261 P. 253 | Mont. | 1927
Recovery from a market owner for injuries caused by slipping on grease on the floor of the market cannot be had unless *435
the plaintiff introduced some evidence tending to show that the defendant knew, or by the exercise of reasonable diligence could have known, of the presence of the grease. (Thompson GroceryCo. v. Phillips,
The cause of plaintiff's fall was left to conjecture; a motion for a directed verdict was proper and should have been granted. (Kipp v. Woolworth Co.,
Counsel for plaintiff was permitted to question practically every one of the jurors on voir dire, asking as to his connection with the Travelers' Indemnity Company or the Travelers' Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut. Objections of defendant were overruled and the court refused to instruct the jury to disregard such remarks and questions and later refused defendant's motion for a mistrial of this action upon the grounds of misconduct. This we contend is reversible error. (Kerr v.National Fulton Brass Mfg. Co.,
Defendant demurred, specially and generally, to the complaint. When we say complaint we mean amended complaint. The demurrer was overruled and defendant answered. The answer, except for admission of some formal allegations of the complaint, is wholly of a negative character; denies specifically some allegations and denies generally all allegations not admitted or specifically denied.
The case was tried with a jury. At the beginning of the trial, defendant renewed its challenge of the sufficiency of the complaint by objecting to the introduction by plaintiff of any evidence. The objection was overruled. The jury returned a verdict, in the sum of $2,350, for plaintiff. Judgment in accordance therewith was rendered and entered. Defendant moved for a new trial. The motion was denied. Defendant appealed from the judgment and specifies numerous assignments of error. *438
We consider first the assignments which attack the complaint.[1] The special grounds of demurrer, set forth in defendant's demurrer, are that the complaint is ambiguous, unintelligible and uncertain in a number of specified particulars. By answering, after being overruled as to those grounds, defendant waived such objections to the complaint. (Pue v. Wheeler,
Counsel for defendant attack the sufficiency of the complaint[2] in a number of particulars. They assert it is fatally defective because there is no allegation that defendant had notice, actual or implied, of the condition of the floors which, it is alleged, caused injury, and cite McEnaney v. City ofButte,
Counsel for defendant contend that the complaint does not[3] allege facts constituting negligence on the part of defendant and insist that the words "negligently," "slippery" and "dangerous," used in the complaint, are merely descriptive and are not sufficient to show negligence. In support of that contention, counsel cite Surman v. Cruse,
Counsel say nowhere does the complaint allege that the oiling[4] was done in an improper manner or with an improper substance or that the floor was in any other or different condition than would result from proper oiling or that the substance used for oiling was unusual or different from that ordinarily used and contend that on account thereof the complaint is fatally defective and cite some cases in support of the contention. We do not so read the pleading. It does not have to show all of those disjunctive conditions — only one; and, when the complaint says the oil made the floors or aisles slippery and dangerous for use, it certainly shows that the floors were in other or different condition than would result from proper oiling. Certainly, proper oiling would not make the floors dangerous. The complaint says the oil put on the floors of the aisles made the aisles slippery but evidently means the floors of the aisles.
Counsel say there is no allegation of actionable negligence arising from breach of legal duty. True, the complaint does not,[5] in terms, allege a legal duty and breach thereof but it is not always necessary to do so. There are decisions of this court, holding that, in some negligence cases, there must be formal allegations of a legal duty, owing by a defendant to a plaintiff, and breach thereof, but, in a simple case such as this, allegation of facts which show a legal duty and breach thereof is sufficient. "The facts from which the duty flows must be stated. * * * A simple averment of duty would be a mere legal conclusion." (4 Bancroft's Code Pleading, 3536.) The complaint alleges defendant conducted a store and invited the public to view and patronize it. The law fixes its legal duty and says what it is. It is to exercise ordinary care to keep its premises safe for patrons and to warn them of any hidden or lurking danger thereon. (Montague v. Hanson,
In the foregoing mentioned particulars, we believe the[6] complaint sufficient to withstand attack but we are disposed to hold it to be defective in one respect not yet mentioned. It is not plain that any causal connection between the dangerous condition of the floor and plaintiff's fall and resultant injuries is alleged. The complaint merely says the floor was slippery and dangerous, plaintiff was on it, plaintiff slipped and fell and was hurt. For aught the complaint shows, she may have fallen from some cause other than the oiled floor. It does not say that caused her to slip and fall; does not say what was the proximate cause. True, in the last paragraph of the complaint, plaintiff says "by reason of the negligence of the defendant, as aforesaid, the plaintiff has been damaged" in a certain sum. We do not consider that a statement of causal connection. The damage results from the injury. The causal connection between the injury and the negligence should be stated. (6 Thompson on Negligence, 498; Bracey v. NorthwesternImp. Co.,
The complaint omits a number of forms of allegation and formalities of expression usual in such pleadings, and while it might be much strengthened, as a matter of precaution, yet, in view of our Code provisions that a complaint is a statement of the facts constituting the cause of action, in ordinary and concise language (sec. 9129, Rev. Codes, 1921), and that pleadings must be liberally construed, with a view to substantial justice (sec. 9164, Rev. Codes, 1921), we hold that, with the amendment deemed to have been made, in the respect above referred to, by unobjected evidence, the complaint states a cause of action.
