Burgher v. Wabash Railroad

120 S.W. 673, 139 Mo. App. 62, 1909 Mo. App. LEXIS 459

• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
• Decided: June 22, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

NORTONI, J. —

This is a suit for damages alleged to have accrued because of defendant’s breach of duty in respect of its obligation as a common carrier to transport plaintiff’s cattle to Chicago, Illinois, within a reasonable time. Plaintiff recovered in the circuit court and defendant prosecutes the appeal.

The evidence tended to prove that, plaintiff con; tracted with the defendant to transport for him one hundred and eighty-eight head of cattle from Coatsville, Missouri, to Chicago, Illinois. Several cars were employed in the shipment. It appears transportation was had over the defendant’s road and over the line of the Chicago, Eock Island & Pacific Eailway Company, a connecting carrier with whom the defendant maintained a joint traffic arrangement. There is an abundance of evidence tending to prove negligent delays on the part of the connecting carrier; that is, the Chicago, Eock Island & Pacific Eailway Company. Because of the negligence of that company, transportation was so impeded as to consume thirty-four hours for the carriage of the cattle from Coatsville, Missouri, to Chicago, Illinois, whereas from fifteen to eighteen hours was the usual and customary time consumed in such shipments, and that such was a reasonable time therefor. ■ Had the cattle been transported in the nsnal time, they would have been placed upon the Chicago market at nine o’clock in the morning of December 2nd. As it was, they failed to reach there until late that night and were sold upon the following day. On December third, the day on which the cattle were sold, the market ranged about fifteen cents lower per hundredweight on the grade of animals involved in this controversy. It also appears that by reason of the delay in transit, the cattle had sustained an average shrinkage of about forty pounds per steer. This loss plaintiff sustained.

The principal defense invoked in the answer and relied upon by defendant arises out of a written contract of affreightment entered into between the parties with respect to the transportation of the stock. This defense pertains to a stipulation of the contract • to the effect that plaintiff should be precluded from asserting any claim for damages which might accrue to him thereunder unless the claim therefor should be made in writing and delivered to the freight claim agent of the defendant at its office in the city of St. Louis within ten days from the time the stock was remoyed from the cars. It appears no written claim or notice whatever on account of the loss or damage referred to was made Avithin the time limit. There is no evidence tending to prove a waiver of the stipulation requiring notice on the part of the defendant or any of it's agents. Plaintiff accompanied his cattle to the market and was fully aware at the time of his loss and what induced it. The trial court proceeded as though the stipulation of the contract in respect of the Avritten claim and notice was invalid and referred the case to the jury, notwithstanding its non-observance. This course was pursued, no doubt, on the theory that there appeared no independent consideration to support the stipulation requiring claim and notice within the time specified. It is argued here on the part of defendant that the stipulation requiring claim and notice within ten days is a valid and reasonable provision of tbe contract of affreightment even though no independent consideration for it be shown. Contra to this, plaintiff insists that although it may be a reasonable provision, such stipulation is without avail unless supported by a sufficient consideration, separate and apart from the consideration which is had for the transportation. It is true a common carrier is not permitted to limit its common law liability as insurer except upon a sufficient, independent consideration. Under such circumstances, diminution of the risk assumed by the carrier is a sufficient consideration, so far as it is concerned. However, it is the duty of the- common carrier to carry without any contract limiting its liability, and it may be compelled to do so when compensation for the service is tendered. Therefore a mere agreement of the carrier to transport does not furnish a consideration for the agreement to limit its common law liability. In order to bind the shipper in such cases, a sufficient consideration, independent of that for the transportation alone, must appear. A reduced rate of freight is a proper consideration and is that usually employed as an inducement for such.contracts. [McFadden v. Railroad, 92 Mo. 343; Kellerman v. Railroad, 136 Mo. 177; s. c., 68 Mo. App. 255; Mires v. St. L. & S. F. Ry. Co., 134 Mo. App. 379, 114 S. W. 1052; 1 Hutchinson on Carriers (3 Ed.), sec. 475; 5 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law (2 Ed.), 298; 4 Elliott on Railroads (2 Ed.), sec. 1504, 1500.]

