Roberts v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.

Railroads : Highway Crossings : Negligence. (1) Restoring highway at crossing; duty of company. (2) Its negligence a question for the jury. (3) Such negligence properly found in this case. (4, 5) Giving warning at crossing; duty of company; question for jury. (6) Contributory negligence. New Trial. (7) Excessive damages. 1. Under the statute (R. S., ch. 79, sec. 11) which requires a highway over which a railway is constructed to be restored “ to its former usefulness,” the railway company must so restore it that its use by the public shall not be materially interfered with, nor the highway be rendered less safe and convenient to persons and teams passing over it— except so far as diminished safety and convenience are inseparable from any crossing of the highway by a railroad. 2. In an action against a railroad company for injuries inflicted by defendant’s train, at a highway crossing, upon a person traveling on such highway, the question whether the railroad was constructed with proper care, so as to render the crossing as little dangerous as possible to the public in the use of the highway, is a pure question of fact for the jury, upon the evidence. Duffy v. Ch. & N. W. R'y Co., 32 Wis., 269, approved and reaffirmed. 3. There was testimony in this case similar to that given in the Duffy case above cited (the crossing in question being the same), and there was also put in evidence a diagram or photograph of the premises, which tended to show that the crossing was rendered more dangerous by the earth thrown by the defendant upon the natural bank to the right of the highway, which increased the difficulty of seeing or hearing trains coming from the north. Meld, that upon the whole evidence the jury were warranted in inferring negligence on the part of the defendant in the construction of its road at this crossing. 4. Plaintiff testified that as he approached the crossing with his team, on the highway, he heard no bell or whistle, and could not see defendant’s train on account of a high bank which intervened. Held, that upon this evidence there was a question for the jury, of negligence on defendant’s part in failing to give proper warning. 5. If the bell and whistle on defendant’s trains approaching said crossing from the north, can give no warning to persons approaching it with tearps on the highway from the south, because of the high bank intervening, then defendant is bound to employ some other means of giving such warning. 6. Plaintiff testified that at the time of the accident in question, he was driving along slowly, with a gentle horse, “ on a little trot,'''’ expecting that if a train were coming, warning would be given by bell and whistle, but unable to see a near approaching train from the north, until he got within a few feet of the track, by reason of the intervening bank. Held, that upon this evidence the question whether he was guilty of contributory negligence was properly left to the jury. 7. The evidence was, that plaintiff was thrown out of his buggy by the accident, and so severely bruised as to be confined to bed for three weeks. The jury awarded him three hundred and fifty dollars damages. Held, that there was no error in denying a motion for a new trial on the ground that the damages were excessive.

APPEAL from the Circuit Court for Bodge County. Action for injuries to plaintiff’s person, alleged to have been caused by the negligence of defendant in running its cars, and in the improper construction of a railroad crossing upon a highway leading out from the city of Watertown. The locus in quo was the same, and the circumstances of the injury were very similar to those in Duffy v. The Chicago & Northwestern Railioay Company, reported in 82 Wis., 269. One witness, John P. Slight, sworn in behalf of the plaintiff, testified substantially as follows: “ I have known the Oak Grove road for twenty-eight years. It has been used as a public highway that time. I know where the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad crosses it in the city of Watertown. The surface of the ground there was higher before the railroad was built than at the present time. There was a hill there running to the southwest. The railroad was built through it from north to south * * ; think it angles a little. There is a cut some six or seven feet deep through this bank for the railroad, and the high road is cut down to a level with the railroad track. Originally we crossed about four or five rods south of the present crossing, that is, before the railroad was built * * in 1859. Approaching the crossing from the south, there is a high bank of earth to the right of the track, some feet above my head. There is some waste dirt thrown upon this bank on the right hand side, also an old fence, some brush, and one thing and another. The width of the highway, as you approach the crossing, between the bank and ditch, is from fifteen to twenty-two feet; This is near the track. Further south it is wider. There is not room enough there to turn a team around in with a double wagon, unless you would occupy a part of the railroad and the ditch alongside of it. Have tried the experiment, driving up there, to see how near I would have to go to the track before I could see whether a train is coming from