Gewanski v. Ellsworth

164 N.W. 996, 166 Wis. 250, 1917 Wisc. LEXIS 201

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: November 13, 1917
• Status: Published

Opinion

RoseNbebey, J.

, It is claimed that the trial court erred in changing the answer to question number 2 of the special verdict, for the reason that the evidence was sufficient to sustain the finding of the jury made in response to that question. Stating the facts as they appear from the testimony, resolving any controversies or doubts in favor of the appellant, we have the following: The chauffeur, Gilmore, had been employed by the defendant for about a year and a half preceding the time of the accident. Gilmore’s home was four and one-half miles distant from respondent’s home, and Gilmore was the owner of a car in which he was accustomed to drive to and from his work. The respondent had two cars and a garage with storage facilities for two cars only. Gilmore had been accustomed to make slight repairs upon his own car in respondent’s garage, and on the day in question he had taken his car apart for the purpose of repairing it. He was summoned to the performance of his duties and did not return to the garage until late in the evening, at which time respondent told him that his services would not be further required that evening. Gilmore’s car not being in condition to run, he asked the respondent if he could take his roadster for the purpose of returning home and coming back to his work in the morning, and in response to such request the respondent gave his permission for such use. Gilmore told respondent that he had a garage at his home in which he could store the roadster over night. The accident to plaintiff occurred while Gilmore was on his way home. It appeared that Gilmore was not to do any errands or perform any service whatever for respondent on the way to and from his home, hut was simply to use the roadster for the purpose of going and returning. It further appears that Gilmore could have gone to his home by street car in about forty-five minutes, while the trip by automobile occupied from twenty to twenty-five minutes.

Appellant concedes that the chauffeur, Gilmore, was performing no service for respondent, but argues that, because respondent permitted the use of his automobile under the circumstances stated, and thus accommodated Gilmore, Gilmore would naturally be more attached to respondent, more faithful in the performance of his duties and a better chauffeur, and inore likely to care for the welfare of respondent’s family than if the very reasonable request made by Gilmore had been refused, and that the work of the master was facilitated thereby.

This contention is not tenable. A large number of cases have been cited to our attention from other jurisdictions. While, we have examined them, we shall not analyze them or refer to them here. The question presented in this case is clearly ruled in favor of respondent by Steffen v. McNaughton, 142 Wis. 49, 124 N. W. 1016. In order to create a liability for the use of the automobile of the master by the servant two things must appear: first, the use must be with the knowledge and consent of the master; and second, it must be used within the scope of the employment and to facilitate the master’s business. While it is true that fair and generous treatment on the part of the master is likely to produce a corresponding sense of loyalty on the part of the servant, it cannot be said that such treatment of a servant by a master in any way promotes or facilitates the master’s business in a legal sense. It is to the benefit of both master and servant that their relationship should be pleasant and harmonious, but the effort of the master to accommodate and assist the servant does not bring within the scope of the master’s employment acts of the servant otherwise without such scope. Therefore we think the circuit court was clearly right in setting aside the answer to question number 2 and rendering judgment on the verdict as thus amended.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.