13 La. App. 581 | La. Ct. App. | 1930
Lead Opinion
These are two suits instituted by a husband and wife for damages for personal injuries and property damage arising out of an accident at the intersection of St. Louis street and North Carroll-ton avenue in the city of New Orleans on May 24, 1927, at about 9 o’clock p. m. Defendant denied liability and specially pleaded contributory negligence. There was a verdict and judgment in favor of the husband for the sum of $250 and in favor of the wife for the sum of $1,500. Plaintiffs appealed, and thereafter defendant appealed.
North Carrollton avenue is a very wide street, with a neutral ground in the center, and paved roadways on each side of it, and extends or runs from uptown to downtown. This avenue intersects St. Louis street, which is occupied by thirteen tracks of the defendant company that measure,
On the night in question, Mrs. McLellan, one of the plaintiffs, was driving her five-passenger Franklin sedan on the river side roadway of North Carrollton avenue, with her husband seated on the right-hand side of the front seat of the car. When she reached the intersection of St. Louis street and the railroad tracks, due to the fact that there was an engine about to pass, the flagman in the tower lowered the gates so as to protect traffic from the engine. There were four or five automobiles which also stopped where plaintiffs’ car was standing due to the gate being down. As the engine passed, the gate, together with the red light suspended from it, lifted and plaintiffs proceeded in the lead to go over the- tracks. As their car reached the thirteenth or last track, which is the north or outbound track, it was struck on the right rear side by a passenger train consisting of an engine, a day coach, and two private cars. This train was proceeding north or towards the lake on the thirteenth or north
In this court the defendant concedes that its employees were guilty of negligence, but contends, first, that the plaintiffs were guilty of contributory negligence, and, second, that the defendant’s employees did not have the last clear chance.
We will first take up the question of whether or not the plaintiffs were guilty of contributory negligence.
In Cherry vs. Louisiana & A. Ry. Co., 121 La. 471, 46 So. 596, 17 L. R. A. (N. S.) 505, 126 Am. St. Rep. 323, it was said:
“Where the distance across four railroad tracks is only 49 feet, a traveler about to cross the tracks exercises all due legal care and prudence if he stops and looks and listens before venturing upon the first track. He is not required to repeat the precaution with each of the tracks in succession.
“One who, on a public highway, approaches a railroad track, and can neither hear nor see any indication of a moving train, is not chargeable with negligence in assuming that there is none sufficiently near to make the crossing dangerous.”
See, also, Seelhorst vs. Pontchartrain R. R. Co., 11 La. App. 586, 123 So. 626.
In Strotjost vs. St. Louis Merchants’ Bridge Terminal R. Co. (1916) a Missouri case (App.) 181 S. W. 1082, it was held that one on the highway may regard the raising of the gates as an invitation to him to pass forward in safety.
In Pulcino vs. Long Island R. Co., 125 App. Div. 629, 109 N. Y. S. 1076, affirmed in 194 N. Y. 526, 87 N. E. 1126, it was held that it was for the jury to say whether the gates were raised enough to warrant the deceased in believing that the raising of them was a declaration to him that the way was safe and to go ahead, and to what extent his vigilance was thereby lessened. This was a case where the gates were only partly raised.
In Chicago & E. I. R. Co. vs. Schmitz, 211 Ill. 446, 71 N. E. 1050, it was held that the raising of -gates after the passage of a train was an invitation to the traveler to cross, and whether she was justified in doing so, and whether she took proper pains to look to see if any train was coming, were questions of fact for the jury.
As further authority for the acceptance of the lifting of the gates as an invitation to cross, we quote from 33 Cyc. Railroads, p. 1028:
“Where a railroad company maintains a flagman, gates or other signals or warnings at a railroad crossing whether voluntarily, or by law or custom, the public generally has a right to presume that these safeguards will be reasonably maintained and attended, and in the absence of knowledge to the contrary, the fact that the gates are open, or automatic bells not ringing, or that the flagman is absent from his post, or if present is not giving warning of danger, is an assurance of safety and an implied invitation to cross upon which a traveler familiar with the crossing may rely and act within reasonable limits, on the presumption that it is safe for him to go on the crossing. The extent to which a traveler may rely on such assurance is a question of fact, and while ordinarily the same degree of care and vigilance is not required of a traveler under such circum*584 stances as otherwise, he has no right to rely exclusively upon such circumstances, nor will such presumption or assurance excuse the traveler from using every reasonable precaution that an ordinarily prudent man would use under like circumstances. * * *”
Prom the same volume of Cyc., page 946, we quote, “Duty of Railroads as to Management of Gates”:
“* * * The public have a right, when the gates are open, or the flagman not in his accustomed place of duty, to presume, in the absence of knowledge to the contrary, that the gateman or flagman is properly discharging his duties, and it is negligence for a gatekeeper or flagman to leave his post, knowing that an engine is approaching, without giving some signal of danger. If the flagman or watchman neglects to give any warning, or does not give a warning until the traveler is in great danger, especially where the view of the approaching train is obstructed, and no signals are given by it, the railroad company is responsible. Where gates are established, although there is no statute requiring their maintenance, it is negligence if they are not constructed, attended, and maintained, with ordinary care and prudence, so as to give the proper warning of an approaching train, or so as not to injure a passerby by the manner in which they are maintained or closed.