During the voir dire examination of veniremen, counsel for[7] plaintiff, over objection of counsel for defendant, were permitted to and did ask venirmen if they had any business relations with the Travelers' Insurance Company or the Travelers' Indemnity Company. The first time the question was asked no objection was made; thereafter, each time, objection was made and was overruled. Counsel for defendant assign as error the ruling of the court. We glean from the record and briefs of counsel that one of those companies is or both are engaged in the business of indemnifying from losses of one kind or another individuals, firms and corporations engaged in business. Apparently, counsel for plaintiff believed that defendant carried indemnity insurance with one or both of those companies. They indicate in their brief that they were seeking information to assist them in making peremptory challenges. That matter was touched upon by this court in Beeler v. Butte London C.D. Co.,
Later, on account of such question having been asked on thevoir dire, counsel for defendant moved the court for an order, declaring a mistrial of the action, because of misconduct of counsel. The motion was denied and the action of the court is made an assignment of error. What we have said about the ruling of the court in respect to the question asked disposes of that assignment. However, we will say there is no authority in this state for making such a motion, based on such grounds, nor any for a trial court to make such an order, on such grounds.
At the close of plaintiff's case, counsel for defendant moved[8] for judgment of nonsuit. The motion was denied. At the close of all of the evidence, counsel moved for a directed verdict in favor of defendant. That motion, too, was denied. Counsel assign as error each ruling. We shall discuss only the latter. There was no ground for giving judgment of nonsuit. On a motion for nonsuit, everything plaintiff's evidence tends to prove is deemed proven; (Cowan v. Browne,
Counsel for defendant, in support of their assertion that a directed verdict should have been granted defendant, contend most earnestly that the evidence, as a whole, clearly shows defendant not responsible and they devote much argument to that contention. The trouble is, if we should uphold that contention, we would be substituting this court for the jury and this court would be usurping the functions of the jury.
Undoubtedly, plaintiff made a case of substantial evidence; undoubtedly, there is sufficient evidence for plaintiff, if true, to sustain the verdict and the judgment. Plaintiff testified she entered the store to make a purchase; that she walked halfway or more down an aisle and slipped and fell, because the floor was slippery with oil. She said: "I did not see the slippery, oily floor before falling but after falling saw it. The floor was all covered with oil as far as I could see. It had the effect upon my clothing of ruining my dress for wearing, as it was all covered with oil. I found no signs of warning. Nobody told me to be careful." She testified as to her pain and injuries, as did physicians. She further testified as to her inability to follow her vocation of teacher, as did one of the physicians. As to oil being on the floor and the slippery condition of the floor and others having fallen thereon that day or recently prior thereto, three witnesses other than plaintiff testified. One of them, Miss Collier, said the floor that day was "very oily"; on other occasions, during the summer, she had slipped twice but averted serious falls; twice children with her had fallen. A fourth witness testified that, very shortly after plaintiff's fall, she fell, on account of oil on the *445 floor. The complaint uses the word "floors" but evidently there was only one floor.
Defendant produced three witnesses, employees, who were in the store the day plaintiff fell: manager, floor-walker, basement worker. The latter, during August, was in charge of the keeping in condition of the floor and, he testified, it would have been a part of his work to oil the floor had it needed to be done. They testified positively there was no oil on the floor, the day plaintiff fell; that the floor had not been oiled since July 12, that year, and was not oiled again until September 17; that it was the custom to oil the floor only once in from four to six or seven weeks, as needed. Two of them saw plaintiff fall and went to her assistance. There is no denial of her fall; only of the alleged cause of it. The manager testified she told him her ankle turned. He testified a record was kept of the days the floor was oiled. Record evidence was introduced to show the floor was not oiled between July 12 and September 17. The manager testified that the oil used was that in common use elsewhere and that, when used, it was applied properly. He explained the precautions taken to make the floor safe after oiling: doing the oiling Saturday night, after closing, and sprinkling the floor, Monday morning, with "veldespar" a powdered substance to prevent slipperiness. The manager testified that from one thousand to three thousand people per day entered the store and that he had never before heard of anybody claiming to have fallen in it because of a slippery floor; had never had any complaint of the floor having been slippery. A fourth employee, the regular basement worker, who was off duty during August, testified and, to some extent corroborated the other employees. Three other persons testified they had at different times in August, 1924, visited the store and had never found the floor slippery and particularly, each testified, that he was in the store on or about August 26 and then did not observe any oil on the floor or that it was slippery. *446
The two lines of testimony in the case are utterly irreconcilable. Inevitably, somebody was incorrect. It may be somebody even wilfully testified falsely. Both sides could not be correct. Who is to decide who was testifying truthfully? Was it the jury or is it this court? If this court, what is the function of a jury? It is not for us to say plaintiff and her witnesses were mistaken or fabricated their testimony. If to be said at all, it was for the jurors, the triers of fact, who saw and observed the witnesses; their conduct, appearance, manner and demeanor while testifying; their apparent sincerity or lack of sincerity.
