East Ohio Gas Co. v. Fondas

13 Ohio Law. Abs. 150, 1932 Ohio App. LEXIS 503
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 7, 1932
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 13 Ohio Law. Abs. 150 (East Ohio Gas Co. v. Fondas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
East Ohio Gas Co. v. Fondas, 13 Ohio Law. Abs. 150, 1932 Ohio App. LEXIS 503 (Ohio Ct. App. 1932).

Opinion

PARR, J.

It is not claimed here that the Company ever authorized the use of the car except by implication. It is conceded that his contract of hire did not involve the use of the car. True, the Gas Company had employes who used cars or motor vehicles about their work, but it is claimed that when the company instructed a new employe, that it instructed such new employe not to use an automobile. The automobile in question was purchased by Chismer. It was owned by him. There is no direct testimony in this record going to show that the Company knew that he owned a car. Matt Young, the claim agent, did not know until after the accident that Chismer owned a car. True, he drove it to the office at the time of beginning work and at the conclusion of his day’s work, but not always. It is claimed that perhaps two or three times a week he used the car but used it for his own convenience, and that at other times he walked. Upon the day in question when he had received his collection cards he was given street car tickets, as above stated, for his transportation to the area in which he was to work that day. The car was used as a matter of convenience to Chismer, but it is claimed that the Gas Company must have known of the use because it is said that it may be assumed that the Company saw the car when he drove to the office in the morning, and again in the evening, and having known that he used the car, that the Company impliedly consented to its use, so it is said, and for that reason became responsible for the injury to this little boy.

This case was exhaustively briefed and well presented in argument on both sides, and it presents an interesting question, the Company resting its claim upon the fact that it never authorized the use of the car and therefore is absolutely absolved from liability. On the other hand, as stated, it is claimed that the Company must have known that the car was so used and having known it, it impliedly consented to its use.

Many authorities were cited upon both sides of this case and upon examination of the same not one case was found that treats the proposition as to the liability of the company providing it never authorized the use of the car. These are some “guideposts” along the judicial trail, but these may be summed up to this effect, that thus far the courts have gone on record, at least by the weight of authority, that there must be the power of control in the master before the master becomes liable for the servant’s use of an instrumentality that causes an injury.

A case of interest in this connection is Railway Company v Little, 67 Oh St, 91, which in the second paragraph of the syl-labi it is said:

“The test of a master’s liability is not whether a given act was done during the existence of the servant’s employment, but whether such act was done by the servant while engaged in the service of -and while acting for the master, in the prosecution of the master’s business.”

And on page 101 of the opinion it is said:

“A master has the right to select and choose his agents and to determine himself, and to assign to the servants so .selected, their respective duties, and no assumption by an employe of duties not assigned to him will bring those duties within the course or scope of his employment as defined by the master, and when an act is not within the scope of a servant’s employment if, cannot be within either the express or implied authorization of the master.”

The foregoing is not precisely upon the point, but reflects somewhat upon the principle involved here. A case widely recognized, and one decided in this jurisdiction, is Coal Company v Rivoux, Admr., 88 Oh St, 18, and where it is held:

“The owner of an automobile is not liable in an action -for damages for injuries to or death of a third person caused by the negligence of an employe unless it is proven that the employe at the time, was engaged upon his employer’s business and acting within the scope of his employment.’

Perhaps no case in this jurisdiction has been more widely noted and cited with approval than this Rivoux case. Another case in this jurisdiction and of interest here is Nage v Kangesser, 32 Oh Ap, 527. The first proposition of the syllabus reads as follows:

“Where employe struck plaintiff while employe was driving his own automobile on way to work, master was not liable under doctrine of master and servant, since employe was not an employe in the performance of any duty in behalf of master.”
“2. Master can not be held liable for employe’s injuries to third person unless [152]*152employe’s act is part of an actual duty connected with employment.”

Another case in Ohio is Zarn, Admx. v Dominique, 39 Oh Ap, 442; (10 Abs 38):

• “Master is liable for servant’s act only if act was done in service of, and while servant was acting' for, master in master’s business.
Where employe driving father’s automobile met employer and was informed where to report for work, employer held not liable for- accident occurring while employe was proceeding to such place.”

The facts in each of these two cases are not precisely the same as in the instant case but are of interest in this connection. In the latter case an employe was driving to a place where his uncle was engaged in plastering. An accident occurred on the way and it was held that the master was not liable. This subject has been extensively treated in other jurisdictions.

A case of interest is MeVaughen v Railway Company, 274 SW, 97, where the second proposition of the syllabi reads:

“Presumption that chauffeur, using automobile in business of employer, is acting within the scope of his employment when injury is done to another by negligent driving, does not prevail where employe.is driving his own automobile, but in such case burden falls upon one alleging negligence to show that chauffeur was acting within scope of employment.”

It is clear that Chismer returned from his home to his work. If he was authorized, expressly or impliedly, to use his own car it probably would be within the scope of his employment. Another case of interest here is Goldsmith v Chesbrough, 113 Atl., 285, a Maryland case, where the first proposition of the syllabi reads:

“The mere fact that the instrumentality which occasioned the injury did not belong to the master will not preclude recovery, if the other circumstances require the inference that the tort complained of was within the scope of the servant’s employment; the question being whether the use of the instrumentality was or was not authorized, expressly or impliedly, by the master.”

The foregoing furnishes a fairly clear statement of the rule recognized by the weight of authority. The second proposition reads:

“In action for injuries caused by negligent operation of an automobile driven by defendant’s collector, who owned the automobile, evidence held insufficient for submission to the jury of the question whether the defendant, either expressly or impliedly, authorized the driver to use the automobiie in the discharge of his duties.”

Another case is that of Kennedy v Chemical Company, in the 4 SW Rep. 2nd Series, at 354, and again in the case of Railway Company v Robbins, 123 So. 12.

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Bluebook (online)
13 Ohio Law. Abs. 150, 1932 Ohio App. LEXIS 503, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/east-ohio-gas-co-v-fondas-ohioctapp-1932.