Hackett v. Wisconsin Central Railway Co.

141 Wis. 464 | Wis. | 1910

Lead Opinion

The following opinion was filed February 1, 1910:

Dodge, J.

1. Appellant’s first contention is that verdict and judgment for the defendant should have been ordered upon undisputed evidence. Tbis general contention is supported on various asserted grounds, among which is the doe-trine of assumption of the risk. But under the existing statutes in this state a railroad employee, in the line of his duty, does not assume the risk of negligence in a co-employee, except perhaps in the case where he knowingly, voluntarily, and unnecessarily submits himself thereto.

Again, it is asserted that the deceased was not in the line of his duty as an employee. His duty required him to ride in the engine from Weyauwega to Waupaca, and he was doing just that. He did not cease to be .acting in the line of his duty, within the meaning of our statutes, even if he performed some negligent act in the*fcourse of his conduct. Kunza v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 140 Wis. 440, 123 N. W. 403. The evidence, instead of conclusively establishing that he was not in the line of his duty, we think was conclusive the other way..

Further, appellant contends that deceased co-operated and confederated with the engineer in the performance of the latter’s negligent act, which was the running of the train at an excessive and negligent speed. We have no doubt that if there had been affirmative agreement or even consent by the deceased, in advance, to such running, recovery would be prevented both under the rule volenti non fit injuria, and on the ground .of contributory negligence. We, however, find no evidence justifying more than a conjecture of any such fact The sum total of the evidence is that after engineer and fireman were in their places the engineer increased the speed of the engine to an excessive and negligent degree; that deceased did nothing except to call the engineer’s attention to the speed. From these facts there can be no legitimate inference that he either agreed with, or encouraged, the engineer to such negligence, or that he consented thereto at a time, when a protest could have been rendered effective by withdrawing himself from the danger.

A further contention that deceased is conclusively convicted of contributory negligence is met by much the same considerations. If be bad no knowledge before taking bis seat in the cab that an excessive and negligent rate of speed was intended, be bad no opportunity at any time after discovering such intent or conduct to take any effective precautions. He could not leave the engine nor could be control the engineer’s conduct, unless perhaps be were of preponderant physical power, a fact which w'as not established. Besides, be was subject to the command and authority of the engineer, who bad larger experience and was vested by the rules of the company with full control over bis conduct as an employee. If it was bis duty, in the exercise of due care or under the rules, i» caution the engineer of a danger so obviously within the latter’s knowledge, the evidence at least tends to establish that be did so. The proof is undisputed that both be, and the other occupant of the cab in bis presence, called the engineer’s attention to the very high rate of speed; bad loud talle “bow be was bitting her” or “batting her,” in the language of the witness. The assertion by counsel that such remarks were made jestingly or 'by way of encouragement is without support from the testimony; indeed is in defiance of express contradiction.

The remaining basis for this general contention of appellant is that the deceased’s conduct was somehow in breach of divers and sundry rules of the company. We are cited to a half dozen rules addressed generally to all employees of the railroad company calling attention to the hazardous nature of their employment and their general duty to be careful both for themselves and for others, and duty of one who is employed over or with another to caution such other of risks which he is about to encounter. As counsel construes these rules, the business of railroading could hardly be carried on with a celerity equal to the ancient stage coach. If they have been promulgated by the company in the literal and extreme sense which they assume in court, the conclusion would be irresistible that they have been promulgated for the purpose ■of being broken instead of obeyed in many respects. It is very certain that an employee who obeyed all of them to the letter would not make his services pf much value in the business of railroading as it is customarily conducted within common knowledge. However, these glittering generalities in. regard to general duty of caution and avoiding of danger in a business where exposure to danger is continuously required of ■employees must be deemed controlled, so far as they conflict, by the special rules addressed to the firemen, which provide primarily and specifically that “while on duty they are subject to the directions of their own engineers'. . . . Each engineer is held responsible for the engine under his charge.” “Engineers must not allow others to handle their engines, except their own firemen, the engineer remaining upon the en'gine and being held responsible.” Firemen shall, “when not engaged with other duties, assist in keeping a constant lookout, and will instantly give their engineer notice of any obstruction which they may perceive, or of any signals observed from other trains, or in case they shall have reason to believe their trains have parted, they will immediately notify their engineers of the same.” We can find nothing in these rules to justify the view that it was the duty of the fireman to attempt to control, or interfere with,- the engineer’s operation of his engine; at most, further than to call his attention to that operation, which was done by the, deceased. It is difficult to conceive any other act reasonably possible to the fireman which he could fairly believe would be effective. Having called attention to the excessive speed, co-uld he suppose the engineer would be affected by a lecture upon the perils of such speed from himself, an inferior in responsibility, in knowledge, and in experience ? Counsel assures us that such perils are known of all men; then surely by an experienced engineer, once he is informed of the fact of the’high speed. The only other course open to the fireman was to take in his own hands tbe running of tbe engine in defiance of express rules, and possible only in case be could physically overpower bis superior. Sucb steps 'are manifestly so unreasonable and absurd tbat tbey cannot be declared as matter of law essential to tbe conduct of an ordinarily prudent person under the circumstances disclosed. We cannot agree with counsel tbat tbe evidence is at all conclusive of any failure on the part of tbe deceased to exercise ordinary care.

