Missouri Pac. R. v. Jones

24 S.W.2d 32
CourtTexas Commission of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 5, 1930
DocketNo. 1301—5380
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 24 S.W.2d 32 (Missouri Pac. R. v. Jones) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Commission of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Missouri Pac. R. v. Jones, 24 S.W.2d 32 (Tex. Super. Ct. 1930).

Opinion

SHARP, J.

Franklin Jones, administrator of the estate of J. L. Peace, sued the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company for. damages caused . by the death of J. L. Peace, an employee of the railroad company, by reason of the collision between two of the railroad’s trains on the main line near the town of Norphlet, Ark., and recovered a judgment against the railroad company in the sum of $15,825. This case is within the Federal Employers’ Liability Act of April 22, 1908, c. 149, § 1, 35 Stat. 65, Code, Title 45, § 51 (45 USCA § 51). The Missouri Pacific Railroad Company appealed to the Court of Civil Appeals for the Sixth Supreme Judicial District, and the case was affirmed. 12 S.W.(2d) 1050.

The railroad company applied for a writ of error, which was granted.

We refer to the opinion of the Court of Civil Appeals in this case, and for a partial [33]*33statement of the nature and result of this suit we adopt the following:

“J. L. Peace, a locomotive engineer, was killed in a collision between two of appellant’s trains on the main line near the town of Norphlet, Ark. At the time of the collision, Peace was one of the appellant’s engineers and in charge of engine No. 95, which was moving south pulling three tank cars. Engine No. 1278 was backing north on the same track, pulling several box cars attached to its front enji. Both trains were intending to take a-siding in order to allow another train to pass which was due within a few minutes. The two trains above mentioned came together on a curve in the track. As a result, Peace was killed. He left a wife and some minor children. This suit was filed by Franklin Jones as administrator of the estate of Peace, to recover damages. It is conceded that the colliding trains were engaged in interstate commerce, and that the rights and liabilities of the parties are governed by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. * * *
“The proof shows that at the time the collision occurred a brakeman was riding in the engine cab with Peace (the engineer) and the fireman. The administrator charged negligence on the part of the crew operating engine No. 1278, and also charged negligence on the part of the fireman and brakeman who were in the cab with Peace, in failing to keep a lookout for trains approaching from the opposite direction. Among the regulations adopted and promulgated by the appellant was rule No. 93, which is as follows:
“ ‘Rule 93. Within the yard limits the main track may be used, protecting against first-class trains. Second and inferior class and extra trains must move within yard limits prepared to stop unless the main track is seen or known to be clear.’
“It is admitted by both parties to this suit that the above rule was applicable to both of those trains at the time the collision occurred. They were of the same class and were moving on the main line within the yard limits of Norphlet. It was the duty of each crew to observe and obey that rule.
“On special issues submitted, the jury found the following facts:
“ ‘1. That the operatives of the train drawn by engine No. 1278 at the time and just before the collision were violating Rule 93, and that this violation of the rule was a proximate cause of the collision with the train drawn by engine No. 95.
“ ‘2. That Peace, in operating engine No. 95 and just before and at. the time of the collision, was also violating Rule 93, and that such violation contributed to cause the collision. '
“ ‘3. That the fireman on engine No. 95 was not guilty of negligence‘in failing to observe the approach of engine No. 1278; but that the brakeman,-I-Iarvey, who was riding in the cab with Peace, was guilty of negligence in failing to keep a lookout} for approaching trains, and that such negligence was a proximate cause of the collision.’
“In response to other interrogatories the jury assessed the total damages resulting from the death of Peace at $23,738. They fixed the amount due to his contributory negligence at $7,913. Upon those answers the court rendered a judgment against the appellant for $15,825.
“The sufficiency of the evidence to support the special findings of the jury is not questioned in this appeal. The appellant, however,. claims that it was entitled to a peremptory instruction in its favor, or a judgment notwithstanding the findings of the jury. That contention is based upon the proposition that the evidence as a whole conclusively showed that the death of Peace was primarily due to his own negligence in failing to comply with the rules of the company. As supporting that contention, appellant refers to several cases decided by the United States Supreme Court, among which are the following: Davis v. Kennedy, Adm’x, 266 U. S. 147, 45 S. Ct. 33, 69 L. Ed. 212; Frese v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co., 263 U. S. 1, 44 S. Ct. 1, 68 L. Ed. 131; Chesapeake & O. R. Co. v. Nixon, 271 U. S. 218, 46 S. Ct. 495, 70 L. Ed. 914; Toledo, St. L. & W. R. Co. v. Allen, 276 U. S. 165, 48 S. Ct. 215, 72 L. Ed. 513.”

Counsel for the railroad company contend that in view of the record in this case and the foregoing opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States, it should be held, as a matter of law, that the negligence of the locomotive engineer, Peace, was the sole cause of his injury and death, and that there is no right of recovery for his death under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. We cannot agree to this contention. We think the facts of this case distinguish it from the facts contained in the opinions of the Supreme Court of the United States above cited. In those cases it appears that the negligence of the injured person was the sole cause of his injury, and consequently the court was justified in holding, as a matter of law, that there was no ground for recovery; but in this case we feel, under all the circumstances, that it was a question for the jury to pass upon. The court submitted to the jury various issues of negligence on the part of the employees of the railroad company at the time of the collision, and the jury found that the other employees were guilty of negligence and that was the proximate cause of the injury to Peace. The jury also found that Peace was guilty of negligence. The issue of the sole cause of the injury to Peace was not submitted to the jury. Under all the facts and circumstances connected with this case, we do not think that it could be said, as a matter of law, that the negligence of Peace, the engi[34]*34neer, was the sole cause of his injury and death. Grand Trunk Ry. Co. v. Lindsay, 233 U. S. 42, 34 S. Ct. 581, 58 L. Ed. 838; Lancaster v. Fitch, 112 Tex. 293, 246 S. W. 1015, 1017; Dallas Ry. Co. v. Warlick et al. (Tex. Com. App.) 285 S. W. 302.

In the case of Lancaster v. Fitch, supra, the Supreme Court, in that opinion, says: “It is often difficult for a court, as a matter of law, to determine the proximate cause of an injury.

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

Related

Hunter v. Texas Electric Ry. Co.
194 S.W.2d 281 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1946)
Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Jones
76 S.W.2d 1044 (Texas Supreme Court, 1934)
Qualls v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co.
296 P. 645 (California Court of Appeal, 1931)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
24 S.W.2d 32, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/missouri-pac-r-v-jones-texcommnapp-1930.