Big Hill Coal Co. v. Abney's Admr.

101 S.W. 394, 125 Ky. 355, 1907 Ky. LEXIS 300

Opinion

Opinion op the Court by

Judge Hobs'on

Reversing.

J. D. Abney was a laborer in tbe mine of the Big Hill Coal Company, and while- engaged there was killed by the falling of the roof of the mine. This suit was filed by his personal representative to recover for his death. The facts of the case are substantially these: Levi Reynolds, who was the father-in-law of Abney, was a miner, and had been employed for some time in the mine. It was usual for each miner to have with him a helper, known, as a “buddy. ’ ’ Reynolds’ buddy left-, and Reynolds took Abney in as his buddy. Abney had been in the mine only a day and a half when he was killed. The proof for the plaintiff was to the effect that Reynolds and Abney named the matter to the mine boss, and tbri+ the mine boss agreed that Abney should go in as Reynolds’ buddy. The defendant’s proof was to the effect that this did not occur; that each miner had a number; that Abney applied for a number, and was refused one; and that his name was not on the company’s pay roll. Reynolds admitted that after Abney’s death he paid the widow what was coming to Abney on the coal they had gotten out, but it appeared that two men worked in each room, and that it was the rule at the mine for a miner to take in, if he chose, as 'his helper, when he had none, a member of his family; but that, if the company had any objections, it could keep him out.

The charge, in the petition, was that the room of the mine in which Abney was directed to work, and those adjacent thereto, were unsafe and dangerous because of ■ the failure of the defendant to properly brace or prop the roof overhead and its drawing the ribs between them. The answer denied the allegations of the petition, and pleaded contributory negligence on the part of the deceased. The proof showed that it was the dutv of the miners to prop the roof in the rooms where they worked as they took out the coal underneath; that the company furnished them the props, and it was. their duty to put the props up as they went along, taking out the coal so as to make the roof above them secure. It also showed that the props were in the room at the time Abney was killed, and had not been put up by the miners; that Abney was killed by the falling of the roof at a point where he and Reynolds had taken out the coal from beneath without putting up any props to hold the roof. The defendant proved that Abney had been warned of the danger, and had said he would put up .the props. There was also proof showing that Abney’s death was caused "by the fall of what is called a “horseback;” that it started in another room, and there was proof tending to show that its fall was due to the pillars being taken out, rather than tó the lack of props in the space from which they had taken out the coal. The defendant offered to prove by Reynolds that he had taken out the coal from the end of the rib to the point where Abney was killed, and had not put up any props in this place; that it was his duty to prop this space, and he so knew, although he had failed to put the props up; that it was the custom of the mine that miners should put up the props along as they got out the coal; that all of the miners were required to have numbers; and that Reynolds well knew the situation and the necessity of props. The court excluded this evidence, although it would seem from the bill of exceptions that during'the trial the facts were gotten out in one way or another. The •evidence should have been admitted. The ground of plaintiff’s cause of action is negligence on the part of the defendant. If there was no negligence on the part of the defendant, it is not liable. As between Abney or Reynolds and the defendant, neither one of them was the agent of the defendant. They were simply partners in getting out the coal. The word “buddy” was evidently used for “brother” or “partner.” If Abney’s paftner failed to put up props, and this caused the roof to fall, causing Abney’s death, the defendant is not liable. In order to recover, the plaintiff must show negligence on the part of the defendant; arid, if the evidence shows that the death of the deceased was due to his partner’s negligence, then he has failed to make out a case against the defendant.

It would seem from the record that the court’s ruling was based' upon tbe idea that the defendant had not pleade.d negligence on the part of the fellow servant, Reynolds; but such a plea was unnecessary. When the defendant denied that there was negligence on its part, a perfect defense was set up, and it was unnecessary for it to state affirmatively that the negligence was that of a third person. In 4 Thompson on Negligence, 899, the rule is thus stated: “The defense that a servant’s injuries were caused by the negligence of his fellow servant is admissible under a general denial.” This rule was followed by this court in Cincinnati, etc., R. R. Co. v. Lew Allen, 32 S. W. 958, 17 Ky. Law Rep. 863. See, also, Wilson v. Charleston, etc., R. R. Co., 28 S. E. 91, 51 S. C. 79; Sayward v. Carlson, 1 Wash. 29, 23 Pac. 830; Sheehan v. Prosser, 55 Mo. App. 569; Kaminski v. Tudor Iron Works, 167 Mo. 462, 67 S. W. 221; Duffy v. Kivilin, 195 Ill. 630, 63 N. E. 503. The case of Bowling Green Stone Company v. Capshaw, 23 Ky. Law Rep. 945, 64 S. W. 507, is so obscurely reported as not to show definitely what was decided as to this question, or how the matter arose. A new trial was ordered on other grounds which controlled the case. Contributory negligence, when relied on as a defense, must be pleaded, for the reason that the existence of contributory negligence does not negative negligence on the part of the defendant. The defendant may have been negligent, and his negligence may have been the cause of the plaintiff’s injury, and yet, if the plaintiff was also negligent, and but for his negligence, his injury would not have- occurred, he cannot recover. But in a suit by a servant, if the injury sued for was caused by the negligence of a' fellow servant, there is a failure to show negligence on the part of the master. The fact that a fellow servant was negligent will not defeat a recovery where the master was also negligent, unless the negligence of the fellow servant, and not the negligence of the master, was the proximate cause of the injury. In 1 Thompson on Negligence, sec. 505, after a statement of the rule that the master is not responsible unléss. his negligence in some way concurred with that of the fellow servant in producing the injury, it is said: “If, however, the negligence of the master did concur with that of the fellow servant in producing the injury, then the case is like any other case where a person is injured by the concurring negligence of two persons, in which case he may have an action against either or both of them.” But here Reynolds and Abney were getting out coal jointly on Reynolds’ number as miner. If Abney was injured by Reynold’s negligence the defendant is ho more responsible for it than it would be if he was injured by his own negligence, or that of a stranger. Reynolds and Abney being engaged in getting out coal on joint account, each in so doing was the agent of the other, and the acts of one were in legal effect the acts of the other; If Reynolds was negligent, his negligence is chargeable to his partner, Abney. Under the Code, facts may be stated according to their legal effect. It is not a variance when an individual contract is alleged and a firm contract is shown. Waits v. McClure, 10 Bush 763. And so it is not a variance when an act alleged to be that of the defendant is shown to have been done by him by his agent, and not in person; for it is equally his act whether done in person or by agent. There was no need for an amendment to the answer. The original answer presented the whole defense. Newman on Pleading, pp. 257-261. .

