121 S.W.2d 877 | Ark. | 1938
The appellants in this case may be referred to as such, or, for brevity, the Perkins Oil Company of Delaware may be called merely the oil company, and C. H. Caldwell may be designated merely as Caldwell, while the appellee may be referred to as such, or as the plaintiff, or by name, as the occasion may suggest.
The oil company owns and operates a large cotton seed oil mill at West Memphis, in Crittenden county, Arkansas. C. H. Caldwell was an employee of that company and is referred to in most instances as the superintendent in the operation of the plant. Fitzgerald was a young man between twenty-one and twenty-two years of age, employed at that plant as a helper in the installation of some of the machinery, including the particular machine upon which he was hurt, which is called in the complaint and evidence a "cotton seed cleaner." He had worked for several weeks during which the plant *16 was not in operation, and, at the time the season opened and the plant began operations, he was employed as an oiler. Many electric motors were employed in the plant and these produced the energy to drive the different units of machinery in the manufacture of cotton seed oil and by-products from the cotton seed. In fact, because so many of these different units were located in different parts of the plant it was deemed necessary to have a separate employee responsible for the proper lubrication of all these different or separate units, and it was primarily, at least, the job for which Fitzgerald was employed; that is to say, he was the oiler. According to the record this was not the only duty he owed to his employer, but it was the principal one. Since the appellee is entitled to have the facts, as established by the proof and reasonable inferences therefrom, construed in a light most favorable to him to sustain the verdict and consequent judgment rendered in this case, an effort will be made so to state the facts, omitting, however, as nearly as possible whatever is not deemed absolutely essential to a full discussion and determination of the issues involved. It is the purpose of this form of presentation to avoid as nearly as possible elaborate quotations from evidence as no good purpose may be served by an argument of disputed facts. Such a discussion would tend to prolong the opinion. Perhaps, it may be suggested that the verdict of the jury has settled all these disputed matters and the plaintiff is thereby entitled, in every instance, where there is substantial evidence, to the most favorable conclusions and inferences possible, though we will not attempt to go to that extent in this presentation. The plaintiff has alleged in his complaint, and established by his proof, that Caldwell was his superior, the superintendent in charge from whom he received such instructions as were given him. He was put to work and instructed to fix any machinery he saw broken down or clogged up. This direction or order was given about ten days before the accident, at a time when they were starting the motors, or running them to test them to see if they were in good condition. To use the language as abstracted, the appellee *17 says that "he told me in the lint room that my duties of oiling the motors would carry me all around the mill, and that in the course of my duties I would have to pass all or practically all of the machinery there, and if I saw anything wrong with the machinery, anything broken down or clogged up, to fix it if I could, and if I didn't think that I could fix it to call the machinist or mill-right." The foregoing statement is quoted for the reason that the appellee says that this is all the instructions or directions given him in the performance of his duties.
The appellee had grown up as the stepson of an employee of an oil mill, had been about oil mill plants a great deal. He had worked perhaps some in the yard of a mill at Dallas, Texas, before the family moved to West Memphis, where the stepfather of the appellee was employed as a night superintendent. He had worked as a helper in the installation of machinery for several weeks prior to the time of his injury, but had been working as an oiler only a day and a half when he was hurt. The injury complained of grew out of the attempted performance of that part of the instructions to the effect that if he saw anything broken down or clogging up to fix it if he could. At the time of the accident, Fitzgerald testified in passing the said cleaner he saw that it was choking up with seed as the seed passed through the conveyor; that he looked for the attendant who served the particular machine and did not see him and then attempted himself to restore the normal operation of the machine and inserted his hand in the slot or opening where it was choked. This place, according to the description he gave of it, was perhaps ten to eighteen inches below a revolving cylinder on which there were blades or ribs, and by which his hand was caught as he was attempting to clear the machine of the congested or choked condition. He says no instructions had been given to him as to the manner of unchoking or clearing the machine, and that he had seen nobody else perform that service. Employees who usually performed that service, it was testified by others, used a stick or shovel, but may safely use the hand if the hand is kept in the conveyor part of the *18 machine and not inserted in the upper part containing the revolving cylinder, which was covered or hidden by the outer casing and front part of the machine. That outer casing, or front part of the machine, may serve as a guard to prevent one from sticking his hand directly in a place where it will be caught by the cylinder, but it also serves to conceal the cylinder which the evidence shows turns sufficiently fast that twenty of these blades or ribs would strike a given point per second. Though it seems unreasonable, yet plaintiff testifies that he did not know of the revolving cylinder prior to the time of his injury; that no one had told him of it.