The contract of affreightment in the present instance contained a recital to the effect that a reduced rate of freight was granted to this plaintiff and in consideration thereof, he acceded to the stipulation mentioned along with a number of other provisions therein contained. There is no doubt that the recital of a reduced rate of freight to that effect in the contract is prima-facie evidence of that fact and sufficient to support a verdict where nothing to the contrary appears. [McFadden v. Railway, 99 Mo, 343; Mires v. St. L. & S. F. Ry. Co., 134 Mo. App. 379, 114 S. W. 1052.] Howi ever, when the written contract shows a consideration, not contractual in its nature, as distinguished from mere recital to that effect, it is not conclusive on the parties. In such circumstances, it is competent to show by parol that the consideration was other than or different from that recited, or that in fact and in truth, there was no consideration whatever for the contract. [McFadden v. Railway, 92 Mo. 343; 6 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law (2 Ed.), 767; 1 Hutchinson on Carriers (3 Ed.), sec. 475.] In accord with this doctrine, plaintiff was permitted to and did give evidence to the effect that no reduced rate of freight whatever was granted to him with respect to the shipment involved. He said that he paid twenty-two cents, per hundredweight as freight charges from Coatsville to Chicago, and that this rate was the usual and regular rate for such transportation^ His evidence in this respect is uncontroverted in the record. It therefore appears that nothing other than the mere agreement to transport the shipment within a reasonable time was given or granted to the plaintiff as an inducement for him to accede to the stipulation mentioned, and for this he paid the regular rate. This appearing, it is essential to determine the validity of the stipulation requiring presentation of claim and notice to defendant’s agent within ten days after the loss accrued, even though it is unsupported by a consideration separate and independent from the agreement to transport the cattle. To this end, we have examined many cases and standard authorities. As a result of this investigation, we ascertain that such stipulations .have been generally upheld, even though no separate, independent consideration was given to support them. The theory of the authorities, generally speaking, is to the effect that if the contract in that respect is just, in view of the circumstances of the particular case in judgment, such stipulations are sustained as provisions which a carrier may insert in the contract as a reasonable regulation of the shipper’s right, notwithstanding its common law obligation to carry upon a tender of proper compensation. The authorities referred to argue that instead of being a limitation upon the liability at common law, such stipulations amount to no more than a reasonable regulation touching the shipper’s right or a regulation going to the remedy and as such, they are enforced even in negligence cases, if otherwise reasonable and just in the particular circumstances of the case. [Rice v. Railway, 63 Mo. 314, 319; Dawson v. Railway, 76 Mo. 514; Express Co. v. Caldwell, 21 Wall. 264, 22 L. Ed. 556; Hatch v. Railway, 15 N. D. 490, 107 N. W. 1087; 4 Elliott on Railroads (2 Ed.), sec. 1512; 5 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law (2 Ed.), 321 and note; see also 325; 1 Hutchinson on Carriers (3 Ed.), sec. 442.] On the same theory, that is, on the theory that such stipulations do not operate a limitation upon the common law liability of the carrier, the authorities generally declare and sustain the proposition that no separate consideration, independent of that given for the transportation, is essential to render such stipulation valid. Numerous authorities assert the doctrine that notwithstanding the carrier’s duty to receive and transport, it is reasonable and just that it should be allowed to interpose such a stipulation in regulation of the shipper’s right to the end that the shipper should be required to present his claim before the avenues of investigation are foreclosed. It is said it prevents great injustice which may be perpetrated by the practice of presenting stale demands. And thus viewed, it is a reasonable regulation only of the shipper’s right, and does not operate to limit the liability of the carrier, for the carrier is liable to respond in the full measure required by law if the shipper has asserted his claim in due time, as required by the stipulation. On this reasoning of the law, the following authorities assert and maintain the proposition that no independent consideration is essential to the validity of the stipulation in a’shipping contract requiring notice and claim to be made within any given time adjudged to be reasonable. [Hatch v. Railway, 15 N. D. 490, 107 N. W. 1087; Crow v. C. & A. Ry. Co., 57 Mo. App. 135, 142; 5 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law (2 Ed.), 300; Moore on Carriers, 305.] For reasoning from which such a conclusion may be fairly deduced,, see also Express Co. v. Caldwell, 21 Wall. (U. S.) 264; 22 L. Ed. 556; Rice v. Railway, 63 Mo. 314; Wabash v. Black, 11 Ill. App. 465; 1 Hutchinson on Carriers (3 Ed.), sec. 442; 4 Elliott on Railroads (2 Ed.), sec. 1512.

However all of this may be, our own Supreme Court has accepted another view of the question in a case recently decided. See George v. C. R. I. & P. Ry. Co., 214 Mo. 551, 113 S. W. 1099, 1101. That authority is controlling on this court and by it the question is entirely foreclosed. The doctrine of the case last cited is that instead of it being a reasonable regulation which a carrier may insert in the contract requiring diligence and dispatch on the part of the shipper, it is in fact a limitation upon the common law liability of the common carrier and unless supported by a separate and independent consideration, the stipulation requiring the claim and notice is wholly invalid. See George v. Railway, 214 Mo. 551; 113 S. W. 1099. For our views further on this question, see Libby v. Railway, 137 Mo. App. 276, 117 S. W. 659. It appearing that no reduced rate was granted to the plaintiff in this case, the stipulation in the contract requiring him to give notice of his claim within ten days after the loss has accrued, is invalid and imposed no obligation upon the plaintiff which the defendant may enforce.

