Benson v. Jones & Laughlin Ore Co.

151 N.W. 707, 185 Mich. 7, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 936
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 18, 1915
DocketDocket No. 64
StatusPublished

This text of 151 N.W. 707 (Benson v. Jones & Laughlin Ore Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Benson v. Jones & Laughlin Ore Co., 151 N.W. 707, 185 Mich. 7, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 936 (Mich. 1915).

Opinions

Moore, J.

In August, 1911, the defendant began to clear a location for iron ore operations. On December 7, 1911, it began to sink a perpendicular shaft [9]*9to reach the ore body. It was necessary to sink the shaft to a depth of 175 feet before starting the first level. The plaintiff began work as a pumpman in the shaft about February 1, 1912. He claims to have been injured about February 14, 1912, while trying to climb out of the shaft. It is to recover damages for these injuries that he brought this suit. The plaintiff was a miner of about 14 years’ experience in Iron and Gogebic counties, and during that time had assisted in sinking about half a dozen shafts. The construction of the shaft began by laying on the earth four hanging pieces from 30 to 40 feet long, and from 2 to 2% feet square; two running at right angles with the other two, which formed an opening 10 feet by 12 feet. Under the long timbers, and close to them, are bolted one set of timbers 12 inches square. The sets were 4 feet apart in the clear. As the shaft was being sunk, as soon as. there was room a set would be put in and fastened by hanging bolts. On the back of these 12-inch timbers 2-inch strips were nailed. On these strips were placed back lath, almost 5 feet in length, which are 2-inch tamarack plank, to keep the earth from falling into the shaft, and in order to keep the back lath in place blocking and wedges were used to make the back lath as tight as possible. It was the duty of the men working in the shaft to keep constant watch of the shaft, and, when there was any indication of caving behind the back lath, to make immediate investigation and block or wedge the back lath whenever they were found to be loose. When the shaft reached the quicksand, at a depth of about 55 feet, water began to accumulate, and it was necessary to install a pump, which was placed on a platform on the east end of the shaft. The plaintiff helped install this pump. The pump was on a platform. As the shaft was sunk, the suction to the pump would become too short and the platform would be lowered. Until the [10]*10bearing pieces were put in at 97 feet, there was no ladder road in the shaft. The plaintiff describes a ladder road as follows:

“It is made of wood and put in straight up and down and is fastened with staples or nails and runs from the surface down to the bottom.”

There was no bell line in the shaft, but there were means of signaling the engineer from the tube by striking three raps on the tube. The plaintiff had worked in the shaft 14 days and knew" there was no ladderway or bell line in the shaft. On February 14, 1912, the shaft was about 90 feet deep. The entire weight of the shaft at that time was upon the hanging bolts. On that day the men had blasted. Plaintiff heard a noise that indicated the shaft was settling. Water and sand were coming into the shaft from behind the timbers. A chunk of some kind fell and hit the plaintiff, and it indicated to him the shaft was settling. Two men besides the plaintiff were in the shaft. They hallooed for the hoist. They attracted no one’s attention. When the plaintiff failed to attract any one’s attention, he started to climb the hanging bolts and climbed about 18 sets.

It is claimed by defendant that Samuel Truscott, a miner, was going down in the bucket and was about 35 feet from the surface when the cave-in occurred, and as the plaintiff started to climb the hanging bolts he told him to stop and take the bucket and ride, and plaintiff answered: “No, I am going to climb the hanging bolts; I can beat you up then.” This is not admitted by the plaintiff. Truscott went to the bottom of the shaft in the bucket and brought the other two men up with him, and the plaintiff rode to the surface with him. A careful inspection of the entire shaft was made at once, and nothing wrong whatever was found, except a cave-in about 25 feet below the surface. The timber had just settled about an inch [11]*11around the shaft. The plaintiff claims to have been injured by the chunk which fell and hit him before he started to climb the hanging bolts, and also by reason of climbing the hanging bolts. The extent of his injuries was in dispute. He claimed they were permanent and serious, and defendant claimed that at most they were only trivial. From a judgment in his favor, the case is brought here by writ of error.

The defendant contends it is not liable for the following reasons:

(1) That no negligence was shown on the part of the defendant, and the court should have directed a verdict for defendant.

(2) That this shaft, in course of construction, was not a permanent place so that the doctrine of safe place applied.

(3) That the plaintiff assumed the risk of the absence of a ladder road and bell line.

(4) That the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence.

(5) That there was no evidence tending to show lack of inspection.

The first two reasons may be discussed together. The plaintiff, who was an experienced miner, states that it was the custom in Iron and Gogebic counties to provide ladder roads where shafts are being sunk. Counsel say this evidence is too indefinite to be of any value for the reason that the plaintiff does not claim that the material through which the other shafts were sunk was similar to this one, or that any of the conditions were similar. Counsel also lays great stress upon the proposition that this shaft, in course of - construction, was not a permanent place, so that the doctrine of safe place does not apply. It is the contention of the attorney for defendant that, up to and for some time after plaintiff’s alleged injuries, all work at this location was solely construction work, and, if we understand his argument, it is that while the work is in that condition liability cannot arise.

[12]*12This court has held, in Risku v. Iron Cliffs Co., 163 Mich. 523 (128 N. W. 747):

“The men constructing the new shaft, whether in excavating or timbering it, were engaged in preparing a place in which the ordinary operations of the mine would be carried on, and the use of the platform, or staging, was a mere incident to the construction of such shaft. While the shaft was in process of construction, the doctrine of safe place would not apply; after it was constructed, it would apply.”

But in that case it was held the master owed a duty to furnish suitable material to construct a safe platform upon which the men were to work. Other cases where the doctrine of safe place was considered by this court are Livingstone v. Plate Glass Co., 146 Mich. 236 (109 N. W. 431); Dunn v. Dredge & Dock Co., 161 Mich. 551 (126 N. W. 833); Kaaro v. Mining Co., 178 Mich., at page 681 (146 N. W. 149); and the cases there cited.

We dp not understand that any of them hold, because the work is construction work, that the employer would be relieved of liability for all kinds of negligence.

The trial judge eliminated the question of safe place and instructed the jury that:

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Related

Bradburn v. Wabash Railroad
96 N.W. 929 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1903)
Livingstone v. Saginaw Plate Glass Co.
109 N.W. 431 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1906)
De Kallands v. Washtenaw Home Telephone Co.
116 N.W. 564 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1908)
Dunn v. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co.
126 N.W. 833 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1910)
Risku v. Iron Cliffs Co.
128 N.W. 747 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1910)
Kaaro v. Ahmeek Mining Co.
146 N.W. 149 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1914)

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Bluebook (online)
151 N.W. 707, 185 Mich. 7, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 936, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/benson-v-jones-laughlin-ore-co-mich-1915.