Fletcher v. South Dakota Central Railroad

155 N.W. 3, 36 S.D. 401, 1915 S.D. LEXIS 172

• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: December 1, 1915
• Docket: File No. 3814
• Status: Published

Opinion

'WPIITING, J.

Plaintiff recovered judgment for damages resulting from an injury received by him while serving defendant as a brakeman. At the time of the injury plaintiff was engaged in switching operations pertaining to and constituting interestate commerce. In the discharge of his duties as brakeman he was called upon to uncouple a certain car from an adjoining one. Being unable to make the uncoupling- by means’ of the lever or lifting rod on the automatic coupler with: which the car was equipped, he went between the ends of the two- cars and, while standing on a platform on the end of one car, he was thrown to the ground and severely injured. From the judgment and an order denying a new trial this appeal was taken.

[1-3] Respondent bases his right of recovery upon the contentions: (1) That his injury resulted from a violation by defendant of the federal Safety Appliance Act, in that it had failed to equip one of said cars with a proper coupler; (2) that he was entitled to recover under that act and under the federal Employers’ Liability Act. And respondent contends that any evidence tending to prove negligence upon the part of plaintiff became immaterial — that if the evidence established a compliance with the Safety Appliance Act it established an absolute defense; while, if such evidence showed a noncompliance with, such act, no negligence on the part of respondent could bar a recovery. Among the provisions of the Safety Appliance Act is one requiring railroad companies to' equip all cars used on railroads engaged in interstate commerce “with couplers coupling automatically by impact, and which can be uncoupled without the necessity of men going between the ends of the cars.” There was evidence showing that respondent made several efforts to work the coupler in the manner contemplated by such act and that the coupler failed to work. This evidence was ample to support á finding that the appellant had failed to comply with the provisions of such act. Nichols v. Chesapeake & O. Ry. Co., 195 Fed. 913, 115 C. C. A. 601; Chicago, R. I. & P. I. R. Co. v. Brown, 229 U. S. 317, 33 Sup. Ct. 840, 57 L. Ed. 1204. Under the express provisions of' the Employers’ Liability Act, 'contributory negligence on the part of respondent was immaterial; among the provisions of such law is one:

“That no such employe who may be injured.or killed shall be held to’ have been guilty of contributory negligence in any case zvhere the violation by such common carrier of any statute enacted for the safety of employes contributed to the injury or death of such employe.”

Under this, statute, where a railroad company failed to comply with the provisions of the Safety Appliance Act and such failure “contributed” to an injury suffered, by an employe, no act of the employe, no' matter how negligent it may be or to, what extent it may in fact «have contributed to the injury, can be urged as “contributory negligence” for purposes of defense. Grand Trunk W. R. Co. v. Lindsay, 233 U. S. 42, 34 Sup. Ct. 581, 58 L. Ed. 838, Ann. Cas. 1914C, 168. But the negligent acts which are thus forbidden to be urged as a defense are those which in fact do merely contribute to the result. If an act of the employe is the sole cause of the result,- it is not contributory, and the railroad company would not be liable therefor even under the provisions of the Employers’ Liability Act.

This brings u-p to a consideration of the proper construction to put upon the word “contributed,” as used in the above quotation from the Employers’ Liability Law. In considering contributory negligence as a defense, it is unnecessary to draw a close line of -distinction between that negligence that merely -contributed to the -injury and that negligence that is the sole cause of the injury, ' where proof -of either is a -complete defense. But negligence of plaintiff -c-annot in fact merely -contribute to an injury unless there be negligence on the -part of -defendant also- contributing thereto-; neither -can the negligence of a plaintiff -be the sole: cause of an injury, and thus bar recovery under the Employers’ Liability A-ct, if the negligence of defendant -did contribute to the injury. Webster’s -definition of -the word “contribute,” when used as it is in this law, is:

“To have a share in any * * * effect.” Webster’s New International Dictionary.

