Nelson v. Western Steam Navigation Co.

100 P. 325, 52 Wash. 177, 1909 Wash. LEXIS 1094
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 16, 1909
DocketNo. 7814
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 100 P. 325 (Nelson v. Western Steam Navigation Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nelson v. Western Steam Navigation Co., 100 P. 325, 52 Wash. 177, 1909 Wash. LEXIS 1094 (Wash. 1909).

Opinion

Gose, J.

On October 9, 1906, the appellant Nelson was injured while working as a sailor in loading a steel boiler plate on the -steamship Ramona, at the pier in the city of Seattle. The complaint alleges, that the appellant Nelson, on October 9, 1906, was employed as a seaman on the steamship Ramona, by the respondent and the appellant corporations; that on said day he was working under the direction of the mate of the ship; that the mate was undertaking to load a large piece of boiler plate, by means of a spar derrick operated by a steam winch and a defective fall rope; that the fall rope was attached to the plate by means of grab hooks; that, in the process of loading, the steel plate caught under a stringer or riser at the outer edge of the pier; that the mate ordered him to assist in prying the plate free with a crowbar; that while he was engaged in doing this, the mate suddenly and without warning or notice started the winch, by reason of which the fall rope broke, the plate fell against the crowbar and knocked it from his hands, causing it to strike the three inside toes, so injuring them that it became necessary to amputate them; that they [180]*180were amputated, and that his damage was $12,000. The respondent company put all these averments in issue by proper denials.

The appellant corporation, after making suitable denials, pleaded affirmatively, (1) that the injury, if any, was due to-.the negligence of the appellant Nelson; (2) that it was due to the negligence of a fellow servant; (3) that it was due to risks assumed by Nelson. At .the conclusion of the evidence, its sufficiency was challenged both by the respondent and by the appellant corporation. The challenge was sustained as to the respondent, and denied as to the appellant corporation. Whereupon the jury, returned a verdict of $2,000 against the appellant corporation, and a judgment was. thereupon entered against it for that amount, and dismissing the case as to the.respondent. The appellant Nelson has appealed from that part of the judgment in favor of the respondent, and the appellant corporation has appealed both from the judgment against it and -from that part of' the judgment in favor of the respondent.

We will first consider whether any error was committed' in entering a judgment in favor of the respondent. The evidence upon which a recovery was sought against it was, that the name of the respondent appeared in large letters across the bow of the steamer, under the name “Ramona;” that the stationery, tickets, shipping receipts, and bills of lading were those of the respondent; that - the ship was running under a bond theretofore given to the government in the name of the respondent; that one of its stockholders signed the name of Cook & Company to a contract which they entered into with the appellant corporation, whereby it was agreed that the Ramona should he run in the name of the respondent. It is also claimed that the ship was flying the respondent’s flag, but the evidence shows that it- was flying the flag “V. L.,” meaning “Victoria Line,” and that it was the flag of the appellant corporation. It does not appear that the respondent authorized' the- use of its name [181]*181on the boat, or that it had any knowledge of the contract between Cook & Company and the appellant corporation. Nor does it appear that the respondent had any notice that its stationery was being used. Exhibit A, the contract between Cook & Company and the appellant corporation, is the only written evidence in the record as to the names of the operators of the ship or the division of the profits resulting from its operation It shows clearly that the respondent had no share in its profits, and that it had no part in its management or control. The evidence makes it clear that, in 1903, the respondent sold its line of steamers and good will to the appellant corporation; that since that time it has not operated any ship on the Sound; that its officers Were nonresidents of the state at the time of the accident.

The record is barren of evidence tending to show that the respondent had either actual or constructive notice that the ship was to be operated in its name, or that it was so operated, aside from .the fact that one of its stockholders signed the name of Cook & Company to the contract to which reference has been made. This is not constructive notice. The appellant corporation owned the ship, and prior to the execution of the contract with Cook & Company, it had been running it. There is no evidence as to who placed the name of the respondent on the boat, other than the presumption which may be drawn from the admitted ownership. It does not appear that any conduct upon the part of the respondent induced the belief in any one that it was in any way connected with the operation of the steamer. Every act tending to connect the respondent with its operation was the act either of Cook & Company or the appellant corporation, or both, and did not proceed from any authority derived from the respondent, either express pr implied.

To hold the respondent liable in damages under the evidence in the record would be to extend the doctrine of estoppel beyond both principle and reason. Ames v. Farmers & Mechanics Bank, 48 Wash. 328, 93 Pac. 530, is cited in [182]*182support of the respondent’s liability. It is clearly distinguishable. In that case a depositor in the Bank of Cheney sued the Spokane bank for the recovery of the amount of his deposit, and alleged that the Cheney bank had advertised itself as a branch of the Spokane bank; that the latter had notice of such advertisement; that the two banks had united as principals in a bond which recited that .the Cheney bank was controlled by the Spokane bank; that the Spokane bank through its vice president and cashier, in the application for such bond, made a like statement; that the president of the Spokane bank had knowledge of these facts. We conclude, therefore, that the court did not err in sustaining the respondent’s challenge to the evidence and entering a judgment of dismissal in its favor.

The appellant corporation assigns eight errors as to the judgment entered against it, which it groups in its brief under two heads, viz: (1) Granting a cause of action, what is the proper measure of damages? (2) Was there a cause of action established against it? We will consider these points in the order stated.

The evidence shows that the appellant Nelson was thirty-two years of age, a sailor and longshoreman by occupation; that at the time of the accident he was earning $4i0 per month, and board and lodging; that as a longshoreman he could earn forty or fifty cents an hour; that the great toe and the two adjoining ones were badly mashed; that he was taken to the hospital shortly after the injury occurred, and two of his toes were amputated that evening; that such amputation was necessary; that three weeks later the foot became so discolored and swollen that the great toe was amputated; that he suffered great pain; that he was in the hospital from October 9 until December 21 following; that he could not sooner leave the hospital; and that he was not able to work until the following April. At the time of the trial, May, 1908, he testified that his foot would get sore and tender and pain him in walking. The evidence further [183]*183shows that he cannot follow the occupation either of a sailor or of a longshoreman. The jury saw him and heard him testify. It is clear that the verdict was not excessive except as to the items hereafter stated.

A witness for the appellant Nelson, Dr.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
100 P. 325, 52 Wash. 177, 1909 Wash. LEXIS 1094, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nelson-v-western-steam-navigation-co-wash-1909.