The defendant points out, in support of this plea, that the view of the plaintiffs was unobstructed when the automobile was about 50 feet from the thirteenth or northbound track in the direction from which the train came, as the testimony of its witnesses show that the main line track is straight for a distance of about three blocks in the direction of the river. However, it is conceded by the defendant that, at the point where the plaintiffs’ automobile stopped before going on the tracks, prior to the raising of the gate, the coal chute obstruction made it impossible for the plaintiffs to see the train approaching on the last track. Defendant further concedes that the evidence is conflicting as to whether or not the bell and whistle signals were given by the train and that the evidence on that issue does not preponderate in favor of the defendant. Defendant also concedes that the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that plaintiffs are guilty of contributory negligence is upon itself. In its last analysis the contention of the defendant is that, as the plaintiffs’ view of the approaching train was unobstructed when within about 50 feet of the track, and as the electric headlight on the engine was burning, that this was sufficient warning to place the plaintiffs on their guard of the impending danger of the approaching train, and that, in failing to observe the train, they were guilty of contributory negligence. Defendant cites a long list of authorities in support of this contention to the effect that the driver of an automobile must stop, look, and listen at a point where such action on his part would be effective in preventing the accident.
The evidence convinces us that, as the gates lifted, Mrs. McLellan, the driver of the automobile, proceeded to cross the tracks at a careful and moderate rate of speed with the other four or five automobiles, but in advance of them. She was required, under the circumstances, in order to carefully drive, to keep a lookout to the left, where trains might approach and where the other automobiles were moving in the same direction that she was driving and had a right to pass her car on that side. She also had to look forward or ahead, where she was going, as well as to the right of her, where trains might approach. She had to keep under observation thirteen tracks on her right and left, and could not look in these respective directions simultaneously. Both Mrs. McLellan and
The flagman stationed in the tower, a witness for defendant, testified that trains were switching that night at 9 o’clock in the squares between Cortez and Scott streets and Scott and Carrollton avenue, and that there were freight trains on the tracks which were not used as the main line tracks, and that there were two or three of them switching in this area; that there were some box cars on these tracks, but he could not say how many were on the side tracks in those squares at the time, but that there were some there. It may well be that some of the box cars on the other tracks prevented the plaintiffs from seeing the passenger train approaching.
We are convinced that the plaintiffs’ view of the oncoming train was obstructed and that they did not see the train until it was upon them, because the flagman in the tower testifies that he did not observe the approaching train until it was within 50 feet of the crossing. Under the circumstances we are of the opinion that the plaintiffs were not guilty of contributory negligence.
We do not consider the cases of Gibbens vs. N. O. Terminal Co., 159 La. 347, 105 So. 367, and Ladner vs. N. O. Terminal Co., 139 La. 262, 71 So. 503, which able counsel for defendant have cited, as applicable, because we find from the evidence that the plaintiffs did stop, look, and listen and exercise such ordinary care and prudence required of them under the circumstances.
As to the quantum of damages, the evidence shows that the automobile was struck and knocked about 40 feet, overturned twice, and was demolished; that it was three and a half years old, having a trade-in value of twelve or thirteen hundred dollars; that it was so badly broken and smashed that the wreckage was traded in for $150.
Mr. McLellan suffered multiple contusions and bruises over the head, body and legs, and testified;
“I do not think I have any place that would measure twelve inches that was not damaged. At the present time this foot (indicating his left knee) bothers me. It is very weak.”
