180 Iowa 1037 | Iowa | 1917
“Nor in any event shall this company be held liable or responsible, nor shall any demand be made upon it beyond the sum of $50 upon any shipment of 100 lbs., or less, and of not exceeding 50 cents per pound upon any shipment weighing more than 100 lbs., and the liability of the*1040 express company is limited to the value above stated unless the just and true value is declared at the time of shipment and the declared value in excess of the value above ■specified is paid for or agreed to be paid for under this company’s schedule of charges for excess. It is also understood that the stipulation contained herein shall extend and inure to the benefit of each and every company or person to whom, through this company, the said property may be intrusted or delivered for transportation.”
Said defendant also alleged, and the evidence shows, that, under the laws of Congress, both defendants had, prior to the date of the shipment in question, caused to be filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission their schedule of rates between Brooklyn and Davenport, and that said rates are based on the value of the shipments; that the rates, classifications, schedules and tariffs were jointly filed by the defendants and approved by the commission, and were in force on December 19, 1913; that such schedule contained the following provisions:
“(a) The rates governed by this classification are based upon a value of not exceeding $50 on each shipment of 100 lbs. or less, and not exceeding 50 cents per pound, actual weight, on each shipment weighing more than 100 lbs., and the liability of the express company is limited to the value above stated unless a greater value is declared at time of shipment, and the declared value in excess of the value above specified is paid for, or agreed to be paid for, under the schedule of charges for excess .value in paragraph (c) of this rule. * * ' *
“(c) When the value declared by the shipper, or indicated by an invoice, exceeds the value of $50 on a shipment weighing 100 lbs. or less, or 50 cents per pound on a shipment weighing more than 100 lbs., a charge for the excess value must be made according to the following schedule of charges: When merchandise rate is $3 or less per*1041 100 lbs., 10 cents for eacli $100 excess value or fraction thereof. When merchandise rate exceeds $3 and not more than $8 per 100 lbs., 15 cents for each $100 excess value or fraction thereof.”
Said defendant also alleges and claims that the package was accepted as an interstate shipment, subject to the terms and conditions of the receipt given in the name of the American Express Company, and subject to the regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission under said act, and that any liability of the defendants is to be determined by the act as amended, and particularly by Section 20 thereof; that, by reason of the matters just referred to, defendants were authorized to carry pursuant to the terms of said classification, whereby the agreed value was fixed at $50, in consideration of the rate-agreed to be paid for the carriage of said package, and for its loss in shipment the liability of either defendant is limited to said agreed valuation; that plaintiff kneAV that the rates were based upon the value of the shipment, and that, had its true value been disclosed, the rate would have been based upon a value in excess of $50, Avhile the rate actually agreed to be paid was the lowest rate; that Schiff Bros., plaintiff’s agents, in accepting the receipt without declaring the true value, and knowing the true value, were guilty of a fraud in attempting to obtain an illegal and discriminatory rate, and one loAver than allowed by law. It is shown that the package in question Aveigked 90 pounds, and that the rate would have been $1.65 more had the true value of the package been declared. Said defendant alleges that plaintiff is es-topped from claiming that the value of the package is in excess of $50; that, by declaring the true value, the consignor and plaintiff could have obtained a service involving a greater degree of care, and, in failing to declare the true value, the consignor induced the defendants to lessen their vigilance; that the value of $50 placed upon said shipment,
“The rates of the companies, parties to this classification, are conditioned upon their right to route business as they may elect, which right is expressly reserved.”
Said defendant alleges that, even if it be found that the • package was received by it for shipment, still, under said Rule 2, it might forward the package over such route as it deemed shortest and least expensive, and that, therefore, there was no conversion, because defendant was acting within the terms and conditions upon which it received such package, if it be held that it did receive it. Said defendant denied generally all allegations not admitted. It is shown that the package would reach Davenport by the United States Company four hours sooner than by the American. The defendant United States Express Company pleaded substantially the same facts. Both defendants offered to confess judgment for $50 and interest and costs, which was refused. The trial court, instructed that the United States Express Company was only liable for $50, but as to the other defendant, instructed on the theory of conversion, and that, under the undisputed evidence, plaintiff was entitled to recover $1,138.75 as the true value of the package, if the jury found there was a conversion. The instructions read:
“7. The only question or issue for you to try and determine in this case is: Was it within the reasonable contemplation of Schiff Bros., — that is, within the reasonable contemplation of their president, Abraham Schiff, or their secretary, Theodore Schiff, or their shipping clerk, Paul Meyer, or their assistant shipping clerk, Charles Schiff, when the said package was delivered to Michael Connors, the joint agent of the two defendant express companies, for shipment, — that the same might be routed and forwarded*1043 over the line of the defendant United States Express Company?
