West v. Bayfield Mill Co.

149 Wis. 145 | Wis. | 1912

WiNsnow, C. J.

It was argued by appellant now, as it was argued upon the previous appeal, that the court should have directed a verdict for the defendant because it appeared as matter of law (1) that the defendant had securely guarded the gear, and (2) that .the deceased assumed the risk or was guilty of contributory negligence, or both. These contentions were overruled upon the previous appeal, and that decision would, on familiar principles, form the law of the case upon the second trial if the evidence were substantially the same. The plaintiff claims, however, that there was additional evidence on the present trial tending to show a different state of facts from that shown by the evidence on the former trial. It is true that upon the present trial there was evidence on the part of the defendant not given on the former trial tending to show that the guard board, in addition to being nailed' at the top, was supported by two upright 2 x 10’s against which the inner face of the hoard rested, thus preventing it from bending inward under pressure. On the part of the plaintiff, however, the evidence of several witnesses was substantially the same as before, to wit, that the board was only held in place by nails along the top edge and had no other support. This evidence was not inherently incredible, and if believed by the jury would present exactly the same condition in this respect as was considered by this court upon the former appeal, hence the decision then made is conclusive now.

Again it is said, upon the question of contributory negligence, that the former decision is not conclusive because there is evidence now to the effect that the mill stopped sawing for about ten minutes prior to the accident, hence that the intestate had ample time to either notify his superiors of the fact that the guard hoard was off, or to have repaired it himself with tools which were proven to be near at hand. There seem to be two answers to this contention: first, the sawyer testifies that sawing was actually going on at the time of the accident; and second, the deceased had numerous duties in connection with turning and straightening of cants, the operation of the resaw, the scraping of rotten logs and hark from the carriage track, and the changing of saws, and it cannot he said that the evidence clearly shows that he had ample time to make the repair himself or notify his superior of the necessity therefor, even if it he conceded that it was his duty to do either of these things under any circumstances.

The following instructions requested hy defendant were refused, and error is assigned upon each of these rulings:

“In connection with question 3, you are instructed that the plaintiff was guilty of a want of ordinary care, if you find from the evidence that had the plaintiff exercised any care or caution which was under the circumstances reasonable, practical, and available, he might have avoided the injuries resulting in his being caught in the gear in question, and in case you so find, your answer to question 3 will he ‘Yes.’

“In respect to question 3, you are instructed that when an employee discovers that the machinery in connection with which he is obliged to work is out of repair, it is his duty to inform his master of this fact, and if you find from the evidence that the deceased, Philip La Pointe, had reasonable opportunity, after he discovered that the guard board over the gearing in question was off, to inform any person in authority in the defendant’s employ of such fact, prior to his accident, then he was guilty of negligence in failing to report such fact, and your answer to question 3 will be 'Yes.’ ”

As to the first of these instructions, while we are not prepared to say that it would have been erroneous to give it, we certainly do not think it was error to refuse it. Ordinary care has been frequently defined by this court as that care which the great majority of people would and do ordinarily use under like or similar circumstances. Some such simple statement as this is preferable to any long or involved definition. Tbe instruction requested, in addition to tbe manifest inaccuracy of its reference to tbe plaintiff instead of tbe deceased, is certainly lacking in clarity, if not actually confusing, and we cannot say that it was error to refuse it.

Tbe second requested instruction lays down tbe abstract proposition that it is tbe duty of an employee, on discovering that machinery on wbicb be is working is out of repair, to inform bis master of tbe fact. Tbis sweeping proposition cannot be approved. No sucb absolute duty can be said to exist in, every case. Tbe question may depend on numerous considerations, sucb as tbe character of tbe defect, whether it be serious or trifling, tbe apparent imminence of danger therefrom, tbe duties of tbe employee in other directions, etc. It is evident that no unbending rule of tbis nature can be laid down, and hence tbe refusal of tbe second instruction cannot be considered erroneous, even if tbe latter clause thereof, standing alone, might properly have been given — a question not decided.

Tbe court charged tbe jury at tbe request of tbe defendant as follows:

“In respect to question 1, you are instructed that if tbe defendant furnished sucb a guard, or as effective a guard as ordinarily careful and prudent employers in tbe same line of business ordinarily use, under like circumstances, it bad then discharged its full duty under tbe law, requiring it to securely guard sucb gearing, and in ease you so find from tbe evidence, your answer to tbis question will be Wes.’ ”

Later in tbe charge tbe following instruction was given on tbis same point:

“By securely guarding, tbe defendant was required to guard the machine in question in sucb a manner as is usually done by employers of ordinary caution in tbe same line of business and under tbe same circumstances, and if it did so, it discharged tbe duties imposed upon it and tbe guard so furnished is in tbe legal -sense reasonably safe and tbe alleged dangerous machine has been securely guarded within tbe meaning of the statute, and if yon find and believe from the whole evidence that this is the fact yon will answer question number 1 by ‘Yes.’ ”

Error is here charged because it is said that the second of ■these instructions absolutely required the defendant to guard the gearing in the manner usually employed by other employers, whereas it could discharge its duty equally well by furnishing as effective a guard as other ordinarily careful employers furnish, though not the same kind. This last idea is •expressed in the first instruction quoted above, and it must be ■admitted that the second instruction is not happily worded, .especially in the use of the word “required.” We do not ■think, however, that the jury could have been misled by the inaccuracy. In view of the fact that no intimation was given ■to the jury of any intention to modify or withdraw the first instruction, we think the jury must have understood the words “in such manner” in the second instruction to refer to the effectiveness of the manner of guarding rather than to the manner of its physical construction. In this view the two in.■structions are entirely harmonious and correct.

