Kamp v. Coxe Bros. & Co.

99 N.W. 366, 122 Wis. 206, 1904 Wisc. LEXIS 126

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: June 10, 1904
• Status: Published

Opinions

The following opinion was filed April 19, 1904:

Dodge, J.

Appellant’s first and most urgent insistence is that there was no evidence upon which could stand the answers of the jury to the effect that Hartkopf was an incompetent or unfit person to be charged with the duty of warning coal trimmers when coal was to be drawn from hoppers, and that the defendant knew, or in the exercise of ordinary care ought to have known, of such incompetence or unfitness. We confess that the evidence upon these subjects was scanty and ambiguous, but that is not surprising, as most of it bad to be drawn from those who would be thereby convicted of participating in any negligence chargeable to the defendant. There was, however, the testimony of a fellow employee that through many years of employment as a teamster he had never seen Plartkopf give a warning to a coal trimmer; also a suggestion of excitability, such as to perhaps convey the idea of unsteadiness. Hartkopf himself testified upon direct examination that he had been cautioned a great many times to see that these warnings were given, and that on several occasions he had been scolded, both by the superintendent and by the defendant’s general manager, Kuesel, for carelessness in respect to giving these warnings. It is claimed by appellant that these answers were obviously the result of misunderstanding of the questions put to him, and that they are taken out of the case by his testimony on cross-examination that he was never scolded except for carelessness in sending out dirty coal or not “hustling out the teams.” This contention, however, presents a question upon which both the jury and the trial court were far better qualified to judge than we can be. The difficulty with which this witness understood English and the immediate context of the colloquy in which his-answers were given, cannot appear to us with the same certainty or •clearness. Upon an at least possible construction of the whole testimony, this witness did testify that before the accident his inefficiency or carelessness in performance of this particular duty had more than once been the subject of criticism by his superiors, who in that respect represented the defendant. The jury and the trial judge, who saw the witness and listened to his testimony, have evidently approved this construction, and we cannot feel justified in substituting our judgment for theirs in a field where they enjoyed such superior opportunities for correct conclusion. The situation would be far different had the trial court deemed this evidence insufficient to support this verdict, and in his discretion set it aside. Eor these reasons we must decline to sustain appellant’s contention that error was committed in the trial court’s refusal to reverse the answers to these two questions.

In this immediate connection it may be as well to consider an assignment of error predicated upon an instruction given and one refused; that given being to the effect that the company was chargeable with such knowledge as was bad by the general agent, Mr. Kuesel, or by the superintendent, Maas. The appellant asked an instruction to the effect that any incompetency must have been brought to the knowledge of some representative of the defendant authorized to hire and discharge men, and claims that the superintendent, Maas, is not shown to have had such authority. We shall not deem it necessary to discuss the correctness of the general rule contended for by defendant, as to which see Ohio & M. R. Co. v. Collarn, 73 Ind. 261, 272, and Frazier v. P. R. Co. 38 Pa. St. 104. We forego sucb discussion, because we think it clearly appears tbat Mr. Maas, the superintendent, bad sucb authority, although no witness categorically so testifies. Tbe testimony of the general manager of the Wisconsin business of the defendant, which is a Pennsylvania corporation, was to the effect tbat Maas was in entire charge of the yard, where a large number of men were employed in unloading, distributing, and shipping coal, and it appeared that one Burkhardt, who was a mere subordinate or foreman under Maas, bad authority to hire and discharge men in the yard. It is rendered entirely obvious by the evidence that in all respects Burkhardt was a subordinate of, and controllable by, Maas, and that the latter’s authority included all vested in Burkhardt and much more. Hence we think no error was committed in the instruction complained of, and no prejudice resulted from the refusal of the instruction requested by defendant, even if it were correct.

The same instruction is complained of because the court speaks of the incompetency of Hartkopf without express suggestion that it was still an unfound fact, whereby, counsel contends, the jury might have received an intimation that the court believed that incompetency to be established. As the judgment must be reversed on other grounds, we need do no more than suggest the advisability of persistently and carefully avoiding phraseology which is even possible of such construction, without declaring whether that now complained of is subject to criticism.

