Cowans v. North Carolina Baptist Hospitals, Inc.

147 S.E. 672, 197 N.C. 41, 1929 N.C. LEXIS 141

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: April 10, 1929
• Status: Published

Opinion

Stacy, C. J.

The chief question presented by the appeal is whether a charitable hospital, operated not for gain, but for benevolent purposes, can be held liable in damages for the negligent injury to a servant or employee. We think so. 5 R. C. L., 378; McInerny v. St. Lake’s Hosp. Asso. (1913) (Minn.), 46 L. R. A. (N. S.), 548; Bruce v. Central M. E. Church (1907), 10 L. R. A. (N. S.), 74, 11 Ann. Cas., 150 (Mich.); Hewett v. Women’s Hosp. Aid Asso. (1906), 7 L. R. A. (N. S.), 496, 64 Atl., 190 (N. H.); Hordern v. Salvation Army (1910), 32 L. R. A. (N. S.), 62, 93 N. E., 626.

Plaintiff was a servant or employee of the defendant, and not a beneficiary of its charity. This distinguishes the case from Green v. Biggs, 167 N. C., 417, 83 S. E., 553, and Hoke v. Glenn, 167 N. C., 594, 83 S. E., 807, where it was held that an eleemosynary institution or a charitable hospital was not liable to a patient for the tort of its servants or agents, when due care was exercised in the selection or retention of said servants or agents, and no duty was undertaken requiring the exercise of special art or skill. See, also, Johnson v. Hospital, 196 N. C., 610.

Affirmed.