The evidence is not exactly clear as to why or how the plaintiff came to reach one of his hands above the place in the conveyor where the machine was choking and insert it into the machine at the point where the revolving cylinder caught it. It may be that the excruciatingly torturing pain, the anguish occasioned by the accident were such that plaintiff never clearly remembered the exact process used and movements of his hand in unchoking this machine that caused him to come into contact with the dangerous part of it. No logic or analysis can supply any missing fact in that respect, but we are bound by the statements that the plaintiff had no instruction in regard to the proper manner to perform this service required of him and bound also to accept his statement that he was acting in response to a direct command given him by one in authority, and that while performing this service in close proximity to dangers he did not know, had not observed and, therefore, did not anticipate the accident happening in which one of his hands was caught, and drawn into the flailing machinery. In attempting to extricate himself from the machine by holding himself back, his other hand slipped and was in like manner caught so that both hands and arms were drawn into the machinery, and both so badly mangled that one was amputated above the elbow and the other just below.
This accident occurred on the 23rd day of August, 1934. Thereafter, on the 15th day of January, 1935, the plaintiff signed a release in consideration of the sum of *19 $5,000 paid him at that time. The particular details in regard to this release will be set forth in a discussion of the error assigned in regard to that matter.
The voluminous pleadings may be narrowed or shortened by merely stating that the only negligence established and finally relied upon arises out of the failure of the superintendent, Caldwell, to give proper instructions for the performance of the duties required of Fitzgerald, or a failure to warn him of the concealed or hidden dangers in the machine, which he was required to service and which injured him while attempting to perform and discharge a duty required of him by the superintendent having control over him. There was no defect in the machine alleged or proven. It is argued, and we think correctly, according to the undisputed proof in this record, that in the conveyor of the seed cleaning machine, where it is said to have choked, there was no hidden or concealed danger, if there was any at all, and it was also urged that Fitzgerald was more than twenty-one years of age, a graduate of the Dallas High School, more than ordinarily apt, and above the average in point of intelligence, and that he must be presumed, as a matter of law, to have assumed the risk of the employment, and in the discharge of the duties which he was attempting to perform.
In response to this argument it is also shown and, we think beyond question, that one standing in front of the machine at the place where he could insert his hand into the conveyor to unchoke or relieve the congested condition of the seed, as the plaintiff was doing, could not see or observe the cylinder and it is not unbelievable that, although he helped install this machinery, he had not observed this cylinder, or if he had he may not have known its particular function and may not have understood that there was the probability or even a possibility of inserting his hand into a place so destructively dangerous as were the ribs upon this cylinder. Pictures of this machine appear in the record. It is described by several witnesses as well as by the plaintiff himself who seems able to give a most minute, as *20 well as accurate description of it. But we cannot say, as a matter of law, that because plaintiff, at the time of the trial, was able to give this minute description of the machine and its functions he could have done so prior to the time of the accident. Doubtless he learned many facts from the horrible in-drawing and flailing of this cylinder as it destroyed both his hands and arms, but he may have learned others since that accident which enabled him to become a witness apparently more observant than laborers ordinarily might be presumed to be who perform such services as he was at that time. It may also be argued that since he had worked at this mill after it had begun operations only a day and a half prior to the injury, had he been apprised or warned of the hidden or concealed danger in this revolving cylinder, he would not have believed that he could have relieved the abnormal condition, but would have waited and called for the usual attendant to perform such service.