A directed verdict on motion of defendant, in a personal injury action, is proper only when the evidence is undisputed or[9, 10] susceptible of but one conclusion by reasonable men and that in favor of defendant. (Jepsen v. Gallatin Valley Ry.Co.,
There is a sharp conflict in the evidence in this case. Five witnesses, including plaintiff, testified to matters tending, directly or indirectly, to prove the store floor was oily and slippery the day plaintiff fell and that that condition was the cause of her fall; seven witnesses testified to matters positively contradicting or tending, directly or indirectly, to[10a] contradict the five; but the preponderance of evidence is not necessarily with the greater number of witnesses. The trial judge, *447
who, equally with the jury, had the opportunity of seeing and hearing the witnesses, observing their manner and demeanor, not only refused to direct a verdict but he refused to grant a new[11] trial. It is and long has been the settled rule, in this state, that, upon appeal, a verdict based upon sharply conflicting evidence will not be disturbed, if the evidence of the prevailing party be sufficient to justify the verdict. (Independent M. C. Co. v. Aetna Life Ins. Co.,
When a verdict, based on such evidence, has been approved by the trial court, by refusal to grant a new trial, it is binding on this court. (Zalac v. Barich,
Counsel for defendant dwell upon the contention that the testimony of employees of defendant that the floor was not oiled between July 12 and September 17 is uncontradicted. It is not directly contradicted in terms but it is contradicted in effect by the testimony of plaintiff and her witnesses. If their *448
testimony was true, the floor or some portion of it must have been oiled at or some time near the date of plaintiff's fall. If not oiled, wholly or in part, between July 12 and September 17, the testimony of plaintiff and her witnesses would appear to be untrue. It was for the jury to say. Counsel say, if there was oil on the floor, August 26, there is no evidence of when it was put on. If it was there, that day, in sufficient quantity to cause plaintiff to slip and fall and was the cause of her injuries, it must have been put there shortly before that but just when would be immaterial. Counsel say there is no evidence that plaintiff was using due care for her safety. A customer in a store is not[12] bound to use the same degree of care to avoid obstacles to safety as is a pedestrian on a sidewalk; he is entitled to assume the premises are reasonably safe; and the question of plaintiff's due care was one for the jury. (Bloomer v.Snellenburg,
Counsel for defendant urge as error the ruling of the court in[13] permitting witnesses for plaintiff to testify to a slippery condition of the floor and the slipping and the falling, on account thereof, of persons on other days than August 26. None of the instances were remote; all save one, as testified to, occurred that summer and not long prior to August 26. The one exception, as testified to, occurred very soon after that date. The question of whether too remote in point of time was within the discretion of the trial court. We do not see that the discretion was wrongfully used. Such evidence, if sufficiently near in point of time to be relevant, is competent. (Pullen v.City of Butte,
Counsel for defendant urge as error the refusal of the court[14] to give defendant's offered instruction No. B-13, as follows: "You are instructed, in this case, that, the plaintiff having failed to produce any evidence in relation to the difference between her earning capacity prior to the accident and her earning capacity now, you cannot consider her loss of earning capacity in reaching a verdict in this case."
An instruction to that effect was given in Montague v.Hanson, supra. In the opinion in that case, this court clearly drew a distinction between a person's earning capacity and his ability to pursue his usual vocation. The opinion says: "One of the elements to be taken into consideration was the disability to pursue his usual vocation. This element does not include compensation for loss of earning capacity. In a given case, the plaintiff's earning capacity may be so small as to be a negligible element in making up the estimate, yet the destruction of his capacity to pursue his established course of life is nevertheless a deprivation for which he is entitled to compensation." One may prefer to earn a livelihood at his chosen vocation. The satisfaction is worth something. If wrongfully deprived of it, he is entitled to damages for such deprivation. Yet, his earning power may not be diminished; he may be able to earn as much at something else. In that event, while entitled to some damages for being deprived of the satisfaction of following his chosen vocation, he would not be entitled to any damages for diminished earning capacity. In this case, one physician gave testimony tending to show that plaintiff was disabled for teaching, because it would require her to be on her feet a great deal, but no medical or other witness testified how much plaintiff's earning capacity was diminished or that it was diminished at all. Plaintiff testified to pain and suffering and said she was not able to teach school but said nothing as to how much her earning *450 capacity was diminished, if at all. In fact, the jury was left in the dark as to what was her earning capacity at the time of the trial but she must have had some, for she had been following occupations other than teaching. Inasmuch as plaintiff claimed permanent injury and disability, diminished earning capacity may be a serious factor but there is no evidence about it. We hold it was prejudicial error to refuse to give offered instruction No. B-13 and the error was accentuated by the giving of instruction No. 20-A-8, which expressly told the jury, if it should find for plaintiff and should find her injury or injuries to be permanent, it might take into consideration impairment of her capacity to earn money in future; this, in spite of the fact there was no evidence of impairment of earning capacity in general or at anything other than teaching.
