Wood v. Southern Railway Co.

24 S.E. 704, 118 N.C. 1056

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: February 5, 1896
• Status: Published

Opinion

Furches, J.:

There has not been that care in prepar-

ing this case on appeal that there should have been. And the first matter we are troubled with is an objection to the record and an application for a writ of certiorari. The case served on defendant was very short, consisting of that part of the case embraced in the first paragraph of the case, down to the words (“judges notes ”). The copy prepared by appellant and served on appellee did not contain this expression, (“judge’s notes”) but instead of this, contained this, “ Here cleric will copy evidence.”

The only evidence introduced was the written contract or bill of lading, and the testimony of the plaintiff, Calvin Wood. And the only means the clerk had of knowing what Calvin Wood’s evidence was was the judge’s notes, taken on the trial and filed with the clerk.

It was admitted by defendant, if plaintiff’s case on appeal had said, “ the clerk will copy the judge’s notes of Calvin Wood’s evidence,” that would have been sufficient.

The Gode, Section 412 (2), requires the judge, in case of appeal, to file his notes of the evidence, or so much thereof as shall be necessary to present the exception. And this being a submission to a non-suit, upon an intimation of the court that plaintiff was not entitled to recover, upon all the evidence, it was necessary that the court should file with the clerk all the uotes of evidence taken before him, which it seems he did. It was not contended that the judge’s notes were improperly or incorrectly copied, if it was proper to copy them at all. Nor was it claimed there was any other evidence or notes of evidence introduced on the trial, except what appeared in the transcript of record, as' made out and certified to this Court. This being so, there was no purpose to be served by a certiorari. If it issued, there was nothing for it to bring back, except what is already here. So, the motion for a certiorari is denied, and the question is, whether the case as made out and served on defendant is sufficient to authorize the clerk to copy the judge’s notes of the evidence, as a part of the case on appeal. And we are of the opinion it was. There is no substantial difference, that we can see, between saying “the clerk will here copy the evidence of Calvin "Wood,” and saying that “here the clerk will copy the judge’s notes of the evidence of Calvin Wood,” when the law had required these notes to be filed for the benefit of the appellant, and there was no other record of this evidence. It is true, as we have said, it would have been better if the case had been made out with more care, and the evidence set’out more fully than the judge’s notes, taken in the hurry of the trial; show it to be. And this neglect has probably produced, to some extent, the trouble we have had in considering this appeal. But be this as it may, we consider it our duty to treat this evidence as a part of the case on appeal, and to determine upon the record, as certified to us, whether the plaintiff is entitled to a new trial or not.

This brings us to a consideration of the case upon its merits. And the only point really presented for our consideration is as to whether what was said by the plaintiff to the agent of the defendant at Culpepper, and what the ■agent said to him in reply, was a sufficient compliance with the requirements of the contract, as to notice of plaintiff’s elaim, and a waiver of a strict compliance with the requirements of the contract. The bill of lading— the contract — provides as a condition precedent that “ he ” (plaintiff) “ will give notice in writing of his claim for damages to the ageut of the railroad company actually delivering said stock to him..before said stock is removed from the place of destination above mentioned, or from the place of delivery of the same, and before said stock is intermingled with other stock.” There was no notice in toriting, served on the agent, of plaintiff’s claim. But plaintiff testified that, “ I told cattle agent at Culpep-per I should have to sue the Company. He said I need not do that, and insisted that I could get my money without it.” With this evidence the plaintiff closed his case, and the court “intimated that plaintiff was not entitled to recover upon his own showing, the proof failing to show that plaintiff had given the notice in writing as provided in said contract.” The plaintiff further insisted “that the evidence showed such gross negligence upon the part of the defendant that it could not by contract provide against it.” “ His Honor still intimating that plaintiff could not recover, plaintiff submitted to a non-suit and appealed.”

This presents the question for our consideration whether the notice the plaintiff gave the agent at Culpepper, and what the agent said to him in reply, relieved the plaintiff from that stipulation in the contract that the notice must be made in writing As it was not contended in this Court but what the evidence of the plaintiff, uncontradicted. and unexplained, made a case against the defendant of gross negligence, unless the defendant is protected from liability for this negligence by the failure of plaintiff to put his demand in writing, the plaintiff was entitled to recover “upon his own showing.” And the court put its ruling and judgment expressly upon this point — that the notice was not in writing.