The only other contention which we deem of sufficient importance to require treatment is the contention that the damages, after reduction by the trial court, are excessive. In this ■connection it is to be noted that the trial court, against timely ■objection, allowed evidence to be introduced showing the distressing, almost revolting, condition in which the body of the •deceased was found when the machinery was finally stopped. There was no legitimate excuse for the introduction of this evidence. It was fully admitted by the' defendant that the ■deceased was caught in the gearing and that he died as a result of the injuries received thereby. The only questions were whether the uncovered gearing constituted negligence, and whether, if so, the deceased was guilty of contributory negligence. Upon these questions the shocking condition of the body east no light. The evidence could only tend to excite tbe sympathies and. perhaps the passions of the jury, and it should not have been allowed. Had the deceased survived, and brought action for the injuries which he received, it. might with some reason be claimed that this evidence was admissible, because' he would be entitled to recover for his pain,, suffering,, and disfigurement. But there can be no such elements in the recovery in this action. Here the damages are-limited to the pecuniary loss of the widow. Rudiger v. C., St. P., M. & O. R. Co. 101 Wis. 292, 77 N. W. 169. That loss is to be measured by the reasonable value of the widow’s, support and. protection by the deceased during the time he would probably have lived, adding thereto such sum as she-might reasonably expect to receive at his death out of the accumulations which he might probably make during his expectancy of life. Rudiger v. C., St. P., M. & O. R. Co., supra.

■ The plaintiff in this case was fifty-three years of age and. was a laboring man. His widow was fifty-one years of age. He had accumulated nothing and could not therefore be expected to make any accumulations during the remainder of' his life. He was earning $1.75 per day during the mill season. At times he had received $2.25 per day. He worked in the woods for three or four months during the winter at about $35 per month. In addition he raised some garden-produce, but his total income at the time of his death could not probably exceed $500 per year, and must be expected to-decrease as he grew older.

His expectancy of life under the American experience tables was 18.79 years. Had he lived his wife could not, of' course, reasonably expect to receive his entire earnings during that expectancy; a reasonable amount for his own support and clothing would first have to be deducted. Her damages must necessarily be limited to such sum as, being put at interest, will each year, by taking a part of the principal and adding-to the interest, yield the amount which she would in all reasonable probability have received from Mm by way of support and protection during bis expectancy of life.

Assuming tbat tbe deceased would earn just as mueb every year during bis expectancy of life as be was earning at tbe time of bis death (wbieb is of course a practical impossibility), and tbat bis wife might expect to receive «$400 out of his yearly earnings of $500 each year (an amount which is plainly excessive), tbe present value of an annual allowance of $400 during bis expectancy of life at five per cent, would be but $4,838.12 under tbe standard annuity tables. TMs sum in cash would purchase an annuity of $400 for bis expectancy of life. Tbe circuit judge was evidently convinced tbat tbe damages were excessive, and hence required tbe plaintiff to remit $900 from tbe verdict. On what basis be computed tbe amount of tbe remission we are not able to understand. If $7,500 was excessive, $6,600 was also excessive. Tbe true rule is tbat where excessive damages are awarded by tbe jury in actions of this nature and there is no other prejudicial error, tbe trial court, or this court upon appeal, may properly end tbe matter without further litigation by giving tbe plaintiff tbe option to remit from the verdict a sum which will mate tbe damages as small as a fair and unprejudiced jury would probably name. Heimlich v. Tabor, 123 Wis. 565, 102 N. W. 10; Hackett v. Wis. Cent. R. Co. 141 Wis. 464, 124 N. W. 1018. To allow a verdict for any larger sum than this would be to infringe upon tbe defendant’s right of jury trial.

In' the present case we have data upon tbe subject in tbe shape of tbe verdict for $4,750 rendered by tbe, jury upon tbe former trial. Tbat verdict was not attacked as prejudiced or excessive and it seems may well be considered to be as low a sum as an unprejudiced jury would probably name.

By the Court. — Judgment reversed, with costs, and action remanded for a new trial; with tbe option to tbe plaintiff, at any time witbin thirty days after notice of the filing of the remittitur in the circuit court, to elect to enter judgment for $4,750 damages and costs.

On April 23, 1912, the foregoing mandate was amended by adding thereto the words:, “Interest to be computed on the damages from the date of the verdict.”