York v. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co.

198 N.W. 377, 184 Wis. 110, 1924 Wisc. LEXIS 222

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: June 3, 1924
• Status: Published

Opinion

The following opinion was filed April 8, 1924:

Doerfler, J.

By its answer to the first question of the special verdict the jury found that the defendant failed to exercise ordinary care in putting the cinder dump on which York was riding in use with the accumulation of frozen cinders .on the platform at the back end of the car. Defendant’s counsel claim that, conceding the condition of such platform as above described, it must be held as a matter of law that their client was free from negligence; that it would be unreasonable and impracticable to require the company to malee periodical inspections of these platforms and to remove the deposited cinders, together with the ice and snow, therefrom. On the other hand, plaintiff’s counsel contend that the condition of the platform at the time of the accident presented a proper, jury issue on the subject of negligence, and that, the jury having answered the first question'favorably to the plaintiff, the trial court properly sustained the jury’s verdict in that behalf.

The condition of the platform was not solely the result of natural causes. During a rainfall at this period of the year the' platform naturally becomes slippery from an ensuing frost, while during a snow-storm snow will be deposited upon the platform, which, when the thermometer rises above the freezing point, is liable to melt, and upon frost recurring thereafter is liable to produce a slippery condition. These are natural and ordinary conditions for which the company ordinarily is immune from the charge of negligence under the authorities. Where the condition, however, is not the result of natural causes, but is due to. the acts of the defendant or its employees, a different situation arises. The conditions, however, may be the result of a combination of natural and artificial causes, and'ft appears that when such a combination exists, and where the artificial cause is created by the acts of the defendant or its employees, a proper jury issue on the subject of negligence is raised. See Salzer v. Milwaukee, 97 Wis. 471, 73 N. W. 20; West v. Eau Claire, 89 Wis. 31, 61 N. W. 313; Melody v. Des Moines U. R. Co. 161 Iowa, 695, 141 N. W. 438.

As above stated, water is poured over the cinders where the cars are loaded, and there is testimony in the case from which the jury could readily infer that the frozen condition of the cinders and the ice on the platform resulted from the overflow of the water onto the platform. It is also possible that the ice in and around the cinders and the platform was at least in part caused by the melting of the snow falling on the top of these cinders. In either event a highly dangerous condition may result, for which the defendant may be held liable. This platform was designed largely for the purpose of enabling the defendant’s employees, and particularly the brakemen, to perform their duties. Cinders in their natural condition are not slippery; tin the contrary, they tend to prevent slipping. These cinders were deposited on the platform, which was but eighteen inches in width, so that in the center thereof nearest the box of the car they were five inches in height. From such point there was a gradual pitch towards the rear end of the platform and towards the sides of the car. The surface was broken, irregular, and uneven. The cinders were covered with ice and were frozen together, and it requires no comment that such a condition is highly dangerous to- employees who in the discharge of their duties are required to occupy a position on such platform. The half inch of snow covering the cinders created a rather treacherous condition which added materially to the danger, for it prevented a full disclosure of the situation existing underneath. The cinders themselves consisted of individual pieces, more or less firmly frozen together, so that the application of a weight like that of a human bgdy to the surface, combined with the movement of the car, would have a tendency to cause them to give way and to produce slipping or falling.

The federal Employers’ Liability Act was enacted by Congress in order to minimize accidents. Under such act the company becomes liable where a death results in whole or in part from the negligence of any of the officers, agents, or employees of the company, or by reason of any defect or insufficiency due to its negligence in its cars, etc.

In Calhoun v. G. N. R. Co. 162 Wis. 264, 156 N. W. 198, the defendant was held liable for negligence where the employee sustained injury by stumbling against a running-board which projected over and above an adjacent running-board. While the condition of these running-boards in the Calhoun Case presented a situation inimical to the safety of the employees required to perform their duties thereon, the situation presented in the instant case was infinitely more dangerous. No case similar in its facts to the instant case is cited by counsel and we have been pnable to find one. However, if the federal statutes designed for the protection of human life and limb are to be given any force or effect, we must hold that the situation here presented is one clearly coming under such federal statutes, for which the defendant may be held responsible. The issue was clearly one for the jury-

Defendant’s counsel strenuously contend that under the record it must be held that York assumed the risk with respect to the condition of the platform. The question of assumption of risk was submitted to the jury by questions 3 and 4 of the special verdict and were answered adversely to the defendant.

“An employee by his very act of entering the service of the employer — by his very contract of employment — assumes the 'ordinary’ risks of the service or such as usually are incident thereto, and if he be injured solely by reason of those perils he is not entitled to recover.” 18 Ruling Case Law, 671; Nadau v. White River L. Co. 76 Wis. 120, 43 N. W. 1135; Bormann v. Milwaukee, 93 Wis. 522, 67 N. W. 924.