This in substance is the sam-e as the' definition in the Century-Dictionary, announced in 9 Cy-c. 791. It needs no- argument to show that no person or thing -can “have a share in- any effect” unless such- person or thing shares in the cause or causes which produce the effect. 1-t follows that -if an injury results from, or is; the effect of, only one act of commission or omission, which -act is not itself the effect or result of some other alleged act of commission -or omission, su-ch -act -becomes the sole cause -o-f the injury, and such act, no matter how negligent it may be, -cannot and does not constitute -contributory negligence, contributory to- such alleged act, because it does not “share [with such -other act] in any ■effect.” In this -connection it is well to bear in mind the dis-tin-ct-ion between the cchcse of an act and the occasion for an act. An act may furnish- the occasion fo-r another act, -and- such second a-ct may be the came of an injury, without the first act in any m-anner being a contributing -cause o-f s-uch injury; su-ch s-econd act may be the result of some intervening -cause in no m-anner flowing from the -original act, but which -cause is -given an -opportunity to operate through the occasion furnished by su-ch original act. The New International Dictionary says:

“The cause of an effect is that which actually produces it or brings it -about; the occasion is that -which, -either directly or indirectly, provides an opportunity for the'casual agencies to act or serves to set them in motion.”

Or, as stated in Pennsylvania Company v. Congdon, 134 Ind. 226, 33 N. E. 795, 39 Am. St. Rep. 251, undoubtedly quoting from an earlier edition -of -the Webster Dictionary:

“Webster defines an occasion, as distinguished from a cause, to be ‘that which incidentally brings to pass an event, without its efficient -cause, or sufficient reason.’ ”

If a -chain of acts leads up to a certain result, it 'does not necessarily follow that such acts all contribute to such-result. If at so-m-e place -in such -chain -there is an act that in no true sense can be said to be the cause of the next a-ct in the -chain, jbut which merely brings about the occasion or opportunity fo-r such next act, the line of causation is broken, and it is -only that intervening cause which, taking advantage of the occasion or opportunity offered, acts and produces the final effect that can be said to- be -even a contributing cause leading to such final result or effect. There should be-noted this -exception to the above: Where the party responsible for the initial act knows or should know that, if the -occasion or opportunity is given, -such intervening cause will be likely to exert itself, the furnishing of such occasion or opportunity may be in itself an act of negligence causing such party to be liable for the result flowing as the effect of such intervening cause, where suc-h intervening cause is outside of, or beyond the control of, the -party who suffers from such result. If' the light in the lantern -of a brakeman on a freight train should become extinguished through isom-e negligence o-f the railroad company, making it necessary f-or the brakeman to relight -it, and in order to relight it, it was necessary -for him t-o- pass -o-v-er the moving -train to the -caboose -o-r the engine, in doing which he, owing to- the darkness, fell and w'a-s- injured, there wo-uld be a -direct line of -causation ■ leading from the negligence of the company to- the -injury of the brakeman. If, in such case, the b-rakeman -should be negligent while passing over th-e moving -cars, su-ch negligence would be contributory to that of the railroad company.

A rear brakeman -on á long train, is -called upon, in the course of his duties, to -communicate with the engineer on the engine, and -his lantern having, through the negligence of the railroad company, -become broken, thus preventing signaling, it becomes necessary for him to approach such engine in order to deliver his message. In order to do so, he elects to board a passing train, and, after getting safely aboard of such train, and while on his way to deliver bis message, he 'commits some negligent act which results in an injury to him. Herd the line of causation is broken, and the negligence of the company could not be held to have contributed to the injury — the negligence of the company merely furnishing the occasion for the interposition of an intervening cause, the recklessness of the brakeman, which recklessness was the sole cause -of the injury. - Where, however, the line of causation between (the original act of 'commission -or omission and the injury is mot broken by the intervention of some unconnected cause, the Employers’ Liability Act cannot—

“be nullified by calling plaintiff’s act the proximate cause, and thus defeating him, when he could not be defeated by calling his act contributory negligence. For his act was the same act, by whatever name it be called. It is only when plaintiff’s act -is the sole cause — when defendant’s act is no part of the causation— that defendant is free from liability under the act.” Grand Trunk v. Lindsay, supra.

