Memphis Street Railway Co. v. Kartright

| Tenn. | Apr 15, 1903

Mr. Justice Wilkes

delivered the opinion of the Court.

This is an action for damages for personal injuries. It was tried in the court below by a jury, and there were a verdict and judgment for $250, and the railway company has appealed and assigned errors.

The facts, so far as necessary to be stated, are that plaintiff, a young man, about twenty years of age, was standing on the pavement at the corner of Rayburn and Yance streets, in the city of Memphis. A car of the defendant company was approaching on the street, when the trolley wire, forming part of its overhead construction, with an insulator upon its end, fell, and the insulator struck the plaintiff upon the head, inflicting a wound over his right eye, which left a permanent scar or blemish on his face. He was confined to his bed for several days, and was not able to work for some ten days, and incurred a medical bill of $25. It is not definitely shown what caused the breakage and fall of the trolley wire, but the plaintiff states that the trolley pole knocked the wire down; that he saw it fly off and knock the wire down.

It is assigned as error that there is no evidence to sustain the verdict. This assignment is based upon the theory that there is no definite testimony as to why the wire broke, and no evidence of negligent construction, maintenance, and operation of the line, while there is; testimony that the wire was in good condition, and had been inspected two days before; that at the time there was a break in the wire near the same place which was repaired, and the wire was then found to be in proper condition. The rule, as laid down in the case of Chattanooga Ry. Co. v. Mingle, 103 Tenn., 667" court="Tenn." date_filed="1900-03-30" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/chattanooga-electric-ry-co-v-mingle-8299536?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8299536">103 Tenn., 667, 56 S. W., 23, 76 Am. St. Rep., 703, is that “negligence on the part of the street care company in the selection, construction or supervision of its guy wire is presumed, without further evidence, from the fact that such wire, dangerously charged with electricity, falls on or near a public street,,, even if its fall was caused by a stroke, from the deranged trolley of a passing car.” This presumption of negligence must be overcome by the car company. The evidence introduced by the company consisted of the testimony of Bowen, the lineman; Erickson, the foreman of the repair apparatus, called the “Trouble Wagon;” and a negro, Branch, a member of his crew. The testimony of these witnesses is quite contradictory, though they speak, in general terms, quite emphatically as to the-quality of the wire, its condition, and frequent inspection. They are more or less interested, as employees-whose duties were to make repairs and keep the line in order.

On the other hand, the testimony of the plaintiff furnishes some evidence that the breakage was caused by the slipping of the trolley pole, which is nob explained; and the jury, from his statement, might have legitimately inferred that there was negligence in the slipping of the pole, or a defect in the condition of the wire, and, under the rule, this is sufficient testimony, coupled with the presumption, arising out of the breakage, that there was negligence.

The other assignments of error may be treated together, and relate to the degree of care required to be exercised by electric street railways in the construction, maintenance, and operation of its superstructure.

The court charged the jury that the street car company was obligated to use the best material, most approved methods of construction, and the highest degree of care and skill in maintaining and keeping same in repair, considering the dangerous nature of the appliances, and the peril to life and limb embodied in their use. And it is insisted that this was requiring too great a degree of care, and the court was requested to charge that the company was only required to exercise a high degree of care in these respects, and not the highest degree of care.

Counsel cites in support of his contention the language of this court in Chattanooga Street Railway v. Mingle, 103 Tenn., 667" court="Tenn." date_filed="1900-03-30" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/chattanooga-electric-ry-co-v-mingle-8299536?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8299536">103 Tenn., 667, 56 S. W., 23, 76 Am. St. Rep., 703; Street Railway v. Nugent (Md.), 38 A., 779" court="Md." date_filed="1897-11-17" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/baltimore-city-passenger-ry-co-v-nugent-7900092?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7900092">38 Atl., 779, 39 L. R. A., 161; Nellis on Street Surface R. R., 288.