He further testifies that he was 77 years of age and in good physical condition before the accident, and that he still suffers headaches from the blows he received on his head; that his memory is poor as a result of the injuries received; and that before the accident he was able to go up and down stairs unassisted, but presently is unable to do so without assistance. Dr. Lucien Landry, who examined him on May 27, 1927, corroborates Mr. McLellan’s testimony as to subjective pains as follows:
*586 “Pain in the right shoulder, arm and hand, pain in left chest from mid-sternal line to axillary region. That is under the arm right back to the scapular or shoulder blade. So much so that he is unable to lie on the right side. Has a headache all the time and experiences considerable vertigo when he stoops, has pain in right ankle and heel radiating towards the toe. Pain in right muscles of the neck, posterior. That is the right side of the back part of the neck. We found a new scar on the dorsal surface of the right hand near the thumb. That is the result of a lacerated wound; * * * a decided impediment in walking. He walked with difficulty. I tried him on the steps and he was very hesitant in negotiating the stairway and that he was in a very nervous state, which could be attributable to the accident or to his advanced age.”
This doctor only saw the plaintiffs on one occasion.
Dr. G. A. Jung treated Mr. McLellan at his home on May 6, 1927, and described his injuries as follows:
“Mr. McLellan had general contusions, first of the middle third of right arm and hand; second, lower part of left leg and foot; third, right foot at heel; fourth, right chest; fifth; his head.”
The doctor further testified that Mr. Mc-Lellan was extremely nervous and had a tremor, which, in his opinion, resulted from shock; that he saw the patient off and on for possibly three months; that he was confined some time to bed and other times he was around the place. Mr. McLellan also claimed $12 for the cost of a violet-ray machine, which the doctor recommended that he use, medicine $11.20 and one of the doctors’ bill $38, a total of $61.20. The patient was also treated by Dr. Nelson for stomach trouble, but we do not believe this ailment was sufficiently connected with the accident. The medical testimony also convinces us that some of his ailments are due to his advanced age and not to the accident. The jury allowed a sum of $250. We regard this as inadequate and believe that the damages for personal injuries should be increased to $500, plus $61.20 for the above-enumerated items.
Mrs. McLellan was also treated by Dr. G. A. Jung and testified that this examination -on May 6, 1927, revealed the following:
“* * * Mrs. McLellan had contusions of the first middle left thigh; second, left leg below knee; third, left chest; fourth, left arm at elbow; fifth, right thigh, middle third; sixth, right hand, palmer surface; seventh, along sympysis pubis; eighth, about the head.”
He further testified that Mrs. McLellan was nervous and upset and suffered from acid burns on the right shoulder and left shoulder, on her left side and left chest, and had severe bruises on the upper third of the leg; that he applied heat first and then medicine towards relieving the pain and used the ultra violet rays to reduce contusions; that he used bromide as a sedative and on one occasion codine to relieve the pain; that he treated her possibly for the same period of three months that he treated Mr. McLellan; that she was confined to her bed in her home for a like period of time, being sometimes in bed and sometimes just around the place; that her nervous condition at the time was due to the shock, but that her injuries were not permanent. Dr. Landry’s testimony is corroborative.
Mrs. McLellan also sued for the cost of the Franklin sedan, her separate property, which cost $3,350 new and was about three and a half years old and had a trade-in value at the time it was wrecked of twelve or thirteen hundred dollars. This was testified to by the representative of the
Under the circumstances, we believe that she was entitled to the sum of $1,000 for personal injuries and suffering and $1,100 for the loss of her automobile, or a total of $2,100.
For the reasons assigned, the judgment of the lower court is amended by increasing the award in favor of Orris J. McLellan to the sum of $561.20 and the award in favor of Mrs. Emma Gueringer, wife of Orris J. McLellan, to the sum of $2,100, with legal interest from judicial demand until paid, and as thus amended the judgment of the district court is affirmed, defendant to pay all costs.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). There are certain facts which are not in dispute and which in themselves convict Mrs. McLellan of contributory negligence:
First, on the front end of the approaching locomotive there was a brilliant electric headlight.
Second, the coal chute was 200 feet from the automobile driveway and 50 feet from the railroad track, so that even if when the automobile was more than 50 feet from the track, the view of Mrs. McLellan was slightly obstructed by the chute 200 feet to her right, nevertheless, when she.reached a point 50 feet from the track, that obstruction passed entirely out of the case and no longer interfered in the slightest degree with her vision in the direction from which the locomotive was approaching.
Third, the other buildings mentioned were all farther away than was the coal chute and at no time obstructed the view to any extent at all.
Fourth, the drivers of the four or five other automobiles alongside of and to thg rear of Mrs. McLellan’s car all saw the approaching train and stopped to let it pass.
Fifth, the bell on the train was automatically ringing by steam.
In addition to these facts, it is abundantly proven by the record that there were no box cars or any obstructions to interfere with the clear view which Mrs. McLellan would have had had she looked.
