Fonder v. General Construction Co.

130 N.W. 884, 146 Wis. 1, 1911 Wisc. LEXIS 89
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedApril 5, 1911
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 130 N.W. 884 (Fonder v. General Construction Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fonder v. General Construction Co., 130 N.W. 884, 146 Wis. 1, 1911 Wisc. LEXIS 89 (Wis. 1911).

Opinion

KeewiN, J.

By the first, second, third, fourth, eleventh, and twelfth findings in the special verdict the jury found in substance that the face derrick in question was not placed and operated so as to give proper protection to the life and limb of plaintiff, because of its being on wheels and not so fastened as to prevent its moving on its wheels and tipping over, and that such was the proximate cause of his injury; that plaintiff did not know nor comprehend the danger from using the derrick in the condition it was in, and that he ought not, in the exercise of ordinary care, to have discovered and appreciated such danger; that he was not guilty of contributory negligence; and that he sustained $2,150 damages.

These findings, if consistent with other answers to ques[7]*7tions in tbe special verdict, and supported by tbe evidence, we tbink are sufficient to support tbe judgment. It is contended, however, by counsel for appellant that tbe answer to tbe first question of tbe special verdict is a finding of proper construction and operation of tbe face derrick, relieving tbe defendant from negligence, and, if not such finding, tbe question is so vague, obscure, and misleading tbat its answer is not sufficient to support a judgment. It is further insisted that tbe first question is faulty in that it covers more than one issue and that its answer is inconsistent with tbe answers to tbe fifth and sixth questions, and that if tbe answer to tbe first question is a finding of improper construction and operation it is not supported by tbe evidence.

It is plain from tbe form of tbe first question that tbe court endeavored to follow tbe statute, sec. 1636 — 81, Stats. (Supp. 1906: Laws of 1901, cb. 257, sec. 1), in submitting it to tbe jury. And we tbink tbe answer is a finding that tbe face derrick was not properly placed and operated because of being on wheels and not so fastened as to prevent its moving and tipping over. If there was any vagueness or ambiguity in tbe question its meaning was made plain in tbe charge and tbe jury could not have misunderstood it.

It is further insisted that tbe first question, in asking as to construction and operation of tbe face derrick, covers more than one controverted issue, and, besides, that the answer to this question is inconsistent with tbe answers to tbe fifth and sixth questions. Tbe first question, when viewed in tbe light of tbe statute (sec. 1636 — 81) and tbe charge, was not objectionable as covering more than one controverted issue. Tbe word “constructed” in this question manifestly refers to tbe placing of tbe derrick, not to tbe physical construction of tbe derrick itself. This seems clear from a reading of tbe whole question. Tbe question asks, “Was” tbe derrick “not so constructed and operated as to give proper protection to tbe life and limb of tbe plaintiff, because of Us being on wheels [8]*8and not so fastened as to prevent its moving on its wheels and tipping over?” Nor can tlie first question be said to be inconsistent witb tlie fifth question, which latter question clearly relates to the physical construction of the derrick itself, regardless of the placing or operation of it; and the sixth question is perfectly consistent with the first and fifth questions, since it finds that the derrick was not placed and operated in the manner usually employed by persons of ordinary care and experience in like business.

The argument of counsel for appellant is that the only duty with which the defendant was charged was to exercise ordinary care, and that the defendant is not charged with the negligence of a fellow-servant. The statute provides:

“A person employing or directing another to perform labor of any kind in the erection, repairing, altering or painting of a house, building or structure shall not furnish or erect, or cause to be furnished or erected for the performance of such labor, scaffolding, hoists, stays, ladders or other mechanical contrivances, which are unsafe, unsuitable or improper, and which are not so constructed, placed and operated as to give proper protection to the life and limb of a person so employed or engaged. . . Sec. 163G — 81, Stats. (Laws of 1901, ch. 251, sec. 1).

Counsel for appellant contend that the validity of the answer to the first question of the special verdict depends upon the answers to the fifth and sixth questions, because they say that the defendant is not charged with the duty of exercising any greater degree of care than that exercised by men of ordinary care and experience under similar circumstances. And upon this ground it is argued that the answer to the first question is inconsistent with the answer to the fifth question. .Whether the defendant was chargeable with the exercise of more than ordinary care we need not and do not decide in this case, because under the findings of the jury it is unnecessary to do so. The jury found that the statute was violated, that such violation was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s in[9]*9jury, tbat tbe plaintiff did not assume tbe risk, and was not guilty of contributory negligence. No errors are claimed in tbe charge on these questions. Question No. 1 has reference to tbe placing or operation of tbe derrick, and question No. 5 covers only original construction, and both may stand together. If in answer to question No. 6 tbe jury bad found tbat tbe placing and operating was with ordinary care, then it would have been necessary to decide whether ordinary care satisfies tbe statute, but the jury negatived ordinary care in tbe placing and operation of tbe derrick. Tbe answers to questions 8 and 9 also negative ordinary care. So, whether tbe duty be absolute or simply to exercise ordinary care is immaterial; on either basis the verdict is for tbe plaintiff and sustains the judgment. Tbe duty of tbe master under this statute to construct and place tbe derrick was nondelegable, and whoever performs this duty for tbe master is a vice-principal and not a fellow-servant with other servants in tbe employ of tbe master. Quackenbush v. Wis. & M. R. Co. 62 Wis. 411, 22 N. W. 519; Herrell v. C., M. & St. P. R. Co. 114 Wis. 605, 90 N. W. 1071; Sharon v. Winnebago F. Mfg. Co. 141 Wis. 185, 124 N. W. 299; Smith v. Milwaukee B. & T. Exch. 91 Wis. 360, 64 N. W. 1041; Stafford v. Chippewa Valley E. R. Co. 110 Wis. 331, 359, 85 N. W. 1036; Van de Bogart v. Marinette & M. P. Co. 132 Wis. 367, 112 N. W. 443; Hoffman v. Rib Lake L. Co. 136 Wis. 388, 117 N. W. 789; Miller v. Kimberly & C. Co. 137 Wis. 138, 118 N. W. 536; Union P. R. Co. v. McDonald, 152 U. S. 262, 14 Sup. Ct. 619; Davidson v. Flour City O. I. Works, 107 Minn. 17, 119 N. W. 483; Sommer v. Garbon Hill C. Co. 89 Fed. 54; Johnson v. Far West L. Co. 47 Wash. 492, 92 Pac. 274; Espenlaub v. Ellis, 34 Ind. App. 163, 72 N. E. 527; Beresford v. American C. Co. 124 Iowa, 34, 98 N. W. 902; Walters v. George A. Fuller Co. 74 App. Div. 388, 77 N. Y. Supp. 684.

It is also contended tbat if tbe first question is a finding [10]*10that tbe face derrick was so placed and operated as not ti> give proper protection, because of its being on wheels and not so fastened as to prevent its moving and tipping over, it is-not supported by the evidence. We shall not discuss the evidence upon this point at any length.

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Bluebook (online)
130 N.W. 884, 146 Wis. 1, 1911 Wisc. LEXIS 89, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fonder-v-general-construction-co-wis-1911.