Andrus v. Howard

36 Vt. 248 | Vt. | 1863

Aldis, J.

The court charged the jury that the defendant’s son in driving off the plaintiff’s cattle in the manner .stated in the bill of exceptions, was so far in the business for which his father sent him, that his father (the defendant) was liable for his acts the same as if he (the defendant) had done them in person.

The master is not liable for the wilful wrong or trespass of the servant, though the act be done while employed in the business of his master. It is not claimed, and there was no evidence tending to show that the act here complained of was the wilful act of the servant. The case shows that the servant supposed the heifer he tried to drive off was one of Cole’s. It was a mistake likely to be made — for young cattle pastured through the season, by their growth, change so much in appearance that they are not readily identified, unless they are either frequently seen, or have some peculiar marks or looks by which they may be'distinguished.

The master is liable for the act of the servant, if the act be done while the servant is employed in the business of the master in the following cases, viz :

1st. If the act is done by the express command of the, master.

2d. If it was the natural and probable result of the orders given to the servant, though not expressly commanded.

3d. If the act was done by the servant in the business of the master which he was directed or expected to do, and he acts in good faith, in the exercise of ordinary care, and neither wilfully nor negligently, but by mistake commits the trespass.

In all these cases trespass lies against the master.

If the servant, while in his master’s business, by negligence or unskilfulness, or in tlie neglect of ordinary care, but not wilfully do an injury to another, the master is liable because he ought not to employ a negligent or unskilful servant, — and because he rather ought to suffer in whose service or for whose benefit the act is done, than he who is injured but is wholly innocent. But in such case the master at common law is liable in case, (not in trespass) — for his negligence in- employing a negligent or unskilful servant, or for the carelessness imputed to him from the servant’s negligence. These general principles do not seem to be controverted and in the main the authorities concur. See 2 Hill, on Torts, ch. 26 p. 522, and the numerous authorities there cited. But as to the liability of the master for acts resulting from the negligence of the servant, in case only and not in trespass, the case of May v. Bliss, 22 Vt. 477, seems to have adopted a different rule. There the master sent the servant to a saw-mill to get his boards and told him to inquire of the sawyer, who would inform him which were his boards. He inquired of the sawyer, who gave him such directions that he took away the plaintiff’s boards as well as his master’s. The court decided that the master was responsible, whether the fault was in the sawyer in not giving sufficiently specific instructions, or in the servant in not properly apprehending, or not following them, the same as if he (the master) had done the whole himself. This ruling was sustained by the supreme court although the point was taken by counsel that trespass wotíld not lie. It would seem as if the injury to the plaintiff resulted from the negligence of either the sawyer or the servant — both of whom were in that matter the servants of the defendant — and that at common law the defendant would have been liable only in an aetio'n on the case. Although the opinion is a per cwriam one, and the question does not seem to have been much considered, we do not feel disposed to overrule it. By our statutes trespass and case can be joined. The old distinction has practically become of but little importance. If we were to reverse the judgment in.this case, it would only effect this —to compel the plaintiff to add a count in case to his declaration. The court below seems to have followed the language of the court in the case of May v. Bliss. As there is nothing in these ■forms -of actions, which can affect the rights -of the patties, ■either as to the m'ode of trial, proof or damages, and the one may he adopted as well as the other and both be joined ; and thus the •distinction between the- remedies is practically of no account, we ■are disposed to adhere to the decision in the 22nd, and to hold that the master may be liable in trespass for an act of his servant which is a trespass, though it occur through the neglect or unskilfulness of the servant.

This relieves the case from the only trouble we have felt in regard to it. A question we think might have arisen on the trial, whether the son was not guilty of negligence in driving off the plaintiff’s heifer as one of Cole’s, or the defendant guilty of negligence in sending one to get the heifers who could not identify them. But even if this were so the defendant would still be liable for his son’s act, though at common law only in case. But here, 'as we hold he would be liable in trespass, the fact that the point was not directly presented to the jury is unimportant. The charge as to the son’s being in his father’s business in driving the cattle off' wo think correct. By the directions given to him by his father “ to go and get Cole’s heifers” the son was substantially directed to go to the mountain pasture and if ho could not find them there to search for them in the vicinity. So if he found them with other cattle he was to use his knowledge and judgment in picking out Cole’s heifers. The nature of his errand would require him to do this, and in doing it he was only doing what his father expected of him. Hence we consider that in searching for and selecting the heifers of Cole he was, in the-language of the court below, “ in the business for which his father sent him.” As to the substance of his father’s directions and as to what he did in pursuance of them there appears to have been no ground of controversy; and the court might well treat the facts on that branch of the case as conceded, as all the testimony substantially concurred.

We have no time to review the numerous authorities which counsel have cited and read. They do not seem to be conflicting, but to concur as to the rules of law we have hereinbefore stated. Judgment affirmed.