Even plaintiff’s witnesses did not testify positively that there were standing on the tracks box cars which would have interfered with her vision, but contented themselves with saying that at times in the past box cars had been parked on those tracks.
There is no doubt of the- primary negligence of defendant’s tower man in raising the gates after the first train passed, and in thus inviting Mrs. McLellan and her husband to enter upon the crossing. But
The fact that the night was dark and that there were few, if any, street lights in the vicinity from which the train was approaching, accentuated the brilliancy of the electric locomotive headlight. Del Buono vs. Ill. Central R. Co., 12 La. App. 35, 124 So. 694; Gliniecki vs. Pere Marquette Ry. Co., 238 Mich. 361, 213 N. W. 168.
With reference to the question of whether the raising of gates constitutes an invitation to cross without taking any precautions whatever, I call attention to several cases decided by the courts of this state and elsewhere.
In Ladner vs. N. O. Terminal Co., 139 La. 262, 71 So. 503, 504, the court said:
“Plaintiff appeared to think that because of the failure of the defendant company to lower the gates, and he testified that it failed to lower them in this instance, he was relieved of all responsibility to look and listen while crossing the tracks of the defendant company. In this he was mistaken. He should have looked and listened while crossing a street in which cars are being operated in a city.”
In Union Pacific Railroad Co. vs. Rosewater (C. C. A.) 157 F. 168, 171, 15 L. R. A. (N. S.) 803, 12 Ann. Cas. 851, it was said:
“Does the signal of a flagman at a railroad crossing of a city street relieve the traveler on the highway of the duty to look and listen before venturing upon the tracks? The additional, precautions to prevent accidents, such as gates and flagman, with their means of giving warning are adopted in view of the greatly increased dangers at such crossings. The noise of city traffic, the number of pedestrians and vehicles upon the street, the haste and activity of urban life, the frequency of the passing of engines and trains, and the proximity of buildings and other structures to the tracks make such precautions necessary. They are designed to meet the increase of peril resulting from local conditions and the congestion of traffic. Such additional precautions are not imposed by statute or municipal ordinance upon railroad companies, or voluntarily assumed by them for the purpose of relieving the travéler upon the streets from the taking of those simple precautions for his own safety which the long-settled rule of law requires of him. To hold otherwise would tend to defeat the very purpose for which gates and flagmen are maintained. It would result not so much in lessening danger and ensuring safety as in the mere transference of a mutual obligation to exercise care entirely to the shoulders of one of the parties.”
In Tucker vs. N. Y. C. & H. R. R. Co., 124 N. Y. 308, 26 N. E. 916, 917, 21 Am. St. Rep. 670, it was said:
“But if the inference was permissible that he looked at the moment of changing the bag, it does not meet the requirements of the case. He had still six tracks to cross, and was then eleven feet from the south rail of the first track. To look then, and not again, to go on from that point without observing the further precaution of watching for the approach of trains upon tracks almost constantly in use, was not a proper observance of that care which it was his duty to exercise.”
This court, in a case in which there were only four tracks, Gibbens vs. N. O. Terminal Co., 159 La. 347, 105 So. 367, 369, said:
“This court has never yet held directly or by reasonable inference that the failure of a railroad company to close the gates at public crossings and to keep them closed continuously in times of danger is of itself such a breach of duty and such an act of negligence as to constitute the immediate and proximate cause of an accident resulting in injury, and which would relieve the injured party from the duty of looking*589 and listening or from exercising ordinary care and prudence to see for liimself that there was no danger and that the route was sure and safe.
“To hold so would he to make -the railroad company an insurer against every accident happening at such crossings hy collision with its trains when the gate was open, and that, too, without regard to whether the gate was left open intentionally, by accident, or through some defect in the appliances.
“To establish such a rule of jurisprudence, as said by some learned authority would be ‘to make gates and flagman harmful creators of negligence instead of helpful aids to safety.’ * * *
“Our conclusion is that the failure of the plaintiff to look and listen, and to exercise such ordinary care and prudence as necessary to assure his safety before going upon the railroad crossing, amounted to such contributory negligence as to bar his recovery for injuries to his person and to his automobile. The gate being located at a station crossing, and the railroad tracks being inclosed, the mere fact that the gate was open did not absolve the plaintiff from the exercise of that due care and caution which is required from one going into such a known place of hazard and danger.”
Here there were thirteen tracks, and the distance between the raised gate and the track on which the accident occurred was nearly 200 feet. Does the raising of a gate under such circumstances relieve the traveler on the highway of the obligation of taking ordinary precautions at a point 200 feet beyond the gate and after he has traversed twelve tracks? I think not.