“8. It is to be presumed in this case, until the contrary appears from the evidence, that the said package was to be routed and forwarded over the line of the American Express Company; hence the burden of'proof is upon the defendants to establish and prove by a preponderance of evidence that it was within the reasonable contemplation of Schiff Bros., when they so delivered the said package for shipment, that the same might be routed and forwarded over the line of the United States Express Company.
“9. So, in this case, if you find from a preponderance of evidence that it was within the reasonable contemplation of any one of the said persons, namely: Abraham Schiff, president, Theodore Schiff, secretary, Paul Meyer, shipping clerk, or Charles Schiff, assistant shipping clerk, of the said Schiff Bros., when the said package was so delivered for shipment to said Michael Connors, joint agent of the defendants, that such package might be routed and forwarded over the line of the United States Express Company, then in that event your verdict must be against both defendants for the sum of $50, with six per cent interest thereon from December 19, 1913; but if you do not so find, then your verdict must be against the defendant American Express Company in the sum of $1,138.75, with interest thereon, and against the defendant United States Express Company in the sum of $50, with six per cent interest thereon from December 19, 1913.”
Only this one fact question was submitted, and appellant contends that the trial court denied all of its other defenses. We shall refer later to the evidence ns each 'side claims it to be, and as bearing- upon the question as to ■whether there was or was not a conversion. At this point, appellant contends that there is no conflict in the evidence, while appellee contends otherwise; but appellant says that,
In fairness to the trial court, it should be said that some of the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, upon which we think a determination of the questions involved turn, were decided after the trial of this case.
Appellee contends that there was at least a conflict in the evidence as to whether there ivas in fact a conversion of the property, while appellant contends that, under the
“ 'A parcel containing country banker’s notes, of the value of 1,300£ and addressed to their clerk, in order to conceal the nature of its contents, was delivered to the carrier, without any notice of its value, to be carried by a mail coach, and was accepted by him to be so carried. The parcel was sent by a different coach (owned by others), and was lost. The carriers had previously given notice that they would not be answerable for any parcel above 5£ in value, if lost or damaged, unless an insurance were paid. No insurance having been paid in this case, held, notwithstanding, that the carrier was responsible for the loss.’ The counsel for defendant relied upon the case of Batson vs. Donovan, 4 B. & A., 21, which was an action founded*1047 upon tlie negligence or non-feasance of the carrier. The plaintiff had a verdict below for the full amount of the value of the package.”
The judgment of the lower court was sustained, on the theory that it was not a case of the negligent performance of the contract, but, because defendant did not carry the package in pursuance of the contract, but substituted a different carrier, it was a refusal altogether to perform the contract, and a misfeasance. Counsel for appellee seek to distinguish Georgia, etc., R. Co. v. Blish Milling Co., 241 U. S. 190 and later cases relied upon by appellant.
Appellant’s contention at this point is that, under the holding in the Blish and other cases, the question of conversion — at least such a conversion as is relied upon in the instant case — is not controlling, and that, whether the suit is on contract or in tort, the amount of recovery is lawfully limited to the amount specified in .the contract; and they quote the language of Mr. Justice Hughes in the Blish case:
“The words of the statute.are comprehensive enough to embrace responsibility for all losses resulting from any failure to discharge a carrier’s duty as to any part of the agreed transportation.”
