Pierce v. North Carolina R. R.

124 N.C. 83
Supreme Court of North Carolina·Decided March 7, 1899·Published·Cited by 7 cases

Opinion

Clark, J.

Tke motion to dismiss tb© complaint and for judgment of nonsuit appears from brief of defendant’s counsel to be intended to raise again tbe question whether the lessor company, the North Carolina Railroad Company, the defendant herein, is liable “for all acts done by the lessee in the operation of the road,” as was held in Logan v. Railroad, 116 N. C., 940; but why the counsel should feel “encouraged to believe” that “this Court will retire from the position it has taken upon the question” we are not advised. We have perceived no lack of “soundness of reasoning” therein. The decision in Logan’s case was made after full deliberation, and with full appreciation and careful discussion of the important principle now again called in question —and it was held that “a railroad company can not escape its responsibility for negligence by leasing its road to another company, unless its charter or a subsequent Act of the Legislature specially exempts it from liability in such case”- — ■ and it was made in an action to which the appellant herein was the party raising the question. The same proposition had been theretofore laid down by Smith, C. L, in Aycock v. Railroad, 89 N. C., at p. 330, with cases there cited; and Logan’s case upon this point has been expressly cited and sustained in Tillett v. Railroad, 118 N. C., at p. 1043; James v. Railroad, 121 N. C., at p. 528; Benton v. Railroad, 122 N. C., 1007; and Norton v. Railroad, same volume, at pp. 936, 937.

The issues excepted to are those suggested for cases of this nature in Denmark v. Railroad, 107 N. C., 185, and which have been time and again approved since. Every phase of the defendant’s contention could have been presented upon the issues submitted, and there could be, therefore, no just ground of exception in that respect. Willis v. Railroad, 122 N. C., 905, and cases there cited.

[94] Tbe exception for refusal of tbe first prayer to instruct tbe jury that there was no evidence of negligence, and of tbe fourth prayer to instruct them that there was no evidence that tbe act of defendant’s servant was within tbe scope of bis duties, and of tbe sixth prayer, to instruct them that there was no evidence that tbe fireman of defendant’s lessee struck tbe deceased and knocked him off tbe steps of tbe tender, are, upon tbe evidence, without merit. Tbe other part of tbe fourth prayer, and tbe seventh prayer for instruction, were given in tbe charge. Tbe charge of tbe Court given in lieu of tbe fifth prayer for instruction gives tbe defendant no ground to complain at tbe refusal of that prayer.

We will now consider tbe second and third prayers for instruction, which were:

2. If tbe jury believe that tbe intestate of plaintiff was killed by tbe wanton, willful and malicious act of one of tbe employees of the railroad company, then tbe company would not be liable, and tbe jury should respond to tbe first issue, “No.”

3. If tbe jury find that tbe intestate’s death was caused by tbe wanton and malicious act of tbe fireman, and that his act was not done in tbe furtherance of tbe business of tbe defendant, they should find tbe first issue in favor of tbe defendant, “No.”

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Pierce v. North Carolina R. R., 124 N.C. 83 (N.C. 1899).

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