A, common carrier cannot relieve itself from liability for gross'negligence by contracting that it shall not be liable for such negligence. Such contrae, would be against public policy and vud. Lawson Contract of Carriers, SO, 51, and Lee v. Railroad, 72 N. C., 236. But such carrier may limit his liability by special contract, made upon a sufficient consideration. Lawson, supra. It is held to be a reasonable stipulation, in a contract for the transportation of cattle, to require a demand in writing for damages upon delivery at the place of destination, before the cattle are removed. Selby v. Railroad, 113 N. C., 588. It would be host, that there should always be a literal compliance witAi.this, and all such stipulations in contracts. But it is not a!,\yays that the law will relieve a contracting party from liability because - the other party has not literally complied with some- stipulation in the contract, but will look for the reason of IhV' .stipulation t.o see wheii. t„ has been substantially eomplieh'sW'ith, or wutvdU’ b\ • other party, and whether the plaintiff is likely to be benefitted and the defendant damaged by reason of a failure,-on the part of plaintiff literally to comply with the stipulation, and to give the notice in writing. Such stipulations, contained in a contract, are a part of the contract, but they do not contain any part of the obligation of the contract. They are conditions, in the nature of estoppels, and, when enforced, operate to prevent the enforcement of the obligations of the contracts. Such restrictions, when reasonable, will be sustained. But, as they are restrictions of common law rights and common-law obligations of common carriers, they are not favored by the law. Lawson, supra, 114, 115.

The object of such provisions in contracts like this is, that the defendant may have notice „of the shipper’s claim for damage in time to investigate the matter before the tattle are carried off and scattered, so that it cannot' do so, ar cannot do’ so with the same facility and satisfaction that he could at the-.pla.ee of delivery. Larson, supra, 149. Yerbal notice gives the defend ant. Jfhe same opportunity to make the necessary investigation that a written notice would. There is no statute requiring such contracts to be in writing. And the only benefit it. can be to the defendant or the plaintiff to have it in writing is to more effectually preserve the evidence of the notice. But that reason does not exist here, as it is not denied that plaintiff gave the agent of defendant, at Culpepper* who was the person named in the contract as the party to be notified., verbal notice of his claim at the time of delivery of/ the cattle. And this agent told plaintiff not to sue tlxé'defend-ant, and insisted that plaintiff could get his «tfimey without suit. This seems to have been jp ’-waiver of the require-jnentdhat notice should beinjoafriting. Roberson v. Kirby 7 Jones 477.

A party purchasecfa ticket from Wilmington, N. C., to Old Point, Ya., and return, with a written condition that it should only be a good return ticket upon its being stamped by defendant’s agent at Old Point. The purchaser did not go to Old Point, but presented the ticket to defendant’s agent at Norfolk, explained the matter to him and he stamped it. In an action for damages by the holder of the ticket, alleging that defendant refused to receive this ticket in payment of fare, this Court held that the action of defendant’s agent at Norfolk was a waiver of the stipulation that it should be done by the agent at Old Point. Taylor v. Railroad, 99 N. C., 185.

Where a policy of insurance provided that no other policy should be taken upon the property insured, without notice to that company and its consent endorsed thereon, ■and made a violation of this stipulation a forfeiture of the policy, and the insured afterwards took out ' another policy with the knowledge and consent of defendant’s agent, who procured the first policy to betaken, but without notifying the defendant and getting its consent endorsed as required by the first policy, this Court held that the ■action of the agent was a waiver of this requirement of notice to defendant and its endorsement. Grubbs v. Ins. Co., 110 N. C., 108; or at least it was sufficient evidence of waiver to entitle the plaintiff to have the question submitted to the jury. Ibid.; Hornthal v. Ins. Co., 88 N. C., 71; McCraw v. Ins. Co., 78 N. C., 149.

A party shipped cattle under a written contract, with a stipulation that the shipper should not be entitled to damages unless he gave written notice to defendant’s ■agent.who delivered the cattle to plaintiff at or before the delivery. The cattle reached their destination late at night, when plaintiff notified the agent verbally that he would not receive them except under protest, and that he claimed damages, when the agent made no objection to the form of the demand, but assuied him that it was not necessary to go to the company’s office that night; from, that time, he gave his attention to the stock, and with the agent’s consent the stock was that night removed to plaintiff’s farm, several miles in the country, and three days after he gave notice in writing. This was held to be a waiver of the requirement that the notice should be in writing. Lawson, supra, 150.

Therefore, upon reason and the authorities cited, we are of the opinion there is error, and that plaintiff is entitled to have the non-suit set aside, the case restored to the ‘docket, and a new trial. New Trial.