Southern Pacific Co. v. Pender

134 P. 289, 14 Ariz. 573, 1913 Ariz. LEXIS 113
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedJune 28, 1913
DocketCivil No. 1304
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 134 P. 289 (Southern Pacific Co. v. Pender) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Southern Pacific Co. v. Pender, 134 P. 289, 14 Ariz. 573, 1913 Ariz. LEXIS 113 (Ark. 1913).

Opinions

FRANKLIN, C. J.

James Pender, as plaintiff in the court below, prosecuted this action against the Southern Pacific Company, a corporation, defendant, to recover damages for negligent injury to his property. The plaintiff was successful, and from a judgment in his favor and the order denying defendant’s motion for a new trial the case is brought here on writ of error. The order denying the motion for a new trial was entered June 11, 1912.

This ease was formerly before this court on appeal, and on motion of James Pender, the appellee, the appellant confessing the right to a dismissal, the appeal was dismissed, but without prejudice, for the reason that the court acquired no jurisdiction thereof, the bond on appeal not having been filed within the statutory- time. The defendant in error now moves to dismiss the writ of error-because of that appeal, but the [575]*575matter presented is similar to that before us in the case of Little Butte Consolidated Mines Co. v. Girand, ante, p. 9, 123 Pac. 309, and on the authority thereof the motion to dismiss the writ of error is denied. Defendant in error moves to-strike the abstract of record and the brief of plaintiff in error because they do not comply with the rules of this court. The matters complained of aré in substantial compliance with our rules, and the motion is denied.

No statement of facts or transcript of the reporter’s notes was filed within sixty days from the time of the order denying the motion for a new trial, nor was there any stipulation between the parties or order of the court in the case allowing an extension of time for that purpose. The plaintiff in error seeks to excuse its failure to file the reporter’s transcript on account of inadvertence and oversight, and because the judge of the trial court made an order at chambers on January 14, 1913, long after the time had expired, extending the time to file the reporter’s transcript and relieving plaintiff in error from its default. The order of the judge must be held for naught, because it was not made within the period of time allowed by law to file the statement of facts or reporter’s transcript, but after the default had occurred. It does not purport to be an order nunc pro tunc.

The office of a nunc pro tunc entry is not to make an order now for then, but to enter now for then an order previously made. Klein v. Southern Pac. Co. (C. C.), 140 Fed. 213; Lombard v. Wade, 37 Or. 426, 61 Pac. 856. It follows, therefore, that the statement of facts or reporter’s transcript is not a part of the record.

The state of the record presents but the one remaining question: Is the complaint sufficient to withstand an attack by general demurrer? So far as material to consider this question, it is as follows: “ (2) That on the 14th day of May, A. D. 1910, plaintiff was traveling with due care in a buggy drawn by two horses with harness along Third street, in the said town of Yuma (which said street is and was on said day a public thoroughfare and highway in a populous town, and is, and was on said day, much frequented and traveled over by the traveling public, and along which people are, and were on said day, and for a long time prior thereto, accustomed to travel in great numbers), which said street crosses said rail[576]*576road at the intersection of Madison avenue in said town of Yuma; and as plaintiff reached and was, in the diligent exercise of due care and prudence, attempting to drive across said public crossing, at about 3:00 o’clock P. M. on said day, with said horses and buggy, the defendant, acting through its agents, employees and trainmen (whose names are unknown to this plaintiff), did wantonly, unlawfully and in a grossly negligent manner, ‘kick,’ or shunt and run by means of what’ is commonly known as a ‘flying-switch,’ made by one of its locomotives operated by said trainmen, a train of cars across said highway at said crossing at a great and grossly negligent rate of speed, and without warning of any kind whatsoever, so that by reason, and because of said wanton, unlawful and grossly negligent ‘kicking,’ shunting and running of said train of cars, the said train of cars struck the horses which plaintiff was driving, and so hurt, wounded, maimed and bruised said horses, and so permanently injured them, as to entirely destroy their usefulness and render them absolutely and entirely valueless, and utterly destroyed said harness and buggy, all to plaintiff’s great damage.

“ (3) That plaintiff is and was, the owner of said horses, harness and buggy; and at the time of said collision the same were worth the sum of $800; but that at this time they have no value whatsoever, which condition has existed ever since said collision, and is permanent; all because of defendant’s negligent acts hereinbefore set out.

“ (4) That at said Third street crossing in said town of Yuma the defendant had, for a long time prior to May 14, 1910, kept and maintained a watchman, or flagman, whose duty it was to warn or flag all persons crossing, or about to cross, said railroad at said crossing, of the movements of locomotives and trains of defendant on said railroad at said crossing, so as to avoid and avert collisions and injury; and said flagman has been kept at said crossing discharging said duty, for a great length of time, until all the public, including plaintiff, had come to rely upon his signaling and warning them in the event of it being dangerous to cross, or attempt to cross, said railroad at said crossing; that on said day, and at the time of said collision, the said flagman was on duty, but he negligently failed to give any warning to plaintiff of the coming or movement of said ‘kicked’ and flying-switched [577]*577train of ears, and negligently permitted plaintiff to drive onto said crossing, and said horses and buggy were injured and destroyed as aforesaid. The plaintiff for a long time prior to May 14, 1910, had used said crossing in traveling to and from his place of residence and the said town of Yuma, and had known of the keeping of said flagman at said crossing during all of said time, and come to rely upon said flagman performing his said duty; and on said day and immediately prior to said collision plaintiff saw and observed said flagman, and, among other acts of care and prudence on the part of plaintiff, he looked to see if the flagman were giving, or attempting to give, any signal or warning of danger of the oncoming or movement of said train of cars, and, the said flagman giving none such (although said flagman was much more advantageously situated and placed to see and be apprised of the impending danger and oncoming and moving cars, than plaintiff), he, plaintiff, relying upon said flagman giving such warning if there were danger, and being misled by said flagman’s negligent acts, drove onto said crossing and said collision occurred as aforesaid.

“(5) That by defendant’s negligent acts aforesaid plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of $800.”

The pleadings shall consist of a concise statement of the facts constituting the plaintiff’s cause of action, or the defendant’s ground of defense. Par. 1277, Rev. Stats. Ariz. 1901.

The court shall in every stage of an action disregard any error or defect in the pleadings or proceedings which shall not affect the substantial rights of the parties, and no judgment shall be reversed by reason of such error or defect. Par. 1293, Rev. Stats. Ariz. 1901.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
134 P. 289, 14 Ariz. 573, 1913 Ariz. LEXIS 113, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/southern-pacific-co-v-pender-ariz-1913.