STANLEY SZTABA, PLAINTIFF AND RESPONDENT, v. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY, A MINNESOTA CORPORATION, AND MARVIN HANSON, DEFENDANTS AND APPELLANTS. GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY, CROSS-CLAIMANT AND APPELLANT, v. VITALI TILE COMPANY, A SOUTH DAKOTA CORPORATION, CROSS-DEFENDANT AND RESPONDENT.
No. 10819.
Supreme Court of Montana
Submitted May 10, 1965. Decided February 10, 1966.
Rehearing denied March 3, 1966.
185 Mont. 147 | 411 P.2d 379
Brattin, Habedank & Cumming, Sidney, Whiting, Lynn, Freiberg & Schultz, Rapid City, S. D., Otto T. Habedank (argued), Sidney, for respondent.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE JAMES T. HARRISON delivered the Opinion of the Court.
This appeal is taken from plural judgments—the first by defendants-appellants Great Northern Railway Company, a Minnesota Corporation, and Marvin Hanson, its engineer employee from a judgment in favor of plaintiff-respondent Stanley Sztaba for $61,000; the second by defendant-appellant rail
Plaintiff Sztaba, who was then an employee of the Vitali Tile Company, was the driver of a Vitali Tile Company pickup truck involved in a collision with a Grеat Northern freight train at the Macon Crossing, five and one-half miles east of Wolf Point, Montana, about 4:00 P.M. on April 3, 1962.
The cause was tried to the court, sitting without a jury.
The complaint stated three claims based on (1) primary negligence of Great Northern and its employee Hanson, engineer of the freight train; (2) the doctrine of last clear chance, and; (3) wilful and wanton negligence and reckless disregard for the traveling public. The claim based on last clear chance was dismissed by the court on the defendants’ motion.
The defendants by answer placed the allegations of negligence in issue. The defendants further alleged contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff, and the defendant Great Northern then counterclaimed against plaintiff Sztaba in the amount of $2,192.71 for damages to railroad property at the crossing, and cross-complained against the Vitali Tile Company for damages to the same property in the same amount.
The record reveals that State Highway No. 13 crosses the Great Northern line at what is known as the Macon Crossing, about five and one-half miles east of Wolf Point, Montana. There are three sets of tracks at this crossing: the main track (northern-most track); the passing track (center track); and the industrial track (southern-most track).
The distance between the northern-most rail of the main track and the southern-most rail of the industrial track is approximately 48 feet. Just to the north of the north rаil of the industrial track, between that track and the passing track, an automatic electric Griswold crossing warning sign is located. This sign consists of the usual railroad crossbuck sign, two red lights which flash alternately, and a “STOP” sign which,
Other warning signs were located along the highway‘s approach to the crossing. Measurements made from the south rail of the industrial track show that eleven feet south therefrom is a sign reading “3 TRACKS“; a “SLOW” sign is located south at a distance of 226 feet; a “ROUGH BREAK AHEAD” sign is located south at a distance of 351 feet; and finally, at a distance of 488 feet is located a round railroad sign, called an “advancе warning” sign.
The freight train involved in this case was 91 cars, or nearly a mile, in length. It approached the Macon Crossing from the west at a speed of 59 miles per hour.
The area surrounding the crossing is for the most part level.
A panoramic view photograph taken with the camera on the highway 1,000 feet south of the center of the main line track discloses to the left of the highway, being westerly, a string of tank cars extending to a grain elevator and associated buildings and then an open space until a string of grain storage bins is reached, then level open country beyond. To the right of the highway and on the north side of the railroad tracks appears a refinery complex. Utility poles arе visible along the highway and also to the west above the tank cars and between the elevator and grain storage bins.
