Rooney v. St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Co.

286 S.W. 153, 220 Mo. App. 273, 1926 Mo. App. LEXIS 82

• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
• Decided: July 17, 1926
• Status: Published

Opinion

BRADLEY, J.

— This cause, for personal injury, was filed in Dunklin county. The venue was changed to Butler county where a trial to a jury resulted in a judgment in favor of plaintiff for $1500. In due time defendant filed motion for a new trial and this being overruled this appeal followed.

It is alleged that on August 29, 1923, plaintiff loaded two cars of watermelons at Clarkton, Mo., for shipment to Joplin, Mo., via St. Louis; that these care were peddling cars; that for the purpose of having a man in charge of each car-for the sale of said melons plaintiff had defendant to issue a bill for lading for one of. said cars to him, plaintiff, and a bill of lading for the other ear to J. "W. Shelton; that the car billed in the name of Shelton was Frisco car No. 47407; that plaintiff desired the services of the said Shelton in the sale of said melons; that defendant hauled said cars from Clarkton to Tower Grove station and placed them on track No. 6.

Plaintiff further alleged that he sold one car of .said melons on said track and at the close of the day September 5, 1923, while assisting Shelton to close car No. 47407 and while exercising due care the perpendicular slat on which he was pulling broke and that he was violently thrown to the ground breaking his right wrist.

It is further alleged that defendant knew or should.have known how said cars would be used for peddling melons and that it was the duty of defendant to furnish plaintiff cars equipped with good and sound doors provided with proper handholds for opening and closing-; that defendant in violation of this duty negligently furnished plaintiff said car No. 47407 with a door in which was a rotten slat and without handholds or devices for opening and closing the same and that because of said negligence plaintiff was injured.

The answer was a general denial and pleas of assumption of risk and contributory negligence; no reply appears to .have been filed, but the cause proceeded regardless of this and no point is made in the respect.

Error is assigned (1) on the refusal of defendant’s peremptory request for a directed verdict; (2) on the instructions; and (3) on the admission of evidence.

Plaintiff owned the two cars of melons and one was shipped in his own name and one in Shelton’s name as alleged. There were separate bills of lading and Shelton was designated -both as shipper and consignee of car No. 47407. Defendant’s agent at Clarkton knew that both cars belonged to plaintiff and that one was billed in Shelton’s name so that Shelton could be in charge of that car. The agent also knew that plaintiff expected to peddle the melons in these cars between point of shipment and destination. Both these cars were hauled to Tower Grove station, St. Louis, and placed as alleged. Plaintiff explained that in peddling melons from a railroad car the car is set out at such station as directed by the shipper and after working such place the car upon request or direction of the shipper is picked up and carried to the next desired place on the line between point of shipments and destination.

After the Shelton ear was placed at Tower Grove it was opened and the sale of the melons began. Plaintiff described the manner of his injury as follows: “We opened up and sold a good many melons and on the evening of the 5th of September Shelton could not close the door and he asked me to assist him. We had to close the doors of nights or they would pack off the melons. Shelton couldn’t close the door and asked me to help him. I took hold of the door and began pulling on it and one of the slats broke and pulled off and I fell to the pavement and was hurt. The door was hard to work and we had to pull and push pretty hard to move it. I was pulling on it and Shelton was pushing. Q. Tell if the doors of this ear had any handholds. A. No, sir. . . . This accident happened between sundown and dark. We had finished the day’s business and was closing the car for the night. That car was on the north side of the team track. There was a double track with pavement around there and this door was on the north side where I got hurt. The driveway was paved with brick solid. Shelton was shoving at the door and I was pulling to assist him. The bottom of the slat was rotten and I grabbed hold and pulled it and it broke and I fell. Shelton could not push it by himself and close the door without help. I pulled my best, but the piece that broke was rotten and had been painted over and looked sound. I didn’t think it was rotten. There was no other method by which I could pull that door and close it. I weighed around 235 pounds.”

