Turner v. St. Clair Tunnel Co.

36 L.R.A. 134, 70 N.W. 146, 111 Mich. 578, 1897 Mich. LEXIS 673
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 18, 1897
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 36 L.R.A. 134 (Turner v. St. Clair Tunnel 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
Turner v. St. Clair Tunnel Co., 36 L.R.A. 134, 70 N.W. 146, 111 Mich. 578, 1897 Mich. LEXIS 673 (Mich. 1897).

Opinion

Hooker, J.

The defendant is a corporation, and was engaged in constructing a tunnel under the St. Clair river between Ft. Gratiot, Mich.; and Port Sarnia, Ontario. Compressed air was used to prevent caving, access to the tunnel being had through an air lock, in which the air was made to correspond in density with that in the tunnel, or with that of the atmosphere outside, by the use of valves. Letting air into the lock from the tunnel accomplished the former, and allowing it to escape outside from the lock effected the latter. It was known by defendant that those who entered the tunnel experienced an inequality of air pressure, which, for a time at least, caused an unpleasant pressure from the outside upon the eardrums, and perhaps a similar pressure from within upon going out. It was also known that after going out some persons were attacked with violent pains in the members and joints, which, among the men, at least, went by the name of “the bends.” It is, perhaps, not improper to say that these were more -common among beginners in work in compressed air, and that it was generally understood that they might be avoided, or at least that the danger of their occurring might be greatly lessened, by changing the pressure gradually and slowly in the lock. It was shown that the practice of the company was to require an examination by a surgeon of the men employed, to ascertain that they were in a proper physical condition to make it prudent for them to work in compressed air. This tunnel was constructed by starting a drift from each side of the stream, and each [580]*580had its overseer or superintendent, though both were-under one manágement. Mr. Hobson was chief engineer, Murphy had charge of the excavation, and Eames was in charge of the mechanical work and the working of the machinery. Minto was assistant to Eames, and looked after work at the Canadian end. Hushin was employed by Eames as mechanical foreman on the Michigan side. The plaintiff was employed by Hushin, and first worked outside as a laborer, but was desirous of getting a job where he could draw more pay, which seems to have been understood to mean that he applied for work inside, and he was finally given such work, and worked a day, or perhaps two, before the occurrence which gave rise to this action. After the plaintiff commenced work in compressed air, he and three or four others were requested or directed by Hushin to go to the Canadian side to work, and to report to Minto, which they did, and they were set at work in the tunnel, where, after working eight hours, they were persuaded by the overseer in charge tó remain for another shift of eight hours. At the end of that time they came out through the lock. They started for the Michigan side, but, before getting across the river, the plaintiff was attacked by “the bends,” and had to go home. He became unconscious, and when he recovered consciousness he found that he had lost his hearing altogether. There was testimony from experts tending to show that they had many patients whose ears were temporarily affected by work in compressed air, but it is claimed that it was shown that, up to the time of plaintiff’s experience, no case of total deafness or permanent injury to the ears had fallen within the observation of the defendant or any of the witnesses. This action was brought, charging the defendant with negligence, and plaintiff recovered a verdict and judgment, which the defendant has brought to this court by writ of error.

There was evidence tending to show that, shortly before the plaintiff was ordered to go to the Canadian side, some difficulty had occurred there, owing to a stratum or pocket [581]*581of loose soil, which threatened to cave and let the water into the tunnel, which would have been a serious damage, if it had not made abandonment of the enterprise necessary; that, to prevent it, the air pressure had been increased, and that, owing to a reluctance to work under such pressure, most of the men had quit work, and it was difficult to secure others to take their places. Whether this was from fear of injury from work in the air, or from a lack of faith in the efficacy of the air, and a fear that the water would get in and drown them, is perhaps not altogether clear; but, at all events, men were needed, and were sent from the Michigan side. The plaintiff testified that he told Hushin that he did not want to go, because he had heard that they were working over there in a pressure of 28 pounds, and that the men agreed-that they would not work in that pressure, and that Hushin denied it, saying there was only 19 or 20 pounds, and said: “Go over there, and stay until 8 in the morning, and that won’t hurt anybody, and come out and bring a good record back;” that, upon that assurance, they went. There was testimony tending to show that the pressure carried that night was from 26 to 28 pounds, and Hushin testified that he knew it was 26 pounds when he sent the men over. The plaintiff also testified that he informed Hushin that he was fatigued, and needed sleep, and that Hushin replied that he could sleep tomorrow. It also appeared that the men went in at 4 o’clock, and at 12 they prepared to go out, but, on solicitation of the overseer in charge of the work inside, who said he would be without men if they did not stay, and that it would not hurt them to stay until morning, they remained. There was testimony that they were from one and a half to five minutes in going through the lock.

The court instructed the jury that—

‘ ‘ Fearing that I may not have made it sufficiently specific, I desire again to repeat the proposition to you that this plaintiff cannot recover, unless he shows, by a fair [582]*582preponderance of evidence, to your satisfaction, (1) that the use of compressed air in the manner in which it was used on the Canadian side was dangerous; (2) that the defendant knew it when it directed Turner to go to work, or that it should have known it by the exercise of reasonable care and caution through its officers, superintendents, and foremen; (3) that Turner was ignorant of the danger; (4) that the danger was latent, or, in other words, concealed and hidden; (5) that the plaintiff did not know of this concealed or hidden danger; (6) that he was not cautioned by the tunnel company, or its officers or foremen, who employed him, of this danger, and that he did not know it from any other source; and (7) that his injury was caused by working in compressed air, and that while he was doing that he was in the exercise of due care and caution. Each one of these, I repeat, must be proven to your satisfaction before the plaintiff can recover.”

It is contended by the defendant:

1. That this injury to the plaintiff was not to have been anticipated, reasonably, so as to lay a duty on defendant to avoid it by warning him. There was no latent danger which the defendant knew, or ought to have known.

2. That the acts of Hushin and Minto and the overseer in the tunnel were the acts of fellow-servants.

3. That the defendant was not obliged to make the place of labor safe, under the rule laid down in Beesley v. F. W. Wheeler & Co., 103 Mich. 196, and Petaja v. Mining Co., 106 Mich. 463.

4. That the work was voluntarily performed in Canada, and that the case is governed by the law of the province, which does not permit a recovery.

At the threshold of the case lies the fourth question mentioned, because, if it is true that under the law of Canada there could be no recovery, it is- the end of the case, unless it can be said that the law of Michigan governs.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
36 L.R.A. 134, 70 N.W. 146, 111 Mich. 578, 1897 Mich. LEXIS 673, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/turner-v-st-clair-tunnel-co-mich-1897.