Another panoramic view photograph taken with the camera on the highway 600 feet south of the center of the main line track clearly indicates the presence of a railroad crossing and the trackage to the west becomes more visible to one traveling north on the highway since there is a view between the rows of grain storage bins which are erected in rows running east and west. As one approaches from the south and comes closer to the crossing and at about a distance of 230 feet from the south rail of the industrial track, the westward railroad tracks are totally obscured from vision. Total restriction of the westward view continues until the traveler is within about
Obstruction of the westward view is caused by a series of conditions, the first of which is the complex of grain storage bins before mentioned. The second obstruction consists of a house, trees and a grain elevator. The elevator building is 100 feet in length and is adjacent to the industrial track. The house and trees stand directly to the rear of the elevator, the two buildings together forming an obstruction some 125 feet deep as measured southward from the industrial track, and is some 584 feet west of the crossing. The third obstruction in this series consists of 16 railroad oil tank cars which were “spotted” four days prior to the accident on the industrial track. The eastern-most tip of this string was 90 feet west of the west edge of the crossing. The western tip of the string of cars was more than 584 feet from the crossing—or, in other words, beyond the eastern edge of the grain elevator.
The vision available to the motorist as he approached from the south of the railroad tracks to the west of the crossing, under the above-description of the obstructions, consisted of an ever changing intermittent oblique “V-angle” of sight, the edges of which, to the south, were the grain storage tanks and to the north the house, trees and grain elevator. Regardless of the speed of the car this “V-angle” of vision would have revealed the engine when a point about 100 feet south of the crossing was reached, being approximately 130 feet from danger, at which point the view around and past the eastern tip of the tank cars increased and lengthened.
The witness Curtis L. Nicholson, employed by the defendant railroad with the title of assistant engineer of plats and photography, whose duties included the preparation of plats relating to the scenes of accidents, after plotting lines of sight upon a plat which had been prepared entirely from actual measurements, but using the location of the tаnk cars as testified to by the highway patrolman who measured the distance from the
The testimony shows that the stopping distance for a motor vehicle traveling at 20 miles per hour is 37 feet; for one traveling 30 miles per hour the stopping distance is 70 feet.
The engine whistle and bell were sоunded; the engineer testified that he started the crossing whistle signal about the west end of the industrial track which would be approximately 1300 feet west of the crossing and turned on the automatic bell ringer. While there is conflicting testimony to the effect that the whistle and bell were not sounded until the train was within 600 feet of the crossing, the whistle and bell were sounding when the engine came to a point where it could have been seen by one in the pickup. The engineer kept a lookout which revealed the approaching truck when it was less than a quarter of a mile south of the crossing and again when it emerged from behind the standing tank cars; the front of the engine was probably 150 feet from the crossing at that time; observing that the truck was not going to stop the engineer immediately reached for the brake valve and set the brakes in emergency and the engine struck the truck. Measurements taken following the accident indicate that the left front wheel of the truck was seven feet over the northernmost rail of the main track, the rear wheels of the pickup were in the center of the crossing between the rails. Scuff marks or skid marks upon the crossing from the wheels at time of impact went sideways.
It is clear that the signal at the Macon Crossing, as shown by the testimony of an eyewitness, did give warning of impending danger. The witness testified that when the train was “near the elevator” he saw the “STOP” board on the Griswold
The defendants’ testimony indicates that this Griswold signal operates when a train reaches the activating circuit, and that the activating circuit for the main line on trains eastbound is 2,800 feet west of the crossing. Further, that in the event there was any signal failure the lights would flash and the stop board would go to the stop position and would remain there until repairs were made, and that in the event the light circuit was out that the stop bоard would be in a stop position.
It is apparent that the weather was sunny and clear; that the highway was clear, dry and straight; that the pickup truck was not mechanically defective; that the plaintiff crossed the Macon Crossing at a speed of from 20 to 30 miles per hour; that the plaintiff did not stop his pick-up truck prior to attempting to pass over the crossing; that the plaintiff had no seeing or hearing disability; that the brakes on the pickup were good and that there were no skid marks indicating any application of brakes on the pickup.
Plaintiff and his passenger in the pickup testified that their
Upon cross-examination plaintiff testified that at the point where this stop was made he could see the elevator and the refinery at Macon; that he had crossed the crossing many times prior to the accident; from his past experience of going across that crossing he knew there were some signals, electric flashing signals, at that crossing. He also admitted he received a ticket from the highway patrol as the result of the accident because he went through a stop light.