Cross-examination: ‘ ‘ On the occasion that I got hurt Shelton took hold of the door and was shoving it; he was standing on the ground, we were both on the ground; we were trying to close it from the outside. Shelton was pushing it, but I can’t tell you just how he had hold of it; he was pushing and I was pulling. I was kindly holding up on the door, shaking it, with my left hand. I think I kindly had it under the edge of the door, I had hold of the slats or cleats; this was a stock car. I think this slat was about an inch thick and about four inches wide; and it was painted red. I don’t know just how recently it had been painted. It had been painted about six months, or maybe a year. It appeared to be old paint. The cleat broke in two; I was working with all my might, and I am a pretty strong man physically; am six feet and three inches tall. I noticed that this slat was rotten right after the accident happened, then I looked at it again the next day. I noticed it was rotten when it broke loose, and then I looked at it again the next day. I could tell it was rotten from the way it crumbled off. I didn’t notice it until after I was hurt, and I didn’t pay much attention to it till the next day. It looked sound and all right till it broke; I saw nothing wrong with it at all till it broke.”

Shelton was a witness for plaintiff and corroborated him as to the door having no handholds and being difficult to open and close and also as to the manner of plaintiff’s injury. Defendant put the Clarkton agent, F. R. Ludwig, and the claim agent, F. M. Rutledge, on the stand, but produced no evidence of consequence which would be of weight in the consideration of the assignment based on the demurrer.

As we see it the demurrer is founded upon four propositions, viz: (1) That there was no substantial evidence tending to show that defendant breached any duty it owed plaintiff; (2) that plaintiff was a mere licensee and defendant owed him no duty except not to wantonly injure him; (3) that plainiff was himself guilty of negligence; and (4) that section 9927, Revised Statutes 1919, was violated and plaintiff, therefore, cannot recover. .

The first and second of the propositions stated are so related that we may consider them together. Defendant contends that plaintiff, at the time and place of his injury, was no more than a mere licensee and that defendant owed him no duty except not to wantonly injure him. On the other hand plaintiff contends that at least he was a licensee coupled with an interest and that defendant knew this fact and also knew that plaintiff would likely assist Shelton in peddling from the Shelton car, and that under these facts defendant owed him the duty to exercise ordinary care to furnish a car with reasonably sound and adjustable doors in which to ship melons to be peddled, although the car was billed in the name of another.

Defendant’s agent at Clarkton knew as above stated that the car. of melons billed in Shelton’s name in fact was the property of plaintiff and that it was billed in Shelton’s name so that Shelton could accompany the car and peddle out the melons or assist in peddling them out. If the ear had been billed in plaintiff’s name then there would be no dispute or controversy as to the duty that defendant would have owed as to furnishing a reasonably safe and suitable car, hence on this wing of the assignment based on the demurrer the question is: Did defendant owe plaintiff the same duty respecting the Shelton car as it would have, had the ear been billed in plaintiff’s name?

The statute, section 9929, Revised Statutes 1919, requires a railroad company to carry a melon-peddling car when demanded by a shipper. Therefore had the car been billed in plaintiff’s name defendant would have owed to him the duty to furnish one wdth reasonably sound and adjustable doors. The following cases are analogous in principle and we think in point. [Roddy v. Railroad, 104 Mo. 234, 15 S. W. 1112; Tateman v. Railroad, 96 Mo. App. 448, 70 S. W. 514; Hawkins v. Railroad, 182 Mo. App. 323, 170 S. W. 459.] Since the defendant’s agent knew that plaintiff’s ear was shipped in She! ton’s name and also knew that plaintiff was going along in another car in the same train, and both ears being melon-peddling cars, we are of the opinion that defendant owed to plaintiff the .'same duty respecting the Shelton car as it would have, had both ears been billed in plaintiff’s name. The very least that could be said, as we view the matter, is that plaintiff, respecting the Shelton car, occupied a position analogous to that of a licensee coupled with an interest. And this condition prevailed from the time of the shipment at Clark-ton. Under this theory defendant’s duty was to be measured by the rule of ordinary care. [Etchison v. Lusk et al., 195 Mo. App. 188, 190 S. W. 345; Tinkle v. Railroad, 212 Mo. 445, 110 S. W. 1086.] Defendant under the facts here was bound to know that plaintiff at the places where he might direct this car to be set out would open it and offer his melons for sale. Also defendant was bound to know that en route from Clarkton to point of destination, if carried so far, it would likely be necessary to open and close this car quite often. So far as concerned the melons it was defendant’s duty to provide a safe and suitable car for their transportation. Nicholson v. Railroad, 141 Mo. App. 199, 124 S. W. 573.] But it is not contended that defendant was an insurer of plaintiff’s personal safety while he might be engaged in opening or closing this car. It is the duty of a railroad company to exercise ordinary care to keep its premises which are used for loading and unloading freight in a reasonably safe condition for that purpose. [22 Ruling Case Law, page 904, sec. 150; 3 Elliott on Railroads (3 Ed.), see. 1794; Sykes v. Railroad, 88 Mo. App. 193; Carr v. Railroad, 195 Mo. l. c. 226-7, 92 S. W. 214.] In the case at bar and on the question under consideration we think that the same rule does and should prevail.

