Kennedy Bros. v. Mobile & Girard Railroad

74 Ala. 430

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: December 15, 1883
• Status: Published

Opinion

BRIOKELL, C. J.

— The complaint contains a single count, in the form prescribed' by the Code, claiming damages of the defendant for a failure to deliver certain goods, which it had received as a common carrier for transportation and delivery to the consignees of the plaintiffs, at the city of Troy in this State. The uncontroverted facts shown in evidence on the trial in the Circuit Court are, that the goods were safely transported to Troy, the point of destination, and the consignees informed of their arrival; they giving a receipt for them, and making payment of the freight, but, not having a place to store them, the goods were left in the care and custody of the defendant ; and if any loss occurred, it occurred after the taking of the receipt and the payment of freight, and after the request that they should remain in the custody of the defendant.

A complaint, like a declaration at common law, should state the facts necessary to constitute the cause of action, clearly and intelligibly; and the evidence in support, of the plaintiff’s right of recovery must correspond to its averments. There can be no recovery upon a cause of action, however meritorious it may be, or however satisfactorily proved, that is in substance variant from that which is pleaded by the plaintiff. — 1 Chit. PI. 2711. It is well settled, that when a common carrier safely transports/^ goods to the point of destination, informs the consignee of their arrival, and affords him reasonable opportunity for their ref, moval, his relation, duty, and liability as a carrier terminate j and if subsequently the goods remain in his custody, his liability^ is that of a bailee for deposit or storage, — as usually designated, that of a warehouse-man. He is bound only to common care and diligence, and liable only for the want of such care and diligence. — Ala. & Tenn. Rivers R. R. Co. v. Kidd, 35 Ala. 209; Mobile & Girard R. R. Co. v. Prewitt, 46 Ala. 63; Hutchinson on Carrier’s, § 356. The concurrence of all these facts may not be necessary to the termination of the carrier’s diffy and liability; we state them now, because in this case the evidence of their concurrence is undisputed. Having kept and performed its contract and duty as to the transportation of the goods — having carried them to- the point of destination, informed the consignees of their arrival, afforded oportunity for-their removal, and subsequently retaining custody of them to await the convenience of the consignees — it would be manifestly unjust, if the defendant could be charged as an insurer; charged with the extraordinary liability of a carrier, for a loss subsequently occurring. That duty and liability had terminated; and if the evidence tends to show a loss of the goods, and a consequent liability upon the defendant, it is variant from the allegations of the complaint; it is not because of a violation of the duty therein stated that a liability arises. In no event, could the plaintiff recover under this form of complaint; and if there is error in the giving or refusal of the instructions, to which exceptions were taken, the error is without injury, and is not matter for reversal.

Affirmed.