Van Bibber's Case

This is an appeal by the Great American Indemnity Company from a decree awarding to the claimant widow dependency compensation for her own benefit and for the benefit of her dependent children and ordering payment of certain other sums pursuant to U. L. c. 152. The claim arises from the death of Norman K. Van Bibber which occurred on February 4, 1957.

We summarize the facts. Early in 1957 the M. DeMatteo Construction Company, hereinafter called DeMatteo, under a contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was engaged in the construction of part of the Southeast Expressway in the vicinity…