So it must appear, we think, that it was the duty of the appellant company, and the superintendent having charge of this servant, and who knew according to his own testimony that he was inexperienced in the performance of such a duty, to give proper directions or instructions as to the best or approved method of servicing the machine as it was done by other employees who had experience and training; that if required to perform the service there followed the legal duty not only to instruct as to the proper method of performing it, but also to warn of the hidden or concealed danger. This is more apparent when it is considered that this revolving cylinder was above the slot or opening in the front of the machine into which the appellee inserted his hand, and that this slot or opening is perhaps a foot or eighteen inches below eye level, and where it may not be observed except by one attempting to make a minute or careful inspection. We think it may well be conceded that it is the duty of the master to give proper instructions and warning to young and inexperienced servants regarding duties required of them and to explain dangers necessarily incident to such performance of duties, and we do not understand *21
in this case that appellants insist that merely because the appellee was more than twenty-one years of age the master did not owe this duty on that account. While it may be true that in most instances wherein an adult applies for and obtains a position he may be presumed to understand the conditions that prevail and will be deemed to have assumed the ordinary risks of his employment, this is not a hard and fast rule that frees a master from the duty to instruct and warn one whom he orders to perform and render services, the master knowing at the time that he gave such orders and instructions that the employee is inexperienced and does not appreciate the attendant dangers. In such a case there can be no presumption that supplies experience or furnishes a warning of danger. This statement is made, having in mind the testimony of Mr. Caldwell who was one of the defendants, and who stated unequivocally that Fitzgerald was too inexperienced to have attempted to perform such duties without proper instructions, experience, or warning. We are not saying that, because of the youth or the inexperience of the servant, he must in every instance be warned, but in this case there were all the elements of youth and inexperience, as the young man had barely reached his majority, and there was the admitted fact of inexperience, and the two combined certainly enjoined upon the master the duty and obligation to instruct and give warning. It was so held in Southern Lumber Co. v. Green,
Perhaps a dozen other cases might be cited, but we have selected these especially because relied upon by the appellants, and the doctrines announced therein are not inconsistent with, nor impaired in the least by such a decision or opinion as that announced in Williams Cooperage Co. v. Kittrell,
We have attempted to make clear, and we think we have presented in a way that it may not be mistaken, that, in this case the master did know of the immature years, of the inexperience of the plaintiff, such inexperience being the result of his youthfulness though he had attained his majority. We can see no difference, and we do not think the law makes any distinction, in a case wherein *23 the master must take notice on account of youth and inexperience, and in a case where there is actual knowledge of such conditions. The law may not be deemed so unreasonable, so unnecessarily contradictory of ordinary humanitarian requirements.
Appellants rely upon another case, the opinion in which was prepared by the writer. Ward Ice Co. v. Bowers,
The next question seriously argued arises out of the release executed by the appellee on January 15, 1935. It is most seriously presented and contended that although he was hurt on August 23rd, he was not rushed into any kind of settlement, but that he received and accepted the $5,000 paid to him after full and free deliberation *24 and should be held to be bound thereby. The appellee, however, contends that this settlement was not entered into freely and voluntarily, but that it was made under a form of compulsion, so great that he found it to be irresistible under the circumstances that prevailed at the time. It is contended by him that shortly after his injury he was advised by both Mr. Jasspon and by Mr. Caldwell that he would be helped or aided by the employees of the company to recover a sum commensurate with the disabilities he had suffered, it being suggested by one of them, it is immaterial which, that he should have $100,000, and by the other that he should have a sum sufficient to enable him to live throughout the remainder of his life without having to work at anything. He had consulted, after the injuries received, and prior to the date of settlement, lawyers eminent in the profession, of admittedly great ability; and, only a day or two before the release was executed, he had received a letter from one firm, with whom he had conferred, asking him to return for another consultation. He gave us his reason for not going back, which he says was also the reason for the execution by him of the release, threats which he alleged were made by Mr. Jasspon, who was one of the owners of the cotton seed oil mill properties, and who was in the active charge thereof, to the effect that if he did not accept the $5,000, which was the extent of the contractual liability of the insurance company carrying the risk for the appellant, immediately upon the filing