It appears the plaintiff shipped his stock in a number of defendant’s cars, all on the same train. Because of the considerable number of cattle, he desired several persons to accompany the shipment for the purpose of giving aid in looking after them while in transit. The rules of the defendant railroad printed on the livestock contract permits free transportation for three men only to accompany eleven cars or more. There were thirteen cars included in plaintiff’s shipment. The rules also provide for free transportation for one man to accompany one car, but where eleven or more cars aré shipped, three men only are entitled to transportation with the shipment. Plaintiff shipped two cars of cattle in his own name. That is to say, he took a contract of affreightment in his own name for two cars only. The remaining eleven cars he shipped under the names of six other persons, one his son, and the others probably his employees. The contracts for the different cars were executed by defendant in the names of the six several persons who accompanied the plaintiff and the shipment, and in virtue of these contracts, transportation was afforded to six persons other than the plaintiff. As stated, they accompanied the shipment for the purpose of rendering services to plaintiff in looking after the cattle. However, this feature of the matter is unimportant. The argument is- to the effect that by causing shipping contracts to be taken in the names of the several parties referred to, plaintiff procured the benefit of free transportation from Coatsville to Chicago, for four men more than he was entitled to under the rules and that such transportation was equal in value to a considerable sum of money. It is argued that therefore, even though no reduced rate of freight was given to the plaintiff, he received this benefit from the defendant company in the transaction for which he rendered no compensation and that it should be treated as a consideration sufficient to support the stipulation in the shipping contract requiring plaintiff to give notice of his loss within ten days after it accrued. We are not impressed with this argument. If plaintiff imposed upon the defendant and procured transportation for a number of men to which he was not entitled, that matter is entirely foreign to the question under consideration. Whether the defendant has a remedy against plaintiff on that score, it is unnecessary to consider at this time. Suffice it to say that such additional transportation was no element of the consideration which induced plaintiff to execute the stipulation requiring notice and claim within ten days. The consideration of a contract is said to be the reason which moves the contracting parties to enter into the contract. [2 Blackstone’s Com., 443; 6 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law (2 Ed.), 672.] This, of course, implies mutuality and that the parties have mutually contemplated the matter of consideration passing between them; the one assenting and agreeing to pay the price or exchange the article or forego the right, which the other, for an equivalent, or what is deemed in law, an equivalent, given on his part, accepts the same upon the precise terms proffered. The very fact of a contract between the parties implies a meeting of the minds. Without such, there is no contract. There must be a coming together of the minds upon a common ground of mutual understanding of facts and of the subject-matter, and the subject-matter of the contract comprehends the consideration passing from one party to the other. It therefore appears that, interwoven with the consideration of the contract is the doctrine of mutuality, and this doctrine requires that both parties must understand .and assent to the same sub jectmatter, consideration included. [7 Am. and Eng. Ency. Law (2 Ed.), 113, 114.] Now there is not a word in the proof in this case tending to support the argument that plaintiff and defendant contemplated transportation of the several persons referred to should be considered as an inducement or consideration for the plaintiff to stipulate that he would give the required notice of, or make a claim for, his loss within ten days after it occurred, or as a consideration for any other stipulation contained in the contract. To be an appropriate matter of consideration, it should have been so- contemplated and understood by the parties at the time. The circuit court did not err in referring the case to the jury on this score.

