Blackwell v. Fernandez

59 N.E.2d 342, 324 Ill. App. 597, 1945 Ill. App. LEXIS 246
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedFebruary 6, 1945
DocketGen. No. 43,170
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 59 N.E.2d 342 (Blackwell v. Fernandez) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Blackwell v. Fernandez, 59 N.E.2d 342, 324 Ill. App. 597, 1945 Ill. App. LEXIS 246 (Ill. Ct. App. 1945).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Matchett

delivered the opinion of the court.

This record brings appeals from four judgments entered for plaintiffs on the verdict of a jury.

The suits arose out of the conduct of Earl Tanner on the morning of October 31, 1942. He was then living at 218 East 43rd street with a roommate named Bryan. He was married but lived apart from his wife, who resided on the west side of the city. Tanner visited her the day before. They contemplated arrangements to again live together. He went from there to his, room, where he awaited the return of his roommate. The Coney Island lunchroom, a tavern conducted by defendant Fernandez on premises owned by defendant Live Stock National Bank, was in the same building. Tanner and Bryan went there and Bryan bought a half pint of whiskey. They returned to their room, where he shared it with Tanner. Other friends came, and it was suggested they go to the Indiana Liquor Store, Inc., a tavern located at 4300 Indiana avenue. They went. Tanner bought a half pint bottle of “Ancient Age ’ ’ whiskey and drank 'a part of it there. He then boarded a northbound street car, intending to go to the west side, changing cars at 22nd street, to again visit his wife.

The evidence shows that when Tanner boarded the street car he quarreled with the conductor about his fare; that the car was crowded; that he insulted the passengers, some of whom were ladies, and used obscene and abusive language in their presence and about them. All the passengers were colored, as was Tanner. He quarreled with one of these passengers, named Pernell Ratliff, drew his knife, stabbed Ratliff, then kicked the glass out of the window and escaped through it to the street, where he was arrested by a police officer. He was indicted, tried by jury, con- ' victed of manslaughter, sentenced to Pontiac. He was brought from there to testify.

Ratliff left surviving him his mother, plaintiff Ada Blackwell, and his grandmother, plaintiff Viola Smith. An administratrix, Standley, was appointed. The administratrix sued Cummings, et al., receivers of the Surface Lines, and Tanner under the Injuries Act. Ada Blackwell and Viola Smith separately sued Fernandez, the Live Stock National Bank of Chicago and . Indiana Liquor Store, Inc. under the Dram Shop Act. These causes were tried together. Judgment was entered in favor of the administratrix against the receivers for $3,000 and against Earl Tanner for $5,000. Judgment was entered in favor of Ada Blackwell for $6,000 against Fernandez, the Live Stock National Bank of Chicago and Indiana Liquor Store, Inc., and ’ a judgment against the same defendants in favor of Viola Smith for $1,000. Fernandez, the hank, the liquor store and the receivers each made motions for a new trial and for judgment notwithstanding the verdict and in arrest of judgment. These motions were overruled and judgments entered as stated. Tanner did not file an answer, was not represented by counsel and has not appealed.

Tanner testified he was not drunk. The evidence shows he was. The verdict of the jury, approved by the trial court, is sustained by the evidence on that point.

The theory of plaintiffs is that the railway receivers are liable because an intoxicated passenger, who assaulted and quarreled with deceased, was negligently allowed by their servants to ride on the street car without restraint. The theory of the receivers is that there is no evidence in the record that the crew in charge of the street car had any notice Tanner was dangerous or likely to assault a fellow passenger. The receivers say the court erred in refusing to give the instructions requested by them at the close of plaintiff’s evidence. He says (citing Chicago City Ry. Co. v. Rood, 163 Ill. 477-482) that a prima facie case was not made out by merely showing an injury was inflicted. He cites Putnam v. Broadway & S. A. Ry. Co., 55 N. Y. 108. The question of whether under the facts as proved at the close of plaintiffs’ case a peremptory instruction in defendants’ favor should have been given is a question of law preserved by the motion for a directed verdict (Alton R. Co. v. Gillarde, 379 Ill. 308-311) and the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict (Merlo v. Public Service Co. of Northern Illinois, 381 Ill. 300-311) unless defendants waived it by presenting evidence.

The evidence was conflicting. Tanner testified. He admitted he had been drinking but denied he was drunk when he got on the street car or afterwards. His testimony tended to show the street car was crowded; and that he got into an altercation with Bailiff and stabbed him in self-defense. If Tanner’s testimony was the only evidence the receiver would probably-have been entitled to an instruction in his favor. His was not the only evidence.

Scott, a disinterested passenger testified, that when he boarded the car at 39th street and Indiana avenue he saw Tanner standing up, talking in a loud voice to the conductor, cursing and quarreling about his fare. He heard Tanner curse a woman who boarded the car and says when the car reached 25th street Tanner came in from the back platform with a cigarette in his hand and went up the aisle saying to the passengers, “You got a match?” “The conductor sent me here to ask for a match.” Bailiff replied, “No.” The deceased then asked Tanner, “Why don’t you go over there and sit down?” Tanner sat down but by the deceased; who asked him not to sit there. Tanner arose, put his hand to his pocket. Ratliff got up to pass him. Tanner struck him. The blood flew out of his throat. Scott then cried out for the street car to stop and got out of it. He stood by the front door, where the conductor let out passengers. He looked inside the street car and saw Tanner on top of Ratliff. Tanner arose, looked both ways and said, “Let me out of here.” He then broke the glass in the door with his fist, put his head through it and went out into the street. Scott’s testimony is also to the effect that neither the conductor nor the motorman did anything at any time to protect the passengers from Tanner. The receivers did not produce either the conductor or the motorman or any other of the numerous passengers as witnesses but stood on their motion for a directed verdict at the close of plaintiffs’ evidence.

The receivers contend, however, the evidence was insufficient to establish a prima facie case and throw the burden of proof on them, citing Chicago City Ry. Co. v. Rood, 163 Ill. 477-482. They argue no unfavorable presumption arose against the street car company from its failure to produce these witnesses, citing 22 C. J. 111 and 31 C. J. S. 850-851.

It is quite true defendant railways had the legal right to stand upon its motion made at the close of plaintiffs’ evidence for an instructed verdict and perhaps considered from that standpoint no unfavorable inference could be drawn from the fact that neither conductor nor motorman testified. The appeal is from the judgment entered on the verdict of a jury, approved by the trial court. Scott’s testimony tended to show the conductor and motorman both knew Tanner’s intoxicated condition and improper conduct and did nothing to indicate disapproval of it or attempt to prevent it.

Defendants point out that there is no case in the Appellate and Supreme Courts of Illinois precisely like this. It relies on the Putnam case and argues the request for an instruction in favor of defendant should have been given.

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Bluebook (online)
59 N.E.2d 342, 324 Ill. App. 597, 1945 Ill. App. LEXIS 246, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blackwell-v-fernandez-illappct-1945.