Painter v. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad

140 N.W. 787, 93 Neb. 419, 1913 Neb. LEXIS 111
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 28, 1913
DocketNo. 17,142
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 140 N.W. 787 (Painter v. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Painter v. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, 140 N.W. 787, 93 Neb. 419, 1913 Neb. LEXIS 111 (Neb. 1913).

Opinion

Barnes, J.

This action was brought by the administrator of the estate of one Lloyd Painter for negligently causing the death of plaintiff’s decedent. On the trial in the district court for Hall county, and after the introduction of all of the evidence, the court, on motion, directed a verdict in favor of the defendant. Judgment was rendered on the verdict, and the plaintiff has appealed.

It is appellant’s main contention that the district court erred in directing a verdict for the defendant. By his petition it was alleged, in substance, that on the 29th day of December, 1908, his decedent bought a first class ticket from the defendant company at Ravenna, Nebraska, and on the morning of that day took defendant’s train No. 44, a full-vestibuled passenger train, for Grand Island; that he delivered his ticket to the conductor, Charles Holts, and that, as the train approached Grand Island, brakeman Prey, who was made a defendant, called the station; that decedent left his seat and started toward the door; that he stepped on the platform as the train was pulling into Grand Island; that he had every reason to believe that the platform was protected; that the vestibule was dark and not protected; that the platform was up and unguarded, and that the plaintiff’s.decedent, without any negligence on his part, fell through and was thrown from the train. It was further alleged that it was the duty of the railroad company to keep vestibule platforms closed; or, if left open, to have an employee, either brakeman or conductor, present to warn passengers and protect them from falling through the opening; that the platform door in said vestibule was not protected, and that Holts, the conductor, and Prey, the brakeman, individually and as employees of defendant, carelessly, negligently and unlawfully permitted the vestibule to remain open and unprotected, and negligently left the said open place unguarded; that, as a result of said negligence, Painter fell through the said opening and under said train, and that the defendants thereby caused his death.

[421]*421The defendant company, by its answer, admitted that Painter was a passenger on its train from Ravenna to Grand Island on December 29, 1908; bnt denied that he fell from its train as it was approaching Grand Island, and alleged that he alighted at said station without .injury after the train had stopped at the usual place of delivering and receiving passengers. The answer further denied each and every other allegation not specifically admitted or denied; and alleged that any injuries to the person of Lloyd Painter which were received at or about the time mentioned in the petition, and therein alleged to have resulted in his death, were caused by his own gross negligence, his voluntary and excessive use of intoxicants, and by a violation of defendant’s rules and regulations brought to his notice, and his injuries were not caused by any negligence or fault of defendant. Defendants Holts and Prey filed a general denial to the plaintiff’s petition. To the answer of defendant company, plaintiff replied specifically, denying each of the several allegations of the answer.

There is no conflict in the evidence as to the fact that Lloyd Painter was a passenger on the defendant’s train from Ravenna to Grand Island at the time alleged in the pleadings. The plaintiff, to further maintain the issues upon his part, produced the testimony of certain witnesses, from which it appeared that after the defendant’s train left the station at Grand Island Painter was found lying beside the track between 400 and 500 feet north of the depot, in an unconscious condition, with both of his feet cut off; that it was apparent that he had received his injuries by being run over by the defendant’s train. Plaintiff produced no evidence, however, showing or tending to show that Painter fell from the defendant’s train in the manner alleged in his petition. In fact, plaintiff produced no testimony showing or tending, to show the manner in which Painter received his injuries. On the other hand, conductor Holts testified that he saw Painter in the depot at Ravenna before the train arrived at that, [422]*422point; that the train was late, and Painter 'was finding-fault because he had been called to take the train to > soon; that lie showed signs of intoxication; that lie talked loud, and conducted himself in such a manner as to attract Holts’ attention and the attention of other persons waiting in the depot; that he learned before the train arrived that decedent’s name was Painter. His testimony was corroborated by defendant Prey, who was his brakeman, and was Awaiting for the arrival of his train, arid a number of other witnesses avJio were present in the depot at Ravenna at that time. Holts further testified that after the train started from Ravenna he took up Painter’s ticket, and was requested to call him when the train reached Grand Island; that he notified brakeman Prey of Painter’s desire to be awakened at Grand Island, as that AAras the place of his destination; that Painter occupied a seat in a chair car next behind the smoker; that he kept in mind the fact that Painter had requested that he be a Awakened at Grand Island, and when they were nearing that station he called the brakemen’s attention to that fact. Holts also testified that he had a passenger on his train named Flynn, who had a ticket from klason City; that he had seen Flynn at different times before, and knew that he was on the train that night because he had also asked to be awakened at Grand Island; that Flynn Avas riding in the forward chair car on the north side, three or four seats from the front end, and sat about opposite Painter; that when they arrived at Grand Island and after the train stopped at the depot, both Painter and Flynn Awent out of the front door of the chair car and got off at the same opening betAveen the smoker and the chair car; that brakeman Prey Avas guarding the opening. The witness further said: “I was at the opening at the head end of the rear chair car when I saw Painter walking north. I had told Prey to be sure and awaken him, and had asked Prey if he had gotten off. The trap doors Avere opened by brakeman Prey about 1,000 feet before aav reached the station, * * * two were opened; he first [423]*423opened one, and then went ahead. I guarded the first one while he opened the second. The vestibules were lighted with Pintseh gas lights. The vestibules are always lighted.” Holts was corroborated by the evidence of brakemau Prey, who stated that he guarded the vestibule at the front end of the chair car where Painter alighted; that he saw Painter get off the train onto the platform after the train had stopped at the depot, and saw him start north, or rather northeast along the platform towards the rear of the train.

Irwin Flynn, who was the passenger mentioned by conductor Holts, testified that he came to Grand Island on train No. 44, December 29, 1908. He said: “Upon arrival I got off the train and went in a bus from the Burlington station over to the Union Pacific depot. Then I went back to the Burlington station, arriving there about a half hour after the train had first arrived and found Painter lying in the men’s waiting room with his feet cut off. I recognized Painter. I had seen him on the train. I rode in the second seat from the front end of the north side of the car and Painter rode on the south side, a seat or two back from me. I got on at Mason City, and Painter got on at Ravenna. When I got up to get off the car at Grand Island, Painter was in the car there sitting-down. I got off the steps and the trainman was standing there, but I-can’t say who he was. The train had stopped when I got off.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
140 N.W. 787, 93 Neb. 419, 1913 Neb. LEXIS 111, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/painter-v-chicago-burlington-quincy-railroad-neb-1913.