Jeffersonville Manufacturing Co. v. Holden

102 N.E. 21, 180 Ind. 301, 1913 Ind. LEXIS 120

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: June 4, 1913
• Docket: No. 22,389
• Status: Published

Opinion

Spencer, C. J.

Appellee recovered judgment for two thousand dollars in the court below in an action against appellant to recover damages for personal injuries sustained by him by reason of the alleged violation of §8029 Bums 1908, Acts 1899 p. 231, generally known as the factory act.

1.

In prosecuting an appeal to this court appellant seeks to have §§8021-8047 Burns 1908, Acts 1899 p. 231, declared “unconstitutional, void and invalid” and particularly insists that §8029, supra, is invalid for uncertainty, in that the language thereof makes it the duty of the owner, his agent, superintendent or other person in charge of a manufacturing establishment, where such machinery as that on which appellee was injured is operated, to have the same “properly guarded”. When the language “shall be properly guarded” is considered in connection with the other language of that section, and the other sections of the act in question, it is clear that it means a safeguard to protect the life and limhs of employes engaged about dangerous and hazardous machinery and mechanical appliances, where such can be so guarded without impairing their usefulness. What the size or shape of such guard shall be is not specifically stated in the statute which requires only that it shall be proper, and the term “proper” as thus used means fit, suitable, appropriate. The statute is not subject to the criticism of appellant. State v. Louisville, etc., R. Co. (1912), 177 Ind. 553, 96 N. E. 340; Booth v. State (1913), 179 Ind. 405, 100 N. E. 563; Kirchoff v. Hohnsbehn Creamery Supply Co. (1910), 148 Iowa 508, 512, 123 N. W. 210.

2.

Appellant contends that the court erred in overruling its demurrer to each of the paragraphs of complaint for the reason that, the statute being void, “neither paragraph of the complaint states a cause of action under the common law as it is shown by the facts alleged that the plaintiff assumed the risk, the conditions and dangers being well known to him.” But we have seen that the statute is not invalid and the charge of negligence in each paragraph of complaint being a violation of statutory requirements, there could be no assumption of risk. The doctrine of assumption of risk does not apply to a case where the injury occurs by reason of the negligent nonobservance of a positive and fixed duty enjoined by a statute. Cleveland, etc., R. Co. v. Powers (1909), 173 Ind. 105, 114, 88 N. E. 1073, 89 N. E: 485, and cases cited; Indianapolis, etc., R. Co. v. Waddington (1907), 169 Ind. 448, 82 N. E. 1030; Island Coal Co. v. Swaggerty (1903), 159 Ind. 664, 667, 62 N. E. 1103, 65 N. E. 1026; 26 Cyc. 1180.

3.

“The failure to perform any duty imposed either by a statute or an ordinance is negligence per se.” Pennsylvania Co. v. Hensil (1880), 70 Ind. 569, 574, 36 Am. Rep. 188. See, also, Wabash R. Co. v. Beedle (1910), 173 Ind. 437, 442, 90 N. E. 760; King v. Laycock, etc., Co. (1910), 46 Ind. App. 420, 423, 92 N. E. 741.

4.

It is next urged that the first and second paragraphs ol complaint are insufficient to withstand the demurrer for the reason that it is not directly alleged that the failure of appellant to guard its machine was the proximate cause of appellee’s injury. The first paragraph alleges, in substance, that in the operation of the wood-worker (jointer machine) there is danger that while the person operating the same runs the wood over the knives it would be thrown back suddenly and the hand of the operator be thereby brought in contact with the knives ; that a proper guard could have been placed on the machine without interfering with its proper operation; that such guard ivould have protected the knives and prevented any injury from the aforesaid danger; that appellant, in violation of the statute, negligently failed to provide such guard and the machine was without such guard; that while appellee was operating the machine and holding a piece of wood on the table of the same and running it over the knives, the wood was suddenly thrown back by the operation of the machine, thereby causing appellee’s hand to come in contact with the knives and be thereby injured; that if such guard had been placed on the machine his hand would not have come in contact with the knives; that the injury was caused by the negligence of appellant in failing to provide the machine with such guard.

