Gipson v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad

79 S.E. 488, 13 Ga. App. 596, 1913 Ga. App. LEXIS 269

Opinion

Hill, C. J.

The first count of the petition in this suit, brought under the Alabama statute, is controlled by the decision of this court in Tennessee Coal &c. Co. v. George, 11 Ga. App. 221 (75 S. E. 567). Under the ruling announced in that decision, it was erroneous for the trial judge to sustain the demurrer to the first count of the petition. The second count was properly stricken. Judgment reversed.

The second count does not refer to the statute set out in the first count. Otherwise its allegations are the same as those of the first count, except that it omits the paragraph in which it is alleged that the defendant was negligent in that Satterfield, in obedience to the instructions of Bartlett, lowered the drop doors.

The defendant demurred to the first count, on the grounds, (1) that it fails to set forth a cause of action; (2) that it does not show a cause of action under the laws of Alabama; (3) that under the provisions of the statute set forth in that count, no right of action exists except where the liability is enforced in a court of Alabama; (4, 5) that it is not alleged that the plaintiff did not know of the instructions given by Bartlett to Satterfield to knock up the latch and release the drop doors; (6) that the defendant is not liable for acts of Satterfield, unless they were negligent acts in conformity to orders negligently given by one who was entrusted with superintendence; and (7) that it does not appear that the duty of the plaintiff required him to stand on the' drop doors, or that to be upon the drop doors was proper for him in doing the work he was called upon to do, or that Bartlett knew he was standing on the drop doors.

■ To the second count the defendant demurred, on .the grounds, (1) that no statute of Alabama is set forth on which liability can be or is based; (2) that if there is no statute of Alabama on the subject, the presumption is that the common law is of force in that State; and at common law the defendant would not be liable under the allegations in this count; (3) that under the allegations in this count, Bartlett, who is styled foreman, was a fellow servant of the plaintiff, and the plaintiff could not recover for injuries inflicted because of the negligence of Bartlett; (4) that it is not alleged that the plaintiff did not know of Bartlett’s order to Satterfield; and (5) it does not appear that it was the plaintiff’s duty, or proper for him, to stand on the drop doors, or that Bartlett knew he was standing on them.

In a subsequent demurrer it is stated that an amendment to the petition was'allowed, subject to demurrer; and, with reference to the petition as amended, the 1st, 2d, and 3d grounds of the original demurrer to each count ’are repeated. The amendment is not in the record sent to the Court of Appeals, and is not specified in the bill of exceptions as a material part of the record to be sent to this court. The demurrer to the petition as amended was sustained, and the petition dismissed. The plaintiff excepted.

Atkinson & Born> Gibson & Davis, for plaintiff,

cited: On the first count: Denicb v. Bailroad Co., 103 U. S. 11; Stewart v. B. & O. Bailroad, 168 U. S. 445; Atchison &c. By. v. Sowers, 213 TJ. S. 56; Tennessee Goal So. Co. v. George, 11 Ga. App. 321; Sou. By. Co. V. Decker, 5 Ga. App. 21, 34; Sou. By. Co. v. Bobertson, 7 Ga. App. 154-63; 2 Bose’s Code, Fed. Proced. §§ 1803-4; Martin v. P. & L. E. Bailroad, 203 IT. S. 284. As to the second count: Moore v. Dublin Cotton Mills, 127 Ga. 609; Williams v. Garbutt Lumber Co., 132 Ga. 221; McDuffie v. Ocean S. Co., 5 Ga. App. 125; s. e. 6 Ga. App. 671; Sparta Oil Mill v. Bussell, 6 Ga. App. 295; Whitfield v. L. & N. B. Co., 7 Ga. App. 271; Brown v. Mass. Mills, 7 Ga. App. 643; Hop. Pers. Inj. § 279.

Tye, Peeples & Jordan, for defendant,

cited: On the first count: Slater v. Mexican Nat. B. Co., 194 H. S. 120; Dennis v. Atlantic Coast Line E. Co., 49 S. W. 869; Smith ¶. Condy, 1 How. 28; Coyne v. Sou. Pac. B. Co., 155 Fed. 683; Nonce v. B. & D. B. Co., 33 Fed. 435; Selma Sc. B. Co. v. Lacy, AO Ga. 106; Tenn. Coal Sc. Co. v. George, supra, distinguished. As to the second count: Brush Electric Light Co. v. Wells, 110 Ga. 192.