Wallace v. Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Co., Docket No. 100

Docket No. 100 | Mich. | Jun 30, 1903

Montgomery, J.

This is an action of negligence; the charge being that defendant; having undertaken to transport a car load of hogs from North Adams to Cleveland, neglected to use reasonable dispatch, and did not deliver them at the stockyards within a reasonable time, and neglected to water the hogs externally while in transit, although the necessity for so doing was known to defendant’s agents. It is charged that from the lack of such watering, and because of such neglect, a portion of the hogs died.

The testimony on the tidal tended to show that the car was shipped from North Adams at 6:49 p. m., and that it was attached to a train at' Hillsdale which had arrived there at 5:50, and was delayed, waiting for the car in question, and left Hillsdale at 8:30. The train was late in leaving North Adams, but, of course, as this was before the car was in transit, the plaintiff can make no complaint of this. After leaving Hillsdale the train went to Bawbeese Lake, and took on ten cars of ice, and arrived at. Hudson at 11:10, and left at 11:50, having taken on one car and set out one. The train next stopped at Adrian, arriving at 12:30 a. m. of the 6th, and left at 1:50, having taken on thirteen cars and left off three. The train arrived at Air Line Junction at 5:25 a. m., where the car containing plaintiff’s hogs was picked up by a through freight, and left at 7:35, arriving at Cleveland at 3:25 p. m., and was set out on the mud track, so called, and taken in charge by the Big Four Road at 5:20; the defendant road having no track running to the stockyards. The defendant’s testimony tended to show that the hogs were showered at Hillsdale, Hudson, Blissfield, Port Clinton, Huron, and Cleveland. Plaintiff offered testimony of witnesses who saw the car on the morning of the 7th, to the effect that the car was dry, and that, if the hogs had been properly showered on the previous day, the car would have presented a different appearance. Plaintiff also offered testimony tending to show that shipments of cars from North Adams, made by the train to which this car was attached, would, in the regular course, reach Cleveland at 10 a. m. to 12 m. of the second day.

It is contended by defendant’s counsel that the testimony conclusively established that there was no unwarrantable delay, and that the hogs were properly watered, and that there should have been a verdict directed on this ground. We think, however, that there was a question for the jury. There was room to find that at least for ab.out two hours on the 6th the car was left on the side track after a long-, journey, and when it was possible to deliver the hogs to the Big Pour promptly, and there was testimony from which- it might be inferred that the hogs were not properly showered on the 6th. It is contended that it does not appear whether the damage occurred while the car was being transported by defendant, or later, while in charge of the Big Pour; but the delay of defendant was during the most trying time of day, and from this circumstance the jury might have drawn the inference that defendant was responsible for the injury.

* The defendant further contends that the court should have instructed a verdict for the defendant for the reason that there was no liability under the contract of shipment which was made. This contract is evidenced by the bill of lading, and contained the following provision:

“That the said shipper is, at his own sole risk and expense, to load and take care of and to feed and water said stock whilst being transported, whether delayed in transit or otherwise, and to unload the same, and neither said carrier nor any connecting carrier is to be under any liability or duty with reference thereto, except in the actual transportation of the same.”

The plaintiff, although given transportation for the purpose, did not accompany the stock. The fact became known to the conductor of the' freight train on the 6th. The testimony of defendant’s witnesses tended to show that an agent accompanying the hogs could do nothing in the way of drenching or showering the hogs. One of these witnesses testified that it was considered the duty of the men in charge of a freight train in hot weather to see that live hogs are showered as occasion requires; “I don’t see how the shipper could control the watering tanks.” The conductor testified:

“From my experience as a conductor, I suppose it is true that fat hogs are a kind of live stock that you can’t do anything for in course of transit, except to shower water over them and keep them cool. It is the men in charge of the train who operate those appliances.”

The evidence further showed that orders were issued by the superintendent of the company to drench all hogs. It is difficult to see what plaintiff could have done, had he been with the stock to give notice to defendant’s agent to perform this duty. And it may be said that this duty is a part of the actual duty of transportation. In Heller v. Railway Co., 109 Mich. 61 (66 N. W. 670, 63 Am. St. Rep. 541), it is said :

“Upon ascertaining that plaintiff had no one in charge of the cattle, it would undoubtedly have been the duty of the defendant to unload and water and feed them, when, from any cause, it was unable to transport and deliver them within the usual time.”

In the present case, notwithstanding, this contract, there were certain duties which the defendant owed to the plaintiff ; and, under the charge of the court, it must have been found by the jury that those duties were neglected. The failure of the shipper to accompany the car was, not the occasion of the neglect of these duties, and therefore we think there was a case for the jury on the question of defendant’s negligence.

The waybill contained another provision, that no claim for damages should be made unless filed within five days, and verified by the affidavit of the shipper or his agent. It appears that the claim was filed on the 13 th, or one day late; but it also appears by the testimony of Mr. Miller, who acted for the plaintiff, that the claim was returned to him to have the freight bill attached, and that this was done, and the claim again placed with the defendant’s agents, who, after examination and further correspondence, declined to make payment, but not upon the ground of the claim having been filed too late. We think this constituted a waiver of the right to insist upon time.

The judgment will be affirmed, with costs. ’

The other Justices concurred.