The second assignment of error is predicated upon the admission of plaintiffs testimony that after the accident she had a conversation with defendant’s general sales agent in Wisconsin, Mr. Kuesel, in which he told her that the accident was due to Hartkopf’s negligence in failing to warn her deceased husband, and that he had been habitually negligent prior to that. This was received as evidence both of the fact of Hartlcopf’s habitual negligence and of defendant’s knowledge at a time prior to the making of the statement. Such ruling was erroneouson most elementary principles. Hardly any rule of law is better settled than that the declarations of an agent as to past events are not admissible to prove such events. Clancy v. Barker (Neb.) 98 N. W. 440; Randall v. N. W. Tel. Co. 54 Wis. 140, 144, 11 N. W. 419; Stone v. N. W. Sleigh Co. 70 Wis. 585, 36 N. W. 248; Heddles v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 74 Wis. 239, 252, 42 N. W. 237; Ramsey v. Holmes E. P. Co. 85 Wis. 174, 186, 55 N. W. 391; Small v. McGovern, 117 Wis. 608, 615, 94 N. W. 651; Hupfer v. Nat. D. Co. 119 Wis. 417, 96 N. W. 809; Chapman v. Erie R. Co. 55 N. Y. 579. The last two cases are much relied on by respondent’s counsel, and they serve excellently to indicate and illustrate the mental confusion which must have induced the offer and admission of this evidence. In the Hupfer Gase, plaintiff having applied for leave to enter defendant’s premises and examine hoops which had come from a broken, vat, the superintendent, having authority to exhibit them,, said, “Those are the hoops.” This was admitted as the verbal part of the act which he was then doing on behalf of his principal — part of the res gestee. It had in it nothing of narrative or declaration of any past event or pre-existing fact. Had the superintendent gone fuller, and said, “Those hoop3. were in the same decayed condition prior to the accident,” or, “I knew their condition then,” such declaration would have been inadmissible to prove such past fact, even if it might have been received as characterizing the act of exhibiting to plaintiff. In the Chapman Case the disputed evidence was a declaration made by defendant’s superintendent before the accident, and while he was retaining the unfit employee, to the effect that the latter was given to intoxication. This was admitted as res gestae to the very act then being done by the superintendent on behalf of his principal, to show the knowledge which he had while transacting the business. The court in that case expressly cautioned against the very misapprehension into which respondent seems to have fallen. It remarked, “An admission afterward would stand upon a different footing.” The declaration now complained of, being mere narrative of a past event, was hearsay and inadmissible, but obviously prejudicial to defendant. Its admission must be held error.

Two assignments of error, which naturally associate themselves, arise upon the withdrawal from the jury of the question of contributory negligence on the part of the decedent by the court’s assuming to answer the question on that subject, and upon the refusal of defendant’s request to submit by question assumption of the risk. In both of these respects we think error was committed. There was evidence to establish that mo trimmer had any occasion to enter one of these hoppers until it was so full as to at least approach the point when the coal was piled up in the middle nearly four feet' above the top of the hopper; that in the course of business there would be no reason to expect a trimmer to be in a hopper not in such condition; and that this one was, to Hart-kopf’s knowledge, only about half full. Hence it might legitimately have been found that there was no likelihood of any warning to one who might be there. Decedent had been a teamster for years, knowing the frequency with which wagons were loaded from tírese hoppers, and might well be held to the expectation that at any moment a wagon load might be withdrawn from any of them. From such facts the jury might legitimately have drawn a conclusion that it was negligence for a man to conceal himself in this hopper when he had no right to expect that any warning would be given, and when he knew a load of coal was liable to be withdrawn therefrom at any time, to the probability of his injury. The question of negligence, like that of fraud and some others, presents a double function for the jury. Not alone must they resolve the doubt as to the specific acts and events, but more often than not the inference from the specific facts is one of fact to be drawn by a jury. We cannot agree with the trial court that it can be said as matter of law that no inference of negligence or want of ordinary care was warranted by the facts, tending to support which there was some evidence.

