Kliegel v. Aitken

94 Wis. 432 | Wis. | 1896

Winslow, J.

The general principle is well established that one who negligently — that is, through want of ordinary care — exposes another to an infectious or contagious disease, which such other thereby contracts, is liable in damages therefor, in the absence of contributory negligence or assumption of the risk. Gilbert v. Hoffman, 66 Iowa, 205; Smith v. Baker, 20 Fed. Rep. 709. It follows from this that, if a servant is exposed by his master without warning to such a risk, and thereby contracts the disease, he being ignorant of the danger, and unable to know of it by the exercise of ordinary care, the master is liable if he either knew, or in the exercise of ordinary care ought to have known, of the danger. This is but an application to different circumstances of a rule frequently applied in cases of injuries received by a servant resulting from latent dangers in machinery ; namely, that a servant is not to be exposed without warning to latent dangers of which he knows nothing, and is not chargeable with imputed knowledge, provided the master knew, or ought to have known, of the danger. In the case before us the complaint charged a case within the foregoing principles, and the plaintiff’s evidence tended to establish such a case. The judge’s charge was also in substantial accord with the principles stated, and the only questions to be considered relate to rulings in the course of the trial. A number of exceptions were preserved upon the trial, and those which seem to us of sufficient importance will now be briefly considered.

1. Certain medical experts were called, and hypothetical questions were put to them, purporting to state the facts testified to by the plaintiff, and they were asked upon these facts and upon all the plaintiff’s testimony when and where, in their opinion, the plaintiff contracted the disease. All the experts, save two or three, testified that they had heard all of the plaintiff’s testimony, and the two or three say that they heard all but a portion upon recross-examination, which appears to have developed nothing of moment in addition to her previous testimony. The facts stated in the question itself seem to be justified by the plaintiff’s evidence. The defendant has called attention to no important or material omissions or .misstatements, and we are unable to discover any error in the ruling of the court allowing the questions to be answered.

2. The complaint charged an actual misrepresentation as to the nature of the disease with which the defendant’s daughter was afflicted, as well as negligent failure to warn the plaintiff of the danger. The answer of the defendant denied that he ever called on the plaintiff, or authorized any one to call on her, to take care of his daughter; and in fact .it may be construed to deny that he ever employed the plaintiff at all, though admitting that she was at his house for a time, rendering assistance. Evidently, to meet this denial, the plaintiff proved that defendant sent one Patterson to her house to ask her to come and help in the family, and then proved that Patterson did come and see her, and told her, in course of the conversation, that the defendant’s daughter had nervous prostration. This evidence as to what Patterson said as to the character of the disease was objected to, but allowed to go in by the court. We think it was admissible as part of the transaction. The contract of hiring was put in issue by the answer. It was certainly competent, perhaps essential, that the plaintiff should prove that the defendant applied to her, either personally or by an agent, to come to work for him; and the entire conversation at the time seems clearly admissible as part of' the res gestae, if on no other ground. So there appears to us to be no error in admitting the evidence. The effect, however, which that statement should have on the case is. a different question. The trial judge, in his' original charge to the jury, entirely ignored the question of the alleged false representation by Patterson, and submitted the case to the jury solely upon the question as to whether the defendant was. liable for negligence in not warning the plaintiff of the nature of the disease and the danger of infection or contagion. The defendant proposed no instruction, but at the conclusion of the charge asked the trial judge if he would charge the jury on the question of misrepresentation and the agency of Mr. Patterson. In response to this the judge said to the jury, in substance, that, if Patterson was defendant’s agent, he could bind defendant for anything within the scope of his agency, whatever they found that to be, but no further; that Patterson claimed he had no authority from defendant to say she had anything else, and that he said what he did say of his own accord. We should have been better pleased had the trial judge charged directly that Patterson could not. bind the defendant by a statement as to the character of the disease unless AitJcen authorized him expressly or impliedly to make a statement on the subject. Probably the judge would have given such an instruction had he been requested to do so, but he was not asked. As to the instruction which was given, it seems to us not incorrect in itself, and, while not as definite as might have been desired, we think it must have been understood by the jury as. meaning that, unless Patterson had authority from defendant to make some statement on the subject, no representation which he made would be binding on the defendant.

3. As to the measure of damages the court charged that she might recover for her loss of time while ill; her medical expenses. “ Then she is entitled to damages for the pain and suffering she has endured in the past and which she may have to endure in the future. But, in order to assess damages for the future, you must be satisfied to a reasonable ■extent from the evidence that she will continue to suffer.” It is said that this charge violates the rule laid down in Hardy v. Milwaukee St. R. Co. 89 Wis. 183, and other cases, to the effect that damages for future disability must be such as are reasonably certain to result, not such as may result. The criticism is not well founded. The judge told the jury that, in order to assess damages for the future, they must be satisfied to a reasonable extent from the evidence that she will' continue to suffer. This, it seems to us, is a substantial equivalent to “ reásonable certainty.”

4. Upon motion for a new trial the point was made that the plaintiff was not of age when taken sick, and did not attain her majority until about eight months thereafter; consequently, that she had recovered for time lost before her majority, which of course belonged to her father; also that the evidence showed that the medical bill of $80 was paid by. her father. Upon this the plaintiff remitted $250 from the verdict. The testimony showed the number of weeks which elapsed after her illness began and the time of her majority; also the maximum amount which she could earn per week; also the exact amount of the physician’s bill, paid by her father. These, being certain and definite sums, could be ascertained by the court without assuming the functions of a jury, and they could, therefore, be remitted. Nudd v. Wells, 11 Wis. 407. The amount remitted by the plaintiff more than covers these amounts, but of this the defendant cannot complain. We find no substantial errors in the record.

By the Court.— Judgment affirmed.