The question of assumption of risk is ordinarily one for the jury “unless the facts are inconsistent and present a situation so plain that intelligent men would not draw different conclusions.” 18 Ruling Case Law, 676; Guinard v. Knapp-Stout & Co. Company, 90 Wis. 123, 62 N. W. 625.

It appears from the record that York had been employed as a freight brakeman for the defendant company a number of years prior to the accident. To what extent he was familiar with the condition of cars like these dump cars doesi not appear-, nor is there anything to show that York had ever met a situation on the platform of a car similar to the one here involved. The deceased must be charged with knowledge of the usual and ordinary risks attendant upon and connected with his employment, and such risks, under the law, he assumed. Among such risks may be mentioned the boarding of cars while in motion, his passing over the top of cars on the running boards, while in motion, the crossing of tracks in the employer’s yards, and numerous other similar risks. There are few occupations in the industrial life of a community that subject employees to greater danger than those which constantly confront railroad employees in the discharge of their duty. The movement and operation of a large train of cars require an observation of the rules of "the company and mutual cooperation among the employees in order that the work may be accomplished with dispatch and promptness and to avoid large economic loss. There is little time, in the ordinary movement of a large freight train, and particularly in the making up of a train, for an employee to make inspection of the various parts of the train on which he is required to perform his duty. The operation of a transcontinental railway system like that of the defendant constantly brings the brakemen in touch with a large number of cars, not only of the defendant' company but of other companies whose cars may be dispatched over its line. It would be a physical impossibility for any employee of a railroad company to have full knowledge of and to be conversant with the conditions existing on all of the cars. The condition of the platform upon which York was riding immediately prior to his death was one, as has already been shown, connected with unusual hazard. There is nothing in the evidence to show that prior to his boarding this car he had ever come in contact therewith, or that it was usual for cars to- be left in such dangerous condition.

This is not a case, as intimated by counsel for the defendant, where a few cinders or pieces of coal had been left on the platform; on the contrary, the record discloses a platform unusually narrow for an employee to- perform his duties upon, upon whieh had been deposited a large volume of rough cinders of various forms and shapes, frozen together. When the last cinder dump had passed the switch on the west-bound track York was on duty signaling the engineer to back up. There was nothing for York to do but to take his position upon this dangerous platform, so that he might signal to the conductor the approach of the train. The accident happened while darkness was rapidly approaching, as appears from the fact that York held in his hand his signal lantern. It is difficult to determine what position, under the circumstances, would have been the safest position for York to assume. There was little time for investigation and his duties were imminent. He took the position on the platform next to the brake-beam, evidently believing that this would afford him not only the best opportunity to signal, but also for his own protection and safety. Immediately upon boarding this car, pursuant to the signal theretofore given by him, the engineer backed his engine and the dump cars east on the west-bound main track, and while the car was in motion any movement on the part of York, under the circumstances, would have been connected with considerable risk and danger. To ascertain the exact situation and the danger which presented itself was nigh impossible under those circumstances. As has already been said, the surface of the cinders was fcovered with half an inch of snow, which added to the difficulties of 'ascertaining the condition underneath. Under such facts and circumstances we are requested to hold, in accordance with the view of defendant’s counsel, that York either knew and was aware of the dangerous condition or that by the exercise of ordinary care he could have ascertained such condition. The contention of defendant’s counsel does not appeal to us as having any merit.

Under the provisions of the federal Employers’ Liability Act, it'was incumbent upon the defendant to furnish to York a reasonably safe place in which to perform his duties, and he had, under the circumstances, a right to believe that the place furnished him was reasonably'safe. The risk which York assumed was not an ordinary risk, but was created largely by artificial means, through the negligence of deT fendant’s employees. Such negligence greatly increased the hazard, and, to say the least, the question of assumption of risk was one for the jury.

In Nadau v. White River L. Co. 76 Wis. 120, 131, 43 N. W. 1135, this court cites with approval what is said in Swoboda v. Ward, 40 Mich. 420, 424:

“Where the servant shows that the injury he received was in consequence of an increased risk, — one not ordinarily incident to the employment, — growing out of the master’s negligence, the burden of proof is upon the master to show that the servant knew of and understood the increased dangers.”

In Graber v. D., S. S. & A. R. Co. 159 Wis. 414, 150 N. W. 489, it is said:

“Assumption of the risk includes only such as the employee, expressly or impliedly, contracts to take upon himself because of being ordinary incidents of the particular business as ordinarily, carried on, or as carried on in the particular case to his knowledge or under such circumstances that reasonable attention to his situation would afford him such knowledge.”