The second paragraph contains allegations similar to those of the first paragraph and further avers that appellant had provided the machine in question with “a guard consisting of a board, attached to the table of said machine with a screw and placed on said table in such a position that it would cover said aperture” through which the knives protruded but “that to make said guard a proper one and one that would safely guard said knives and prevent injury from the danger aforesaid, it should then and there have been provided with a spring to hold said guard against the material run over said table for the purpose of being sawed and to completely cover said aperture above said knives the instant such material was removed; that said guard with such spring would then and there have guarded said knives and prevented any injury from the danger aforesaid.”

5.

Each paragraph alleges facts sufficient to show that the failure to guard the machine properly was the proximate cause of the injury, and there was no error in overruling the demurrer on that ground. It is further insisted, however, that the second paragraph of complaint is defective because it is “ambiguous, and uncertain if not repugnant.” In our opinion it is not subject to this criticism and states a good cause of action.

6.

Appellant earnestly endeavors to show error in overruling its motion for judgment on the answers to interrogatories. In determining this question we must be guided by the following rules laid down by this court: “ a general verdict will not be defeated by isolated facts disclosed by answers to interrogatories, unless such facts are shown to be so repugnant and contradictory, to the general verdict that both cannot be true under any conceivable state of facts provable under the issues.” Indiana R. Co. v. Maurer (1903), 160 Ind. 25, 27, 25 N. E. 156.

7.

“In determining this question, we cannot look to the evidence, but only to the complaint, answer, and general verdict, and the answers of the jury to the interrogatories.” Consolidated Stone Co. v. Summit (1899), 152 Ind. 297, 300, 53 N. E. 235.

No purpose can be served by setting out the 191 interrogatories and answers in this opinion, but it is sufficient-to say that no such conflict between the general verdict and the answers to interrogatories is shown as would warrant the striking down of the general verdict, especially in view of appellant’s statement “that facts are found in the answers to the interrogatories in this case that are favorable to appellee.”

8.

Under the.motion for a new trial herein, the next question presented for consideration is the sufficiency of the evidence. That there is a conflict in the evidence is apparent, but it is not the province of this court to weigh the same. When there is legal evidence tending to support a verdict, the finding of the jury concludes the question. Continental Life Ins. Co. v. Yung (1888), 113 Ind. 159, 15 N. E. 220, 3 Am. St. 630; Evansville, etc., R. Co. v. Harrington (1882), 82 Ind. 534.

9.

Appellant next contends, and discusses in its brief, that the court erred in submitting to the jury instructions Nos. 9, 11, 15, 16, 18 and 24, at the request of appellee, and in refusing instructions Nos. 1, 5, 14, 18, 19 and 39 tendered by appellant. Instruction No. 9 is as follows .• £ £ The factory act which requires certain machinery such as saws, planers and sharpers to be guarded makes it the imperative duty of the master or person coming within its provisions to properly guard such machinery when it can be done without interfering with its proper operation and for such master to violate the provisions of such act is negligence on his part. It is no defense for the master to say that a factory inspector examined the machine and directed a certain device to be used as a guard. I instruct you that where a master is by said statute required to furnish a guard, the only way that the master can escape liability is to secure a proper and sufficient guard and furnish such machine with it. The fact, if it be a fact, that other manufacturers are using an imperfect and insufficient guard is no justification or excuse for such master to violate such statute. The master is bound to know and comply with the requirements of such guard statute.” If this instruction stood alone it would hardly suffice to say that it referred only to the kind of guard appellant was required to furnish, but it does not purport to cover all tbe facts necessary to recovery by appellee, and the subject of contributory negligence being fully and completely covered in other instructions given, we can not say that it is such error as would warrant a reversal.

10.

Instruction No. 11 is not subject to the objections urged against it by appellant. By this instruction the jury was properly informed that if the machine was not properly guarded and appellee knew that fact and.with such knowledge continued to work on and about the machine, he would not necessarily be guilty of contributory negligence. The instruction further contained this language : “If you find that the plaintiff, while using ordinary care and prudence was injured upon said machine # # * because said machine was not guarded in the particular alleged in the complaint if it was not guarded, and if you find that the defendant was required to so guard said machine, and you find that it could have been guarded without interfering with its proper operation, then your verdict should be for the plaintiff, although you should find that the plaintiff knew that such machine was not properly guarded.” This instruction was not erroneous.

11.

Instructions Nos. 15, 16 and 18, given as tendered by appellee, may be considered together. They each call the jury’s attention to the claim of appellant that there was a guide or fence on the machine which might have been used as a guard and that there was another device furnished as a guard; the manner of the use of either as a guard and whether either was a proper guard; the conduct of appellee in the use of the machine with either as a guard, and the requirement of appellant to furnish a proper guard were all matters on which, under the issues, it was proper to instruct the jury.

