New York Indemnity Co. v. Industrial Accident Commission

The petitioner seeks to review an award of damages which was rendered by the Industrial Accident Commission in favor of Leoncio Alonso against the New York Indemnity Company and the State Compensation Insurance Fund, jointly, as separate insurers of co-employers of the claimant who was injured in the course of his employment.

William Crawford owned a tract of rice land in Yolo County. He lacked experience in raising rice. He had "been engaged in milling rice under the firm name of Woodland Rice Milling Company. He was desirous of attempting to produce rice on his Yolo County farm. There were three brothers by the name of Santos, residing in Yolo County, who were experienced rice growers. They were organized as copartners for the purpose of conducting a rice-growing business. Through the aid of Mr. Crawford, a lease of 151 acres of rice land adjoining his ranch was procured for the Santos brothers. In 1931, Mr. Crawford and the Santos brothers entered into an oral agreement to conduct a joint enterprise of cultivating and harvesting the rice crops which were growing upon their respective adjoining ranches. It was agreed that Crawford would supply the necessary farm machinery and…