Illinois Cent. R. v. Norris

245 F. 926, 158 C.C.A. 214, 1917 U.S. App. LEXIS 1561
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedAugust 23, 1917
DocketNo. 2452
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 245 F. 926 (Illinois Cent. R. v. Norris) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Illinois Cent. R. v. Norris, 245 F. 926, 158 C.C.A. 214, 1917 U.S. App. LEXIS 1561 (7th Cir. 1917).

Opinion

EVANS, Circuit Judge

(after stating the facts as above). [1] Defendant contends that the liability created by Act April 22, 1908, c. 149, § 1 (Comp. St. 1916, § 8657), is barred in the instant case, because the personal representatives of the deceased failed to bring this action within two years from the date the cause of action accrued. It admits the declaration was filed within two years from the date of Norris’ death, yet it is claimed, the original declaration being insufficient to state a cause of action, the statute of limitations was not tolled until the amended and sufficient declaration was filed. It is unnecessary for us to decide in this case whether an action is begun within the meaning of this act by the issuance of a summons upon- the filing of an insufficient declaration. We are convinced that the original [929]*929declaration (held insufficient by the District Court) stated a cause of action against the defendant.

The particular attack upon the declaration as originally filed was directed to the failure of the pleader to allege a duty on the part of the conductor to the brakeman and its violation, and much dependence in support thereof is placed on the case of McAndrews v. C. L. & S. Railway Co., 222 Ill. 232, 78 N. E. 603. We are convinced that the declaration in the present case is distinguishable from the declarations in the cases cited in defendant’s brief, including the McAndrews Case. Section 8657, Compiled Statutes 1916, expressly imposes upon the carrier a liability to the personal representatives of an injured employé who dies from injuries resulting in whole or in part from the negligence of any of the employes of such carrier. Plaintiff in this case alleged facts to show that the carrier was engaged in interstate commerce at the time of the injury, and the act referred to unquestionably applied and governed the rights of the parties to this action. It was therefore unnecessary to assert in the declaration the particular duty which the conductor owed to the brakeman, for Congress by this act imposed a liability on the railroad in case injury resulted to one employé through the negligence of. another. Irrespective of the act of Congress, it is doubtful if greater particularity would have been required to sustain the original declaration, although in many jurisdictions it would have been subject to a motion to make more definite and certain.

The original declaration being sufficient, nothing remains of defendant’s contention that the action was not brought within two years from September 15, 1913.

[2] Defendant further contends that the evidence, viewed most favorably to the plaintiff, fails to support a verdict against it, and that the motion to direct the verdict for the defendant should have been granted. The alleged negligence of the defendant was based upon the action of the conductor in directing the engineer to back up the train when Norris was between the cars and subject to be injured by any sudden aud unexpected movement of the cars. It appears from the testimony of the engineer that, immediately before receiving this signal to back up, he looked out of the cab window and saw, upon the same side of the train, light from two different lanterns, and it is well nigh impossible to conclude that these two lanterns were held by any one other than the conductor and the brakeman, Norris. It is therefore contended by the plaintiff that, the brakeman being between the conductor and the engineer shortly before the signal to back was given and he having disappeared at the time the signal was given, the conductor was negligent in directing a movement of the train which was necessarily fraught with such danger to the life of the brakeman.

Defendant contends that, notwithstanding this evidence, it was free from neglect, because of the testimony of the conductor to the effect that he did not see the brakeman, and that it was not his duty to locate him before giving the signal. We cannot accept the defendant’s contention, notwithstanding the conductor’s statement that each employe [930]*930looked out for himself, and that it was not customary for a conductor to ascertain where his men were before he gave a signal. We are convinced that the evidence warranted the jury in finding the conductor negligent upon the facts disclosed by the testimony in this case. The testimony justified the jury in finding that the conductor had good reason to believe the brakeman was between the cars. It was the brakeman’s duty to go between the cars and release angle cocks and shut off the air in switching cars.

Where the brakes are operated by air, it is necessary for the brakeman or conductor to “cut the line” as well as to uncouple the cars. Norris had been constantly so engaged to the knowledge of the conductor. He was supplied with a lantern. Both men were busily engaged in a common task and were only a short distance apart. If Norris’ lantern was not in sight, the conductor had good reason to believe that he was between the cars. The conductor, on cross-examination, admitted that it was the duty of each of them (the conductor and the brakeman) “to look out for each other as much as possible.” We conclude that the jury was amply justified from all the evidence in finding the conductor guilty of negligence in the respect claimed by the plaintiff.

[3] Nor did the deceased assume the risk of such signal being carelessly given. We may well accept the statement that each employé, in switching operations, was to look out for himself, and yet a brakeman could not be said to have assumed the risk arising from the negligent conduct of the conductor. The brakeman was not chargeable with notice that his fellow employé would violate a rule or a custom. He had reason to believe the conductor would not move the train while he was between the cars. If, as the conductor said, it was his duty to look out for the brakeman as much as possible, the brakeman had a right to assume that such duty would not be violated. We conclude no error was committed in submitting both the questions of defendant’s negligence and the deceased’s assumption of risk to the jury.

[4, 5] Complaint is also made because the court refused to receive in evidence, as offered by the defendant, a certain written motion made by the attorney for the plaintiff, appearing at that time as the attorney for the Industrial Board of the state of Illinois, and also refusing to receive proof offered by the defendant to the effect that the plaintiff’s attorney before the arbitration board contended that the accident was an unavoidable one, and occurred without any negligence on the part of the employés of the railroad.

The Industrial Board of the state of Illinois decided in plaintiff’s favor, and the defendant in this action secured a writ of certiorari from the circuit court of Cook county to vacate the award of the Industrial Board. The claimant before the Industrial Board was the plaintiff in this case, and her attorney appeared to support the position taken by the Industrial Board. .He moved to quash the writ of certiorari, and as one of his grounds asserted:

“Third. That at night the conductor, six or seven cars away from Norris, was making a coupling, and while doing so Norris stepped onto the rails [931]*931near the switch point to turn the handle cock in the air hose, and Ms foot slipped in between the rail and the switch point. On account of Ms heavy, stout shoes, he could not extricate himself.

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

Related

Haman v. Allied Concrete Products, Inc.
495 P.2d 531 (Alaska Supreme Court, 1972)
Kurn v. Stanfield
111 F.2d 469 (Eighth Circuit, 1940)
King v. Schumacher
89 P.2d 466 (California Court of Appeal, 1939)
Schiefelbein v. Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
265 N.W. 386 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1936)
Grange v. Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railway Co.
69 S.W.2d 955 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1934)
Quealy Land & Livestock Co. v. George
18 P.2d 253 (Wyoming Supreme Court, 1933)
Standard Stoker Co. v. Lower
46 F.2d 678 (D. Maryland, 1931)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
245 F. 926, 158 C.C.A. 214, 1917 U.S. App. LEXIS 1561, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/illinois-cent-r-v-norris-ca7-1917.