Kopf v. Monroe Stone Co.

104 N.W. 313, 140 Mich. 649, 1905 Mich. LEXIS 623
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 21, 1905
DocketDocket No. 22
StatusPublished

This text of 104 N.W. 313 (Kopf v. Monroe Stone Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kopf v. Monroe Stone Co., 104 N.W. 313, 140 Mich. 649, 1905 Mich. LEXIS 623 (Mich. 1905).

Opinions

Moore, C. J.

This case has been here before, and is reported in 133 Mich. 286. A reading of the opinions [650]*650then filed will do away with the need of making a long statement here. Upon the second trial, plaintiff recovered a verdict. The defendant brings the case here by writ of error. After the second trial a motion was made for a new trial. The trial judge filed in writing his reasons for refusing this motion. As they state clearly some of the questions involved, we quote in part from them:

‘ ‘ The defendant’s counsel in the argument of this motion did not urge any of the reasons assigned, except that the court should have taken the case from the jury and directed a verdict for the defendant. * * * I am aware that upon the hearing of this case in the Supreme Court the majority of that court were of the opinion that there was no testimony to submit to a jury tending to show that the shooter had authority to direct plaintiff to load holes; that there was no evidence of a custom on the part of the drillers to load holes, sufficient to charge the defendant with notice thereof, or to make the defendant in duty bound to warn plaintiff of latent dangers incident to the use of dynamite in loading holes. The evidence upon these points was very complete upon this trial. Admitting that there is a conflict in the evidence, because the officers of the defendant and its foreman denied knowledge of such custom, still it cannot be said that there is no evidence tending to show the authority of the shooters to direct drillers to load these holes, or of a long, continuous, and notorious custom among all the drillers employed in this quarry to load holes with dynamité, and to do this upon the orders of the shooters. The testimony shows that for a period of about seven years the custom has prevailed in this quarry for the shooter to furnish dynamite to the drillers to load the last hole at shooting time, and to order them to load their holes when finished, and for the drillers, in compliance with these orders, to load these holes. The shooting occurred four times a day — at half past nine, at twelve, at half past three, and at six, spoken of as quarter time. There is the evidence of several witnesses showing the defendant’s general foreman had actual knowledge of the loading of these holes by the drillers, and on some occasions assisted the drillers in so doing. When it is remembered that this work is done in a large open pit, covering from two to three acres of ground, that all or nearly all parts of this pit were open to view from any point on [651]*651the banks, and that this practice had continued for a period of about seven years, and that the loading by drillers occurred every day and usually by many drillers each day, it must be conceded that this custom was open and notorious ; and it is hard to conceive how it could have continued without the knowledge, consent, and acquiescence of the men in charge of the quarry.
“It seems to me that there was abundant proof to submit to the jury upon the question of this custom, and upon the question of the authority of the shooter to direct the drillers to load these holes. In my judgment, this question was fairly submitted to the jury in the charge given.
“ I think that the testimony in this case clearly shows that the liability of dynamite to explode by friction,- or of dynamite being exploded by pressing the stick into a hole, was a latent danger incident to the use of dynamite in the loading of holes; that this liability to explode from friction is known to those familiar with the use of dynamite. Mr. Sundstrum, who has a scientific as well as a practical knowledge of the subject, explains this very clearly in his testimony; and the witnesses Navarre and Sharkey, and in fact all those who had special acquaintance with the use of dynamite, admit that it is dangerous to press it into a hole which is too small. I think that the court would not be justified in holding, as a matter of law, that this was a danger of which the plaintiff, a common laborer, was bound to know; and it seems to me that the contention that the defendant is not liable in this case, because the plaintiff pressed the dynamite into a hole too small for it, when he had not been specifically told to do this, has no merit in it, for catastrophies of this kind never would occur if no one did an imprudent thing. It is the lack of knowledge of the danger that explains the plaintiff’s conduct. The rule that the employer should warn his servant of the latent dangers could have no possible application if the employer was only required to perform the particular work once in the presence of the employé, and was then permitted to say that the least variation from the method was an assumption of risk by the laborer. * * *
“ It is contended that the defendant was not bound to anticipate that the plaintiff would attempt to force a dynamite cartridge into a hole that was too small to receive it.. In view of the testimony of Mr. Sundstrum and of the other experts produced by the plaintiff as well as by the [652]*652defendant, I do not think that the court can hold, as a matter of law, that defendant was not bound to anticipate just what occurred according to plaintiff’s testimony in this case. The holes were drilled, when the drills were perfect, only large enough to, admit the dynamite. There is abundant testimony showing that the bits of the drills constantly wear away, thus making the holes too small. There is testimony tending to show that it was frequently found necessary by those handling dynamite to break up the cartridges in order to get them into the holes, and by so doing avoid the friction incident to pressing the cartridge into the hole.
“The testimony upon this trial of this case is very much fuller on all these points than it was upon the former trial.
“In fact, upon many of these points at the former trial there was very little, and, according to the opinion of the majority of the Supreme Court, no evidence whatever, in favor of the plaintiff’s contention. It seems to me that upon this trial there is evidence in support of the plaintiff’s theory on all these points.”

In this connection it may be well to quote from the testimony of Mr. Sundstrum, who was not • a witness in the other trial:

“ I am general manager of the Sibley Quarry Company, and am 52. I am a graduate of Royal Polytechnic, Stockholm, as a chemical and mechanical engineer. From that time, in 1873, I have been for 16 years engaged in the dynamite manufacturing business, until I changed to another branch of the business. Since that time I have been upon a commission to investigate dynamite and its qualities on three different commissions. * * * I was engaged in the manufacture of dynamite from 1873 to 1884. Have built five dynamite factories. * * * I have used thousands and thousands of pounds. I was general manager of the Forsyth Powder Company, that made nearly every pound of dynamite used in the New York Aqueduct. Have full chemical knowledge of dynamite, and have had charge of a good many men using dynamite.
Q. In this case the testimony will show that they were using what is called ‘Hercules Powder,’ with 40/ or 60/ dynamite. It will show where the accident occurred the hole was small in diameter (the hole was in the rock), [653]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
104 N.W. 313, 140 Mich. 649, 1905 Mich. LEXIS 623, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kopf-v-monroe-stone-co-mich-1905.