Again, it seems clear that there was evidence from which the jury might have found knowledge on the part of the deceased of any general unfitness on the part of Hartkopf to perform the duty of warning.' Respondent is insistent that there was some proof of such general incapacity apparent from acquaintance with the man himself, but for some years the decedent had been under direction of Hartkopf, with full opportunity to observe his characteristics, manner of doing business, and the like. Of course, so far as he did have knowledge of Hartkopf’s unfitness, he assumed the risk thereof by remaining in an employment likely to be affected thereby, and the court should, either by a question with regard to contributory negligence accompanied with proper instructions, or by a direct question as to the assumption of this risk, have allowed the jury to pass upon it. Daily v. Sang, 91 Wis. 336, 64 N. W. 997; Hennesey v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 99 Wis, 109, 74 N. W. 554; Dugal v. Chippewa Falls, 101 Wis. 533, 77 N. W. 878.

Further assignment of error is based on the claim that the facts found by the jury are insufficient to support judgment in favor of the plaintiff in that there was no finding thal Hartkopf was guilty of negligence in failing to warn the decedent. If the first question — whether it was Hartkopf’a duty to see that no one was in said hopper when the chute was opened — had been submitted to the jury, it might be argued that they had passed upon the question of what was demanded by due care,.but, as this question was answered by the court, we cannot assume that it was intended to include the inquiry whether Hartkopf was negligent, if there was any evidence to support a negative finding as to that. Some of the evidence bearing upon this subject has already been recited in discussing the negligence of decedent. Of course, there was no negligence on Hartkopf’s part in failing to give warning when coal was to be drawn from the hopper, unless, as a reasonably prudent man, he had some ground to anticipate that injury might probably result from such omission, even though his instructions — his dirty to his employer — required him in all cases to visit and examine the hopper before drawing coal therefrom. There is, as we have said, some evidence to support the view that this hopper was only about half full, and that, as a result of that condition, there was no reason for any person to be therein. Hartkopf testified, as far as interruptions from plaintiff’s counsel permitted, that this was the reason that he did not give warning on this occasion. We are persuaded that this raised a legitimate jury question as to whether, from the fact of failure to give warning under all the circumstances, there could result an inference of negligence, which of course included an inquiry whether injury to any person might reasonably have been anticipated as a result of such failure. Without such finding the verdict is incomplete, and if the first question was understood by the court to include such inquiry, then it was error to answer it as matter of law. Of course, too, it must appear that his negligent act was in line with the incompetence proved against Hartkopf. Incompetence in one direction and negligence in an entirely different one, not at all suggested by the known incompetence, would not arouse liability. Kliefoth v. N. W. Iron Co. 98 Wis. 495, 74 N. W. 356.

