Benson v. Superior Manufacturing Co.

147 Wis. 20 | Wis. | 1911

BaeNes, J.

Forty-five errors are assigned by the appellant in this case. While a number of them are grouped and argued together, still the array is quite formidable, at least as do numbers. We shall discuss such of the errors relied on as we think merit notice. The fact that many of them will be passed over without discussion does not indicate that they were not considered, but only that their discussion would not 'he beneficial.

The first error argued is that the evidence fails to show any negligence on the part of the defendant. ' The hook used in hoisting the buckets of stone at the time of the accident was patterned after a hook manufactured in Milwaukee. The bucket in use was manufactured by a different manufacturer. This is an important fact in the case, because if the hook is-considered as a separate and distinct appliance there was not a particle of evidence to show that it was not perfect in every particular. So, too, if we consider the bucket, its handle and the staple therein, and the locking device to hold the handle in place, apart and aside from the hook, there is nothing to show that the appliance as a whole, or any of its component parts,, was defective or out of repair. This conclusion eliminates a number of the errors complained of. If the defendant was negligent it was because it assembled two incongruous articles — two misfits — to make a single appliance. The hook was evidently intended to lock so that it could not drop out. of or be removed from the staple in which it was inserted without opening the locking device. There was evidence from which the jury might find that the staple of the bucket was so-small that the hook would slip out when the jaw or projection which constituted the locking device was in place and as close-as it could be set to the point of the hook opposite thereto. Stated in another way, the jury might find that either a hook' was used which was too large or a staple which was too small. Either appliance would be perfect if used in connection with-another which it fitted. It may well be, as argued by the appellant, that it would not be negligence on the part of the master to use the open hook formerly in use. This question is not before us for decision. It is also true that the hook in use was-less liable to release itself from the staple when the cable was-slacked than an open hook. There was, however, this difference between the use of the two hooks: It would be perfectly obvious to an employee that the open hook would ordinarily drop out of the staple when the cable to which it was attached was slacked, while it would at least require a careful and critical examination of tbe book and staple that were in nse to ascertain that tbe book might slip through tbe staple without the locking device being released. An employee might well assume that so long as the locking device remained in place the hook could not become detached .from the staple. The hook and the bucket considered together constituted an appliance which to all appearances was safe, but one that was not so in fact. The locking device was calculated to mislead an employee. We think it was within the province of the jury to say that the appliance so furnished was not a reasonably safe one. While this specific item of negligence is not very definitely charged in the complaint, that document liberally construed is broad enough to include it, and it was submitted to the jury. This disposes of the contention that the evidence was insufficient to warrant the jury in finding negligence on the part of thé defendant.

It is urged that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence in that he and his fellow-workmen chose an obviously dangerous method of doing their work when they might have pursued a safe one and were in fact instructed so to do. The alleged negligence consisted in their placing the bucket under the decking so that it would not clear the coaming of the hatchway when the bucket was being hoisted. The evidence negatives the claim that plaintiff knew that any instructions were given as to the manner of placing the buckets, and the evidence was ample to show that the work was being done in the usual, ordinary, and customary way at the time of the accident. This court would not be warranted in holding as a matter of law that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence, notwithstanding the fact that he had plenty of experience in unloading boats during preceding years when open hooks were used.

Error is assigned because the witness Speakes was not permitted to testify that the back-latch and dumping device on the bucket were devices used by other employers of ordinary care in the same line of business, and in refusing to permit the same witness to testify that the hook was in common use by other employers in the same kind of business and was considered suitable for the purpose, and in refusing to permit the witness to testify that various captains and engineers of boats advised him of places where the hook was being used, as well as some other testimony of like general character.

Presumably the court sustained the objection to this testimony on the ground that the witness did not show himself competent to testify by reason of the limited knowledge which he had in reference to the appliances that were in general use by employers engaged in a like business. The witness showed a very limited knowledge of the use of the appliances concerning which he was asked to testify, and the court did not err in excluding the evidence. It is quite apparent that the testimony was immaterial in any event, as it did not go to the real question in the case, which was whether employers of ordinary care in the same kind of business generally used hooks with locking devices that would drop out of the staples in the buckets in connection with which they were used notwithstanding such locking device.

Error is also assigned because the court refused to permit a witness for the defendant to testify as an expert that in his opinion (1) the hook used was safer than the open hook, the one in ordinary use; (2) that the hook in use was a suitable hook for the purpose for which it was used; (8) that the hook was a reasonably suitable device to use to connect the cable with the bucket; (4) that the hook was a reasonably safe appliance. Also in refusing to permit witnesses to testify that the hook was considered a standard one among coal-dock operators ; that the manufacturers of the “Hunt” hook were prominent manufacturers of hoisting devices; and that the latching device on the bucket was reasonably safe.

