unless a claimant can bring himself within the provisions of) a law giving him the right to an award, he cannot invoke the principles of equity and good conscience. Crabtree vs. State, 7 C. " C. R. 207; Garbutt vs. State, 10 C. C. R. 37.
Respondent's motion to dismiss is therefore sustained, and claimants are given thirty days in which to amend their complaints ; in the event they decline or fail so to amend, this order dismissing the claim shall become final.