Montgomery Light & Traction Co. v. Harris

72 So. 619, 197 Ala. 358, 1916 Ala. LEXIS 81

Opinion

THOMAS, J.

—

In the trial of the cause a verdict was rendered in favor of the defendant. The plaintiff subsequently made a motion for a new trial, alleging: (1) That the trial court erred in giving certain written charges requested by defendant; (2) that the court erred in refusing to require the defendant to answer certain of plaintiff’s interrogatories; and (3) that the verdict was contrary to the law and the evidence. From the order granting this motion for a new trial, and the judgment thereon, the appeal is taken.

(1) The act approved September 22, 1915, has no application to this appeal, the appeal being from the order of May 14, 1915, granting plaintiff’s motion for a new trial, and having been perfected June 17, 1915. — Gen. Acts 1915, p. 722.

(2) The interrogatories permitted to be propounded to an adverse party in a civil suit, under the Statutes (Code, § 4049, et seq.), must be pertinent to the issues or the matter in dispute between the parties. The form of plaintiff’s motion was within the rule declared for such cases in Russell v. Bush, 196 Ala. 309, 71 South. 397. The action of the court thereon was without error.

This court has held that if the interrogatories are not pertinent to the issue or matter in dispute, there is no statutory requirement that answer be made thereto. — Code 1907, § 4054; Culver v. Ala. Mid. Ry. Co., 108 Ala. 330, 18 South. 827; Gray v. Perry, 111 Ala. 532, 20 South. 368; Ala. City, Gadsden & A. Ry. Co. v. Appleton, 171 Ala. 324, 54 South. 638, Ann. Cas. 1913A, 1181; St. L. & S. F. R. R. Co. v. Sutton, 169 Ala. 389, 55 South. 989, Ann. Cas. 1912B, 366. This right, under the statute, was adverted to in Stearnes v. Edmonds, 189 Ala. 487. 66 South. 714, where Mr. Justice.Somerville observes that the party “may, in all cases, secure a statement of the particulars desired,” so far as they are known to the opposite party, “by filing interrogatories to his adversary.”

The information called for by the question on which the motion is predicated was in no way pertinent to the matter of liability vel non of the defendant to the plaintiff. It was for the purpose of obtaining the names of the witnesses of the opposite party, or its evidence. Such was not within statutory authority. —Watkins v. Cope, 84 N. J. Law, 143, 86 Atl. 545; Wolters v. Fidelity Trust Co., 65 N. J. Law, 130, 46 Atl. 627; Dodd v. Public Service Corp., 29 N. J. Law J. 22; Benbow v. Law, 16 Ch. Div. 93; 1 Pom. Eq. Jur. § 201; 14 Cyc. 324.

(3) The motion for a new trial should not have been granted because of the ruling of the trial court in refusing to require the defendant to answer such interrogatory, or to punish it for declining to so answer.

(4, 5) The defendant’s given charge No. 1 restricted the right of recovery to the negligence of the motorman in charge of the car when the fatal injury occurred. The third count of the complaint charged that the defendant so negligently conducted its business that by reason thereof, and as a proximate result and consequence thereof, said child was killed, etc., and does not so limit the negligence to that of the motorman. Moreover, the charge excuses the defendant from negligence, provided only that the “motorman did all he could to prevent the accident.” It pretermits inquiry whether the motorman used all the means and appliances known to prudent and skilled motormen to prevent the injury. — Brown & Flowers v. C. of Ga. Ry. Co., infra, 72 South. 366. The charge is not brought within the scope of B. E. & B. R. Co. v. Feast, 192 Ala. 410, 68 South. 294.

There is no conflict between the instant case and Sheffield Co. v. Harris, 183 Ala. 357, 61 South. 88.

The giving of charge No. 1, at defendant’s request was error, and the motion for a new trial was properly granted on this ground.

It will not be necessary to discuss the many other grounds presented by the motion.

The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

Anderson, C. J., and Mayfield and Somerville, JJ., concur.