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Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Co. v. Michalke

Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Company v. H. R. Michalke

Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Ry. Co. v. Michalke, 38 S.W. 31 (Tex. 1896)
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Court
Texas Supreme Court · State Highest Courts
Decided
December 17, 1896
Judges
Gaines
Citations
38 S.W. 3190 Tex. 2761896 Tex. LEXIS 477
Headnotes
Railway Crossing—Obstructing "View. A railway company has a right, as a general rule, to erect the structures necessary for the prosecution of its business, and to leave standing cars upon its side track near a street or road crossing, but an obstruction of the view of a crossing by such means may constitute negligence; whether it does so or not, depends upon circumstances, and is a question of fact for the jury.
Summary
Petition for writ of error to the Court of Civil Appeals, Fourth District, in an appeal from Colorado County. Michalke sued the Railway Company to recover for personal injuries, received through collision with a locomotive at a street crossing. Plaintiff recovered judgment, and on defendant's appeal it was affirmed. Appellant then applied for a writ of error. Among other grounds assigned was one based on the approval of the charge of the trial court permitting plaintiff to recover if “defendant permitted obstructions to be placed and remain upon its track and right of way so as to obstruct the view of plaintiff * * * and if you believe such acts, if any, constituted negligence * * * etc.” The refusal of a charge to the effect that defendant had a right to erect certain structures by and stand cars upon its tracks was also assigned as error.

Syllabus and headnotes are prepared by the reporter or publisher, not the court, and are not part of the opinion.

Opinion of the Court — Gaines

GAINES, Associate Justice.

are of the opinion that the application for the writ of error in this case should he refused. In upholding, however, the ruling of the Court of Civil Appeals—that the first charge requested hy the plaintiff and given hy the court was not error—we deem it proper to say that we do not question the right of a railway company, as a general rule, to erect the structures necessary for the prosecution of its business and to leave standing cars upon its side tracks, near a street or road crossing. But we think that the circumstances of a case may he such that, as a matter of fact, it may be negligence to do so. It has been so held hy this court. (Receivers v. Stewart, 17 S: W. Rep., 33.) There ■was evidence in this case from which in our opinion the jury were authorized to infer negligence. We do not understand the Court of Civil Appeals to differ with us, with reference to this question; but as their opinion does not point out the circumstances in evidence which take dhe case out of the general rule, we think it best to say this much in order to prevent a misconception of our ruling.

Writ of error refused.

How later courts describe this case

Explanatory parentheticals written by citing courts — 2 in all; the most informative distinct ones are shown.

Cited by 14 cases

View all citing references →
1897: 31899: 11913: 11915: 11916: 11921: 21922: 11936: 11945: 12005: 12009: 118972026peak 1897 · 3

Relies on it most ⓘ

  1. Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Limmer299 S.W.3d 78 (Tex. 2009)
  2. Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Limmer180 S.W.3d 803 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005)
  3. Baker v. Hodges231 S.W. 844 (Tex. App. 1921)
  4. Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Co. v. Rogers40 S.W. 956 (Tex. 1897)
  5. Gates v. Hooper39 S.W. 1079 (Tex. 1897)
  6. Thayer v. Denver & Rio Grande R. R.154 P. 691 (N.M. 1916)

Most recent

  1. Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Limmer299 S.W.3d 78 (Tex. 2009)
  2. Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Limmer180 S.W.3d 803 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2005)
  3. Jegendorf v. Jegendorf157 P.2d 280 (Wyo. 1945)
  4. Cox v. Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad56 P.2d 149 (Nev. 1936)
  5. Hartford Fire Ins. Co. v. Galveston, H. & S. A. Ry. Co.239 S.W. 919 (Tex. Comm'n App. 1922)
  6. Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Gold235 S.W. 331 (Tex. App. 1921)

Citing references are not a citator: they show that a later opinion cites this case, not whether it followed, distinguished, or overruled it. Check negative history before relying on this case.

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