Texas & New Orleans R. v. Goolsbee

228 S.W.2d 280
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedFebruary 16, 1950
DocketNo. 12136
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 228 S.W.2d 280 (Texas & New Orleans R. v. Goolsbee) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Texas & New Orleans R. v. Goolsbee, 228 S.W.2d 280 (Tex. Ct. App. 1950).

Opinion

MONTEITH, Chief Justice.

This action was brought by appellee, Addison Goolsbee, for the recovery of damages for personal injuries alleged to have been sustained by him as a result of the negligence of the employees of appellant, Texas & New Orleans Railroad Company, in the operation of its trains which was alleged to have caused him to jump from the engine of the train on which he was engaged as a fireman because of his apprehension of a collision between that train and another train which he had neither seen nor heard.

Appellant answered by general denial and by a plea that the -matters complained of by appellee were the result of a new and independent cause and that his injuries were caused solely by the acts or omissions of a third party or parties.

In answer to special issues submitted, the jury found, in substance, that the engineer in charge, of appellant’s train drove it to a point closer to the crossing of the Port Terminal Railroad Association’s track before bringing it to a stop, than a reasonably •prudent person would have done under the same or similar circumstances,; that in approaching said crossing, appellant’s train was being operated at a greater rate of speed than ■ a reasonably prudent person would have operated it under the same or similar circumstances and-that-said engineer failed to apply the braking mechanism available to him on said train within a reasonable distance' from said crossing. The jury found -that such acts and omissions were negligence and that they were the proximate causes of appellee’s alleged injuries.

The jury assessed appellee’s damages at $22,500.00 on which verdict judgment was •rendered. However, on the trial court’s or[282]*282der, on motion for new trial, that unless a remittitur was filed a new trial would be granted, appellee, under protest, filed a re-mittitur of $8,000.00. He has filed a cross-assignment of error to the trial court’s action in suggesting the remittitur under Rule 328, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

The accident which was the basis of ap-pellee’s suit, occurred on February 24, 1947. A train which was being operated by the Port Terminal Railroad Association, consisting of two engines and 55 cars, was proceeding backward and approaching an intersection with appellant’s railroad track at a point known as Galena Junction in the city of Houston, when a freight train of appellant, consisting of an engine and 21 cars was proceeding in an easterly direction along its track and approaching said intersection. Appellant’s employees testified that its train came to a stop at a distance of between 21 and 42 feet from the Port Terminal Railroad Association track. The engineer on the Port Terminal Railroad Association lead engine, on viewing appellant’s approaching train and just before its train reached the crossing, applied the brakes on his train, got out of his seat, went down the passageway to the storm guards on his engine and made an effort to get the storm guards open. He then looked back and when he discovered that appellant’s train had come to a stop, he remained on his engine. Appellee, the fireman on the lead engine, testified that he observed the action of his engineer, and although he had neither seen nor heard the approach of appellant’s train, he assumed that there was a train approaching along the other track and that there would be a collision and, without making any inquiries or looking in the direction of the other train, he jumped from the window of his cab. In his jump from the cab of his engine, he sustained a compound fracture of his right leg, damages for which are sought in this action.

According to the engineer of the Terminal train, the speed of his train at the time of the accident was 5 or 6 miles per hour. He testified that he observed the fireman leave his window, but said nothing to him and made no effort to prevent the fireman from leaving the engine. He testified that what frightened him was that appellant’s train was what he termed “working steam” when it approached the crossing. Numerous witnesses testified that the working of steam is a normal and customary practice known as “braking against steam” and that it is the best method of stopping a loaded or long train in that it allowed the engine to continue to pull against the cars while the brakes are applied through the train-line air to each of the cars in the train and that this method of braking stretches the train out so as to prevent “slack action” and thereby avoids injury to personnel and property on the train. Braking against steam produces a heavy exhaust from the engine.

Appellee admitted that he did not hear or observe the approaching train of appellant; that nothing had called his attention to it; that he had no knowledge of its presence and that he jumped from his train solely because of his observations of the movement of his engineer and the expression on the engineer’s face and that the engineer did not say anything to him.

The standard by which the question of negligence vel non must be tested is the common experience of mankind. It implies generally the want of that care and diligence which ordinarily prudent men would use to- prevent injury under the circumstances of the particular case. Southern Cotton Press & Mfg. Co. v. Bradley, 52 Tex. 587; International & G. N. Ry. Co. v. Gray, 65 Tex. 32.

The question of the existence of negligence and its degree generally depends upon the facts of each case; and if it consists of an omission to perform a duty devolved upon the person charged with negligence it must be considered with reference to the character of the business in which the person is engaged. San Antonio St. Ry. Co. v. Caillonette, 79 Tex. 341, 115 S.W. 390.

“Negligence rests primarily upon two elements: First, reason to anticipate injury; and, second, failure to perform the duty arising on account of that antici[283]*283pation”. To render negligence actionable, It must be concretely incorporated into some injury. Collins v. Pecos & Northern Texas Ry. Co., 110 Tex. 577, 212 S.W. 477, 222 S.W. 156; Johnson v. Wichita Valley R. Co., Tex.Civ.App. 104 S.W.2d 128.

In the case of Collins v Pecos & Northern Texas Ry. Co., 110 Tex. 577, 212 S.W. 477, 479, the court, quoting with approval from Texas & P. Ry. Co. v. Bigham, 90 Tex. 223, 38 S.W. 162, said, “But it is generally held that, in order to warrant a finding that negligence, or an act not amounting to wanton wrong, is the proximate cause of an injury, it must appear that the injury was the natural and probable consequence of the negligence or wrongful act, and that it ought to have been foreseen in the light of the attending circumstances”.

“Although injury may result from a person’s act or omission, yet, if the actor could not have reasonably foreseen the resultant injury, or injuries, similar in character, he is not to be held responsible therefor. 30 Tex.Jur. p. 663, and authorities there cited. Tex. & Pacific Ry. Co. v. Bigham, 90 Tex. 223, 38 S.W. 162; Union Stock Yards v. Peller, Tex.Com.App., 37 S.W.2d 126.” Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. v. Evans, 142 Tex. 1, 175 S.W.2d 249, 251.

In the case of Uvalde Construction Co. v. Hill, 142 Tex. 19, 175 S.W.2d 247

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Related

Goolsbee v. Texas & New Orleans Railroad
243 S.W.2d 386 (Texas Supreme Court, 1951)
Texas & N. O. R. v. Goolsbee
238 S.W.2d 250 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1951)

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