Grieve v. Illinois Central Railway Co.

74 N.W. 192, 104 Iowa 659
Supreme Court of Iowa·Decided February 7, 1898·Published·Cited by 28 cases

Opinion

Ladd, J.

[661] 1 [660] The plaintiff shipped thirty-nine head of fat cattle and some hogs over the defendant's! railway, June 26,1894, from Storm Lake to Chicago: These were loaded at about 9 o’clock p. m., and reached Chicago at 5 o’clock a. m., of June 28th, but were not delivered to the consignee at the stock yards till 'eight minutes after 2 oclock p. m. The plaintiff alleged in his petition that “during .all the time from 5 o’clock a m. .to 3 o’clock p. M. of the said twenty-eighth day of June, 1894, the said cattle and hogs were kept confined in the cars within which they were shipped, and upon the tracks of the defendant, at different points of the city of Chicago, exposed constantly and continuously during all such time to the heat of the sun, which was excessive; that when said cattle and hogs were delivered to the [661] consignee at about 3 o’clock p. M. of said twenty-eigbtb day of June, 1894, they were in a badly-damaged condition, having shrunken considerably in weight, and showing in other ways their long confinement in the cars, exposure, and lack of proper care .and attention, by reason of which this plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of six hundred dollars.” It is asserted that no allegation of failure to properly care for the stock is contained in the portion of the petition set out. The statement is not as specific as might have been required, had timely objection been made. The answer, however, clearly puts in issue the negligence charged in delay and the failure to exercise care, as it, in terms, denies lack of care, and alleges the delay was occasioned by the intimidation, violence, and interference of strikers and mobs in Chicago, and that the stock was delivered as soon as possible. Having met the issues, indefinitely stated in the petition, the defendant is not in a position to say they were not tendered'.

2 II. The .alleged 'error in overruling the motion to direct a verdict for the defendant ought not to' be determined. If it be conceded, the court corrected it, in so far as possible, by setting aside the verdict returned, and granting a new trial. The evidence may be different on another trial, and, in. any event, we cannot anticipate what the court’s ruling will be when the question is. .again presented.

[662] 3 [661] III. The jury found, in answer to special interrogatories, that the transportation of the stock was unreasonably delayed, but that this was not occasioned by any negligence on the part of the defendant. It will be observed that no finding was returned with'respect to the care given the stock. The assertion that this is not within the issues has been disposed of. It is said, [662] however, that no notice of the claim for damages was given, as required by the shipping contract. This contains the condition that “no claim for loss or damage to stock shall be valid against said railroad company unless it shall be made in writing, verified by affidavit, and delivered to the general freight agent of the railroad company at Chicago; or to agent of the company at the station from which the stock is ■shipped, or to the agent of the company at the point of destination, within ten days from the time said stock is removed from said cans.” Such limitations have been regarded .as reasonable and binding, in the absence of statutory regulations, as tending to- prevent fraud. Dawson v. Railway Co., 76 Mo. 514; Coggin v. Railway Co., 12 Kan. 416. But they are limitations of the liability of the common carrier, and cannot be upheld, because against the prohibition of section 2074 of the Code: “No contract, receipt, rule or regulation shall exempt any railroad corporation engaged in transporting persons or property, from the liability of a common carrier, or carrier of passengers, which would exist had no' contract, receipt, rule or regulation been made or entered into.” See Missouri P. R’y Co. v. Vandeventer, 26 Neb. 222 (41 N. W. Rep. 998); Ohio & M. R’y Co. v. Tabor, 98 Ky. 503 (32 S. W. Rep. 168; 36 S. W. Rep. 18); Brown v. Railroad Co.(Ky.) 38 S. W. Rep. 862.

[663] 4

[664] 7

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Grieve v. Illinois Central Railway Co., 74 N.W. 192, 104 Iowa 659 (iowa 1898).

74 N.W. 192 (Grieve v. Illinois Central Railway Co.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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