Cherry vs. L. & A. R. Co., 121 La. 471, 46 So. 596, 17 L. R. A. (N. S.) 505, 126 Am. St. Rep. 323, cannot save the situation for Mrs. McLellan. True she was not obliged to stop at each track, but she was under the obligation of keeping constantly and continuously on the alert and of doing what an ordinarily prudent driver would have done and what the other drivers alongside her did do. She should have glanced from side to side. The merest glance to her right at any time after she reached a point 50 feet from the track would have brought to her attention the approaching train. In the Cherry case the crossing consisted of only four tracks and was only 49 feet wide. I call attention particularly to the word “only” in the following quotation from the syllabus thereof:
“Where the distance across four railroad tracks is only 49 feet, a traveler about to cross the tracks exercises all due legal care and prudence if he stops and looks and listens before venturing upon the first track. He is not required to repeat the precaution with each of the tracks in succession.”
With reference to the contention that Mrs. McLellan had to look in both directions because there might have been trains coming from the other direction also, and that she therefore could not see everything in either direction, I call attention to the following:
“It is negligence for a person to be upon the track of a railroad without keeping watch both ways for trains.” Thompson vs. Morgan, 167 La. 335, 119 So. 69.
“It is the duty of the driver of an automobile, before attempting to cross two or more parallel railroad tracks to stop, look and listen for moving trains, cars or locomotives before entering upon the first trade and to continue to look and listen for them until he is over all of the tracks.” Branch vs. Missouri Pac. R. R. Co., 7 La. App. 257.
Nor does the fact that the conductor who was on the step of one of the passenger coaches and who, though he saw the auto approaching the track, did not signal the engineer to stop, render the company liable, because the testimony shows that, when this occurred, though he was nearly 200
“Trainmen have a right to believe that a person approaching the railroad track will exercise his senses of sight and hearing so as to perceive the approaching train in time to avoid all accidents.” Nolan vs. I. C. R. R. Co., 145 La. 483, 82 So. 590.
On this same point I call attention to the unanimous jurisprudence to the effect that the doctrine of the last clear chance has no application, and will not serve to render a defendant liable, where the negligence of the injured party continues to the moment of the accident. Jarrow vs. City of New Orleans, 168 La. 992, 123 So. 651; Harrison vs. La. Western R. Co., 132 La. 761, 61 So. 782; Castile vs. O’Keefe, 138 La. 479, 70 So. 481. That all the other autoists saw the train and stopped, and that those on the train saw the automobiles, is conclusive proof of the fact that Mrs. Mc-Lellan could have seen the train had she looked.
I cannot but feel that to affirm a judgment for Mrs. McLellan would do violence to the jurisprudence of tihis state and of the United States, which jurisprudence is, in my opinion, well expressed in the following:
“Statutes and municipal ordinances in every jurisdiction prescribe specifically the duty of railway corporations in respect to railway crossings; but no failure on the part of the railroad company to do its duty will excuse any.one from using the senses of sight and hearing upon approaching a railway crossing, and, whenever the due 'use of either sense would have enabled the injured person to escape the danger, the injury is conclusive evidence of negligence, without any reference to the railroad’s failure to perform its duty.” Brown vs. T. & P. Ry. Co., 42 La. Ann. 350, 7 So. 682, 684, 21 Am. St. Rep. 374.
“When a man goes upon a railroad track he knows that he goes to a place where he will be killed if a train comes upon him before he is clear of the track. He knows that he must stop for the train not the train stop for him.” B. & O. R. R. Co. vs. Goodman, 275 U. S. 66, 48 S. Ct. 24, 25, 72 L. Ed. 167, 56 A. L. R. 645.
As to Mr. McLellan, the legal situation is different. The negligence of his wife as the driver of the car is not chargeable to him. Churchill vs. T. & P. Ry. Co., 151 La. 726, 92 So. 314; Vitale vs. Checker Cab Co., 7 La. App. 653; Daull vs. N. O. Ry. & Light Co., 147 La. 1012, 86 So. 477; Southern Surety Co. vs. M. L. & T. R. R. & S. S. Co., 6 La. App. 575.
Of course, as was recognized in the Churchill case, there may be and there often are circumstances under which a guest in an automobile is guilty of negligence independent of that of the driver: for instance, where the driver is plainly incompetent, or is manifestly intoxicated, or guilty of such continuous recklessness as to demand remonstrance or protest from any ordinarily prudent person. But these circumstances do not seem to have been present here.
I therefore concur in the decree amending and affirming the judgment in favor of Mr. McLellan, but respectfully dissent from the decree amending and affirming the judgment in favor of Mrs. McLellan.