The court excluded the testimony on the ground, as we are advised, that the witnesses were being asked as to ultimate facts to be determined by tbe jury. There are numerous cases which hold that such questions cannot properly be put to a non-expert witness. Kelley v. Fond du Lac, 31 Wis. 179; Montgomery v. Scott, 34 Wis. 338; Oleson v. Tolford, 37 Wis. 327; Draper v. Ironton, 42 Wis. 696; Griffin v. Willow, 43 Wis. 509; Benedict v. Fond du Lac, 44 Wis. 495; Mellor v. Utica, 48 Wis. 457, 4 N. W. 655; Lawson v. C., St. P., M. & O. R. Co. 64 Wis. 447, 24 N. W. 618; Robinson v. Waupaca, 77 Wis. 544, 46 N. W. 809; Lounsbury v. Davis, 124 Wis. 432, 102 N. W. 941; Johnson v. Highland, 124 Wis. 597, 102 N. W. 1085. The following cases hold that expert evidence which covers the ultimate fact to be decided by the jury and which is not based on a hypothetical case is not competent: Baker v. Madison, 62 Wis. 137, 22 N. W. 141, 583; Maitland v. Gilbert P. Co. 97 Wis. 476, 72 N. W. 1124. It is also held that opinion evidence as to the ultimate fact may be given by experts in regard to matters of science, art, or skill in some particular calling when based on a hypothetical question made up of facts that are not in dispute. Maitland v. Gilbert P. Co. 97 Wis. 476, 484, 72 N. W. 1124; Green v. Ashland W. Co. 101 Wis. 258, 77 N. W. 722; Daly v. Milwaukee, 103 Wis. 588, 79 N. W. 752; Innes v. Milwaukee, 103 Wis. 582, 79 N. W. 783. These cases are reviewed and their application very much limited by Lyon v. Grand Rapids, 121 Wis. 609, 620, 99 N. W. 311. It is there said:

“Opinion evidence must not be permitted to extend to the merits of the controversy, passing upon the very question, or one of them, to be submitted to the jury, or to go outside of the field of scientific knowledge.”

It is quite clear that the evidence was properly ruled out under the authorities cited. Moreover, we have stated that there was no evidence in the case to show any defect in the latch or to show any defect in the hook, except when used in connection with another device into which it did not fit. Consequently the evidence offered was immaterial because the offer amounted to an attempt on tbe part of tbe defendant to rebut a charge of negligence which had not been established by the plaintiff.

It is also claimed that the court erred in rejecting the testimony of Frank Hayes as an expert. It was proposed to show by Mr. Hayes that in his opinion the hook in question could not be removed from the staple of the bucket without releasing the locking device. It appeared that the vertical diameter of the staple was somewhat less than the horizontal, and it is claimed that the narrowest part of the staple could not be presented to the opening in the hook. This was a very material inquiry in the case. If the contention of the defendant was right, then no negligence on its part was shown and the plaintiff should not be permitted to recover. The hook and the bucket that were in use at the time the accident happened were in existence at the time of the trial. The hook at least was in court, and measurements of the staple were made during the progress of the trial. The question was not one which called for the expression of the opinion of any one. It would have been apparently an easy matter to demonstrate whether or not the hook could have been removed from the staple when it was locked. Any witness might make an experiment and testify to the fact as to whether the hook could be removed from the staple or not. If the witness had been asked to testify that from measurements or experiments he had made as a matter of fact the hook could not be released from the staple without releasing the locking device, it would have been error to have excluded the evidence. What was asked was the witness’s opinion, and the subject was not one which called for opinion evidence.

The opening in the hook when locked was 1 1-32 inches. The staple was somewhat square, its narrowest diameter being 15-16 of an inch. The witness Hayes testified that the greatest diameter of the staple, that is measuring from corner to corner, was 1 5-16 inches. The thirty-third error assigned is that the court was wrong in refusing to permit Mr. Hayes to demonstrate before the jury that the dimension 1 5-16 inches of the staple in the handle of the bucket was the only dimension'that could possibly be presented to the opening in the hook between the shoulder of the locking device and the point. It seems very clear to us that defendant had a right to show this fact, if such it was, by demonstration or by direct evidence of the fact. We do not understand that the court excluded any such evidence. This question was asked of the witness: “State whether or not that [the diameter of 1 5-16 inches] is the dimensions that it would be presented from any position that the bail could take from which it could slip over the point.” This question was not objected to. The witness gave the indefinite reply: “To answer that exactly I should have to lay out the two together. That is, the hook in its other positions.” The court then asked if that was something somebody else wouldn’t know if he gave it attention. By defendant’s counsel: “He gave it skilled attention.” Court: “I am talking about ordinary, sensible man.” Defendant’s counsel: “I think it is entirely different from that.” The witness: “My opinion”— Court: “Anybody can do it. Anybody can take a bail, try to experiment it in different ways. No doubt he can do it easier than the rest of us.” Exception by defendant. We do not understand from the foregoing that the court ruled that Mr. Hayes or any one else might not make an actual demonstration to show that the hook when locked could not be removed from the staple or that they had made experiments and found that it could not be done. What the court evidently intended to exclude and did exclude was opinion evidence on the point, and he was right in so doing.

A number of exceptions are taken to the refusal of the court to give requested instructions.. These errors will not be considered in detail. Some of them were correct enough as abstract propositions of law, but were inapplicable to the facts in the case, so that there was no occasion to give them. The others were properly refused because they did not correctly state the law.

There is one exception taken to the charge on the measure of damages which merits attention. The court gave the following instruction:

“Finding for plaintiff, the jury will award him such damages as will fairly compensate him for his expense for surgical service, for such pain and suffering as he has endured to date, and for inability to earn wages, all as proximately caused by the accident in question. Also such sum as will fairly compensate him for future pain and suffering, inability to earn wages, and the deprivation of the pleasures of life, all as produced by the lack of ordinary care in question on the part of defendant, if such there was, as proximate cause. And the jury, as to such future damages, must find to reasonable certainty, if they find the fact.”

It is urged that so much of the instruction as permitted the jury to award damages because of the “deprivation of the pleasures of life” is erroneous. Juries are frequently and correctly charged that a plaintiff in a personal injury action may be awarded damages because of “diminished capacity for enjoying life.” There is no substantial difference between the two phrases. The one here used is more likely to be misunderstood than the other, and for that reason its use is not commended. The chargd was not erroneous.

By the Gowrt. — Judgment affirmed.