2. Error is assigned upon tbe admission of evidence as to the generally weak and defective condition of tbe track at places in close proximity to tbat of derailment but not identical therewith. Doubtless it is true that existence of a specific defect in the track causing tbe injury is not legitimately proved by establishing defects elsewhere. But in this case was presented the question of the engineer’s negligence in running tbe train; tbat negligence was dependent upon all tbe surrounding facts and circumstances, among which would unquestionably be the condition of the track. The defects were all of a generally existing character, such as inferiority of ties, their insecurity in the ground, and loosened condition of tbe spikes, tbe last two of which at least were shown to result progressively from the operation of trains over the track. We think, therefore, the evidence was clearly admissible for some purpose and no error was committed in receiving it. Its effect might have been restrained by instructions to tbe jury had defendant so desired and requested. The same considerations apply to the admitted evidence of the recent running over tbe road of large engines; tbe excessive effect of such engines in producing or increasing the defects in the track above mentioned being made apparent.

3. Criticism is made of the phraseology of two or three-questions in the special verdict: first, as to the use óf the expression “reasonably proper care, test, or inspection,” instead of “ordinary care and prudence,” in discovering tbe defects in tlic track by the defendant. We think these expressions are-so nearly equivalent, especially in. the light of Baxter v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 104 Wis. 307, 311, 80 N. W. 644, that we certainly cannot say that the use of one instead of the other has so obviously affected the substantial rights of the appellant as to justify reversal in the face of ch. 192, Laws of 1909 (sec. 3072m, Stats.). Indeed the statute in 1906 (sec. 1816, Stats.: Supp. 1906) predicated liability upon a test still more closely equivalent to the verdict. The other criticisms of the verdict are disposed of by what has been said elsewhere.

4. Errors are assigned upon the refusal to submit by ver- ' diet certain questions requested by appellant. The first of these was whether deceased did “co-opérate with said engineer in the operation of said engine in a careless and negligent manner.” As we have said, we do not find any evidence from which, by legitimate inference, an affirmative answer to this question could have been reached. The second is: Did the deceased “approve of and acquiesce in the operation of said engine in a careless and negligent manner ? ” So far as this question is to be construed as referring to affirmative agreement or declared approval in advance, it must be controlled by the reasons just expressed as to the preceding one. So far as it relates to a mental state of tacit submission or acquiescence, it is not within any of the issues raised by the pleadings, but relates to a mere evidentiary fact bearing upon the negligence of deceased, a subject covered by a question duly submitted. Therefore its refusal was without error. Baxter v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 104 Wis. 307, 313, 80 N. W. 644; Blankavag v. Badger B. & L. Co. 136 Wis. 380, 386, 117 N. W. 852. Another question was requested submitting to the jury whether deceased’s “own slight want of ordinary care” contributed to produce the injury. The question in, fact submitted was whether “a want of ordinary care” so contributed. Of course the question submitted included that requested. A slight want of ordinary care is a want of ordinary care. Under the broad discretion of the trial court over the form of the questions in the special verdict, we cannot hold that the adoption of one phrase in preference to the other is an error. Mauch v. Hartford, 112 Wis. 40, 42, 54, 58, 87 N. W. 816. Another question, whether the danger was open and obvious to a person in the fireman’s situation, was properly refused because wholly immaterial. There was nothing in the situation suggestive even of the idea that any escape for him was possible after the danger arose. This is but a repetition of the contention in favor of the application of the doctrine of assumption of the risk, which we have already treated.

5. Defendant requested many instructions and now assigns error upon the refusal of some of them. Several are for direction of answers to certain questions and are within the preceding discussion. With reference to contributory negligence, an instruction was requested that an affirmative answer be given if deceased unnecessarily and voluntarily exposed himself to a known danger. Refusal of this was proper for the reason, already stated, that there was no evidence that deceased had any means of escape after the danger was known, so that his exposure could not be either voluntary or unnecessary. Another instruction that certain acts of the ■deceased, some of which were in dispute, would necessitate an affirmative answer was properly refused: first, because it is not the duty of a trial court to select individual detail items of evidence and embody them in instructions (Sullivan v. Mauston M. Co. 123 "Wis. 360, 363, 101 N. W. 679; Horr v. C. W. Howard Co. 126 Wis. 160, 164, 105 N. W. 668); and secondly, because various of the acts therein referred to might or might not have been conclusive of negligence on decedent’s part according to- other circumstances and facts. Further, on the subject of contributory negligence an instruction was requested that “carelessness and negligence of deceased, no matter how slight,” if it directly caused, or ■contributed to, the accident, would necessitate an affirmative answer. Tbe refusal of tbe request was proper, because tbe instruction, was erroneous. It referred to negligence “directly” causing, or contributing to, tbe accident, instead of proximately, wbicb in itself is incorrect. Mauch v. Hartford, 112 Wis. 40, 42, 87 N. W. 816. Further than this, however, it conveyed the idea that slight negligence constitutes want of ordinary care — a proposition early negatived in this court. Want of ordinary care is negligence. Want of extraordinary care, or that care which is customarily exercised by extraordinarily careful people, is slight negligence. The latter has never been recognized as affecting the rights of parties in this state. Dreher v. Fitchburg, 22 Wis. 675; 7 Words & Phrases, 6531.

