Alaska Packers Association v. Industrial Accident Commission Of California

294 U.S. 532 (1935)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

P, a non-resident alien doing business in California, executed at San Francisco a written contract of employment with D. Palma agreed to work for D in Alaska during the salmon canning season. D agreed to transport him to Alaska and, at the end of the season, to return him to San Francisco where he was to be paid his stipulated wages, less advances. The written contract stated that P had elected to be bound by the Alaska Workmen's Compensation Law. California Workmen's Compensation Act states as follows: 'The commission shall have jurisdiction over all controversies arising out of injuries suffered without the territorial limits of this state in those cases where the injured employee is a resident of this state at the time of the injury and the contract of hire was made in this State, . . .' This section was applicable to non-residents of California since the privileges and immunities clause of the Federal Constitution prevented giving any effect to the requirement that the employee is a resident. The California Act also provides: 'No contract, rule or regulation shall exempt the employer from liability for the compensation fixed by this act, . . .' After his return from Alaska to California, P applied for and received an award by the California Commission in compensation for injuries received by him in the course of his employment in Alaska. D appealed and lost. D claimed the California Act invalid under due process of law and the full faith and credit clauses of the Federal Constitution. D claims the California courts denied full faith and credit to the Alaska statute by refusing to recognize it as a defense to the application for an award under the California statute. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.