Frederick v. Western Union Telegraph Co.

189 Iowa 1338

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: November 23, 1920
• Status: Published

Opinion

Salinger, ,T.

1. Telegraphs and Telephones : unrepeated death message : recovery. I. An interstate message, addressed to appellee, was of such character as that it advised the defendant mental pain and anguish might be suffered if said message was not delivered at all, or delivered too late. While the fact is challenged by appellee, the record establishes that a contract between the parties was put in evidence. It is a contract that has many times had the consideration of the courts. So far as it is material to this controversy, it is an agreement that, as to unrepeated messages, there shall be no recovery for delay in delivery or failure to deliver, beyond the amount paid for transmission, and that, at all events, so far as unrepeated messages are concerned, the recovery for such failure to deliver, or delay in delivery, shall not exceed $50. As said, the verdict was for a sum greater than $50. It is absolutely settled that a contract limiting recovery in the case of unrepeated messages to the priee paid for transmission is reasonable and enforcible— semble, one limiting recovery to $50; settled that it cannot be urged collaterally that such provisions are unreasonable, and that such attack must be done by direct proceedings before the interstate commerce commission.

There can be a valid contract that not more than was charged for sending an unrep.eated interstate telegram shall be recovered for negligence in handling such message. Primrose v. Western Union Tel. Co., 154 U. S. 1 (14 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1098); Postal Tel. Cable Co. v. Warren-Godwin Lbr. Co., 251 U. S. 27 (40 Sup. Ct. Rep. 69); Western Union Tel. Co. v. Bank, 53 Okla. 398 (156 Pac. 1175) ; Boyce v. Western Union Tel. Co., 119 Va. 14 (89 S. E. 106) ; Williams & Sons v. Postal Tel.-Cable Co., 122 Va. 675 (95 S. E. 436); Western Union Tel. Co. v. Lee, 174 Ky. 210 (192 S. W. 70) ; Meadows v. Postal Tel. & Cable Co., 173 N. C. 240 (91 S. E. 1009) ; Haskell I. & S. Co. v. Postal Tel.-Cable Co., 114 Me. 277 (96 Alt. 219); Williams v. Western Union Tel. Co., 203 Fed. 140; Gardner v. Western Union Tel. Co., 231 Fed. 405.

It is true that in none of these oases Avas the message involved a so-called death message. But, since the ground upon AAdiich the validity of such an agreement is affirmed rests on affirming that such a limitation is upheld by the controlling Federal law, unless the interstate commerce commission holds it to be unreasonable, it is, of course, immaterial Avliether the contract is made as to a message not a death message, or as to a death message. See Klotz v. Western Union Tel. Co., 187 Iowa 1355.

2' andBtble-is eOTitraet' limicotcit on ro" II. Is it settled, because this proposition is established, that a clause in the same contract limiting liability to $50 is to be given no effect? It is true that gross negligence is not a distinct cause of action, and ™ but a degree of negligence, and that negHgence without reference to degree is the basis of the right to recover. Williams v. Western Union Tel. Co., 203 Fed. 140; Milwaukee & St. P. R. Co. v. Arms, 91 U. S. 489; and see Denny v. Chicago, R. I. & P. R. Co., 150 Iowa 460, at 464, and Railroad Co. v. Lockwood, 17 Wall. (U. S.) 357. And AAre may concede the holding of the Williams case that, even AAdiere there is gross negligence, a contract AAdiich deals AAÚth unrepeated messages may limit recovery to the price charged for transmission. But it does not folloAv that, Avhere the contract has a limitation -to said price, and, as Avell, another that recovery shall not exceed $50, that the last provision has no effect. We think that, under familiar rules, it is our duty to construe these two provisions together. The trial court proceeded on the theory that more than the price received for sending the message could be recovered, if the handling of such message as the one before us was grossly negligent. We shall consider later whether such negligence will sustain recovery of more than $50. At present, we shall proceed as if the dispute were whether gross negligence in dealing with a “death message” will • permit recovery beyond the price paid for transmission, and up to $50. On the question whether, in any event, more could be recovered if there were gross negligence, appellant first presents that the evidence is insufficient to show gross negligence..

