Hatch v. Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway Co., 107 N.W. 1087

107 N.W. 1087 | N.D. | 1906

Morgan, C. J.

The plaintiffs entered into a written contract with the defendant under which a carload of horses was to be carried from the Minnesota Transfer to Plarvey, N. D. The plaintiffs claim that the horses were injured through the defendant’s negligence, and that they were damaged thereby in the sum of $504. The written contract is attached to the complaint and made a part thereof. The defendant demurred to the complaint upon the ground that it appears upon the fact thereof that it does not state a cause of' action. The demurrer was overruled. Defendant appeals from the order overruling it.

The contract of shipment contained the following condition or stipulation: “The said shipper further agrees that as a condition precedent to his right to recover any damages for loss of or injury to any of said stock, he will give notice in writing of his claim therefor to some officer of said railroad company or its nearest station agent before said stock has been removed from said place of destination, and before said stock has been mingled with other stock.” It is claimed that the complaint states no cause of action because it fails to state that the notice provided for in said contract was given. The plaintiff contends that the condition above set forth is an unreasonable condition, and therefore void. This contention is based upon other portions of the contract, wherein it is stated that the horses are tq oe “transported from Minnesota Transfer station to Plarvey, N. D. station.” This statement in no way affects the agreement concerning giving of notice. The contract as to shipment was complied with when the horses were delivered at the station. That was the place where the horses were to be unloaded. But the stipulation or agreement as to notice refers to the place of destination. The word “place” in that connection refers to the village of Plarvey, and not to the station at Plarvey. This is the construction given to the same language used in the contract involved in Welch v. N. P. Ry. Co., 14 N. D. 19, 103 N. W. 396.

These conditions or stipulations in shipping contracts are for the benefit of the carrier. Their object is to prevent false claims as to injuries received by stock during shipment. If the stock is mingled with other stock before notice of injuries is communicated to the carrier, he is placed at a serious disadvantage in determining the facts as to the injuries claimed. The time during which notice must be given is not limited. Unlimited opportunity is given to ascertain if the stock is injured. The stipulation does not limit the carrier’s liability. It simply requires notice to be given that injuries have occurred, before the stock is moved away or mingled with other stock. The shipper is deprived of no right. We are unable to say that the stipulation is an unreasonable one as a matter of law. The following authorities held that similar conditions or stipulations are not unreasonable as a matter of law: Rice v. K. P. Ry., 63 Mo. 314; Express Co. v. Caldwell, 21 Wall, (U. S.) 264, 22 L. Ed. 556; Goggin v. K. P. Ry. Co., 12 Kan. 416; Sprague v. Mo. Pac. Ry. Co., 34 Kan. 347, 8 Pac. 465; Hutchinson on Carriers, section 259, and cases cited; Southern Railway Co. v. Adams, 115 Ga. 705, 42 S. E. 35; Glenn v. Express Co., 86 Tenn. 594, 8 S. W. 152; Louisville & N. Ry. Co. v. Landers, 135 Ala. 504, 33 South. 482; Wichita & W. Ry. Co. v. Koch, 47 Kan. 753, 28 Pac. 1013. The plaintiff further contends that the stipulation is invalid and unenforceable because the complaint shows that it vas entered into without consideration. The contention is that some special consideration must have passed between the parties relating to this express stipulation before it becomes binding. This is not true. Conditions like the one in suit become binding and effectual by virtue of the general consideration, for the contract generally, if assented to. It is not a contract limiting defendant’s liability. Am. & Eng. Enc. Law (2d Ed.) p. 300; Crow v. Chi., etc., Ry. Co., 57 Mo. App. 135. It therefore follows that the plaintiff’s contentions in favor of the complaint are not tenable. The defendant contends that the complaint must state that the notice of injuries was given before the stock was removed from the place of destination, and before it was mingled with other stock. It is further contended in favor of the demurrer that the general allegation of the complaint that all conditions precedent to the right to maintain an áction which were imposed by the contract had been fully performed by the plaintiff is not equivalent to an allegation that the notice was given as provided by the contract and that said allegation is simply a statement of a conclusion and not one of fact. Section 5286, Rev. Codes 1899, is relied upon by the plaintiffs in support of the sufficiency of the complaint. That section was construed in Leu v. Ins. Co., 15 N. D. 360, 107 N. W. 59, and it was there held that said section does not authorize a general statement of compliance with condition imposed by contracts in cases in which such conditions are part of the cause of action as distinguished from conditions precedent. It is not necessary to determine whether that section is applicable to this case or not, as the demurrer was properly overruled upon another ground.

(107 N. W. 1087.)

The condition or stipulation referred to is not strictly a condition precedent, and it is not part of the cause of action. The cause of action is complete before this condition becomes operative. The cause of action is not created by the contract of the parties. The law controls what facts shall constitute the cause of action. If the law should provide for the notice in the same statute, defining what the cause of action should be, a different question would be presented. But the condition in this case is made by the contract of the parties and the cause of action is defined by the common law. Hence the condition cannot operate as a part of the cause of action. It was therefore an unnecessary allegation of the complaint. A cause of action was completely stated without it. The condition was a limitation upon the right of the plaintiff to maintain the action and pertained to the remedy. It was therefore a matter of defense to be raised by answer, if at all. This court has recently so held in a case involving a similar condition, Kinney v. Brotherhood, etc., 15 N. D. 21, 106 N. W. 44. See, also, Kahnweiler v. Ins. Co., 67 Fed. 483; 14 C. C. A. 485; Maloy v. Chi. & N. W. Ry. Co., 109 Wis. 29, 85 N. W. 130; Gatzow v. Buening, 106 Wis. 1, 81 N. W. 1003, 49 L. R. A. 475, 80 Am. St. Rep. 1; Meisenheimer v. Kellogg, 106 Wis. 30, 81 N. W. 1033; Westcott v. Fargo, 61 N. Y. 542, 19 Am. Rep. 300.

The order overruling demurred is affirmed.

All concur.