of the suit or employment of attorneys, the stepfather of the appellee would be discharged, and that every influence possessed by Mr. Jasspon would be exerted to prevent his re-employment by any other corporation in a like business. He says that Mr. Jasspon told him he knew the condition of the family; that his stepfather and his mother and his brother, who had an invalid wife, as well as himself, were all wholly dependent upon the labor and earning of his stepfather; that Mr. Jasspon also advised him that his company had employed eminent counsel and that they would be able to defeat a recovery, or, if not, to delay it for a period of *25 perhaps ten years. He says these threats, or similar ones were made on two or three different occasions, at one time when he was alone with Mr. Jasspon, or perhaps accompanied by his mother, and at another time when he had returned to the office with a young lady friend, who had insisted, after he had told her of these threats, that she he permitted to go with him for another interview with Mr. Jasspon. His statements were corroborated in part, at least, by the young lady mentioned by him, and, also, by some other facts tending to show that at about that time Mr. Jasspon and other officers, or agents of the appellant company discovered that the liability of the insurance company was limited to $5,000. This evidence in regard to this settlement and release was disputed by Mr. Jasspon, and, of course, the facts became an issue to be determined by the jury, if the contentions stated by the appellee were in law sufficient to vitiate or avoid the settlement and release. We cannot think there is any necessity for arguing the foregoing proposition. However forceful Mr. Jasspon may have been in the denial of the charge made by young Fitzgerald, the question of whether he made the statements, or threats was still a proposition properly to be submitted to the jury and to be determined by them, if Fitzgerald's contentions were worthy of consideration. Since the jury has settled this matter adversely to the contention of the appellants, we must determine now, as a matter of law, if these statements so proven and established were in law sufficient to vitiate or void the release.
We think it unnecessary to copy or set forth the release executed by James Fitzgerald, but deem it sufficient to say that it was executed by him, and that it is sufficient in form to operate as a complete release and discharge of the defendants unless it was entered into under some form of compulsion or duress sufficient in law to destroy its effect.
We think it may not be of any benefit to set forth and discuss matters so forcefully argued by the appellant company to the effect that young Fitzgerald had prior to the date of this settlement made a complete and *26 detailed statement of the facts in regard to his injury; that he had conferred with several attorneys, and that at least some of them had advised him that it would be to his best interest to make or accept the settlement offered. He agrees that, at least, one attorney did so advise him, but says this was after he had actually made the settlement. But all this, however forceful it may seem as a matter of argument, was properly submitted and determined as a jury question.
It is now argued that there are three causes or reasons whereby the release or contract may be set aside (a) those that were induced by fraud or misrepresentation on the part of the releasee, (b) where there is a mutual mistake of fact, and (c) where the act of plaintiff in signing the release was induced or resulted from duress or coercion practiced on the plaintiff by the defendant.
There can be no insistence in this case that there was fraud or misrepresentation nor was there any mutual mistake. The remaining question to be determined is whether the facts stated show that the release was the result of duress or coercion practiced by the appellant company. We are cited to the case of Burr v. Burton,
We are, also, cited to the case of Ellis v. First National Bank of Fordyce,
The case of Gus Blass Co. v. Tharp,
We think it unnecessary to set forth the language of this court in reaching the conclusion set out under the foregoing stated facts. The discussion, however, is interesting and the authorities cited are numerous, as is also in the case of Kansas City Southern Ry. Co. v. Armstrong,
In no one of these last-cited cases does there appear to be any mistake or any fraud or duress practiced to secure the execution of the release. As set forth in one of the discussions, it is stated: "Nor is it a case where there was fraudulent representations as to the contents of the written instrument, or any trick or subterfuge *28
whereby the papers were substituted so as to induce the contracting party to execute it, as in Hot Springs Railroad Co. v. McMillan,
To the same effect were numerous cases cited and discussed, all of which we have examined and determined that they arrive at, or reach the same uniform conclusions as those wherein such contracts were fairly and openly entered into without fraud, mistake, deception or any form of duress. They were ordinarily held to be good. But in those cases in which these contracts were induced by some form of fraud, by over-reaching, by deceptive promises, relied upon, or by some form of duress, sufficient under all the prevailing facts and circumstances to impair the deliberate judgment to the extent that it might be determined that although the contract had been signed, it had not been agreed to, such contracts have uniformly been held voidable at the instance of the injured party.