It is undisputed that the message on its face showed that, unless it was delivered with reasonable promptness, the addressee might be caused mental pain and suffering, by being prevented from seeing her mother while still alive. The jury could find that the message was sent in ca,re of one well known in the comparatively small town to which the message was addressed; that the agent of the defendant at that point met the addressee on the day on which the message should have been delivered, had reasonable care been used, a.nd did not advise her that such a message existed. We are not saying that this constitutes gross negligence, as matter of law, but do say that a jury could find such negligence therefrom.. To state the rule that there shall be no liability unless there, be gross negligence, is one thing; to take from the jury the right to find whether there is sufficient evidence of gross negligence, is quite another. We have time and again declared that, though evidence must meet certain standards, it is primarily for the jury to say whether they have been met. This brings us to .the effect of a finding of gross negligence. As said, the contract provision limiting recovery to the sum paid for sending must be construed in connection with that other part of the contract which does make a recovery up to $50 possible, even though the price for sending the message is less than $50. t We hold the correct construction of this contract as a whole to be that, where the telegraph company is grossly negligent, it may be made to respond for such negligence beyond the price paid for sending the telegram, but not to exceed $50. And we cannot construe the $50 limitation to be operative only where the message is a repeated one, because the contract provides that, as to such messages, up to 50 times the amount paid for transmission may be recovered; and it is, of course, manifest that 50 times the price paid for sending a telegram might be more than $50. We repeat, then, that, where there is gross negligence, the damages cannot, under the contract in this case, be limited to recovering back what was paid ' to forward the message, and that, if there be gross negligence, the company must, in addition, respond for damages sustained, up to $50. See Durre v. Western Union Tel. Co., 165 Wis. 190 (161 N. W. 755); Western Union Tel. Co. v. Johnson, 115 Ark. 564 (171 S. W. 859). It is clear, then, that, so far as the verdict at bar exceeds $50, it cannot stand.

Telegraphs and Telephones : damages for mental pain and anguish. III. The question that remains is whether a verdict of $50 can be sustained. That question, stated in different terms, is whether the evidence discloses any fact that entitles the plaintiff to recover more than the 50 cents that’was paid for sending her this telegram. She claims no injury except that, because of gross negligence, she has suffered mental pain and anguish.

If she may recover for mental pain and anguish, disassociated from any other injury, a verdict for $50 is justified. This court and other courts of last resort have held that there can be a recovery based on nothing but mental anguish. Other courts of last resort have held to the contrary. But whatever the states may say on the question, it seems to be settled now that the state rule cannot govern, where the mental anguish sued for is the result of negligence in handling an interstate message. In Arkansas, recovery is permitted for mental anguish, standing alone. But after the decision in Western Union Tel. Co. v. Brown, 234 U. S. 542 (34 Sup. Ct. Rep. 955), Southern Exp. Co. v. Byers, 240 U. S. 612 (36 Sup. Ct. Rep. 410), and others of like import, the Supreme Court of Arkansas held that, notwithstanding the said rule prevailing in Arkansas, it could not be applied where an interstate message was involved. Courts of last resort have universally held that, since the Federal courts declare mental anguish alone cannot be recovered for because the element of damage is too vague and uncertain (see Brown’s case, 234 U. S. 542 [34 Sup. Ct. Rep. 955]; Byers’ case, 240 U. S. 612 [36 Sup. Ct. Rep. 410]), no recovery can be had for mental anguish suffered through the negligent handling of an interstate message, no matter what the state rule has been and is as to intrastate telegrams, — held that this attitude on part of the Federal courts is controlling. See Hall v. Western Union Tel. Co., 108 S. C. 502 (94 S. E. 870) ; Norris v. Western Union Tel. Co., 174 N. C. 92 (93 S. E. 465); Durre v. Western Union Tel. Co., 165 Wis. 190 (161 N. W. 755); Western Union Tel. Co. v. Simpson, 117 Ark. 156 (174 S. W. 232); Western Union Tel. Co. v. Hawkins, 198 Ala. 682 (73 So. 973); Western Union Tel. Co. v. Lee, 174 Ky. 210 (192 S. W. 70), in which last-named case many of the authorities for this proposition are cited. An'd see Western Union Tel Co. v. Johnson, 115 Ark. 564 (171 S. W. 859); Klotz v. Western Union Tel. Co., 187 Iowa 1355.

It follows that our own state rule must yield here, and we must hold it ivas error to allow a recovery for mental pain and suffering. This being an interstate message, and the contract provision aforesaid being valid and effective, and there being here no claim for any injury except -the loss of the 50 cents paid for sending the message, and mental pain, suffering, and anguish, we are constrained to hold that here nothing can be recovered beyond the price paid for sending said message. Accordingly, the judgment appealed from should be reversed.

IV. We are not minded to hold that the Federal rule cannot be applied here merely because the defendant has denied tbe existence of the message in question.

V. Both the sender and the sendee are bound by the contract. Gardner v. Western Union Tel. Co., 231 Fed. 405; Findlay v. Western Union Tel. Co., 64 Fed. 459; Western Union Tel. Co. v. Bank, 53 Okla. 398 (156 Pac. 1175); Klotz v. Western Union Tel. Co., 187 Iowa 1355. — Reversed and remanded.

Weaver, C. J., Evans and Preston, J.J., concur.