The plaintiff was allowed to prove on the trial that the pillars between the rooms were only 6 feet wide, when they should have been left 10 feet wide. There was no charge in the petition of this, and when the proof was admitted, over the defendant’s objection,' it asked a continuance on the ground that it had taken proof by -depositions, and was not prepared to meet this issue. The object of written pleadings is to ap*prise the opposite party of the facts constituting the claim or defense. The ground of complaint in the petition, so far as relates to the pillars, is as to the removal of part of the pillars. It did not apprise the defendant that negligence was claimed on the ground that the plan of the mine was faulty, and that the pillars were originally too small. On the return of the ease, the plaintiff may have leave to amend his petition; but, under the pleadings as they now stand, the proof should not have been admitted. Greer v. L. & N. R. R. Co., 14 Ky. Law Rep. 876, 94 Ky. 169, 21 S. W. 649, 42 Am. St. Rep. 345; L & N. R. R. Co. v. McCary’s Adm’r, 104 Ky. 517, 47 S. W. 440, 20 Ky. Law Rep. 691.

At the conclusion of the evidence, the court gave the jury these instructions:

“(1) If you believe from the evidence that the deceased, Jonathan Abney, was employed a!s a miner by the defendant, or that he was put to work as such by Gibson, and that the place where he worked was unsafe by reason of the failure of the defendant to properly brace or prop the slate or roof overheard of the room, in which deceased was working, or the room adjacent tliereto> or by drawing the ribs- between same, and that said unsafe condition was known to the defendant, or could have been known to it by the exercise of ordinary care, and that by reason of said unsafe condition, or either of them, deceased was killed, you will find for the plaintiff; unless you further believe from the evidence, taking into consideration the experience the deceased had in this character of work, he knew of said unsafe condition, or could have known of the same by the exercise of ordinary care, you will find for the defendant.

“(2).If you believe from the evidence that the deceased was guilty of negligence in failing to sufficiently prop the place where he was working at the time of his death, and that he would not have received the injury except for such negligence, you will find for the defendant.

“ (3) If you find for the plaintiff, you will find for her such a sum in damages as you may believe from the evidence will fairly compensate her for the loss of the life, of her intestate, Jonathan Abney; and you may measure such damages by the ability of the deceased to earn money, taking into consideration his age, physical condition, and prospects of life as they appear in evidence, providing that the finding shall pot exceed $20,000. ’ ’

The master is only required to. furnish the servant a reasonably safe place to work, so far as it may be done by ordinary care; that is, the master must use ordinary care to make the place where the servant works reasonably safe. Instruction No. 1 improperly makes the master responsible if the place where the servant worked was unsafe. There are many businesses which are attended more or less with danger, and the rule announced in the instruction would often make the master absolutely a guarantor. Coal mining is, at best, a dangerous business. The master is only required to use ordinary care for the safety of the servant. In lieu of the words, “that the place where he worked was unsafe by reason of the failure of the defendant to properly brace or prop the slate or roof overhead of the room in which the deceased was working, or the rooms adjacent thereto, or by drawing the ribs between same,” these words should have been used, “and that the defendant failed to exercise ordinary caro to brace or prop the slate or roof overhead in the room in which deceased was working, or the rooms adjacent thereto, or in drawing the ribs between same, and by reason of such failure the place where he worked was not reasonably safe. ” The latter part of the instruction is more favorable to the defendant than it should be, in this, that the rule is that the servant may recover, unless he knew of the danger, or'could have known of it by the exercise of ordinary care in the course of his employment. The words, “you will find for the defendant,” at the end of the instruction, should be omitted, and in lieu thereof these words should be added, ‘ ‘ and unless you find as set out in No. 2.” In lieu of the words, “was put to work as such by Gibson, ’ ’ on another trial these Words will be used, “was allowed to work as such by Gibson. ”

By the second instruction the jury should have been told that if they believed from the evidence that the deceased or Reynolds failed to exercise ordinary care to prop the roof as the coal was taken out, and that but for this the injury would not have occurred, or if Abney knew the danger, or could have known it by ordinary care in the discharge of his duties, or if he failed to exercise ordinary care for his own safety, but for which he would not have been injured, then, in any of these events, they should find for the defendant.

In lieu of the third instruction, the court will, tell the jury that, if they find for the plaintiff, the measure of damages is such, a sum as will reasonably compensate the intestate’s estate for the destruction-of bis power to earn money.

By another instruction the court will tell the jury that “ordinary care” is such care as a person of ordinary prudence would usually exercise under like circumstances, and that negligence is the want of ordinary care.

The other matters relied on will probably not occur on another trial, and so need not be noticed. On the return of the case to the circuit court, the plaintiff will be allowed to amend her petition, if she desires to do so.

Judgment reversed, and cause remanded for a new trial.

• Petition by appellant for extension of opinion overruled.