Counsel for defendant urge as error the refusal of the court to give defendant's offered instruction No. B-16, as follows: "You are instructed that, if you find from the evidence that the plaintiff has declined to accept employment in her profession as a school-teacher or has not sought employment or has been denied employment as a school-teacher, through no fault of the defendant herein, then you are instructed that such lack of employment since the date of alleged accident and injury to the plaintiff shall not be considered by you in assessing damages in this case."
Plaintiff's complaint, after alleging she was a public[15] school-teacher and had been teaching in a public school, at a salary of $150 per month, alleged that, had it not been for her injuries, she would have continued to teach in a public school and would, during the ensuing school year, have received therefor the same salary. Plaintiff testified she did not make application for re-employment in the public school at Melrose, where she had taught, the last preceding school year, and testified that, on August 26, 1924, she had not made application to teach anywhere and had made no arrangement for teaching during the ensuing school year. It is a matter of common knowledge that school terms almost invariably begin in the fall. *451 There was not a particle of testimony that she would have taught school during the ensuing school year at any salary whatsoever or at all, had she not been hurt. Yet, the way the case went to the jury, the jury was at liberty to consider that, had she not been hurt, she would have taught, during the ensuing school year, at least four months, the minimum required by statute to be taught in any public school in a year, and maybe as much as nine months, at a salary of $150 per month, and, as she did not teach, was at liberty to include the sum of such salary for an undetermined number of months, not less than four, in her loss and consequent damage. The offered instruction should have been given or else some carefully drawn instruction, tantamount to it, telling the jury, if it should find for plaintiff, in computing her damages, not to allow anything for loss of salary as a teacher, for the school year next following her injury, as there was no evidence that she would have taught then, had she not been hurt. We hold the action of the trial court was prejudicial error.
Counsel for defendant urge as error the giving, over[16, 17] objection, of instruction No. 20-A-8. We have already indicated that, in our opinion, the instruction is faulty because it specifically authorized, if the jury should find for plaintiff, allowance of damages for diminished earning capacity, when there is no evidence of any diminution of earning capacity, as such. Further, it erroneously authorized damages for loss of wages or compensation plaintiff "might" have earned. If given at all, it should have been confined to such as the evidence showed she "would have earned." The word "might" is speculative, uncertain. Counsel for defendant say further the instruction should have directed the jury, in the event of a verdict for plaintiff, to deduct from loss of earnings whatever she made at keeping an art store but there is no evidence that she made anything at that vocation. Had the evidence shown she netted $100, or any other sum, per month, for a given number of months, it would have been proper to have instructed the jury to deduct such aggregate amount from loss *452 of earnings, if any were proven, but the record is void of any evidence on the subject.
Counsel for defendant urge as error the refusal of the court to give defendant's offered instruction No. B-18. We think it should have been given. Under it, plaintiff was not required to prove all of the enumerated disjunctive requirements but only any one. Plaintiff alleged and testified to a slippery and dangerous condition of the floor, which would be a different condition than would result from proper oiling, with the exercise of ordinary care and skill. The testimony was contradicted by defendant's witnesses. It was a question for the jury and, under the evidence, we hold the offered instruction was proper and appropriate to be given.
Counsel for defendant urge as error the refusal of the court to give defendant's offered instruction No. B-22. We think it incomplete and had defendant's offered instruction No. B-18 been given, as we hold it should have, this offered instruction would have been repetitious, as well as incomplete. We find no error in this action of the court.
We find no merit in other assignments as to instructions given or refused.
Counsel for defendant complain the damages awarded are excessive and evince passion and prejudice on the part of the jury. As the judgment is to be reversed on other grounds, it is not necessary to consider that assignment.
Counsel for defendant contend the judgment should be reversed and the action ordered dismissed, for want of support in law and fact, but we do not agree with the contention. However, for error committed with regard to instructions, as herein indicated, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial.
Reversed and remanded.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE CALLAWAY and ASSOCIATE JUSTICES STARK, MATTHEWS and GALEN concur. *453