Rochester v. Bull

58 S.E. 766, 78 S.C. 249, 1907 S.C. LEXIS 195

• Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Decided: September 24, 1907
• Docket: 6667
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Chief Justice Pope.

This action was brought by the plaintiffs, Thomas M. Rochester and his wife, Caroline Rochester, to recover damages of the defendant, J. A. Bull, for injuries alleged to have -been caused by his negligence. The facts are as follows: 0>n August 30th, 1904, the plaintiffs were going along the ipad leading from the city of Greenville, in the direction of Chick Springs, in a wagon drawn by a mule. As they drew near to the bridge leading across Richland Creek, on coming around a sharp curve, about seventy-five yards from the foot of the bridge, the automobile of the defendant was seen approaching, it being then just about to run off of the bridge. The plaintiff Thomas Rochester at once signaled the driver of the machine to stop. The road at this point is down a com paratively steep grade and is narrow. On the left-hand side approaching the bridge is a high bank, while on the other side is a steep bluff leading down to the creek. The automobile, in compliance with the signal of the plaintiff, was run into a cut out in the bank on the left-hand side and the forward motion of the machine stopped. The motor, however, was permitted to continue running and, according to the testimony of the plaintiffs, gave forth much noise and caused the whole machine to vibrate.

The plaintiffs continued their approach, the mule becoming more or less frightened as he neared the machine. When he was almost opposite it he became uncontrollable and ran over to the extreme right of the road, where he struck a telephone pole, throwing the plaintiffs from the wagon and, according to the allegations of the complaint, injured Mrs. Rochester. At the conclusion of plaintiffs’ testimony, defendant made a motion for a nonsuit on the ground that there was absolutely no evidence showing negligence on his part. Judge Ernest Gary refused the motion and the case being submitted to the jury, a verdict of four hundred and seventy-five dollars was returned for the plaintiffs. The defendant now comes to this Court for relief.

1 The exceptions first raise the point as to whether or not it was error to refuse the nonsuit. It is too well settled to require the citation of authority, that where there is a scintilla of evidence going to sustain a cause, a non-suit cannot be granted. The question therefore resolves itself into whether or not there was any evidence in the case now before us. We think it is a fact, of which courts will take judicial notice, that automobiles on highways, especially where they are infrequent, have a tendency to frighten animals. The duty, therefore, devolves upon the drivers of such machines to exercise due care to prevent accidents. The amount of care necessary varies with the various circumstances. Acts which in a given case might be negligence, in another might be due care. Therefore, it is almost absolutely necessary that what action amounts to due care must be a question of fact. From the evidence, it would seem that the present case is one in which much care was required. The character of the ground, the exposed situation of the plaintiffs and their little children, the fright of the mule on the present and prior occasions, the noise of the machine, were all circumstances going to call for the exercise of much care, such care as a prudent person would exercise. Whether the defendant in the present case exercised such care is not so absolutely evident that it may be decided as a matter of law. It is a question peculiarly within the province of the jury and the nonsuit was, therefore, properly refused.

2 The Circuit Judge, at the close of his charge, told the jury that if negligence of the agent in charge of the automobile caused the injury the principal would be liable. The defendant alleges error in his failing to- qualify this language so as to make the principal liable only for such injuries as were caused proximately by the agent’s negligence. This exception cannot be sustained. The Court had previously charged that a-person would not be liable unless his negligence was the proximate cause of the injury. Now, if a person would only be liable for the proximate results of his acts when he acted himself, it would seem a queer conclusion, one which a person of ordinary reason would not draw, that when he acted through an agent he would be held liable for all injuries, whether proximate or not. The proposition is familiar to the ordinary mind that the acts of an agent, within the scope of his duties, are those of the master and the master’s liability for his agent’s acts are the same as if he had been acting himself. The Court certainly stated correct propositions of law. True, they were general principles., but if the defendant wished anything more specific he should have requested it.

It is the judgment of this Court, that the judgment of the Circuit Court be affirmed.