The trial judge, in portions of his charge, did state the rule to be a high degree of care, and defined the term, with accuracy, as requiring care commensurate with the perils to be apprehended,.and such as would make the appliances safe in their use; but he also, in another part, charged that the highest degree was required. The, charge is open to the objection that the rule is not stated in the same or equivalent terms in all portions of the charge, and was, to some extent, confusing to the jury; hut we must assume that the jury applied the strict rule of the highest degree of care, in order to constitute error, even upon- defendant’s contention.

It is true in the case of Chattanooga R. Co., v. Mingle, 103 Tenn., 670, 56 S. W., 24, 76 Am. St. Rep., 703, this court said, “In view of the extreme peril consequent upon the displacement and fall of the wires, and in the operation of an electric railway system, it is essential that a high degree of care be exercised, not only in the construction, but in their continued maintenance in a good and safe condition.” Citing Denver Cons. Co. v. Simpson, 21 Colo., 371" court="Colo." date_filed="1895-09-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/denver-consolidated-electric-co-v-simpson-6562653?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6562653">21 Colo., 371, 41 Pac., 499, 31 L. R. A., 566; Giraudo v. Electric Imp. Co., 107 Cal., 120" court="Cal." date_filed="1895-04-06" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/giraude-v-elec-improvement-co-of-san-jose-5447590?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="5447590">107 Cal., 120, 40 P., 108" court="Cal." date_filed="1895-04-06" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/janes-v-bullard-5447591?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="5447591">40 Pac., 108, 28 L. R. A., 596, 48 Am. St. Rep., 114.

The real point at issue in the Mingle Case was whether the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur applies in case of breakage of the wires, so as to require the company to repel the presumption of negligence arising from the mere fact of breakage; but the court was not attempting to lay down with strict accuracy tbe full measure of care required of sucb companies in tbe construction* maintenance, and operation of tbeir lines.

So tbe question recurs, was it error to instruct tbe jury that tbe bigbest degree of care must be exercised? In tbe case of Denver Cons. Co. v. Simpson, 21 Colo., 371" court="Colo." date_filed="1895-09-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/denver-consolidated-electric-co-v-simpson-6562653?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6562653">21 Colo., 371, 41 Pac., 499, 31 L. R. A., 566, it was said by tbe trial judge: “Tbe defendant was not an insurer of tbe safety of tbe plaintiff, but, in constructing its line and in maintaining tbe same in repair, it was beld to the bigbest degree of care and diligence, and in this respect was bound to tbe bigbest degree of care, skill, and diligence in tbe construction and maintenance of its lines of wires and other appurtenances, and in carrying on its business so as to make tbe same safe against accidents, so far as sucb safety can, by tbe use of sucb care and diligence, be secured. If it observed sucb a degree of care, it was not liable. If it failed therein, it Avas liable for tbe injuries caused thereby.”

On appeal this charge was affirmed,tbe appellate court saying: “Where all minds concur, as they must in a case like tbe one we are considering, in regarding tbe carrying-on of a business as fraught with peril to tbe public, inherent in tbe nature of the business itself, tbe court makes no mistake in defining tbe duty of those conducting it as tbe exercise of tbe utmost care. It was therefore not prejudicial error for tbe court to tell the 'jury in that case what tbe law requires of tbe defendant, viz., tbe bigbest degree of care in conducting its business. Tbe late case of Block v. Milwaukce Street Railway Company, 89 Wis., 371" court="Wis." date_filed="1895-02-05" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/block-v-milwaukee-street-railway-co-8184748?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="8184748">89 Wis., 371, 61 N. W., 1101, 27 L. R. A., 365, 46 Am. St. Rep., 849, rightly interpreted, supports this doctrine; and the case of Haynes v. Raleigh Gas Company, 114 N.C., 203" court="N.C." date_filed="1894-02-05" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/haynes-v-kaleigh-gas-co-3650003?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3650003">114 N. C., 203, 19 S. E., 344, 26 L. R. A., 810, 41 Am. St. Rep., 786, expressly lays down the rule as observed by the trial court in the instructions given in this case.”