A further assignment of error is predicated on the giving and refusal of instructions in rejection of appellant’s contention that, even if the fellow-servant be unfit and the master have, or be chargeable with, knowledge of such unfitness before the accident, nevertheless there remains a question of fact whether his retention was negligent; i. e., was other than would have been the conduct of the great mass of mankind under like circumstances. This contention presents a refinement of distinction which has not often been treated in decided cases. Philosophically, of course, the master is liable only for negligence; that is, for conduct which he, as an ordinarily prudent person, ought to have foreseen might probably cause injury, and which is not up to the standard of care exercised by ordinarily careful persons under like circumstances. The conditions of his liability to a servant for negligence of an incompetent fellow-servant have generally been stated as the negligent employment or retention of such servant. Cooper v. M. & P. du C. R. Co. 23 Wis. 668, 671; Hoth v. Peters, 55 Wis. 405, 413, 13 N. W. 219; Maitland v. Gilbert P. Co. 97 Wis. 476, 490, 72 N. W. 1124; 34 Am. Dig. (Century ed.) 863, § 343[a]; Bailey, Master’s Liab. 47; 1 Shearm. & R. Reg. § 191; 7 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (1st ed.) 844. Nevertheless multitudinous authorities might be cited sustaining liability solely upon the fact that the incompetent was known to be such prior to the injury, there being no discussion upon the necessity of a further finding of fact that the retention after the knowledge constituted negligence or was not such conduct as might have been expected from the ordinarily prudent man. Shearm. & R. Neg., supra; 2 Rorer, Railroads, 1179; Daily v. Sang, 91 Wis. 336, , 64 N. W. 997. In Baulec v. N. Y. & H. R. Co. 59 N. Y. 356, 359, liability is said to arise if the master “negligently or Icnowincjly” employ or retain an incompetent servant. In L. S. & M. S. R. Co. v. Stupak, 123 Ind. 210, 23 N. E. 246, however, the distinction now pressed was carefully considered, and it was held that the mere fact of knowledge by the master was not sufficient to charge him for results of a servant’s incompetence without a further finding or conclusive proof that the retention after knowledge was inconsistent with due care. The court pointed out that, after information of a servant’s incompetence was received by a master, it might well be consistent with reasonable care and diligence to postpone his summary discharge long enough to investigate as to the truth of such information, and, even after being convinced of the incompetence, some reasonable time might be imperatively necessary before the discharge; hence that some delay might be consistent with ordinary care. It was also said, however, that if it appeared that unnecessary delay intervened the court could declare the negligence of defendant as matter of law. That case has been followed in Louisville, N. A. & C. R. Co. v. Breedlove, 10 Ind. App. 657, 38 N. E. 357, and Scheiber v. U. T. Co. 153 Ind. 609, 613, 55 N. E. 742. The same rule is stated in Bailey, Master’s Liab. 64, and 7 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (1st ed.) 844, footnote 1, and 12 Id. (2d ed.) 920, note 2, on the authority of Ross v. C., M. & St. P. R. Co. 8 Ded. 544, which on examination is found to make no reference to the subject, but merely to hold that an employee may remain a reasonable time after notice to his employer of incompetence of a fellow-servant in reliance on a promise to remove the latter, without losing right of recovery for injury meanwhile caused by such incompetence. That rule, instead of supporting the text, tends to refute it, as we shall show later. It is disappointing to find text-writers, on whom the profession and the courts would like to rely, thus stating an important general rule and citing in its support cases wbicli bave no such tendency.

In considering the doctrine of the Indiana cases above-cited, it must be observed that the field of reasonable diligence accorded the master is really two fields: first, that of investigation after receiving some information that an employee is incompetent, in order to ascertain the facts, see--ondly, that of dispensing with his services after being convinced of the incompetence. The right of investigation is recognized in Hughes v. B. & O. R. Co. 164 Pa. St. 178, 30 Atl. 383, and Cobb v. Simon, 119 Wis. 597, 97 N. W. 276. It is not in conflict with the rule imposing liability for knowingly retaining án incompetent. As stated in Cobb v. Simon, the information may be of any grade of definiteness or authenticity, mere idle rumor, or unfounded gossip which ought not to cause the discharge of a faithful and competent employee. Such information cannot be said, certainly as matter of law, to charge the master with knowledge of the fact rumored, even if it exists. That question, however, is not in this case, for the jury have found the fact of knowledge that ITartkopf was incompetent, thus eliminating the necessity of any further investigation by the master with reference thereto. The exact question raised here is whether the law does or should recognize a question of fact as to the reasonable diligence of an employer in failing to discharge an incompetent servant for some time after knowledge of the incompetency, in deference, for example, to the difficulty of obtaining a substitute or to the inconvenience to a going business which may result from dispensing with the service altogether. L. S. & M. S. R. Co. v. Slupak, 123 Ind. 210, 23 N. E. 246, presented the illustrative case of a railway engineer upon whose services might depend the unavoidable-running of a train to its destination; Curran v. A. H. Stange Co. 98 Wis. 598, 74 N. W. 377, that of a sawyer upon whose services depended the running of the whole sawmill. Obviously, when knowledge of the unfitness of sucb a man comes-to the employer, the situation is serious if no substitute is at once obtainable. Very great damage may be suffered by the-master from a momentary discharge. But is the situation any less serious to the other employees whose lives and bodies-are jeopardized by every moment the service of the incompetent continues? Certainly not. Then on whom should the responsibility rest during any continuance of this peril ? On the employee who has no knowledge of it and no opportunity to choose whether or not he will expose himself to it, or on the master who does know and who can exercise an election Avhether to suffer some pecuniary damage himself or to take the chances of injury to his employees?

