Schroeder v. Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railway Co.

140 N.W. 968, 174 Mich. 684, 1913 Mich. LEXIS 509
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedApril 8, 1913
DocketDocket No. 51
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 140 N.W. 968 (Schroeder v. Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railway Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schroeder v. Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Railway Co., 140 N.W. 968, 174 Mich. 684, 1913 Mich. LEXIS 509 (Mich. 1913).

Opinion

Moore, J.

Miss Etta Schroeder brings this action to recover damages for being carried beyond Burton station on the evening of October 26, 1911. Plaintiff was 29 years of age, a domestic servant living in the city of Detroit. Her nephew, Jonah Cook, telephoned her from Burton on the day in question that a brother of hers was at the point of death. Arriving at defendant’s Milwaukee Junction station, she inquired of the ticket agent as to whether it would be possible for her to reach Burton that evening, and was informed that the local train had gone, but that she could take the fast train and change to the local at Durand. She purchased her ticket for Burton and boarded the fast train, and when they reached Du-rand got off and boarded the local train for Burton. The conductor of the local train took up her ticket and put a slip with a capital B thereon in the window of the seat [686]*686where plaintiff was sitting. Burton was not a regular stop for the local train, but it did stop upon flag to discharge and receive passengers. The train, through a mistake of the conductor, did not stop at the station, but ran something over a mile west thereof, where it stopped, and the plaintiff alighted.

Her version of what occurred is as follows:

“ I did not see him, the conductor, again until the train stopped. It was my understanding that we had then arrived at the station.
C‘Q. What did he say to you or do when you saw him next ?
“A. He opened the door, and I supposed I was at the station, and he got down to help me down. At Burton.
,('Q. You say he opened the door. What did he do, if anything, then towards motioning or beckoning you to get off ?
“A. Well, he opened the door and looked in, and I went to the door; he beckoned to me to come, and I supposed I was at Burton. The conductor helped me off, and after doing so said, ‘ I am sorry, madam, but I have taken you past your station.’ I asked him how far, and he replied, ‘ Oh, two or three rods.’ The train stopped there just an instant. Then the conductor and brakeman got back on the train, and it went on. It was a cold, wet night, and had been snowing. I had a suit case and a parcel with me. The conductor helped me off with my package. I should think the suit case should weigh probably 35 pounds. It was a load to carry.
Q. When he put you off there, or assisted you to get off there, you say it was cold and sleety. What was it as to being light or dark there at that place ?
“A. It was very dark.
“Q. Explain to the jury how it was as to your seeing the fences or the track.
“A. I could not seethe fences.
“Q. When he put you off there, and the train had gone so you could realize where you were, how did you feel then? Just describe to the jury your feelings.
“A. I started to walk up the track, carrying my grip and parcel. I looked in different directions to see whether there were any lights. I could see none. 1 could not tell the exact distance I walked before I saw a light or met [687]*687any one. I think it was fully five minutes before I saw a light. I walked about as fast as I could go. I saw a light up the track in the direction I was going. It seemed to be far away. I kept on going, hurrying as fast as I could. I walked until I was almost opposite the light. I then began to call out as loud as I could. I called five or six times. I was then answered. Some one opened the door of the building, which I afterwards learned was a celery house, located one mile west of Burton. I was carried on that train between a quarter and a half mile west of that celery house.
“Q. What is the character of the country there?
Mr. Williams: I object to it as incompetent and immaterial.
“Q. As to whether or not there are any houses around it.
“A. There is not. * * *
“Q. How is that country along immediately adjoining the railroad on either side where you were put off ? What kind of a country is it ?
“A. There is a swamp on either side, and there isn’t a road for half a mile from the track.
“Q. On either side of the railroad, what is there there ?
“A. There is a ditch on both sides. * * *
“Q. Did you state what the condition of the weather was?
“A. I think I did.
“Q. As to raining?
“A. Raining. My feet were soaking wet before I reached the celery house. I was cold, chilly, and my clothing was wet. I was cold, wet and damp when I arrived at Burton. I had no umbrella or anything to protect me against the storm. The conductor had a lantern, and could see how I was dressed.
“Q. At that time, while you were exposed to the storm and the cold that you spoke of, what other thing, if anything, added to your discomfort ?
“A. Well, I was anxious about my brother.
“Mr. Williams: I object to that as fully incompetent and immaterial.
“Q. I am not asking about that. Any other pain or suffering which you experienced during the time you were suffering from this cold and wet you were speaking of until you got back to Burton ?
“A. No; nothing more, I guess.
[688]*688“Q. I will ask you whether or not you suffered any pain or suffering from your condition ?
"A. No; only just cold, chilled.
“Q. How did you feel, what were your feelings, as you were walking along there, cold and chilled, as you spoke of, there upon the railroad ?
“Mr. Williams: I object to that. I think your honor is, perhaps, correct. She can recover for the inconvenience ; that is the cold. Her feelings wouldn’t be a proper measure of damages. Any pain she suffered because of being cold would, perhaps, be a measure of damages, but her feelings when she was walking along would not be an element of damages. * * *
“Q. Witness, what were your feelings by the inconvenience which you were put to during the time which you were walking from the place there in the dark until you got to the depot ?
“ Mr. Williams: I object to that as not proper element of damages in this case.
The Court: She may answer that.
“A. Why, I was frightened.
Mr. Williams: I object to that, and move to have the answer stricken out.
Mr. Chandler: I object to that.
The Court:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
140 N.W. 968, 174 Mich. 684, 1913 Mich. LEXIS 509, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schroeder-v-detroit-grand-haven-milwaukee-railway-co-mich-1913.