The district court made findings of fact and conclusions of law in general to the effect that a grain elevator 584 feet west of the Macon Crossing, plus railroad tank cars standing between the crossing and the elevator, obstructed the plaintiff‘s view of the tracks to the west of the crossing and created an undue hazard to the plaintiff‘s view thereof; that the defendants knew the crossing was obstructed and would be used by persons unfamiliar therewith; that the plaintiff was entitled to believe the standing tank cars constituted a standing freight train which activated the electric warning at the crossing, if there was any such warning, and that all such warning signals were properly associated with the standing train; that the plaintiff did not and could not with reasonable diligence view the rapidly approaching train and had no reasonable opportunity to avoid an accident after reaching a point where proper vision was secured, and that the defendants knew or reasonably should have known of this state of affairs; that the plaintiff‘s failure to stop upon reaching the nearest rail of the crossing was not a direct, proximate or contributing cause of the collision; that the defendants failed to prove contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff; that defendant Hanson negligently and carelessly operated the train at a speed of 59 miles per hour despite the hazardous condition of the crossing; that the defendant Great Northern‘s act of placing the
Judgment was entered pursuant to the findings and conclusions. Defendants moved for amended and additional findings under
While many errors are specified by the appellants we do not deem it necessary to consider and decide all issues raised. To do so would unnecessarily extend this opinion and in our view the crux of the case is whether or not the defendants were guilty of primary negligence or wilful and wanton conduct, and whether or not the plaintiff is guilty of contributory negligence which was interposed as a defense.
First, it is necessary to determine the cause in fact of this accident and the resultant injuries to the plaintiff. It is recognized that a judge, sitting without jury, understandably has a difficult time keeping the four issues of a negligence claim (cause, duty, negligence and damage) separate, for the judge must perform the functions of both judge and jury.
Causation is a fact. It is important to determinе causation first to avoid its confusion with the issues to follow. This is not a relationship between negligence and injury, but rather a causal relation between conduct and hurt, both of which are factual concepts. It is only after the causal relationship, duty, and its scope are found that the negligence issue is reached. 61 Col.L.R. 1401.
The test most generally employed in determining causation is the “but for” test. Montana has adopted this test in numerous cases.
Proximate cause is one “which in a natural and con-
The district court made findings of fact to the effect that the direct and proximate cause of the accident and injuries were the defendant Hanson‘s operation of the train and the defendant Great Northern‘s act of placing the tank cars so as to obstruct the view.
At most, the “but for” or “sine qua non” test is but one of exclusion. In other words the defendant‘s conduct is not the cause of the event, if the event would have occurred without it.
The defendant Great Northern‘s act of placing tank cars on the industrial track is not of itself a fact causing the injury. But the resulting additional obstruction of view is a condition within the causal relationship. Likewise, the fact that the plaintiff did not stop before entering upon the crossing is within the causal relationship between conduct and hurt. These facts or conditions are not excluded from possibility by the “but for” test. The accident would not have occurred but for the obstructed view of the track, or, converse, the obstructed view was not a cause of the accident if the accident would have occurred without such obstruction. Similarly, but for the plaintiff‘s failure to stop, the accident would not have occurred—or, the plaintiff‘s failure to stop is not a cause of the accident if the accident would have occurred without it. The speed of the train may be considered a cause under the same test. Failure to apply brakes to the freight train thereby slowing its speed might likewise be considered within the causal relation.
The district court‘s finding that plaintiff‘s failure to stop his pick-up truck before attempting to pass over the crossing was not a proximate cause of the injury was erroneous.
Several general rules of railroad crossing law set the stage for more critical analysis of the duty issues in this case.
Both the railroad and the motoring public have an equal right to the use of a crossing. Sprague v. Northern Pac. Ry. Co., 40 Mont. 481, 487, 107 P. 412; Walters v. Chicago, M., St. P. & P. Ry. Co., 47 Mont. 501, 507, 133 P. 357, 46 L.R.A., N.S., 702.
A railroad crossing is of itself a warning of danger. Roberts v. Chicago, M., St. P. & P. Ry. Co., 67 Mont. 472, 479, 216 P. 332; Monforton v. Northern Pac. Ry. Co., 138 Mont. 191, 203, 355 P.2d 501.
The railroad company has the right of way over its own tracks and crossings. Incret v. Chicago, M., St. P. & P. Ry. Co., 107 Mont. 394, 411, 86 P.2d 12. Wrzesinski v. Chicago, M., St. P. & P. Ry. Co., (D.C.Mont.1962) 207 F.Supp. 460, 463. This rule of law applies only when due notice of the approach of a train is given.