The reason of the law, not to mention considerations of humanity, would seem to point to an answer. He who knowingly exposes another to an imminent peril should respond for the result. The philosophy of the law suffers no breach if courts declare that such conduct is per se negligence, and close their ears to the plea that the great mass of mankind might do the same thing under the circumstances. True, the employer of men is not an insurer, but when courts excuse him from any duty more than due care in ascertaining the existence of the incompetency of one whose conduct will imperil others they have sufficiently recognized that rule. If he is not negligent in ascertaining the fitness of such an employee when selected for the employment, nor in discovering the unfitness afterward, he is excused; but when he has, or is chargeable with, knowledge of incompetency, he should be liable for injury proximately resulting therefrom to those whoh lie exposes to the perils thereof, unless they, having knowledge, actual or constructive, choose to assume the risk. We think any other view inconsistent with the rule that during a reasonable time after protesting to the master the unfitness of a fellow-servant an employee remaining in reliance on promise to remove the incompetent may nevertheless recover for injuries resulting. Maitland v. Gilbert P. Co. 97 Wis. 476, 72 N. W. 1124; Curran v. A. H. Stange Co., supra; Yerkes v. N. P. R. Co. 112 Wis. 184, 88 N. W. 33. Under wbat we may call tbe “Indiana doctrine” tbe employee could not recover during that period because tbe master would not be liable if it were a reasonable time, consistently witb due care, to obtain a careful substitute.

We are persuaded that an accurate statement of the true rule on the subject is that stated in Baulec v. N. Y. & H. R. Co. 59 N. Y. 356, that the master who negligently or knowingly employs or retains an incompetent servant is liable for injuries thereby resulting to fellow-servants who are not themselves negligent and have not assumed the risk. lie is liable always and independently of any other question of negligence if be, knowing the incompetence, employs or retains him. He also may be liable, though in fact ignorant, if by exercise of ordinary care be ought to have ascertained the incompetency, eithér at the time of the employment or subsequently, though doubtless the master does not owe the same activity of investigation to discover the incompetence of a servant once properly and carefully selected and employed as be does at the original employment. Baulec v. N. Y. & H. R. Co., supra; Whittaker v. Delaware & H. C. Co. 126 N. Y. 544, 549, 27 N. E. 1042; Hilts v. C. & G. T. R’y, 55 Mich. 437, 21 N. W. 878; Maitland v. Gilbert P. Co., supra. We are confident tbat this measure of duty and liability is in accordance with the law as it has been administered in this state, and that the expressions “negligent retention” or “negligently retained,” used in some of our own cases, refer merely to negligence in failing to acquire knowledge of incompetency, never to conduct after that knowledge is in fact acquired. The case which perhaps has most appearance of approving the doctrine that the question of due care as a fact for the jury is always involved in a case of injury from incompetence of a fellow-servant is Maitland v. Gilbert P. Co., supra. There it was .claimed and disputed that the master had been notified of the servant’s incompetence, but the court-instructed that the master was “bound to furnish competent employees; if he fails to do so, he is liable for injuries caused by their incompetency.” This obviously warranted recovery if the servant was incompetent, although the master had no knowledge of it and had exercised all due care in selecting him. This court held the instruction erroneous, because the-master is only required to exercise ordinary care in employing servants. There was no discussion of the element of due-care as involved in the retention, nor in any case of actual knowledge of unfitness. That case must not be read beyond its express words, which limited its rule to conduct in employing a servant. So limited, it entirely accords with the rale-as quoted from the Baulec Case.

From what has been said, our conclusion is obvious that no error was committed in refusing to instruct as requested by appellant on this subject.

By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and cause remanded' for a new trial.