Let us -consider the facts of this case and the contentions of appellant in the light of the above discussion. According to respondent’s own testimony, when he found he -could not operate the -coupler by means of the lever or lifting rod, which extended out to the side of the car, he elected to go between the -cars in order that he might make the uncoupling. One of the cars was what is known as a gondola -car; it was open at the top, but with closed sides and ends -extending several feet above the floor thereof; and at the end thereof there was a strip or -platform about 12 'inches wide extending across -the car back of the coupler. Respondent -climbed upon this platform with a lighted lantern in one hand. Without taking hold of anything to support him, he stood upon one foot, put his -other foot -under the pin, and pulled it up, such foot having no support. Immediately -after the pin was lifted th-e jar -o-f the cars threw him- off the platform onto the ground, - severely injuring him. Under this evidence two questions were before the jury: (1) Had appellant failed to comply with the provisions of the Safety Appliance Act? (2) If so, did such failure contribute to respondent’s injury? ■

Appellant sought, ¡both through offers of evidence and requested instructions, to exonerate itself from liability upon the grounds:' (1) That respondent might have gone around to the other side of the train and uncoupled these cars in perfect safety by means of the lever or lifting rod which worked these same couplers from the other side; (2) that resppndent might have called to the conductor — who was on the other side of the train— and had him uncouple the cars; (3) that respondent might have signaled the engineer to stop the train and then uncoupled the same when standing still. Undoubtedly in this, as in many cases, after the accident, the injured party realized that such injury might have been avoided by choosing some safer course of action; but, in choosing his course of action, respondent was but selecting one of several courses left open to him, and to which he was driven through appellants’ negligence. He -was called upon to exercise his judgment. Whether he should have chosen one of the other courses admits of debate. It is one thing to judge of a situation in cold abstraction; .another thing to form a judgment on the spot. The movement of trains requires prompt action, and therefore quick decisions. It cannot be held, as a matter of law, that respondent was negligent merely because he elected to and did go between the cars. Chicago, etc., v. Brown, supra. But even though we should consider respondent to have been negligent in the election he made, yet it would be negligence in doing that which was caused through appellants’ negligence — appellants’ negligence was the direct cause requiring respondent to make an election as to how he should proceed. At most, then, in making such choice, respondent was guilty of but contributory negligence, which does not constitute a defense under the Employers’ Liability Act.

[4] Appellant sought an instruction whereby the jury, if they found respondent guilty of negligence, would be required to consider the same, not as a defense, but as going to diminish the amount of respondent’s recovery. -It is too. apparent to demand argument that, under that provision of the Employers’ Liability Act which we have quoted, there could be no. possible theory of this case under which such instruction would be proper. Negli-gen-ce on the part of respondent must necessarily -be merely contributory, and therefore no defense, or the sole cause of the injury, •and therefore a defense in foto.

[5] Appellant urges error in not giving the following instruction :

“(2) You are instructed that if the injury of which the plaintiff complains was the result of his own -act, and not due in any manner to any defect or insufficiency in its cars' or appliances, caused by ¡the defendant’s negligence, then he cannot recover; in other words, before he can recover it must appear that there was some defect or insufficiency in the cars or appliances of the defendant, and that such defect or insufficiency was due to its own negligence.”

This instruction, down to- the semicolon, is a statement— though perhaps not as clear and full as would be necessary for a clear understanding of the proposition involved — that the jury must find appellants’ negligence to'have contributed to' the injury; but the remainder of such requested instruction took the question of contribution away from the jury and left with it the mere question of whether there was a defect in the coupler, and whether such defect was owing to appellants’ negligence. The court, through the instructions it gave, fairly and fully submitted the 'question of the coupler 'being defective. If defective, appellant was liable for any damages resulting from allowing the car to be moved while in such defective condition.

Appellant also complains of the court’s refusal to give a requested instruction rto the effect that, if respondent was the only person who knew of the defective coupler, be should not have attempted to. use it, but should have reported it to his superior ■officers. This is in line with appellants’ contention that respondent should have chosen, a safer method of uncoupling the oars, and what we said upon that matter- applies to this contention. Respondent was driven, through appellants’ negligence, to select a course of action; if his selection was unwise, it could at best but amount to contributory negligence.

