Keystone Packing Co. v. Norfolk & Western Railway Co.

30 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 477, 1933 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1776
CourtCourt of Common Pleas of Ohio, Hamilton County
DecidedMay 18, 1933
StatusPublished

This text of 30 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 477 (Keystone Packing Co. v. Norfolk & Western Railway Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Common Pleas of Ohio, Hamilton County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Keystone Packing Co. v. Norfolk & Western Railway Co., 30 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 477, 1933 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1776 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1933).

Opinion

Alfred Mack, J.

In this cause plaintiff seeks to recover damages by reason of the freezng of two cars containing 150 barrels of imported cherries “in brine”, shipped from New York by steamship to Norfolk,. Virginia, and from Norfolk, Virginia, to Cincinnati over the railroads of defendants. It is alleged that the negligence of defendants was the failure to transport said cherries in cars “suitable for the purpose and with proper protection against freezing while in transit”; it being alleged that such articles were placed in an ordinary box car without any protection against freezing, as the result of which the cherries did freeze and were delivered in a frozen condition.

[478]*478The answer of defendants, which is quite lengthy, set out various rules adopted by the carriers and approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission. In brief, the claim is that contrary to such rules there was no request that the railroads “give any special or protective service against cold to these shipments,” nor was there any request for the handling of the same under any of the rules or regulations set out in the answer “authorizing any protective service,” nor was there a request that the defendants “use a refrigerator or lined car.”

The reply, briefly stated, denies that any of the provisions of the rules and regulations set forth in the answer were applicable to the shipments in question; states that neither the plaintiff nor the shipper had any control over the placing of the cherries on board cars at Norfolk, Virginia, and states that said cars were loaded solely by the agents and employees of defendants; further alleges that the shipments were placed on cars in December, 1929, the winter season of the year, and that it was a matter of common knowledge that temperatures below freezing point are likely to occur in such season; stated that it was not necessary to protect the shipments by placing same in refrigerated or heated cars, but that ordinary care required that the cherries be shipped in insulated cars to protect against frost. The reply alleges that the defendants were negligent in placing the shipments in ordinary box cars instead of insulated cars.

It is undisputed that cherries “in brine” is the technical name for fresh cherries put up in barrels in a solution of water and sulphur dioxide. The cherries in question were imported from Italy and on arrival in New York in bond were shipped in bond to Norfolk, Virginia, and were loaded by the employees of the Norfolk & Western Railway Co., into ordinary box cars “in bond,” viz., the same being sealed until opened by the U. S. Customs authorities at destination. It is likewise undisputed that neither the shipper nor plaintiff, nor any agent of either, was at Norfolk, Virginia, nor gave any directions as to cars in which the barrels of cherries were to be shipped to Cincinnati.

It is undisputed that the shipments by boats reached [479]*479Norfolk on November 27-28, 1929, and left at 12:01 a. m. on November 28-29, and that at the time of such arrival the temperature at Norfolk was between 40 and 45 degrees. It is likewise undisputed that in the course of transit the temperature continued to fall below freezing point and that on arrival of the cars the cherries were found to be frozen.

At the suggestion of the agent of the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co. such frozen cherries were salvaged by plaintiff. In the course of such salvaging part of the cherries was lost and destroyed and was of no value. There was testimony showing a loss on the two shipments of $2885.55. On the trial the jury returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff for said amount.

In its instructions to the jury the court made the case turn upon the question of whether the defendants were negligent in putting the cherries in a box car, and whether ordinary care required that they should have been put into an insulated car. The jury was instructed that defendants were not insurers, but that they were required to exercise ordinary care in the transportation of freight, and that it was their duty to use ordinary care in providing suitable cars, viz., “cars, which under all the circumstances of the case, the weather and the ordinary conditions existing, are suitable to the transportation of this freight.” The jury was instructed that if defendants exercised such degree of care, and that loss was occasioned by extraordinary and unexpected weather, defendants could not be held responsible. The jury was specifically instructed that the rules and regulations set out in the answer should not be considered by them, but that their determination should depend upon the question whether the defendants exercised proper care under the circumstances of the case.

It is now urged in support of the motion for a new trial that there was error in not submitting such regulations to the jury, and in not charging them that it was the duty of plaintiff to designate the “protective service” it required, viz., in not designating that the shipments should be placed in insulated cars.

In considering the motion for a new trial and the arguments made in support thereof the court has spent much [480]*480time in tracing the history of the adoption of the rules set up by defendants and their approval by the Interstate Commerce Commission. Such search by the court reveals that a hearing was had some time in 1919 by the Interstate Commerce Commission on the subject of “Perishable Freight Investigation,” at which hearing the railroads were presented and several hundred of the largest shippers of the country were present through their representatives. As a result thereof an opinion was delivered by the commission through Eastman, Commissioner, which is found in Vol. 56 Interstate Commerce Commission Reports, pages 449 to 671 inclusive. In such opinion there is summarized the contentions of the shippers and the carriers and there is a statement of the character of regulations that would be approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission. It is only necessary to refer to two of such rules, viz. 35 and 80, found on pages 552 and 553 of said report.

By said rule 35, entitled “Ordering Cars,” is was provided :

“(A) Orders for cars desired for loading must be filed, with reasonable advance notice, by shippers with the originating carrier’s agent and must be given in writing (or if orally or by telephone must be confirmed in writing) and must specify the type of car (refrigerator, ventilator, box, etc.) and character of carrier’s service desired (See rule 80).

Orders will be accepted for the placement of cars at any specified hour.

(B) Carriers not owning or operating special equipment such as brine tank refrigerator cars do not hold themselves out as being in readiness to supply such equipment.”

By rule 80, entitled “Shipper’s Instructions” it was provided :

“ (A) On carload shipments, shipper must declare in writing in shipping orders and bills of lading, at loading station, whether or not the shipments are tendered for transportation under refrigeration, non-refrigeration, icing, ventilation; or under protective service against cold.

Except as provided in rules Nos. 105, 245, 250, 312, and 405, no detailed instructions from shippers will be accepted other than:

(1) “Under Refrigeration” (If salt desired shipper must specify percentage).

[481]*481(2) “Under Standard Ventilation” (as specified in rule 85).

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30 Ohio N.P. (n.s.) 477, 1933 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1776, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/keystone-packing-co-v-norfolk-western-railway-co-ohctcomplhamilt-1933.