Lawson v. Royal Riding Stables, Inc.

26 N.E.2d 348, 305 Mass. 494, 1940 Mass. LEXIS 841
CourtMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
DecidedMarch 27, 1940
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 26 N.E.2d 348 (Lawson v. Royal Riding Stables, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lawson v. Royal Riding Stables, Inc., 26 N.E.2d 348, 305 Mass. 494, 1940 Mass. LEXIS 841 (Mass. 1940).

Opinion

Donahue, J.

The first of these two actions was brought on behalf of a. minor, hereinafter referred to as the plaintiff,, to recover damages for personal injuries received when [495]*495struck by a horse on the premises of the defendant. The second action was brought by his father to recover consequential damages resulting from such injuries. The cases were tried together before a jury and there was a verdict for the plaintiff and for his father. Thereafter, upon leave reserved, the judge entered a verdict for the defendant in each case. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 231, § 120. To this the plaintiffs excepted.

Viewing the evidence in its aspects most favorable to the contentions of the plaintiffs the jury would have been warranted in finding the facts here related.

The defendant, a corporation, owned and operated in the town of Adams, a stable where horses were kept “for riding, selling and exchange.” A man named Katz was president, treasurer and manager of the defendant corporation. A man named Andrews was employed by the corporation as a stableman. Other employees received their instructions from Katz, and Andrews “had nothing to do about the other employees’ work.” A boy named Brown was also employed at the stable, and another boy, whose name was Clayton, “worked there at odd times.” At the time of the plaintiff’s injury Andrews and Clayton were the only employees of the defendant on the premises.

There was on the premises a building used as a stable for the horses. Behind the building was “a large pasture.” There was an office in a comer on the first floor of the building and a door from the office provided access to the stable from the area in front of the building. In front of the building and between it and the street, the defendant maintained a “pony pen” where children rode ponies.

The plaintiff, a twelve year old boy, for some time before the day of his accident had “frequented” the premises of the defendant. He had often led ponies ridden by children in the “pen” and had received tips from their parents for such service. There was no evidence that Katz ever requested the plaintiff to render such services or paid him therefor, or that Katz personally ever asked the plaintiff to do anything on the premises. There was evidence that the plaintiff did “odd jobs” at the stable such as watering, [496]*496feeding and cleaning horses at the request of Andrews, and that Katz was sometimes present when such requests were made by Andrews. On one occasion, in the absence of Andrews, the employee Brown requested the plaintiff to do some work and Katz was present when the request was made and when the work was done.

On the day of the accident a man came to the stable to look at the horses. At the request of Katz “to bring up a horse” for the visitor to inspect, Andrews did so. A little later Katz asked Andrews “to get the roan horse” referring to a large roan horse weighing fourteen hundred fifty to fifteen hundred pounds. The roan horse “was then, with other horses, loose at the far end of the pasture.” There was evidence that this horse was gentle and during the period of the defendant’s ownership had exhibited no viciousness.

Katz and the visitor and Andrews were inside the stable when Katz directed Andrews “to get the roan horse.” Upon the order being given, Andrews went in to the office and to its outer door. There were then three boys, including the plaintiff, at the “pony pen.” At the office door Andrews called for two boys “to help catch the horses.” There was evidence that Katz could have heard Andrews’ request. Upon the summons of Andrews, one of the three boys remained at the “pen” and the other two boys, one of whom was the plaintiff, came through the office and into the stable passing Katz and the visitor in the stable and going out the rear door,. There was evidence that Katz was in a position to see the boys as they went by.

Andrews remained outside the rear door of the stable while the plaintiff and the other boy who was called from the “pony pen” and a third boy, named Clayton, went to the end of the pasture and drove the horses, including the roan horse, up to the stable and into a narrow lane at the end of the stable and there the horses stopped. Andrews who continued to remain at the rear door of the stable told the boys to stop the roan horse if it tried to come out of the lane. The boys let the other horses out into the pasture and stood in a line at the outlet of the lane to block [497]*497the escape of the roan horse. Then the roan horse started to run out of the lane. It "wanted to follow” the other horses. It came "charging back” toward the other horses. It "went for” the plaintiff. He tried to get out of its way by climbing a manure pile but the horse "went over him” and "trampled him.” There was no evidence that the plaintiff had ever before, participated in such an operation.

The fundamental question here in dispute is whether the evidence warranted a finding that such a relationship existed between the defendant and the plaintiff at the time of the injury as to impose on the defendant the duty to use ordinary care for the plaintiff’s safety. The defendant contends that the plaintiff in what he did was merely a volunteer and hence, since there was no evidence of wanton or wilful or reckless misconduct chargeable to the defendant, it could not be found liable.

The evidence did not warrant the finding of the existence of the relationship of master and servant created under an express contract of hire. It is, however, not necessary that there be an express contract of hire in order to create a relationship between a master and another person, which imposes on the master a duty as to using care of the same character as the duty owed by him to a person he has employed under an express contract. Such a relationship may be created where a person is requested to give, and gives, necessary temporary assistance to a regular employee.

It is not enough to create such a duty of the master that the third person, of his own volition or at the request of an employee not authorized to ask assistance, is injured while doing work beneficial to the employer. Coulombe v. Horne Coal Co. 275 Mass. 226, 230, 231. Such a duty does exist if the assistance is given at the request of an employee expressly authorized to ask assistance (see Lessard v. Kneeland, 257 Mass. 455, 457, 458) or, if such authority may be implied from the attending circumstances, such as where the assistance is necessary and there are not enough employees at hand to perform the work which must then and there be performed. See Sprague v. General Electric Co. [498]*498213 Mass. 375, 378, 379; Sandon v. Kendall, 233 Mass. 292, 296, 297.

In the present case the jury could, warrantably have found that the task given to Andrews by his employer was of such a character as to require the efforts of more persons than the employees of the defendant who were on the defendant’s premises at the time, that it was reasonably necessary for the task to be performed at that time since its purpose was to provide an opportunity for the visitor to inspect the roan horse, and that Andrews in asking assistance was not merely making easier for himself a task which he was capable of performing alone. See Murphy v. Barry, 264 Mass. 557, 559.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Risoldi v. Jalowy
50 Mass. App. Dec. 110 (Mass. Dist. Ct., App. Div., 1973)
Randolph v. Five Guys From Boston, Inc.
242 N.E.2d 402 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1968)
Peloquin v. Robert Northridge Furniture Co.
170 N.E.2d 698 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1960)
Friedman v. Huck's Transfer, Inc.
108 N.E.2d 680 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1952)
Adams v. George Lawley & Son Corp.
49 N.E.2d 244 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1943)
Kavigian v. Lonero
45 N.E.2d 823 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1942)
Dunn v. Northern Berkshire Gas Co.
1 Mass. App. Dec. 108 (U.S. District Court, 1941)
Meehan v. Gordon
29 N.E.2d 759 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1940)
Cotoia v. Seale
27 N.E.2d 706 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1940)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
26 N.E.2d 348, 305 Mass. 494, 1940 Mass. LEXIS 841, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lawson-v-royal-riding-stables-inc-mass-1940.