Having reached the conclusion that defendant owed plaintiff the duty of exercising ordinary care to furnish a car reasonably safe and suitable for peddling melons we reach the question: Is there any substantial evidence which tends to establish that defendant failed to discharge this duty? Measured by the demurrer plaintiff established; (1) That defendant knew that this melon peddling car would likely be frequently opened and closed by the plaintiff or by Shelton between point of shipment and destination: (2) that defendant knew this door at which plaintiff was injured had no handholds or other device which might be used in opening and closing it; (3) that defendant knew that in the absence of -such handholds or device the upright slat or cleat which broke and caused plaintiff’s fall and injury would likely be pulled or pushed upon in openingor closing the door; (4) that defendant knew that this slat or cleat was rotten; and (5) that it had been painted over in the last six months or year and looked sound; and (6) that there was no other reasonable method by which the door could have been closed.

So far as concerned the safe transportation of the contents of this car it was defendant’s duty to inspect its car and know that it was suitable for the safe transportation of plaintiff’s melons. [4 Ruling Case Law, page 684, sec. 158.] This is the general rule and is not challenged; . While defendant is not held to the same strict responsibility for personal injury resulting to the accompanying merchandise owner in a peddling ear as it is to damage to the contents because of a- .defective car, yet we think the common sense of the situation dictates that it was defendant’s duty to give a peddling car a reasonable inspection in order to ascertain if it is in such condition that the person accompanying it and peddling its contents can use the same for the purpose with reasonable safety.

The condition of this slat or cleat was not, to defendant, a hidden defect which ordinary care and inspection would not have discovered. If we accept plaintiff’s most favorable evidence on this point, and such is the rule, we have the established fact that this slat had not been painted more than six months or a year. It, therefore, is not unreasonable to indulge the inference that when this car door was painted its defective condition then existed. It is our conclusion that the question of defendant’s negligence in breaching its duty to exercise ordinary care to furnish a peddling car reasonably safe for that purpose was for the jury.

Another question raised by the demurred to the evidence is the alleged contributory negligence of plaintiff. In order for contributory negligence to bar recovery such negligence must enter into and form the direct, producing and efficient cause of the injury complained of. [Howard v. Scarritt Estate, 267 Mo. 398, 184 S. W. 1144; Moffatt v. Link, 207 Mo. App. 654, 229 S. W. 837; Conrad v. Hamra, 253 S. W. (Mo. App.) 808.] There was nothing about this slat which broke so far as concerned, its outward appearance, it visible parts, to indicate that it was not reasonably sound. Plaintiff testified that the slat “looked sound and all right” until it broke. The question of plaintiff’s contributory negligence was submitted to the jury and we think properly- so.