In Giraudo Case, supra, the court say: “The public, aside from the consumers using the commodity, owe no duty to those introducing it. But on the other hand, it is the duty of those making a profit from the use of so dangerous an element as electricity to use the utmost care to prevent injury to any class of people composing the public, which consists in considerable members. They must protect those having less than the ordinary knowledge of the character of the commodity.”

In Haynes v. Raleigh Gas Company, supra, the rule is stated thus: “It is due to the citizen that electric companies that are permitted to use for their own purposes the streets of a city or town shall be required to use the utmost degree of care in the construction, inspection, and repair of their wires and poles, to the end that travelers along the highway may not be injured by their appliances. The danger is great, and care and watchfulness must be commensurate with it. All the reasons that support the rigid enforcement of this rigid rule against the carrier of passengers by steam apply with double force to those who are allowed to place above tbe streets of a city wires charged with a deadly current of electricity, or liable to become so charged. The requirement does not carry with it too heavy a burden.”

In City Electric Railway Company v. Conery, 61 Ark., 381, 33 S.W., 426" court="Ark." date_filed="1895-12-14" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/city-electric-street-railway-co-v-conery-6543492?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6543492">33 S. W., 426, 31 L. R. A., 570, 54 Am. St. Rep., 262, the court uses this language: “Electric companies are bound to use reasonable care in the construction and maintenance of their lines and apparatus— that is, such care as a reasonable man would use under the circumstances — and will be responsible for any conduct falling short of this standard. This care varies with the danger which will be incurred by negligence. In cases where the wires carry a strong and dangerous current of electricity, and the result of negligence might be exposure to death or most serious accidents, the highest degree of care is required. This is especially true of electric railway wires suspended over the streets of populous cities or towns. Here the danger is great, and the care exercised must be commensurate with it. But this duty does not make them insurers against accidents, for they are not responsible for accidents which a reasonable man, in the exercise of the greatest prudence, would not, under the circumstances, have guarded against.”

In the case of Cook v. Wilmington City Electric Company, 9 Houst., 306, 32 Atl., 643, the court say: “The law requires that they [electric light companies] should use every way to protect and save the public from loss or injury. They must use every means, regardless of expense, to protect and make safe tbe public, or citizens-passing over tbe streets of -tbe city, who are not aware-of danger. They must use due care and ordinary diligence in sucb case, with tbe legal meaning in law following and attached to sucb words as I have stated.”' As to tbe meaning of these words, tbe court say: “The’ words ‘usual and ordinary care’ mean, in sucb cases, nothing more or less than, if there be a great danger- and hazard in tbe business, there should be a corresponding degree of skill and attention required by the-law.”

“Mr. Keasbey, in bis work on Electric Wires, says: “Tbe use of tbe electric current is authorized by law. It will do no barm if it is kept in its proper place, but it is jury dangerous if it is allowed to escape. Those who use it are charged with a public duty to use the-greatest care to keep it from doing harm, and, for failure to observe this care, they are responsible to persons: using tbe public streets who may be injured without any fault of their own.” Keasbey on Electric Wires, sec. 243. And Mr. Joyce,, in his work on Electricity, bolds; tbe same view: “An electrical company is under the-duty of so maintaining its wires as not to interfere with tbe free, unobstructed, and safe use of tbe highway. Although it is not an absolute insurer of its wires, yet it is bound to use tbe utmost care in maintaining them.”' Joyce on Electricity, sec. 450. See, also, McAdam v. Central R. Co., 67 Conn., 445, 35 Atl., 341.

We are of the opinion that in view of the danger attendant upon the breaking and falling of overhead electric wires in the streets, and the results to be apprehended to persons in the streets, the company should be held to the highest or utmost degree of care in the construction, maintenance, and operation of its lines; and the court was not in error in so charging. We are of opinion, also, that, taking the whole of his charge together, the jury must have understood the trial judge to lay down the rule of the highest degree of care; and there is therefore no reversible error in the record, and the judgment is affirmed, with costs.