Republic Iron & Steel Co. v. Porter

228 F. 188, 142 C.C.A. 544, 1915 U.S. App. LEXIS 2005

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Defendant in error (plaintiff below), while operating an elevator crane for supplying coal to a battery of boilers in defendant’s plant, was injured by the escape of hot steam and water, due to the explosion of a boiler tube. Two questions of negligence were submitted to the jury: First, whether the defendant, in failing to inclose the cage in which plaintiff was working, exercised due care to provide plaintiff a safe place to work; and, second, whether like care was exercised in inspecting the boiler tube. Plaintiff had judgment upon a verdict finding for the plaintiff “on the issue joined.”

[1,2] At the most, but two assignments are open for consideration, viz., No-. 6, which is addressed to the overruling of defendant’s motion to direct verdict, and No. 7, which complains of the charge to the jury. There was substantial evidence tending to show that defendant was negligent in failing to inclose the cage. The motion to direct verdict was thus properly denied. Assignment No. 7 is merely that “the court erred in its charge to the jury.” Rule No. 11 of this court (150 Fed. xxvii, 79 C. C. A. xxvii) requires that, when error in the charge is alleged, the assignment “shall set out the part referred to totidem verbis, whether it be in instructions given or in instructions refused,” and provides that “when this is not done, counsel will not be heard, except at the request of the court, and errors not assigned according to this rule will be disregarded.” The assignment in question disregards the rule, and can, at best, be considered only by virtue of the proviso which permits the court “at its option” to “notice a plain error not assigned.” We have frequently had occasion to enforce this rule. The proviso relates only to “errors which are obvious upon inspection and of a controlling character.” P. P. Mast. Co. v. Drill Co. (C. C. A. 6th Cir.), 154 Fed. 45, 51, 83 C. C. A. 157, 163, where it was said that “the underlying principle of this reservation * * * is to prevent the miscarriage of justice from oversight.”

In view of the fact that there was substantial evidence of defendant’s negligence in failing to inclose the cage, so requiring submission to the jury and making plaintiff’s recovery at least fairly possible on that ground, we do not think the error, if any (relating to the charge on the other ground), “of a controlling character,” or its consideration necessai'y to “prevent the miscarriage of justice.”

The judgment of the District Court is accordingly affirmed, with costs.