The rule that trains have the right of way over their own lines permits the operators of the trains to raise an assumption that, under normal circumstances, an approaching traveler will stop his vehicle before endangering himself, “which assumption is of particular force where the train is approaching rapidly * * *. Under ordinary circumstances, therefore, no legal obligation exists for the railroad company to slacken the speed of its trains at country crossings.” 3 Blash. Auto. 83, § 1710. Railroads are not insurers of the safety of persons approaching their tracks for the purpose of crossing. Grisamore v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co., 195 Kan. 16, 403 P.2d 93 (1965).
As will be shown, Montana cases strongly indicate
While the court found this crossing to be extra-hazardous, in our opinion the facts here do not support such a finding.
A search of earlier Montana cases concerning extra-hazardous crossings brings out the following definition: Where vision or hearing of the approach of railroad vehicles to a crossing is impaired, obscured, or not clear and distinct; or where the crossing itself is obscured from view, or not fully clear and distinct; or where the facts concerning the situation, surrounding, use, unusual circumstance or peculiar environment tend to indicate unusual danger; оr where ordinary prudence will not insure safe passage, a crossing is deemed to be extra-hazardous. Norton v. Great Northern Ry. Co., 78 Mont. 273, 284, 254 P. 165; Jarvella v. Northern Pac. Ry. Co., 101 Mont. 102, 113, 53 P.2d 446; Broberg v. Northern Pac. Ry. Co., 120 Mont. 280, 290, 182 P.2d 851; 3 Blash. Auto. 180, § 1791.
The above definition is compatible with
Here the crossing was clearly visible, there does not аppear to be any unusual circumstance or peculiar environment that would have prevented safe passage if ordinary prudence was observed. It is true that vision of approaching trains was at times obscured, but as we shall later point out, if ordinary prudence was exercised by a person approaching and going
Assuming, arguendo, that it was an extra-hazardous crossing, then the following general rule would be applicable:
“Where obstructions to view and hearing, making a crossing more hazardous, exist at or near a railroad crossing, whether or not produced by the conduct of the cоmpany, their presence is a circumstance of considerable importance in determining what conduct is required in the exercise of due care, and it is the duty of both motorist and the railroad, if they are apprised or reasonably should be apprised of the existing state of affairs, to use such care on approaching the crossing as is commensurate with the increased hazard occasioned by the obstruction, to wit, ordinary care under the circumstances.” (Emphasis ours.) 3 Blash. Auto. 193, § 1795.
Montana has used similar language in the following cases: Wrzesinski v. Chicago, M., St. P. & P. Ry. Co., supra; Broberg v. Northern Pac. Ry. Co., supra, 120 Mont. at page 295, 182 P.2d 851; Everett v. Hines, 64 Mont. 244, 261, 208 P. 1063; Hunter v. Montana Central Ry Co., 22 Mont. 525, 531, 57 P. 140. See also 44 Am.Jur. 747, § 507.
Neither the railroad nor its employees need anticipate that a motorist will be negligent, Grisamore v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co., supra.
In the Wrzesinski case, supra, the court there held that the railroad “had fulfilled its duty to give adequate warning to the public of the approach of its trains under the circumstances” through the use of a Griswold signalling device similar to the one used at the Macon Crossing. But the difference in circumstances in the Wrzesinski case from the case at bar is that the railroad crossing there in question was located within the city limits of Ryegate, Montana, while the crossing here in question is located on a highway in open country. The standard of ordinary care to be exercised at railroad crossings by both the railroad and the motorist depends to a
The standard of care incumbent upon a motorist on our highways is not of a constant degree. Rather, the standard or degree of care is continuously modified by the surroundings and conditions through which the motorist passes. A condition of high danger, either to himself or to others, increases the standard of care he must exercise. Speed and lookout and control are essential elements of the care required. Therefore, facts concerning the surroundings and the conditions present at the time the motorist approaches a railroad crossing are of critical importance in determining the standard of care required of him. It is not realistic in this age of advanced mechanical capabilities—high speed—to apply the same standard of care to motorists approaching a crossing within a city, where speeds are limited and controlled, to the same motorist approaching a country crossing where speed is not limited or controlled. And since the plaintiff‘s speed in this case, even thоugh travelling an open highway, was between 20 and 30 miles per hour, it is not necessary at this time to attempt to establish a ratio of duty between the railroad and a motorist travelling at greater speed.