As before stated, the petition counts on a breach of the defendant’s common law obligation to transport the cattle within a reasonable time. ' There is no allegation therein pertaining to the breach of any contract to deliver or bed the cars for shipment. The cause of action relied upon is entirely that arising from the alleged breach of the obligation imposed upon the defendant common carrier, by law. Plaintiff, over the objection and exception of defendant, was ■ permitted to prove that he entered into a verbal agreement with the defendant’s freight agent, several days in advance of the shipment, to the effect that defendant would furnish plaintiff with a special train for his cattle and that the cars thereof would be sanded and bedded by defendant so that he might immediately load the same therein for transportation to the junction point of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company and connect with the through train of the latter company for Chicago. Plaintiff and his witnesses also testified, over the objection and exception of defendant, that when he was notified the cars were present for the shipment, they were neither bedded nor sanded, and that he was thereby delayed in loading his cattle for several hours, sufficient to defeat his purpose of making connections with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific train referred to. It appears the defendant set the cars mentioned upon the side track at Coatsville at about eleven o’clock the night before the cattle were shipped, and that plaintiff, who resided about three miles in the country, was notified at five o’clock the following morning the cars were in waiting. However, upon learning that the cars were not bedded with straw, plaintiff refused pointblank to make the shipment therein, gome delay was occasioned on this account. He afterwards concluded to bed the cars himself and to ship the cattle on that day. geveral hours were consumed in hauling straw and bedding the cars. The loading of the cattle was finally completed between twelve and one o’clock on the first day of December, whereas had it not been for the time consumed in bedding the cars, they might have been loaded in the early morning and in time to have made a connection with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific train at Belknap, Iowa. This testimony was incompetent and should have been excluded. As stated, the cause of action relied upon in the petition does not count upon a breach of contract with defendant to furnish bedded cars, but on the contrary, it proceeds entirely upon the defendant’s common law liability to transport within a reasonable time after it received the cattle. It is true that in the concluding lines of the petition, reference is. made to the fact that defendant was delayed in loading the cattle by the failure of defendant to furnish cars properly bedded, and that the plaintiff was compelled to pay out $68.90 for the purpose of properly bedding such cars, for which amount recovery is asked. However, this matter sounds in tort. The two certainly may not be joined in one and the same count of the petition. If defendant entailed a loss upon plaintiff as a result of breaching a verbal contract to bed the cars, that may afford him a remedy ex contractu- in another action. On this question we give no opinion. It is sufficient for the present to decide the precise question presented by the record; that is, that the two causes, one in tort for the breach of the common law obligation to transport within a reasonable time, and the other, ex contractu, for breaching the verba] contract, may not be commingled and relied upon in the same count.

Now under the cause of action relied upon in the petition, defendant’s obligation to transport the cattle within a reasonable time attached from the time the cattle came into its possession for transportation and the matter of the several hours’ time consumed by plaintiff in bedding the cars before the cattle came into defendant’s possession, is wholly immaterial to its liability. The evidence referred to was therefore prejudicial in that it tended to show delay entailed' by defendant operating a breach of what was said to be a verbal contract with it, not relied upon in the petition. There was no issue, whatever, joined between the parties in respect of any obligation on the part of defendant to bed the cars, and such proof was wholly foreign to the issue as to whether defendant had transported the cattle within a reasonable time after they came into its possession for the purpose.

Furthermore, the court submitted this testimony to the jury in the plaintiff’s second instruction as a ground of liability sufficient to support a recovery. This was error indeed. In illustration of the manner in which the question was presented, we copy plaintiff’s instruction number two. The words we italicize therein emphasize the objectionable theory pursued, which was wholly unauthorized by the pleadings.

“If the jury believe and find from the evidence that there was an unnecessary delay in the transportation of plaintiff’s cattle from Coatsville, Missouri, to Chicago, Illinois and that such delay in transit was due to the negligence in the management or operation of the train of defendant by which said stock was taken out of Coatsville, Missouri, or on account of the starting from Goat smile, Missouri, or to the negligence in the management or operation of the train on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, to which defendant delivered said cattle, and that because of said delay, plaintiff’s cattle failed to arrive at the stock yards in Chicago, Illinois, in time for the market of December 2nd, 1903, and did not arrive at the stock yards, so as to be placed on the market at an earlier date than on the morning of December 3d, and that the market had declined at Chicago between the morning or forenoon of December 2nd, and the morning or forenoon of December 3rd, you will find for the plaintiff in such sum as you may find lie has been damaged by such delay, not to exceed in all the snm of $845.95, with interest thereon at the rate of six per cent per annum from the 4th day of October, 1904.”

Now it appears from this instruction that the court authorized a recovery for plaintiff if the jury found that the transportation was delayed by the negligence of defendant in the management of its train or on account of starting from Coatsville, Missouri. In view of the objectionable testimony above mentioned, the reference in.the instruction to starting from Coatsville could have referred only to the defendant’s negligent failure in not having furnished bedded cars and thus delayed the shipment by entailing the labor of bedding upon plaintiff before starting, for there is positively no word of testimony in the record that the shipment was delayed at all at Coatsville after the cattle were loaded; and on the facts in proof, it is clear the cattle were not received for transportation until they were loaded in the cars. In fact, it appears that- immediately upon loading the cattle, between twelve and one o’clock of that day, the train departed for Belknap, Iowa, at which point the shipment Avas given into possession of the connecting carrier. In truth, it appears this train had been in waiting at Coatsville for the shipment and for plaintiff to load his cattle from about five o’clock in the morning. This instruction was manifestly prejudicial in that it submitted to the jury an element of liability against defendant not competent under the pleadings and proof.

The judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.

Reynolds, P. J., and Goode, J., concur.