AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 225, 16 September 1908, Page 4

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

TEAMSTER B ITT EX BV A CAT. THE EMPLOYER LIABLE. Probably the most remiarkable decision yet given in regard to the relations e.Nisting between employer foind workman is one reported in the laxest " Law Times." This is an Kiiglish ca-e brought under the new Act, the Workers' Compensation Act, 15)00. The applicant was a teamster in the employment of the defendant. The applicant took his horses to the stable for their mid-day meal, and proceeded to take his own dinner there. While he was eating his dinner a stable cat sprang at him and bit him. lie vtos not teasing I he cat in any way, nor was he feeding it, though he had throw.i pieces to the cat before. The bite het up blood poisoning, and he had two joints of the linger amputated. It was held that the applicant wis entitled to be in the stable, and part of what might be called the necessary furniture of a stable was the stable cat. Tin; employment of the man took him into the stable, where to his knowledge and to the knowledge of the master there was a cat which it was not suggested was known to 'be vicious. Jf i', had been a strange cat the case wou.d have been different, and if the man had been walking along the street and a cat had bitten him the master would not have been liable. The present case was the same as if the man had been, an ordinary domestic servant whose duties took him into the presence of a : cat. Xeither the master nor the man expected the cat to bitv, but his duties took him into tins place where the cat was. Consequently the accident aro«e out of and in the course of employment, and the employer was lia.blc to make compensation.