State Ex Rel. Bates v. Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals

Respondent Gaffney (herein called the respondent), while employed as a stock clerk by a department store in Spokane, was injured when he slipped on the cement floor in its warehouse and a carton containing a power lawn mower weighing about one hundred pounds fell in his lap. The warehouse (which was about a mile from the department store) was used for the storage of merchandise received from suppliers until it could be taken to the department store and placed on sale to retail customers.

Respondent filed a claim for compensation with the department of labor and industries. Appellant (director…