There is involved in the question of assumption of risk not only the question of knowledge, but a reasonable opportunity to ascertain the nature of the risk and also an appreciation of the risk. There is no evidence in the case whatever showing that York, prior to boarding this platform, had any knowledge whatsoever of its dangerous condition; furthermore, there is no evidence in the case that he had an opportunity to determine for himself whether the platform, as a matter of fact, was in a dangerous condition. After assuming his position upon the platform he was engrossed in the performance of his duties. It was difficult and dangerous for him to attempt to change his position while the car was in motion, because any movement on his part on the surface of the snow and frozen cinders would have been inimical to his safety. Even an inspection or investigation of the platform would have been connected with considerable hazard, if we assume that by the use of the signal lantern the dangerous condition, would have been disclosed. We are clearly of the opinion that the answers of the jury to the questions of the special verdict, involving the matter of assumption of risk are fully sustained by the evidence.

Defendant’s counsel rely largely upon Jacobs v. Southern R. Co. 241 U. S. 229, 36 Sup. Ct. 588; Seaboard Air Line Ry. v. Horton, 233 U. S. 492, 34 Sup. Ct. 635; and Southern Pac. Co. v. Berkshire, 254 U. S. 415, 41 Sup. Ct. 162. In the Jacobs Case an employee of the company attempted to board a moving engine with a vessel of water in his hand and stumbled over a pile of cinders. The employee had knowledge of the cinders, but had momentarily .forgotten the existence of the same. In that case the court held that having admitted knowledge of the conditions he assumed the risk.

The Seaboard Air Line Case might have been cited to advantage by plaintiff’s counsel. It is there held that:

“Some employments are necessarily fraught with danger to the workman — danger that must be and is confronted in the line of his duty. Such dangers as are normally and necessarily incident to the occupation are presumably taken into the account in fixing the rate of wages. And a workman of mature years is taken to assume risks of this sort whether he is actually aware of them or not. But risks of another sort, not naturally incident to the occupation, may arise out of the failure of the employer to exercise due care with respect to providing a safe place of work and suitable and safe appliances for the work. These the employee is not treated as assuming until he becomes aware of the defect or disrepair and of the risk arising from it, unless defect and risk alike are so obvious that an ordinarily prudent person under the circumstances would have observed and appreciated them.”

To such decision we can find no criticism, and the law thus declared appears to be the recognized law upon the subject, generally.

In the Southern Pac. Co. Case it was held that the engineer who sustained injury had knowledge of the defects complained of, and it was therefore held that he assumed the risks as a matter of law. The other cases cited by defendant’s counsel are all readily distinguishable from the instant case. We are therefore constrained to hold that the question of plaintiff’s assumption of risk presented a proper jury issue, and, the answers of the jury being sustained by the evidence, the verdict in that behalf cannot be disturbed.

In the answer to the second question of the special verdict the jury found that defendant's negligence was the proximate cause of York’s death. Defendant’s counsel insist that the evidence does not sustain this answer of the jury in the special verdict; that the answer of the jury rests upon bare possibilities; and that in answering this question the jury entered the realm of conjecture and speculation. On this question the burden of proof was upon the plaintiff. Proximate cause may be shown both by direct and circumstantial evidence. There is no direct testimony of a witness in this case disclosing the exact manner in which the deceased came to his death. It does appear, however, that as York passed the Ludington street crossing he was seen by the crossing tender occupying the position above described, standing next to the brake-beam, with one hand thereon, and with the other hand offering a salute with his signal lantern. Immediately thereafter, as the car on which he was riding was approaching the west switch of the north passing track, where the conductor was stationed, he was found under the train, dead. The condition of the platform has been fully established and is undisputed in the evidence. True, there is a possibility of York having had a sudden stroke of apoplexy or of heart failure. There is no evidence in the case, however, which would support such a claim. It is also possible that his hold upon the brake-beam may have been suddenly released and that thereby he lost his balance and was precipitated under the train. Such contentions, however, are based merely upon bare possibilities and are highly conjectural and speculative. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, it must be assumed that York exercised precaution for his own safety. The most important outstanding fact, however, in the case is the actual physical condition of the platform which resulted from the negligence of the defendant, and it was not only logical for the jury to conclude that this negligent condition was the cause of the injury, but such conclusion is based upon reasonable probability. The proximate cause in the instant case was shown with greater certainty and more definiteness than that shown in the Calhoun Case above referred to.

Under the view above expressed on the various issues presented, it will be unnecessary for us to consider plaintiff’s claim that'the defendant was also negligent in violating the federal Safety Appliance Act. This disposes of all of the contentions of defendant’s counsel, both in the brief and in the argument.

While the elements involved in the question of assumption of risk were substantially included in the questions submitted by the court in the special verdict, we would suggest the propriety of framing the question in accordance with the one requested by defendant’s counsel, viz.: “Would an ordinarily prudent person with York’s experience in riding cinder cars, under all the circumstances existing at the time, have observed and appreciated the danger to himself in riding in the position which he had assumed on the end of the car?”

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.

A motion for a rehearing was denied, with $25 costs, on June 3, 1924.