Union Pacific Railway Co. v. Graddy

25 Neb. 849
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 15, 1889
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 25 Neb. 849 (Union Pacific Railway Co. v. Graddy) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Union Pacific Railway Co. v. Graddy, 25 Neb. 849 (Neb. 1889).

Opinion

Reese, Cil J.

This action was instituted in the district cdurt, by defendant in error, to recover for services alleged to have [850]*850been rendered in the treatment of one Byron D. Bent, for a disease of the eyes known as neuro-retinitis, the said Bent being at that time an employe of plaintiff in error.

It was alleged in the petition that, on or about the 5th of February, 1885, plaintiff in error employed defendant in error, who was an oculist and aurist, to render certain services in his professional capacity upon the person of Bent, and for which services plaintiff in error agreed to pay defendant in error reasonable value; that the services were performed, and that their reasonable value was the sum of $150, which was not paid, and for which judgment was demanded.

Plaintiff in error, by its answer, denied the allegations of the petition, but alleged that, on or about the 7th day of April, 1884, it employed defendant in error, in his professional capacity, and that the terms of said employment were embodied in a written contract signed by the parties of that date; that it never employed him otherwise, and that he had been fully paid in accordance with the terms of said contract.

The reply of the defendant in error admits the execution of the contract, but alleges that the services rendered, and for the value of which the suit was instituted, were in no manner covered by or included within the provisions of said contract.

The cause was tried to a jury, who rendered a verdict in favor of defendant in error for the amount claimed, and upon which judgment was rendered.

Plaintiff in error now brings the cause into this court by proceedings in error.

The first objection to the judgment contained in the brief of plaintiff in error is, that the verdict is not sustained by sufficient evidence.

Ordinarily, this assignment would have been disposed of against plaintiff in error, upon the ground that the evidence upon which the case was submitted to the jury is not [851]*851all before this court. For it appears by the bill of exceptions that the depositions of Byron D. Bent were read to the jury. Neither these depositions nor any part of Bent’s testimony being found in the record, and the presumption being in favor of the proceedings in the district court, this assignment could not properly be considered. But it is quite probable that the testimony of the witness referred to is not essential to the disposition of the case upon this assignment, for the reason that the contest appears to be upon another feature of the case.

It appears that on the 7th day of April, 1884, plaintiff and defendant entered into a contract, the original of which is included in the bill of exceptions, and which is part in print and part in writing, the printed form having been originally designed for contracts between plaintiff in error and its physicians and surgeons. In copying this contract, in order that it may be fully understood, we give the printed portion thereof in italics, as it is in the contract, and the written portion in roman letters. It is as follows:

Memorandum of Agreement. Made and entered into this seventh day of April, A.D. 1884, by and between the Union Pacific Railroad Company, party of the first part, and Dr. L. B. Graddy, party of the second part, both of Omaha, Neb.
“ Witnesseth, That in all cases of injury to employes of the said first party and others from whom the said first party is responsible, at North Platte and at all points east, the said party of the second part, for and in consideration of the covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, agree to perform all necessary surgical and medical services for the treatment of said persons, if required to do so by the chief surgeon as consulting oculist and aurist in any class of cases on said division regardless of locality of original injuries. The said first party agrees to give the said second party for such services an Annual Ross over the Union Pacific Railivay, during the time of service, including all stations east [852]*852of North Platte, and to pay the actual cost at wholesale prices and cost of compounding medicines used, payable at the expiration of treatment and discharge of the patient, and subject to the approval of. the Ghief Surgeon and General Manager of the road.
“In all cases the said second party agrees to malee reports-to the said first party as may be requested by the said first party, and to use diligence and discretion in ascertaining and recording all facts bearing upon the causes of accident, without extra charge.
“No indebtedness for the road shall be incurred without special permission before contracting.
This agreement will take effect on the seventh day of April, A.D. 1884l, and remain in full force and effect until canceled by either party giving the other thirty days’ notice, in writing, or for cause.
“Approved, S. D. Murcer,
“........................ Ghief Surgeon U. P. Ry.
“Ghief Surgeon. L. B. Graddy.
“Approved,
“Thomas L. Kimball,
“A. General Manager.”

In the printed portion of the contract, and just before the written words, “by the chief surgeon as consulting oculist and aurist in any class of cases on said division regardless of locality or original injury,” the following words are stricken out: “ and to furnish the necessary medicines and surgical appliances for the same.”

It appears that, during the existence of this contract, Mr. Bent applied to defendant in error for treatment. An examination of his eyes was made, and it was found that they were in a very precarious condition, and that blindness would inevitably result unless proper treatment was administered without delay. After the examination, and about the time the prescription was made out by defendant in error, Bent informed him that he was an employe of the [853]*853plaintiff in error. Defendant in error then informed him that he could not treat him as an employe of plaintiff in error, and sent him to Dr. Galbraith, who was plaintiff’s division physician, and at that time in charge at Omaha. On the same day Dr. Gailbraith gave Bent a note to defendant in error, which was as follows:

“Union Pacific Railway Company, Medical Department.
Office of Dr. Galbraith, Ass’t. Surgeon at “Omaha, Feb. 7th, 1885.
“Dr. Graddy:
“Dear Sir — As it is necessary for Mr. Bent to have immediate treatment, I would like to have you attend to him, and that the understanding shall be that it is to be done at a very moderate price. I will let you know full particulars on my return from Denver.
“Very Resp. yours,
“W. J. Galbraith.”

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Bluebook (online)
25 Neb. 849, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/union-pacific-railway-co-v-graddy-neb-1889.