The facts present in this case, for the purpose of eliminating earlier Montana cases concerning crossing accidents not similar to this one, are: (1) this was a country or rural crossing, not an urban or city crossing; (2) the view of approaching trains was at times obscured, not at all times clear and distinct; (3) the crossing was unoccupied until the collision occurred, in other words, a train was not then passing over or
The Mason case, supra, is distinguishable from the instant case in that therein a minor was the driver of the vehicle, such fact having an important influence upon the standard of care required of him.
The remaining four cases, although different from the case at bar in many ways, are similar as to the basic fact situation, as stated above, and reveal the following rules of law concerning accidents occurring under such conditions.
In the Hunter case, supra, 22 Mont. at page 531, 57 P. at page 142, this court stated that the “amount of care to be exercised depends somewhat upon the special circumstances of each case. In general, the more obstructed the view * * * the greater is the duty to use watchfulness and care.” The court also said that a driver must exercise “at least ordinary diligence and prudence; so that * * * one, upon approaching a railroad crossing intending to pass over it * * * [must] make a vigilant use of his senses, that is, to look or listen, and to stop for this purpose, if necessary, to learn if there is danger * * * .”
The Sprague case, supra, 40 Mont. 481, 490, 107 P. 412, 414, cited the Hunter case and added the following thereto: “The duty to look and listen requires the traveler to exercise care to select a position from which an effective observation can be made. The mere fact of looking and listening is not always a performance of the duty incumbent upon the traveler, for he must also exercise care to make the act of looking and listening reasonably effective.”
The Rau case, supra, 87 Mont. 521, 289 P. 580, is distinguishable from the case at bar and from the basic fact situation described above because there the motorist stopped to await the passage of a freight train going east, and was struck as he then proceeded over the crossing by a passenger train going west. The moving freight train was the only obstruction to his view.
The following quotations from 3 Blash. Auto. 206-252, §§ 1811-1816, in general affirm the above case law.
“Where a motorist approaches an unusually dangerous crossing, the care required of him depends in general upon the circumstances, and is commensurate with the danger involved. He is not, however, required to exercise care to ascertain whether a crossing is unusually dangerous, but only to use care to learn of the existence and location and then, if he sees or knows it to be exceptionally hazardous, to exercise commensurate care to prevent injury.” 3 Blash. Auto. p. 206.
“The use of one‘s senses to discover the approach of a train, so important even at ordinary crossings where no special risk exists that it is in most jurisdictions made a specific duty of travelers on the highway, is not excused, nor is the degree of
alertness which the law demands diminished, by the existence of obstructions to hearing and seeing; instead such obstructions serve rather to demand from the motorist increased vigilance.” (Emphasis ours.) 3 Blash. Auto. p. 217. “If, during part of his course, the motorist‘s vision along the track is obscured, it is his inflexible and imperative duty to avail himself of every unobscured opportunity; if a partial obstruction of vision or hearing exists, to make every effort to overcome such obstruction. Where numerous obstructions combine to continue to hinder his view up until he reaches the principal point of danger, located on the main track, the care required of the motorist increases in direct proportion as his distance from such danger point decreases. 3 Blash.Auto. § 1816, p. 219.
“When a motorist, undertakes to cross a series of tracks, on one of which cars or trains stand, preventing a view of trains approaching on more distant tracks, he should look after passing the objects obstructing his view in order to satisfy the requirement of due care, and this is, of course, all the more true where the rolling stock which intercepts the view also interferes with hearing.” 3 Blash. Auto., § 1827, p. 252.
Once the duty has been established it can then be determined whether the performance or the conduct required therewith, or the omission of acts and conduct, amounts to negligence, or, in other words, whether the conduct violated the duty owed.
As for the railroad in this case, the act of placing the tank cars was of itself not negligent, even thоugh it caused additional restriction of an already restricted view. We feel that in the case at bar, the railroad did not act in a wilful and wanton manner with reckless disregard for the safety of the traveling public. The installation of the Griswold signal at the crossing refutes such a contention.
