Caldwell v. Pullman Co.

128 S.E. 504, 132 S.C. 321, 1925 S.C. LEXIS 192

• Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Decided: May 6, 1925
• Docket: 11759
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Justice Watts.

“This case was duly commenced on December 14, 1923, and came on for trial on April 21, 1924, in the County Court for Richland County before his Honor, Judge Marcellus S. Whaley, and a jury, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiffs for $1,800 actual damages. Motions for nonsuit and for direction of verdict and for new trial, as hereinafter noted, were duly made by attorneys for appellant and overruled by the trial Court. Judgment on the verdict rendered was entered, and notice of intention to appeal to this Court therefrom was duly served upon the respondents.”

The exceptions, five in number, raise three questions:

(1) Is there any evidence of negligence ? In Hutchinson on Carriers, par. 1145, it is said:

“There seems to be no reason why the sleeping car company should not be held to the same high degree of accountability for the wrongful and tortious acts of its servants as is exercised of common carriers, and especially of passengers by rail.”

■ It is seen by this that there is no difference in that of appellant and that of a railroad for a smilar occurrence. The same acts of negligence will hold either liable.

In the case of Calder v. Southern Ry., 89 S. C., 287; 71 S. E., 841, Ann. Cas., 1913A, 894, this Court said:

“A corporation engaged in running sleeping coaches, with sections separated from the aisle only .by curtains, is bound to have an employee, charged with the duty of carefully and continually watching the interior of the car, while berths are occupied by sleepers.”

The proof shows that either the conductor or the porter could have seen the valise. The conductor was asleep, and the porter did not see it. It was placed in the car at Richmond by the porter, and the owner went to sleep. The jury could infer from the evidence that it was placed improperly. There is no direct evidence, but from facts and circumstances proven an inference can be drawn. As was said in Faulk v. Seaboard Air Line Railroad, 115 S. C., 306; 101 S. E., 641:

“There is no direct and positive testimony that the horses were injured while being transported by the defendant, but it is susceptible of a reasonable inference to that effect.” Also in Seaboard Air Line Ry. v. Andrews, 140 Ga., 254; 78 S. E., 925, Ann. Cas., 1914D, 165. There the Court said:

“It could not be said, as a matter of law, that a very thoughtful and prudent person, engaged as a common carrier, knowing the custom of obstructing the aisle * * * with valises and other hand baggage and the danger incident 'thereto, would have directed his passenger to enter the car a,t a time when there were no artificial lights and it was too dark within for a passenger to readily detect obstructions before coming in contact with them. If it were dark in the car * * * the company should see to it that the way was clear * * * or to provide some means to prevent his injury by failing over baggage.”

In Levine v. Webb, 30 Misc. Rep., 196; 61 N. Y. S., 1113, it is said:

“Allowing a valise to stand in the aisle of a dimly lighted car, where passengers are apt to stumble over it, is negligence.”

Under the facts outlined by the evidence, there were sufficient facts to carry the case to the jury as to the negligence of the appellant.

(2) Did the Judge err when in his charge he held the appellant to “the highest degree of reasonable care”? Taking his charge as a whole it was free from error under Bolton v. Western Union, 84 S. C., 67; 65 S. E., 937. Lundy v. Telegraph Co., 90 S. C., 25; 72 S. E., 558, and Eargle v. Sumter Lighting Co., 110 S. C., 560; 96 S. E., 909.

The verdict was not excessive, as was found by Judge Whaley.

All exceptions are overruled, and judgment affirmed.

Mr. Chief Justice Gary and Messrs. Justices Eraser and Marion and Mr. Acting Associate Justice J. W. Johnson consurs. Mr. Justice Cothran did not participate.