Benenson v. Swift & Co.

149 N.W. 668, 127 Minn. 432, 1914 Minn. LEXIS 912

• Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota
• Decided: December 4, 1914
• Docket: Nos. 18,858-(110)
• Status: Published

Opinion

Philip E. Shown, J.

Action to recover damages claimed to have been caused by defendant’s failure to furnish plaintiff, its servant, a safe place in which to work. Defendant denied négligence on its part and alleged contributory negligence and assumption of risk. Plaintiff had a verdict. Defendant appealed from an order denying its alternative motion.

Plaintiff’s duties required him to pull a truck along an elevated platform, to and from defendant’s icing plant, in connection with the icing of refrigerator cars by means of chutes. The truck had two wheels 18 inches in diameter, set three feet apart, the extreme width. The platform was parallel to the railroad track and some 16 feet above it, being 20 feet wide and more than 50 feet long. A shed 12 feet wide, open in front, supported by posts, was situated along a portion of the opposite side thereof from the track, and was devoted to the storage of boxes used in the business but not in connection with the icing department. The only guard on the other side of the platform was a 4x4 inch timber nailed to the floor on the extreme outer edge. Plaintiff had been employed in the same work at the same place for some six days prior to the accident. Others were likewise employed; the rule being that a truckman without a load should stop and the one with a load pass. Plaintiff was 23 years old, a foreigner with slight knowledge of our language, having been in this country only a few months prior to the accident. The proofs would support, a finding that just before be was injured be was drawing bis empty truck in tbe usual manner along tbe platform, and on reaching a point opposite tbe shed saw another workman loading a truck with boxes. There being only a little more than sufficient room to pass, plaintiff stopped, whereupon tbe assistant foreman of tbe icing gang told him to come on, and just after be had passed, but before bis truck was by, tbe other workman raised bis truck so that it collided with plaintiff’s, throwing plaintiff and bis truck to tbe tracks below to bis injury.

1. Defendant insists that no breach of duty on its part was established, and that tbe place was safe. Tbe inquiry should start here, for if this position be well taken plaintiff has no case. In addition to tbe facts stated, defendant offered evidence of tbe impracticability of putting a higher railing or guard along tbe outside of tbe platform; but there was no proof that tbe 4x4 could not have been elevated to some extent without interfering with tbe work, and it is significant in this connection that defendant claimed there was no collision, but that, when plaintiff attempted to pass, tbe wheel of his truck went up on tbe rail and over tbe side. Tbe assistant foreman referred to testified: “He (plaintiff) was a new man there and so we always take care of them and look after them a little more than tbe old fellows there because tbe old fellows are used to it, they try to look after themselves.” This, coming from an experienced man, is at least indicative of attendant dangers not obvious to plaintiff. This witness insisted plaintiff bad ample room to pass, but made the inconsistent admission that “to be on tbe safe side” be told him to stop. Tbe platform at tbe place of tbe accident was not over seven feet eight inches in tbe clear, and it is apparent that there could not have been much room to spare when it was occupied by tbe other truck. We do not sustain defendant’s contention as to tbe safety of tbe place as a matter of law.

If its negligence in this regard proximately contributed to the injury, and if there was no assumption of risk or contributory negligence, defendant is liable, notwithstanding that, as must be held, tbe two truckmen were fellow servants, and even though it be conceded that tbe box truckman was negligent; for if defendant was also negligent in tbe regard mentioned we would have tbe combined negligence of tbe master and a servant concurring to canse the injury of a fellow servant, in wbicb case tbe master is not absolved. Franklin v. Winona & St. P. R. Co. 37 Minn. 409, 34 N. W. 898, 5 Am. St. 856; 2 Notes on Minn. Reports, 1114. Tbe evidence is insufficient to constitute tbe assistant foreman a vice principal. It is important, however, on assumption of risk, wbicb issue cannot on this record be determined as a matter of law in defendant’s favor. Nustrom v. Shenango Furnace Co. 105 Minn. 140, 142, 117 N. W. 480. It is also material on plaintiff’s alleged contributory negligence, wbicb cannot be predicated upon compliance witb a superior’s orders unless tbe danger is obvious.

2. Tbe court should have qualified its instruction defining a reasonably safe place by limiting tbe standard of comparison to “the same or similar circumstances.”

Tbe general instructions were not in harmony witb tbe views above expressed.

Tbe case is not one, however, for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, but for a new trial.

Order reversed.