Southward v. Wabash Railroad Co.

49 N.W.2d 109, 331 Mich. 138, 1951 Mich. LEXIS 262
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 5, 1951
DocketDocket 47, Calendar 45,142
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 49 N.W.2d 109 (Southward v. Wabash Railroad 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
Southward v. Wabash Railroad Co., 49 N.W.2d 109, 331 Mich. 138, 1951 Mich. LEXIS 262 (Mich. 1951).

Opinion

North, J.

The primary question on this appeal is this: Were sections 7 and 8, art 5, of the general statute (PA 1873, No 198 [CL 1948, §§ 467.7, 467.8 (Stat Ann §§ 22.288, 22.289)]) providing for the incorporation and regulation of railroad companies repealed by implication by the so-called death act (PA 1848, No 38, as amended by PA 1939, No 297 [CL 1948, § 691.581 et seq. (Stat Ann 1949 Cum Supp §27.711 et seg.)])? The trial court in effect held that said sections of PA 1873, No 198, as contended by defendant, were repealed by implication. Plaintiff has appealed, permission having been granted.

In the instant case plaintiff, as administrator of his adult son’s estate, brought suit against the defendant railroad company to recover for the instant death of plaintiff’s son which was caused by defendant’s train striking, at a highway crossing, an automobile in which plaintiff’s decedent was an occupant. It is specifically alleged in the declaration that plaintiff “is duly authorized to bring this action for and in behalf of said estate under the laws of the State of Michigan, and especially under PA 1873, No 198 * *. * (and) to recover all damages and pecuniary injuries resulting from the death of David A. Southward, for the benefit of his father, Clarence A. Southward and his mother, Margaret M. Southward, who, under the law, would be entitled to inherit the property and estate of their deceased son if he had died intestate.” And the declaration further contains the following:

“Prior to the death of his son, plaintiff received a severe injury to his back and spine from which he never fully recovered, and, as a result, was unable to perform hard physical labor necessary to operate his small farm near the village of Milan, Michigan, *141 and to properly support Ms family. In recognition of Ms duty to assist and support Ms parents, deceased quit Ms employment at the General Motors Company plant at Pontiac, Michigan, and agreed to return to plaintiff’s home for the purpose of helping his parents and rendering assistance in the farm work. At the time of his death deceased was living at his parents’ home as a member of the family, contributing $10 per week towards the family expenses, .and assisting plaintiff in the operation of the farm during his spare time, without which assistance plaintiff would have been unable to continue to properly work the same. The services so performed by deceased were of the value of $100 per month and upward. * * * As the direct result of the negligent acts of defendant’s employees which resulted in the death of said. David A. Southward, his said father and mother, who would have been entitled under the law to inherit his personal property if he had died intestate, and, in whose behalf this action 'is brought, sustained pecuniary damages in the amount of $50,000, in that they were deprived of the weekly contributions made by deceased, and, lost the aid and assistance which he rendered on the farm, which contributions and assistance would have continued during the joint lifetime of deceased and his parents, or, until he married and established a home for himself, for the recovery of which this suit is brought.”

Defendant moved to strike from the declaration the above italicized, words on the ground that the 1873 act by implication was repealed by PA 1848, No 38, as amended by PA 1939, No 297. The trial court granted defendant’s motion to strike. The court’s order to strike covered other allegations in the declaration, but we deem it unnecessary to detail them herein. The issue presented on this appeal is important because it controls the measure of recovery in the event plaintiff prevails. The following :is stated in appellant’s brief:

*142 “If the action of the trial court is sustained, it is defendant’s contention that under the amended death act * * * damages which may be recovered are limited to expenses of funeral and burial. On the other hand it is plaintiff’s contention that he is entitled to maintain the action under the railroad act, and, under the following decisions, among others, construing that statute (citing cases wherein the Court passed upon recoverable items of damage).”

The pertinent portion of the railroad act (PA 1873, No 198) reads:

“Sec. 7. Whenever the death of a person shall be caused by wrongful act, neglect, or default, of any railroad company, or its agents, and the act, neglect, or default is such as would (if death had not ensued) entitle the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages in respect thereof, then and in every such case, the railroad corporation which would have been liable if death had not ensued shall be liable to an action on the case for damages, notwithstanding the death of the person so injured, and although the death shall have been caused under such circumstances as amount in law to felony.

“Sec. 8. Every such action shall be brought by and in the names of the personal representatives of such deceased person, and the amount recovered in any such action, shall be distributed to the persons, and in the proportion provided by law in relation to the distribution of personal property left by persons dying intestate; and in every such action the jury may give such amount of damages as they shall deem fair and just, to the persons who may be entitled to such damages when recovered: Provided, Nothing herein contained shall affect any suit or proceedings heretofore commenced and now pending in any of the courts of this State.” CL 1948, §§ 467-7, 467.8 (Stat Ann §§22.288, 22.289).

*143 The title and provisions in the more recent death act (PA 1939, No 297 ) are in part as follows:

“An act requiring compensation for causing death and injuries resulting in death by wrongful act, neglect or default; to prescribe the measure of damages recoverable and the distribution thereof; and to repeal inconsistent acts.

“Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the State of Michigan, whenever the death of a person or injuries resulting in death, shall be caused by wrongful act, neglect or default, and the act, neglect or default is such as would (if death had not ensued) have entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages, in respect thereof, then and in every such case, the person who, or the corporation which would have been liable, if death had not ensued, shall be liable to an action for damages, notwithstanding the death of the person injured, and although the death shall have been caused under such circumstances as amount in law to felony. All actions for such death, or injuries resulting in death, shall hereafter be brought only .under this act.” CL 1948, § 691.581 (Stat Ann 1949 Cum Supp § 27.711).

Section 2 of the act (CL 1948, § 691.582 [Stat Ann 1949 Cum Supp § 27.712]) specifies the elements of damage for which recovery may be had and for distribution of the amount recovered. Section 3 reads:

“Insofar as the provisions thereof are inconsistent with the provisions of Act No 38 of the Public Acts of 1848 as amended by this act, section 32 of chapter 12 of Act No 314 of the Public Acts of 1915, being section 14040 of the Compiled Laws of 1929 is hereby repealed.” CL 1948, § 691.583 (Stat Ann 1949 Cum Supp § 27.713).

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Bluebook (online)
49 N.W.2d 109, 331 Mich. 138, 1951 Mich. LEXIS 262, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/southward-v-wabash-railroad-co-mich-1951.