Ragnar H. Backsen v. Gene Blauser

Claimant-appellant Ragnar H. Backsen, Jr., hereinafter claimant, a resident of Canyon County, Idaho, was employed by Blauser Trucking, hereinafter Blauser, a sole proprietorship licensed by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to transport agricultural products within a 150-mile radius of Nampa, Idaho. Blauser is primarily engaged in hauling unprocessed agricultural products (e. g., hay, sacked onions, etc.) from the field for farmers of Canyon County. The hauling of unprocessed agricultural products comprised 75-90% of respondent's business. Claimant was hired as a truck driver and hay stacker and was required to obtain a chauffeur's driver's license. In the performance of claimant's duties he would haul the product from the field to Blauser's client's designated delivery point. On July 13, 1972, claimant, during the course of his employment, injured his knee while stacking hay. On that particular day, a farmer had engaged Blauser to move hay from the farmer's field to the farmer's barn. The injury occurred while claimant was restacking bales of hay in the farmer's barn. On July 18, 1972, claimant again injured his knee while in the course of his employment. This injury occurred as claimant entered a truck and bumped his knee. On that particular day, the job was to move bales of hay from the farmer's field to a place next to his barn.