12.

Instruction No. 24 is as follows: “If you should find from the evidence that guards similar to the one used on the machine referred to were in other manufacturing establishments such fact would not relieve the defendant from liability, if you find that the guard used was not a proper one, and that a proper one could be used without interfering with the proper operation of said machine.” This was not erroneous under the facts disclosed by the record.

13.

Of the instructions tendered by appellant and refused by the court No. 1 undertakes to tell the jury that what is a proper guard may be determined by finding if the guard on the machine was similar to those in use by others; that the use of such a guard would then be ordinary care. This instruction seems to be an adroit effort to direct the jury to determine ordinary care by comparative means. It was properly refused. Instructions Nos. 5 and 14 are subject to the same criticism.

14.

Instruction No. 18 would tell the jury that a guard to be proper would require the approval and endorsement of “a considerable proportion of careful, prudent, skilful, considerate and experienced persons in the line of business” of appellant and that before the failure to adopt such suggested guard would be negligence it should command the commendation of the consensus of the careful, prudent, skilful, intelligent persons in the same line of business as appellant. We cannot subscribe to this being the law.

15.

Instruction No. 19 told the jury, in effect, that in determining what was a proper guard it should be guided by conditions as they existed at the time of the accident. This subject was fully and fairly covered by the instructions given.

16.

Instruction No. 39 undertakes to minutely and specifically describe the use of a “guide” as a guard to cover the knives, and charges that its use by appellee in the manner described was contributory negligence. This instruction is so prolix, verbose and tedious as to make it wearisome and confusing. It was properly refused.

Note. — Reported in 102 N. E. 21. See, also, under (1) 26 Oye. 1134; (2) 26 Oye. 1180; (3) 29 Oye. 436; (4) 26 Oye. 1389; (5) 26 Oye. 1384; (6) 38 Oye. 1929; (7) 38 Oye. 1930; (S) 3 Oye. 348; (9, 11) 26 Oye. 1491; (10) 26 Oye. 1507; (12) 26 Oye. 1134, 1491; (13) 26 Oye. 1497; (14) 26 Oye. 1133, 1497; (15) 38 Oye. 1711; (16) 38 Oye. 1602; (17) 38 Oye. 1430; (18) 3 Oye. 381. As to liability of employer to employe for dangerous machinery, see 77 Am. Dee. 218; 98 Am. St. 289. As to the assumption of risk on failure of the employer to perform a .statutory duty, see 4 Ann. Oas. 599; 13 Ann. Oas. 36; Ann. Oas. 1913 O 210. For common practice as the measure of master’s duty to guard machinery, see 16 L. R. A. (N. S.) 140. As to what is comprehended in expression “machinery o£ every description,” in statutes imposing duty on master as to placing guards, see 30 L. R. A. (N. S.) 36. On employe’s right of action for employer’s violation of statutory duty as to guards about machinery, see 9 L. R. A. (N. S.) 381. On the question of assumption of risk of master’s breach of statutory duty generally, see 6 L. R. A. (N. S.) 981; 19 L. R. A. (N. S.) 646 ; 22 L. R. A. (N. S.) 634; 33 L. R. A. (N. S.) 646 ; 42 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1229.

17.

It is next contended that there is reversible error in the admission and exclusion of certain evidence. We have carefully examined the record on these points and nowhere find that evidence was admitted which was erroneous and harmful; that in each instance where evidence was excluded on questions and answers stricken out of depositions, the same subject-matter was covered by the same witnesses and the questioned evidence seems to have gone to the jury in a proper maimer.

18.

Lastly, it is insisted that the damages awarded are excessive. The rule laid down by this court in Cleveland, etc., R. Co. v. Harrison (1912), 178 Ind. 324, 98 N. E. 729, 731, on this subject is applicable here: “In such case, where liability is determined * * *, then the question as to the amount of damages to be awarded is a matter to be determined by the triers of the facts, under the supervision of the trial court, and unless the record discloses that the amount is so grossly excessive as to make it so appear at first blush, this court will require that it be pointed out wherein the record so discloses, to such extent as to induce the belief that the jury was actuated by prejudice, partiality or corruption.”

We find no reversible error in the record.

Judgment affirmed.