the north on the,track. Sitting on a common seat of a wagon, can see up the track, looking north, when my horses are twelve or fifteen feet from the track. In the valley, seventy rods southeast of the crossing, towards Watertown, those acquainted with the track can discover the smoke of the train. From that point, up to the time you get to the track, you can’t see the train at all. * * * Pretty much all the northern travel out of Watertown travels on this highway. There is no other highway out of Watertown on the west side in that direction. * * * This place that a man goes into, formed by the railroad and highway, is three cornered, * * * very narrow. Coming from the south way, it is a kind of three-cornered pocket. * * * With a four-wheeled vehicle, you can’t turn around.” Other evidence 'was introduced to substantially the same effect; and a diagram or photograph of the place was also produced and shown in corroboration. The plaintiff testified that he was unacquainted with the road,- and had never traveled it previous to the accident, though he knew there was a crossing there; that he came through Watertown on his way home with a horse and buggy, the buggy containing only himself and wife, and, as he approached the crossing, was driving along at his usual pace, a slight trot, seeing nothing of any train, and hearing no bell or whistle or other noise or signal, until close upon the track, when a locomotive with train attached passed by, frightening his horse, which was Usually gentle and perfectly manageable, and rendering him uncontrollable, in consequence of which the witness was thrown out close upon the track, and sustained severe injuries, by reason of which he was confined to his bed for a period of three weeks. The defendant moved for a nonsuit, on the ground that the plaintiff was guilty of negligence in approaching the crossing. This motion being denied, the case was submitted to the jury, who brought in a verdict for the plaintiff for $350 damages. Thereupon defendant moved, on the minutes of the court, for a new trial, on the grounds, 1. That the exceptions to rulings of the court, or some of them, were well taken; 2. That the evidence was insufficient to sustain the verdict; and 8. That the damages were excessive. The motion was denied; and the defendant appealed from a judgment on the verdict. 1. There was no testimony to show the condition of the highway at the crossing before the railroad was built, and consequently it could not be determined from the evidence either that the company had failed to restore the road to its former usefulness, as required by the statute, or that it was lower or narrower than it previously had been. Even if it was defective in the respects last mentioned, such defects did not in this instance contribute to the injury, and do not enter into the case. 2. The plaintiff himself was guilty of gross carelessness in his manner of approaching the crossing. ■ The testimony showed that he made use of neither his eyes nor his ears, but drove up on a trot to the very track of tbe railroad in full view of tbe coming train, while the rattle of bis buggy necessarily drowned the noise of tbe cars. This was contributory negligence, such as would prevent bis recovery. 2 Eedf. on Railways, 200, §§ 17 et seq.; 18 N. Y., 422; 24 id., 430; Ernst v. H. B. R. B. Go., 35 id., 9, 47 ; Gomales v. H. Y. & H. B. B. R. Co., 38 id., 440; Wilcox v. R. W. & 0. R'y Go., 39 id., 358 ; Davis v. N. Y. Central R'y Go., 47 id., 400; Gillespie v. Newburg, 54 id-, 468; Boihe v.M. & Si. P. R'y Go., 21 Wis., 256'; Shear. & Eedf. on Neg., § 488. 3. Tbe damages were excessive. Plaintiff does not pretend to have suffered pain or any permanent injury, or any inconvenience, after tbe three weeks during which he was confined to his bed. He employed no physician, and his time was of little value. cited the case of Duffy v. Oh. & N. W. R’y Go., 32 Wis., 269, as almost identical with and conclusive of the one at bar. Among other points made by him were the following: 1. Railroad companies, in running their trains across highways in populous places, are held to the utmost care, and a compliance with statute regulations will not excuse them when the circumstances are such as to render other precautions on their part necessary or reasonable for the prevention of injuries to travelers. Brown v. H. Y. C. R’y Go., 34 N. Y., 404; 2 Cush. (Mass.), 439; Butler v. Mil. & St. P. R'y Go., 28 Wis., 487; Richardson v. N. Y. C. R'y Go., 45- N. Y., 846 ; Mackay v. Same, 35 id., 75. 2. The plaintiff had a right to presume that the defendant would comply with the law and give him notice of the approaching train. He was not bound to stop, or to leave his team and go upon the track to obtain a better view, .but had a right, in the absence of any warning, to assume that no train was approaching, and that the crossing was safe. Ernst v. Hudson River R. R. Go., 35 N. Y, 9; Wood v. Luscomb, 23 Wis., 287; Kellogg v. Ch. & N. W. R’y Go., 26 id., 223; Davis v. N. Y. Gent. & H. R. R. R. Go., 47 N. Y., 400; Bdsiegel v. K Y. Gmi. R'y Co., 34 id., 622 ; 45 id., 846; 85 id., 75. 8. The question of plaintiffs contributory negligence, under tbe circumstances, was one for the jury. Wheeler v. Westport, 80 Wis., 892 ; Kavanaugh v. Janesville, 24 id., 618; Duffy v. Ch. & N. W. R’y Oo., supra.