Savant v. Goetz & Lawrence

2 La. App. 474, 1925 La. App. LEXIS 509
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedJune 30, 1925
DocketNo. 22,831
StatusPublished

This text of 2 La. App. 474 (Savant v. Goetz & Lawrence) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Savant v. Goetz & Lawrence, 2 La. App. 474, 1925 La. App. LEXIS 509 (La. Ct. App. 1925).

Opinion

ELLIOTT, J.

John P. Savant in company with Dr. John A. Haas and some others, on September 8, 1922, went aboard the dredge-boat engaged in digging a drainage canal for Bayou Boeuf and Waxie Drainage District. While he was standing up near the front of the boat, which was working at the time and close to Dr. Haas, the eye bolt broke which connected the boom with the cable, and by which the dipper was operated. This released the cable, which flew back with great force and violence, striking Mr. Savant across the ankles and breaking both his legs; seriously and permanently injuring him. The dredge-boat belonged to Goetz & Lawrence. He brought this suit against Goetz & Lawrence on account of his injuries.

[475]*475He alleges in his petition that he visited the boat, not only because of business as an officer and member of the firm of Louisiana Construction Works, under whom Goetz & Lawrence were sub-contractors in the matter of digging the canal, but also because Goetz & Lawrence had invited him and Dr. Haas and others ■ to visit the boat and assist in getting it properly equipped for operation, and to the end they might be able to comply with their dredging contract.

That his injuries were due to no fault or negligence on his part, but due to the fault and negligenc of Goetz & Lawrence in operating a machine with defective parts, consisting. of a defective eye bolt connecting the cable around a swinging table and by which the boom was swung; that said eye bolt was defective in construction, had been made of inferior metal, etc.; that the operation of the boat with said defective and inferior material was the immediate and proximate cause of his injuries.

He claims $23,185.00 damages as the result of his injuries.

Defendants for answer deny that plaintiff, Savant, visited the dredge-boat as a member of the firm Louisiana Construction Works, and allege that he did so as the person in charge of said dredge work. They allege that on or about June 12, 1922, they entered into a written agreement with plaintiff, John P. Savant, and J. A. Perkins, whereby said Savant and Perkins, for the convenience of defendants and likewise for the convenience and profit of said Savant and Perkins, took and assumed full charge and control of the dredge-boat and dredging operation in question.

That plaintiff, Savant, took charge of said dredge-work under said agreement, did control same and directed the operations of the dredge-boat and was in full and exclusive charge and control, including its equipment and the employees engaged in operating it, at the time he was injured; that defendants did not have anything to do with or control over the boat, the equipment, the manner of its operation nor of the employees engaged therein, and nothing to do with the condition of the boat nor of the machinery and equipment thereon, nor with the handling of the same; that it was all under the exclusive control of said Savant; that if any of the machinery or equipment was defective, the use of it was due entirely to the fault and neglect of said Savant.

Mr. Savant, in response to this answer, filed an amended and supplemental petition, in which he alleges that if he was an employee of Goetz & Lawrence, as alleged in their answer, that he is entitled, as such to compensation under the law Act No. 20 of 1914, in the sum of $18.00 per week, for a period of three hundred weeks from time he was injuerd, also for the sum of $1016.00 expenses, etc. That Goetz & Lawrence had full knowledge that he had been injured, and had failed to keep posted on the boat, in a conspicious place, the notice required by Sec. 12 of Act No. 20 of 1914.

He prayed, in the case the court held that he was not entitled to damages as prayed for in his petition, that he then in that event have judgment for compensation, at $18.00 per week for three hundred weeks, and for the further sum of $1016.00 expenses, etc.

Defendants in answering plaintiff’s supplemental petition, deny that his employment came within the purview and scope of the law, Act No. 20 of 1914. They aver that they had no knowledge of his injuries, except that based on newspaper reports, and did not know that he claimed compensation of them.

The district judge rejected plaintiff’s demand and he appealed.

The contract of employment between Goetz & Lawrence and Savant and Perkins shows that Goetz & Lawrence employed [476]*476Savant and Perkins as their managers for the purpose of operating their Bucyrus Steel Dredge-boat for a period of ninety days, under the conditions that Savant and Perkins were to pay all expenses and cost of operating the dredge, out of the earnings of the job, from month to month, etc., under their, management: Pay the past due bills and accounts, as per list attached, after which they were authorized to pay out of the earnings of the job, the amounts due Louisiana Construction Works, and any amounts due Savant and Perkins, under a contract entered into prior to the contract of June 12, 1922.

At the expiration of ninety days from date of contract Savant and Perkins had the right to continue their management of the job, provided all of the expenses of their management, and all of the debts listed had been paid in full and receipts therefor obtained, except the amount due Louisiana Construction Works and D. B. Gore Co., Inc.

After all the stipulations of the contract had been fulfilled and performed, Savant and Perkins were to receive for their services as managers 2/3 of the net profits earned on the job, and a 2/3 interest in the dredge-boat; their said interest in the dredge-boat no to operate until it had been fully paid for.

Goetz & Lawrence had the right under the contract to discharge Savant and Perkins as managers, if they failed to comply with the stipulations of the agreement. Savant and Perkins had the right, at the expiration of ninety days from the date of the contract, to discontinue their services as managers, in which event- they were not to receive any compensation nor make any claim for their services rendered during the ninety days’ period.

The record contains a letter from Goetz & Lawrence to John P. Savant, dated August 1, 1922, which reads: “Dear Sir: Confirming our phone conversation this will be your authority to make whatever changes you may see fit, either in equipment of barge or in crew to operate same. This applies to the Bayou Boeuf and Waxie Drainage District job, which yourself and Mr. Perkins are managing for us.” See also letter from J. A. Perkins to Goetz & Lawrence the day of the accident, September 28, 1922, notifying them of what had happened; that Ross and Claycombe had quit work on the job, and requesting them to come to Opelousas on first train and attend to these matters.

The terms used in the contract, descriptive of the relations of the parties, the compensation to which Savant and Perkins were contingently entitled in the profits and in the dredge-boat, the right of Goetz & Lawrence to' discharge in case the contract w'as not complied with, the right of Savant and Perkins to quit if they saw proper, after the first ninety days shows that Savant and Perkins became, from date of contract, vice-principals under Goetz & Lawrence in the work of dredging the canal.

The evidence shows that Mr.

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Bluebook (online)
2 La. App. 474, 1925 La. App. LEXIS 509, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/savant-v-goetz-lawrence-lactapp-1925.