This Griswold electric signal, installed at the Macon Crossing in 1931, is a form of extra precaution taken by the railroad company designed to increase the warning of danger
The conduct of the plaintiff violated the duty, or standard of care incumbent upon him under the circumstances.
The evidence shows that the plaintiff drove onto the crossing without stopping his automobile when commanded to do so by the “STOP” board on the Griswold signal. The act of failing to stop in this particular case is not made negligent by any absolute duty on the part of the plaintiff to stop at a railroad crossing, but rather the failure to stop is deemed negligent conduct because of the plaintiff‘s failure to obey the “STOP” command on the warning signal upon the crossing.
In addition to this negligence, there is sufficient evidence in the record to show that once upon the crossing, the plaintiff neither looked nor listened when the opportunity to do so presented itself. Approaching at a speed of 20 to 30 miles per hour, if the plaintiff had looked, he could have seen the approaching engine of the train when he still had sufficient stopping distance available. Testimony and exhibits show that he neither hastened nor slowed the progress of his automobile, that he did not swerve or change the direction of the pick-up truck, or made any other attempt to avoid the impending collision. In short, it appears that the plaintiff was totally unaware of the approaching train. If he had listened, he could not have failed to hear the whistle of the approaching train, for it is well-established in the record that the whistle was blowing and the bell was ringing as the train approached, reached and passed over the crossing.
Cоntributory negligence is best explained as being a part of the theory of proximate cause. In Tiddy v. City of Butte, 104 Mont. 202, 208, 65 P.2d 605, 608, this court said:
“In considering the question of contributory negligence, it is necessary to take into account the proximate cause of the injury in connection with the contributory negligence alleged * * * [so that] to bar recovery by plaintiff in a personal injury action on the ground of contributory negligence, it is not sufficient that he was negligent; it is only when his negligence contributed to the injury at the time it was inflicted and was a proximate, and not a remote, cause of the injury that he cannot recover.”
Authority affirming this contention is too numerous to cite. Montana adheres to a strict formula of proximatе cause. Dahlin v. Rice Truck Lines, 137 Mont. 430, 352 P.2d 801; Wolf v. Barry O‘Leary, Inc., 132 Mont. 468, 474, 318 P.2d 582. It is well-settled law in this jurisdiction that once negligence on the part of the plaintiff is found, and such negligence concurs and cooperates with the negligence of the defendant to proximately cause the plaintiff‘s injuries, then the plaintiff is barred absolutely from recovery. The doctrine of comparative negligence, although gaining recognition in other jurisdictions, is not available in Montana. Hughey v. Fergus County, 98 Mont. 98, 107, 37 P.2d 1035. See 62 Yale L.J. 691.
For the above reasons, the plaintiff cannot recover from the defendants Hanson and Great Northern, his claim being barred by his own contributory negligence. Under the facts presented at the trial, the lower court should have, as a matter of law, so found.
Such being the case Vitali Tile Company cannot recover its damages from the defendant railroad.
We have found the plaintiff to have been contributorily negligent.
“The defense of contributory negligence is one which admits, or at least presupposes, negligence on the part of the defendant, and the party at fault thereby seeks to cast upon the plaintiff the consequence of his own failure to observe the precautions which the circumstances of the case demanded.” Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Co. v. Cumberland, 176 U.S. 232, 238, 20 S.Ct. 380, 382, 44 L.Ed. 447.
“Contributory negligence presupposes negligence, and can exist only as a coordinate or counterpart.” Martin v. Highland Park Mfg. Co., 128 N.C. 264, 38 S.E. 876.
As stated in Freschi v. Mason, 108 N.J.L. 272, 156 A. 758: “The concept of contributory negligence is an inseparable companion to that of primary negligence, and, in the absence of the latter, plaintiff‘s negligence is not contributory but sole.” See, also, 38 Am.Jur. Negligence, § 177.
This being the concept of contributory negligence the defendant railroad should not recover upon either its counterclaim or cross complaint.
The judgments are reversed and the cause is remanded to the district court with instructions to enter judgment in accordance with this opinion.
MR. JUSTICES JOHN CONWAY HARRISON, DOYLE and CASTLES concur.
MR. JUSTICE ADAIR dissenting:
I dissent and reserve the right to hereafter file such written dissent.