Keller v. Gaskill

50 N.E. 363, 20 Ind. App. 502, 1898 Ind. App. LEXIS 580
Indiana Court of Appeals·Decided April 28, 1898·No. No. 2,329·Published·Cited by 15 cases

Opinion

Black, J.

On a former appeal in this cause it was determined that in the special verdict then under consideration it was not sufficiently shown that the plaintiff was free from contributory fault. Keller v. Gaskill, 9 Ind. App. 670. Upon a return of the cause for a new trial, it having been suggested that the plaintiff, Frank Gaskill, had reached his majority, his next friend was discharged, and thereafter the cause was prosecuted by the plaintiff in his own name alone, against the original defendant, Josiah O. Keller, now the appellant, and Anna Keller, who was made an additional defendant in an amended complaint in two paragraphs. The issues formed were tried by jury, a.nd a special verdict was returned.

A motion of the defendant Anna Keller for a new trial was sustained. A like motion of the defendant Josiah O. Keller was overruled, and judgment was rendered against him on the special verdict. He appeals, naming his codefendant and the plaintiff as appellees in the assignment of errors. The overruling1 of the joint demurrer of the defendants to each paragraph of the second amended complaint being assigned as error, it is claimed in argument that neither paragraph of the complaint stated facts sufficient. The learned counsel for the appellant suggest that both paragraphs of the complaint are objectionable on the ground that neither shows such a condition as made it obligatory upon the appellant to warn the plaintiff of his hazardous attempt, and that neither shows that he was free from contributory negligence. On the former appeal it was decided that the second paragraph of complaint was sufficient to withstand a [504] demurrer. Upon comparison of that paragraph (which is shown by the record now before us) with the second paragraph as last amended, we do not find any substantial difference between them upon the matters to which the appellant’s objections are directed. In the appellant’s brief it is stated that the first and second paragraphs are substantially alike, except that while the first proceeds upon the theory that the defendants set the plaintiff, a minor, to work at that which he was not employed to do, the second paragraph proceeds upon the theory that he was injured while discharging the duties of his employment. There could, therefore, be no substantial difference in the particulars embraced in appellant’s criticism. Upon the former appeal, the court, in discussing the special verdict, said: “It sufficiently appears, however, that shifting and repairing the belts, even those connected with the lathe upon which we may assume he was at work, was such employment in connection with the revolving machinery as required special instructions and admonitions to the appellee in order to make him comprehend the hazard and peril to which he was thereby exposed. These the jury find he had not received, and, as we have already said, this omission, coupled with the act of appellant in ordering the appellee to perform this class of work under such circumstances, constituted negligence in the appellant.” This conclusion of the court on the former appeal is the law of the case relating to the matter to which it pertains, and each paragraph of the complaint sufficiently shows such a condition as made it, under that decision of this court, obligatory upon the appellant to warn the plaintiff of the danger.

It is alleged in each paragraph that the plaintiff was free from fault, and in view of the allegations concerning his youth and inexperience and the nature [505] of tlie employment, we cannot say that the allegations of particular facts overcome the general averment of his freedom from fault. We may refrain from setting out the pleadings, inasmuch as the real contest between the parties is presented upon its merits in the special verdict.

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Keller v. Gaskill, 50 N.E. 363, 20 Ind. App. 502, 1898 Ind. App. LEXIS 580 (Ind. Ct. App. 1898).

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