[6] The trial court instructed the jury:

“If you should find that the coupler on the oar in question would not and did not uncouple by the use of the lifting rod at the time the plaintiff. Fletcher, attempted to. uncouple the same, and if you find that -plaintiff made a reasonable, intelligent, and honest effort to uncouple same, by use of said lifting rod or lever, but was unable to- uncouple same in this manner, and- if you further find that the failure of said coupler to< -work properly contributed to the plaintiff’s injury, then the plaintiff is entitled- to- recover, providing you find he was working within the scope of his employment at the ¡time.”

Appellant complains of this instruction, saying:

“The court does n-ot attempt to define what was ¡the scope of his employment, and, I take it, the jury would understand it as the ■course of his employment. This eliminates completely any question of judgment or ¡care on the part of the plaintiff, and- in. fact allows him the option of willfully suffering injury at his own hands, in the h-ope of gain.”

The -only exception -taken which could- apply to such instruction was:

“The defendant excepts to- that part -of th-e -charge of the court in -which the -court tells th-e jury that if they find -that the coupling would not uncouple by an effort -o-f the plaintiff, and that such failure contributed to- his injury, they should find' for him, -the plaintiff.”

I-t will be seen, that this exception in no manner suggests the point now urged. I-t is quite possible that, in -order for the jury to understand clearly what was necessary for it to find in order to further find- that -appellants’ negligence contributed to the injury, -the court sh'oul-d -have instructed the jury somewhat f-ully as .to the meaning of the word “contributed” -as so used, and, in that -connection, should have explained somewhat it-he phrase “scope of his employment”; but neither ■ -through any requested instruction nor through any exception taken to instructions given was the court’s attention- -called thereto.

[7] Appellant -ex-cepted to the following instruction:

“The only purpose -o-f the ¡evidence tending to- show inspection on the paid -of th-e defendant -of the car in question- before and af-ter the accident is ¡to determine whether or not the coupler on the -car in question was defective -at the time -plaintiff attempted to ■■use it. If you find ¡that at -the time plaintiff attempted to uncouple the -cars in question he -was unable to -do so by use of the lifting -rod, or lever extending beyond th-e sides of the car then the evidence with regard to the inspection of the car cannot be considered by you.”

And 'he says:

“I think the trial court also erred, in instructing the jury that they were to. disregard all the evidence received as to the inspection and care of the car in question, if they found he was unable to use the lifting rod or lever.”

This instruction, standing- alone, would certainly be questionable, as, under the evidence, it appeared that a perfect coupler might not work under certain circumstances, and this instruction would permit recovery, even though the jury found the coupler to be in perfect order, if it so happened that, when respondent tried to work it, he failed. Although in perfect order it might have failed to work, owing to the fact that there was no slack between the cars, and therefore there was a strain upon the coupler. But, at several other places in its instruction, the trial court specifically instructed that the coupler must be defective in order for respondent to be entitled to recover. After giving the instruction complained' o.f, the court later instructed:

“In other words, before be can recover, it must appear that there was some defect or insufficiency in the cars or appliances of the defendant.”

Appellant contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict. There being evidence to support the contention that the coupler was defective, the only question left was whether the negligence, if any, of respondent, acted with appellants’ failure to supply a proper coupler and both contributed to the injury; or whether the injury resulted from' some act of respondent which was an intervening- cause not the result or effect flowing from appellants’ failure to supply a proper appliance — such failure at the most, merely creating- the occasion or opportunity for such intervening cause to exert itself. While this question — one of the two questions before the jury — -was not submitted as fully and clearly as might have been best, no instruction, amplifying or clarifying the instructions given, was asked, and ím exception was interposed calling- attention to such defect in the instructions. The question of whether appellants’ failure to provide a proper coupler did contribute to the injury was one purely of fact and there was evidence to support á finding for respondent upon that question.

The judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.