The trial court seems to have adopted plaintiff’s theory, and, as we understand it, instructed the jury, under the doctrine of Green-Wheeler Shoe Co. v. Chicago, R. I. & P. R. Co., 130 Iowa 123, 130, and other cases, that, if the carrier transports the goods over some other route than that specified in the contract, or reasonably within the contemplation of the parties, he must answer as for conversion. If it be conceded that, under the evidence, there was such a conflict therein that the jury was justified in finding that there was a conversion, under the doctrine of the Iowa oases just referred to, and even though, as contended by appellee, it was not a mere technical conversion, still, the goods being lost
Appellant cites many cases which it says control the instant case, and appellee does not dispute the propositions laid down in any of them, except the Blish case, but contends that appellant’s cases do not apply because of the alleged conversion. Among other cases, appellant cites Adams Exp. Co. v. Croninger, 226 U. S. 491, Georgia, etc. R. Co. v. Blish Milling Co., 241 U. S. 190 (60 L. Ed. 948), Atchison, T. & S. F. R. Co. v. Harold, 241 U. S. 371, to the point that, by the Carmack Amendment, Congress took supreme control of a carrier’s liability in interstate shipments. They also cite Missouri, K. & T. R. Co. v. Harriman, 227 U. S. 657 (57 L. Ed. 690), Glassman v. Chicago, R. I. & P. R. Co., 166 Iowa 254, and Herminghausen v. Adams Express Co., 167 Iowa 230, to the point that the Carmack Amendment furnishes an exclusive rule for the liability of a carrier under contracts for interstate shipments. Appellant also cites Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Hughes, 191 U. S. 477,
“When once lawfully published, a rate, so long as it remains uncanceled, is as fixed and unalterable either by the shipper or by the carrier as if that particular rate had been established by a special act of the Congress. When regularly published, it is no longer the rate imposed by the carrier, but the rate imposed by the law. * * * Any departure from it, either by the carrier or the shipper, is as much a crime as it would be if the rate had been fixed by specific enactment. Not even a court may interfere with a published rate or authorize a departure from it.”.
This case cites Texas & P. R. Co. v. Abilene C. O. Co.,
We are of opinion that the instant case is ruled by the Blish case. The Supreme Court points out, in the Groninger case, the confusion that existed in the various states as to validity of limited liability clause in interstate carriage contracts, before the Carmack Amendment. Appellant contends that, if plaintiff’s theory in regard to conversion prevails, the national law will be circumvented, and the former chaos will return; that the $50 limit would stand by virtue of the Federal statute, except in cases of conversion. It is argued that, as to the owner of goods, there can be no difference whether the goods are lost or ■stolen and converted by the carrier; that the owner has simply lost his goods; that the shipment does not lose its interstate character simply because it was converted. It is argued, too, that the Carmack Amendment does not provide that a bill of lading shall be null, nor its conditions void,
Coming now to the Blish case. There it was claimed there was a conversion, and a recovery sought otherwise than according to the terms of the shipping contract. The suit was brought in trover. This is the technical name of the common law action provided for the redress for conversion. The point in the contract that plaintiff sought to escape by suing in trover was not the agreed amount of re
“The action is in trover, but, as the state court said: ‘If we look beyond its technical denomination, the scope and effect of the action is nothing more than that of an action for damages against the delivering carrier.’ ”
So it is in the instant case, — a suit to recover the value of the shipment. It is also said in the Blish case:
“It is urged, however, that the carrier in making the misdelivery converted the flour and thus abandoned the contract. But the parties could not waive the terms of the con*1053 tract under which the shipment was made pursuant to the Federal Act; nor could the carrier by its conduct give the shipper the right to ignore these terms which were applicable to that conduct and hold the carrier to a different responsibility from that fixed by the agreement made under the published tariffs and regulations. A different view would antagonize' the plain policy of the act and open the door to the very abuses at which the act was aimed.”
And so it is here. Appellant could not waive the terms of its contract with plaintiff, neither could it, by its conduct, conversion, give plaintiff the right to ignore the agreed $50 limitation of liability, and plaintiff may not hold the appellant to any different responsibility than that fixed in the contract. The Blish case is cited, though under somewhat different facts, in D'Utassy v. Barrett, supra, and Metz Co. v. Boston & M. R. Co., (Mass.) 116 N. E. 475. Counsel for appellee seeks to distinguish the Blish case from the present case by saying that the conversion in the Blish case was purely technical, and that the conversion in the case at bar was real and a misfeasance, but in the Blish case the Supreme Court of Georgia (82 R. E. 784, 787) condemned the carrier by saying:
“The railway company, without regard for the Milling Company’s rights or wishes, and in violation of its expressed intention, committed conversion.”
This is substantially the same claim as appellee makes here. We are of opinion that the Blish case determines the instant case, and that the $50 limitation is, under the record in this case, valid and binding, and limits plaintiff’s recovery to that amount.
The cause is therefore reversed, with directions to the district court to enter a judgment for $50 with interest at 6 per cent from December 19, 1913, the interest to be computed and included in the judgment. In that case, the defendant having made a tender, the plaintiff ivill pay all