Ford v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co.

143 N.W. 249, 123 Minn. 87, 1913 Minn. LEXIS 371
CourtSupreme Court of Minnesota
DecidedOctober 3, 1913
DocketNos. 18,132—(127)
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 143 N.W. 249 (Ford v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ford v. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Co., 143 N.W. 249, 123 Minn. 87, 1913 Minn. LEXIS 371 (Mich. 1913).

Opinions

Dibell, C.

This is an appeal by the defendant from an order of the municipal court of Minneapolis, denying its motion for a new trial. The action [89]*89was brought to recover the value of baggage lost in interstate transportation.

On September 20, 1911, the plaintiff bought a ticket at Colby, Kansas, over the defendant road to Albert Lea, Minnesota. He received a baggage check designated on one side as a local duplicate check from Colby to Albert Lea, and on the reverse was the following :

“Notice to Passengers.
“This company will not be responsible for loss or damages in any sum over $100 for local baggage which consists of wearing apparel and such personal effects of passengers as may be necessary for their journey.”

The defendant had at the time on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission schedules of passenger fares and charges, and baggage regulations, which stated that “150 pounds of baggage not exceeding $100 in value will be checked without charge for each adult passenger,” and which also contained this provision:

“Unless a greater sum is declared by the passenger, and charges paid for increased valuation at time of delivery to carrier, the value of baggage belonging to, or checked for, an adult passenger shall be deemed and agreed to be not in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00). * * *
“If passenger, at time of checking baggage declares a greater value than one hundred dollars ($100.00) * * * each one hundred dollars ($100.00) in value, or fraction thereof, above such allowance will be charged for at ten (10) per cent of the excess baggage rate per hundred (100) pounds. * * *
“Charges for declared excess valuation must be prepaid and collection must be made in cash.”

The plaintiff was not informed of the schedules, nor was his attention called to the limitation of liability on the baggage check, nor was the question of value mentioned. The case was submitted to the jury under instructions which permitted the plaintiff to recover the full value of his baggage, unless he in fact consented to the limitation, and which gave no further effect to the schedules and [90]*90rates filed. As applicable to an intrastate carriage the instructions were correct under our decisions. 1 Dunnell, Minn. Dig. §§ 1312— 1319. The verdict was for $175.

1. Dnder the commerce clause of the Federal Constitution Congress has constitutional power to regulate contracts between the carrier and shipper in interstate shipments with respect to liability for loss or damage to property carried. Without legislation by Congress the liability is that fixed by the general common law, or that determined by the public policy of the particular state, or that fixed by the statute law of the state. Adams Express Co. v. Croninger, 226 U. S. 491, 33 Sup. Ct. 148, 57 L. ed. 314; Hart v. Pennsylvania R. Co. 112 U. S. 331, 5 Sup. Ct. 151, 28 L. ed. 717; Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Hughes, 191 U. S. 477, 24 Sup. Ct. 132, 48 L. ed. 268; Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. Co. v. Solan, 169 U. S. 133, 18 Sup. Ct. 289, 42 L. ed. 688.

2. By the Hepburn Act of June 29, 1906 (34 St. 584, c. 3591)1 Congress took exclusive possession of the subject of interstate commerce. When Congress exercised the authority delegated it by the Constitution, the power of the state to regulate interstate shipments, either by direct legislation or by the application of common law principles, was at an end. Adams Express Co. v. Croninger, supra; Missouri, K. & T. Ry. Co. v. Harriman, 227 U. S. 657, 33 Sup. Ct. 397; Kansas City S. Ry. Co. v. Carl, 227 U. S. 639, 33 Sup. Ct. 391, 57 L. ed. 683; Wells, Fargo & Co. v. Neiman-Marcus Co. 227 U. S. 469, 33 Sup. Ct. 267, 57 L. ed. 600; Chicago, R. I. & P. Ry. Co. v. Hardwick F. E. Co. 226 U. S. 426, 33 Sup. Ct. 174, 57 L. ed. 284; St. Louis, I. M. & S. Ry. Co. v. Edwards, 227 U. S. 265, 33 Sup. Ct. 262, 57 L. ed. 506.

In the Croninger case the court, in referring to the Carmack amendment hereinafter quoted, said [at page 505] :

“That the legislation supersedes all the regulations and policies of a particular state upon the same subject results from its general character. It embraces the subject of the liability of the carrier under a bill of lading which he must issue and limits his power to exempt himself by rule, regulation or contract. Almost every detail [91]*91•of tbe subject is covered so completely that there can be no rational •doubt but that Congress intended to take possession of the subject and supersede all state regulation with reference to it. Only the silence of Congress authorized the exercise of the police power of the state upon the subject of such contracts. But when Congress acted in such a way as to manifest a purpose to exercise its conceded .authority, the regulating power of the state ceased to exist.”

3. By section 6 of the Hepburn Act (34 St. 584, c. 3591) it is provided:

“That every common carrier subject to the provisions of this act shall file with the Commission created by this act and print and keep ■open to public inspection schedules showing all the rates, fares and •charges for transportation between different points on its own route. * * * The schedules printed as aforesaid by any such common ■carrier shall plainly state the places between which property and passengers will be carried, and shall contain the classification of freight in force, and shall also state separately all terminal charges, storage charges, icing charges, and all other charges which the Commission may require, all privileges or facilities granted or allowed and any rules or regulations which in any wise change, affect, or •determine any part of the aggregate of such aforesaid rates, fares, and charges, or the value of the service rendered to the passenger, shipper or consignee.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Robidoux v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.
204 N.W. 870 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1925)
Ferris v. Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad
173 N.W. 178 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1919)
Dettis v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
170 N.W. 334 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1919)
Clark v. Southern Railway Co.
119 N.E. 539 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1918)
Tredway v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
158 N.W. 247 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1916)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
143 N.W. 249, 123 Minn. 87, 1913 Minn. LEXIS 371, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ford-v-chicago-rock-island-pacific-railway-co-minn-1913.