One of the most recent of the cases of the type mentioned is Harper v. Bankers Reserve Life Company,
This court in regard thereto said: "In determining the question here, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the complaining party. . . . Appellant *29 is a woman of moderate education, not unlettered or ignorant, but inexperienced in business matters, . . . She was not well at the time. Dow told her the company didn't intend to pay the policy, and that he had brought the premiums, about $29, and would pay that back, and wanted to take up the policy. . . . He told her Mr. Harper `lied' in his application, and that he had cancer of the rectum at that time, and the policy was null and void. She told him if she couldn't collect the policy she would lose her home, and that he talked to her so she broke down and cried; told her again the return of the premium was all he would pay."
She finally accepted an offer of $100. Finally the court, in deciding the case, said: "But the question here is, was the settlement conclusive of appellant's rights as a matter of law under the evidence, or was it a question for the jury? We think the question one for the jury as to whether the release was procured by fraud or coercion." A much more liberal theory than that announced in the early case of Burr v. Burton,
Appellants present for our consideration instruction No. 1 given at plaintiff's request, and which it is insisted is inherently erroneous. That instruction is as follows:
"You are instructed that releases and contracts, to be valid, must be voluntarily made, and, where executed under such circumstances as would enslave the will, the release or contract is void; because consent is of the essence of the contract or release, and where there is compulsion, there is not consent, for this must be voluntarily. Such a release is void for another reason. It is founded in wrong or fraud. It is not, however, all compulsion which has this effect; it must amount to duress. But this duress must be actual violence, or threat. Duress, by threats, exists not wherever a party has made a release under the influence of a threat, but only where such a threat excites a fear of some grievous wrong." *31
We cannot agree with appellant in this respect. We think, however, that this instruction is most inexpertly worded or inaptly expressed, but that condition might have been corrected by a specific objection calling attention thereto. Appellants take particular exception to the words: "such a release is void for another reason. It is founded in wrong or fraud."
The release discussed by the trial judge in this instruction to the jury and which he said is void is not the release under consideration in this case, but it was the hypothetical release described by him in the foregoing part of the instruction, and we think that it is the only interpretation susceptible under the circumstances. We cannot think that the jury understood otherwise. There was no specific objection calling attention to these matters and the apparently incorrectly stated proposition is not one in fact. Under a specific objection, however, the method of expression might have been improved, but we do not think that the instruction was inherently wrong.
Finally, the appellants argue that Fitzgerald should not have been permitted to sue or maintain his suit except upon condition that he restore the $5,000 paid him for the release. The weight of modern authority decides this question adversely to appellants' contention. National Life Accident Ins. Co. v. Blanton, supra; Chicago, Rock Island Pacific Ry. Co. v. Matthews,
We have attempted to discuss the material matters presented upon this appeal. In doing so this discussion has perhaps been too long. Other matters of less importance have been duly considered, although not presented here in this discussion. Upon the whole case there appears to be no error in any one of the several matters urged by the appellants. It may be said that it is also argued that the verdict of $45,000 is excessive. We do not think so. This young man is injured to the extent that both arms have been removed by amputation, one just below and the other just above the elbow. It appears that although he has been given artificial arms, he is still unable to dress himself, or to wait upon himself, he *32 must always be a burden upon someone else to render himself the services required, on account of his affliction, and that, to maintain himself in the future, there is a practical necessity that he must maintain someone else to do for himself, the things impossible now to be performed by him. This condition is brought about solely on account of the injuries suffered by him. He has an expectancy of 41 years plus. During that time, with earning capacity unimpaired with only reasonable advancement, he might have earned approximately that sum. The recovery, of course, should compensate for pain and suffering, for humiliation and the anguish on account of the loss of limbs, the impaired earning capacity, as well as the increased expense of living occasioned by the injury. These things are too patent to require argument or citation of authority in support of the conclusion we have reached, that the verdict and judgment are not excessive.
The judgment is affirmed.