6. Such of the errors assigned upon the portions of the charge in fact given as are sufficiently argued by appellant to entitle them to attention relate mostly to views of the evidence inconsistent with those entertained by appellant What we have said as to the evidence on the various subjects discussed will indicate that in the main we approve the court’s rather than the counsel’s view of the effect of the evidence introduced, and we may dismiss such assignments without further comment. We do not think any of them, except that as to damages, could have had any misleading effect on the jury or have affected the substantial rights of the defendant.

Error is also assigned upon the instruction given with reference to the damages, and refusal of a requested instruction substantially to the effect that the recovery should be by mathematical computation of the present value of an annuity to the amount of the deceased’s annual contributions during the probable life of the longest liver of the two parents. It was said in Rudiger v. C., St. P., M. & O. R. Co. 101 Wis. 292, 77 N. W. 169, that such computation marked the limit of the pecuniary injury in case of death of a husband by negligence, as contradistinguished from a multiplication of the annual contribution by the number of years’ expectancy of life of the beneficiary. In Crouse v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 102 Wis. 196, 208, 18 N. W. 446, 778, which of course should control the earlier case, it was said that mortality tables and annuity tables.might be admissible in evidence as an aid in estimating future damages, but that the subject was not one for mathematical computation. Especially is that true where there is no legal right to any specific amount, nor, indeed, to' any contribution at all. The court instructed generally in accord with Crouse v. C. & N. W. R. Co., and we do not think any prejudicial error occurred in refusing defendant’s request which cannot be fully rectified by requiring a remission of damages.

7r. Upon the question of damages, we are convinced that the jury exceeded any amount of pecuniary injury to- the parents which might result from the death of their adult son. It is found that his contribution had averaged $250 a year. But it also appeal’s without dispute that during all the time of such contributions he had received from his parents support as an inmate of their family; during most of the time complete support; and during, the two years of his- railroad service he had retained a room in their house and a home with them and had received his board when not actually out on the road, so it is obvious that his voluntary pecuniary contributions, over and above that which he had purchased by them, could not have exceeded $150 a year. An annuity to the mother, the younger of the two parents, who was fifty-one years old, would have been worth, according to the statutory method of computing the value of life estates (ch. 38, Laws of 1909: sec. 3871a, Stats.), approximately ten. years’ purchase, so that even an annuity of either $150 or $250, payable absolutely and without contingency, could not have been worth nearly the sum of $4,500. The annuity tables are predicated, however, only upon the contingency of life, but this contribution of an adult son to his parents was clouded by many other contingencies. He was under no legal liability to make any, for the parents are shown not to have been indigent, bnt'in easy circumstances for ■their apparent station in life. The father, in the prime-of health, is shown to hare been working regularly and earning $1.50 per day and to own a suitable homestead unincumbered. Any contribution by the son was dependent upon his persistency in habits of industry and of filial devotion as also upon his continued health and ability to contribute. The last plight wéll be impaired in case of his marriage and establishment of a home of his own, a contingency of which the annuity tables or the law can furnish no rule for computation. Thus it is apparent that the present value of the contributions he had been willing to make in the past was by no means equal-to the present value of a well secured annuity for the same period. In view of these considerations the court are of opinion that, while the verdict is excessive and therefore erroneous, the plaintiff should he allowed an option to remit therefrom all in excess of $2,500 and take judgment for that. The writer is of the opinion that the amount of such optional judgment should be much less under the rule of Heimlich v. Tabor, 123 Wis. 565, 102 N. W. 10.

By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and cause remanded for new trial: With option, however, to plaintiff, at any time within thirty days after notice of filing .remittitur in the circuit court, to elect to enter judgment for $2,500 damages, with costs: no costs to be allowed in this court for printing case.

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Dissenting Opinion

The following opinion was filed February 19, 1910:

Mabshall, J.

(dissenting). The evidence convinces me that deceased and the engineer were agreed upon the manner of operating the locomotive. True, the latter was the superior. True, if the former had protested he would have been powerless in the matter. But likewise true, if deceased approved of the venture and aided the engineer in a spirit of co-operation instead of mere subordination, tbe negligence was that of both and it would be a wrong to make the employer repair the loss to surviving relatives which they jointly inflicted. To my mind the evidence shows, conclusively, that the two employees concurred in the negligent act. The danger was just as apparent to one as to the other. The deceased manifested no fear and no disapproval. On the contrary, he entered into the spirit of the thing, showing the most complete mental as well as physical co-operation.

The infirmity in this case is not in that the fireman failed to do something to deter the engineer from pursuing his obviously reckless course, but in that the evidence clearly shows he was perfectly agreeable to what was done, and, therefore, appellant should not be required to pay his personal representative on account of his negligence. ,