The last contention respecting the demurrer as we have stated the matter is that section 9927, Revised Statutes 1919, was breached and that because thereof plaintiff cannot recover. This section, among, other things, provides that when watermelons are shipped by the carload with the privilege of peddling, the railroad company shall, in consideration of the shipper giving to such freight such care and attention as may be necessary and the release of the company from liability for damages for want of such care, pass the shipper or his employee from-the point of shipment to the point of destination on the same train with such freight. This section further provides that “the railroad company shall furnish such transportation to one person for one carload, but in case of the shipment of-a larger number of carloads by one shipper, the company shall not bé required to furnish transportation for more than one person for every four cars or lesser number thereof . . . To-entitle the shipper of freight to transportation as provided for in this section, all of the- freight included in one train shall be billed in the name of the shipper, and any person who shall falsely represent himself or another as the owner or shipper of such freight for the purpose of procuring more transportation than as herein provided, shall be .adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon ■ conviction, shall.be punished'by a fine of not exceeding one hundred dollars.”

There is nothing in the record which tends in the least to show that plaintiff or' Shelton misrepresented ■ anything respecting the ownership of either of these ears of melons. Had- plaintiff falsely' represented that Shelton was the owner of the melons shipped in this car in order to obtain transportation for Shelton then he would have been guilty of a misdemeanor as by the statute provided. But there was no misrepresentation. The agent knew that both cars of melons belonged to plaintiff, but notwithstanding this knowledge one. car was billed in Shelton’s name and he was furnished free transportation. Since all men are presumed to know the law we may say that both plaintiff and the agent knew that defendant railroad company was not required by the statute to furnish free transportation to both plaintiff and Shelton when only two cars of melons were shipped. Section 9927 does not prohibit the railroad company from doing what was done in the instant case, it merely states that it is not required to so do. As to the railroad company there is no penalty provided by section 9927 if more free passes are furnished than the law requires, and the penalty only attaches when the false representation is made. We do not believe that defendant in the circumstances here can invoke section 9927 to defeat plaintiff’s ease. It is our conclusion that the demurrer was property refused.

Defendant challenges the correctness of plaintiff’s instructions' 1 and 2 and complains of the refusal of its instructions 1, 2, 4, and 5.

It is contended that plaintiff’s instruction No. 1 is erroneous because it submitted the case upon the theory of the negligence of the defendant in furnishing a door with a defective slat and without handholds. It is argued that the defective slat and absence of handholds was not the proximate cause of plaintiff’s injury. Learned counsel cite no authority to support this contention and we find none.

Plaintiff’s instruction No. 2 is challenged on the ground that it is permitted recovery for doctors’ bills without sufficient allegation in the petition as a basis for such recovery and because it did not confine the recovery to the particular injury pleaded. Instruction No. 2 given for plaintiff did not specifically mention doctors’ bills. The petition charges that plaintiff, because of his injury, was “compelled to expend the sum of - dollars for surgical and medical attention.” Plaintiff testified that he paid out $15 in St. Louis for medical attention, and that his father-in-law was a doctor and that when he, plaintiff, got back home he was not out anything for médical attention. We do not think that there is room for complaint in the respect mentioned. Neither is there merit in the second complaint against plaintiff’s instruction No. 2.

We do not deem it necessary to make separate disposition of each of defendant’s refused instructions. We think that the issues were fairly submitted, and that defendant was not prejudiced by the instructions given and refused.

It is contended that it was error to permit plaintiff to testify that he told' the agent at Clarkton that he wanted to load the melons for-peddling purposes. The objection to this evidence was that there was a written contract regarding the shipping of the melons and that such contract expressed the only agreement. We cannot see how this evidence could have prejudiced defendant. There was no issue respecting plaintiff’s purpose. It is conceded that the cars were melon-peddling cars. We do not think that prejudice came to defendant because of the admission of this evidence. Also it is contended that it was error to admit evidence as to the amount plaintiff expended for medical attention. We in effect disposed of this question in making disposition of the assignment based on the giving of plaintiff’s instruction No. 2.

We find no reversible error in this record'. The judgment should, therefore, be affirmed and it is so ordered.

Cox, P. J., and Bailey, J., concur.