Jelos v. Oliver Iron Mining Co.

121 Minn. 473 | Minn. | 1913

Hallam, I.

Defendant operates an iron mine. In connection therewith it ■engages in certain railroad operations. In particular it maintains •and operates, in an open pit known as the Walker pit, a main track .and a number of side tracks and switches radiating therefrom, and •operates upon them all of the rolling stock incident to the conduct ■of an open pit mine. These tracks and switches are shifted as the work progresses. On May 10, 1911, plaintiff was in defendant’s •employ. He was engaged with a crew of men putting in a switch to connect a side track with a main line track running into this pit. While so engaged he received an injury to his hand, and brings this •action for damages. Plaintiff had a verdict. Defendant moved for judgment or for a new trial. Both motions were denied. Defendant appeals.

1. Plaintiff’s account of the accident was as follows: He testified that he was taking a small stone from underneath a rail, when two of his fellow employees, carrying a tie on their shoulders, negligently threw the tie down in such a way that it jumped or skidded across the track and struck plaintiff’s hand or wrist. There is ample proof of the negligence of those fellow employees. It is true plaintiff’s version of the manner of the injury was denied, but the jury evidently accepted his version as true. If the accident happened as he has described, it is clear that these men were negligent. Defendant’s foreman Iiorrigan testified that there' was no necessity for throwing a tie down in such a way that it would jump across the-track and that if the men did so, that would be a careless and dangerous way to handle a tie.

2. The crucial question in the case is whether the defendant is. responsible to plaintiff for the negligence of these fellow-employees. Under common-law rules plaintiff would have no right of action. He claims a right to recover under the fellow servant act of this, state, which provides that:

“Every company owning or operating, as a common carrier or otherwise, a railroad, shall be liable for all damages sustained within this state by any agent or servant thereof, without contributory negligence on his part, by reason of the negligence of any other servant thereof.” E. L. 1905, § 2042.

It has been the uniform decision of this court that this act applies only to employees who are exposed to the peculiar hazards incident to the operation of railroads and whose injuries are the-result of such hazards. Lavallee v. St. Paul, M. & M. Ry. Co. 40 Minn. 249, 41 N. W. 974; Johnson v. St. Paul & D. R. Co. 43 Minn. 222, 45 N. W. 156, 8 L.R.A. 419. It is held that the work of constructing and repairing switches and tracks does not ordinarily involve such peculiar hazards. A rule has, however, grown up,, known as the “rule of haste,” under which it is held that, if the-employee is engaged in altering or repairing a track upon which, trains are operated, or are to be operated, and by reason thereof the work has to be done with great and unusual haste, and such haste is an essential element in causing the accident, it can be fairly said that the employment involves an element of hazard peculiar to the-railroad business, and the statute applies.

This rule was first laid down in this state in Blomquist v. Great Northern Ry. Co. 65 Minn. 69, 67 N. W. 804. It has since been followed in numerous cases. Tay v. Willmar & S. F. Ry. Co. 100 Minn. 131, 110 N. W. 433; Janssen v. Great Northern Ry. Co. 109 Minn. 285, 123 N. W. 664; Pylaczinski v. Great Northern Ry. Co. 120 Minn. 74, 139 N. W. 147.

It is held in some of the later cases that though the necessity for haste did not in fact exist, still if there was an order to hasten •the work on account of the operation of trains, the statute applies. Janssen v. Great Northern Ry. Co. supra; Pylaczinski v. G. N. Ry. Co. supra.

Plaintiff claims that this case is within this rule; that there was necessity for great and unusual haste because of railroad operations; .and also that orders to that effect were given. He testified that •there were trains passing over the main track into which this switch was being built. He also testified that the foreman “told us to finish the switch so the trains can go by;” that he said, “work fast, losing too much time, train switch;” “said train stop, lose ¡time;” “work very fast, train too much losing time, getting switch.” All this testimony is contradicted by several witnesses. We think it clear from all the evidence that there had been no train on that day over this portion of this main track, except that an engine and flat car operated by this crew went to a point outside the pit and ^brought a load of ties. It is not so clear that plaintiff’s testimony in this particular was wilfully false since there were frequent trains coming into the pit over this main track and then passing over •other side tracks.

The court submitted to the jury a special question, “Did the foreman * * * order the plaintiff to work fast on the day of the alleged accident and injury prior to the said accident and injury to plaintiff?” The jury answered this question “Yes,” thereby accepting plaintiff’s evidence on this point as true. After a careful •consideration of the whole record, we hold that this finding is sustained by the evidence. It appears beyond contradiction that this •crew of men had for some time been working on tracks in this open pit, some days putting in switches, some days laying new main tracks; that there were numerous tracks running into and about this pit, and that the tracks were always being changed from one place to another to keep pace with the progress of the work; that the track gang followed the steam shovels and laid tracks as needed for their progress; that this switch and side track were being made for the purpose of putting in a steam shovel to work there; that no time was lost at this sort of work; that conditions in the pit in the movement of trains and shovels made it necessary for work of this character to be done in as short a time as possible; and that all track work had to be carried on so there would be no interruption of traffic. Ther jury probably found it not difficult to believe that, under such conditions, an efficient foreman did in fact give this crew of men orders to hurry up, as plaintiff claimed. We are not disposed to disturb-their verdict.

3. Defendant contends that this tie was handled in the customary' manner and that plaintiff assumed the risk of this method of work-There is some evidence that ties 'were often thrown quite carelessly when the men were in a hurry. But the particular negligence in. this case consisted in the throwing this tie in this manner, while-plaintiff was in such position that he was in danger of being injured by the act. B[is evidence is that he did not see that these men were-about to throw their tie. There is no evidence that ties were thrown, in this manner under similar conditions on any previous occasion. An employee does not assume the risk of customary negligence on the paid of the employer or of those for whom the employer is responsible, unless he has notice that the negligent acts are customarily done under circumstances similar to those under which he is placed. Bernier v. St. Paul Gaslight Co. 92 Minn. 214, 99 N. W. 788; Hall v. Chicago, B. & N. R. Co. 46 Minn. 439, 49 N. W. 239.

4. It is contended that the trial court erred in striking out an., answer to a question “as .not responsive.” No effort was made later; to elicit the answer stricken out by a question to which it would be responsive. We do not approve the practice of striking out material testimony simply because it is not responsive to a question asked.. Such a practice serves no good purpose and entails useless delay. But this court will never reverse a cause for error in striking out testimony because not responsive to a question when the course is-plainly open to the party assigning the error to elicit the same testimony by another question.

5. Some exception is taken to the court’s charge to the jury,, particularly as to the question as to assumption .of risk and the-“rule of haste.” Some isolated portions of the charge if taken alone-might be subject to objection. We are of the opinion, however. that the charge, taken as a whole, fairly submitted all the issues in the case, and that there was no erroneous statement which could mislead the jury. Under such circumstances the case will not be reversed.

Order affirmed.