Hines v. Green

1. Master and Servant. Assault on servant Toy another servant in course of employment actionable. Where a master employs a dangerous, quarrelsome, and vicious servant, or retains him in his service after knowledge of his dangerous character, and such servant, while in the course of his employment and in furtherance of the master’s business, . commits an assault on another servant, who is also employed in the master’s business and is acting in furtherance of the master’s business, the master is liable for the injuries resulting from the wrongful assault. 2. Master and Servant. Railroad engineer’s assault on conductor held actionable. Where a conductor of a switching crew, including an engineer, was engaged in moving an engine and passenger cars from one point in the yard to another point therein, and where to complete the movement it is necessary to pass through a switch, and where the engine was halted because the switch was not thrown, and the engineer because of such fact assaults the conductor because the switch is not thrown, so that the engine may proceed to its destination, and where it was the conductor’s duty to have the switch thrown, the engineer and the conductor are acting in the course of their employment, about the master’s business, and the master is liable for a wrongful assault by the engineer on the conductor. 3. Commerce. Rule for determining applicability of federal Employers’ Liability Act stated; federal Employers’ Liability Act held inapplicable to action for assault upon railroad employee by engineer. When applicability of the federal Employers’ Liability Act (U. S. Comp. St., sections 8657-8665) is involved, or it is to be determined in a suit whether it is applicable or not, it -may generally be. determined by inquiring whether at the time of the injury, the employee was engaged in work so closely connected with interstate transportation as, practically, to be a part of it. The facts in this case do not bring it within this rule as the cars being switched neither carried interstate commerce nor were they to be used immeddiately in interstate commerce, nor had they been used immediately before in such commerce, hut were only used therein whenever the exigencies of the railroad called them into service for that purpose. 4. Master and Servant. Risk of railroad’s negligence not assumed. Under the laws of this state the servant does not assume the risk,. in cases against railroad companies, where the master is negligent. 5. Death. Yerdict in excess of present cash value of expectancy under federal act reduced. Where in a suit against a railroad company for an injury to a servant no case for punitive damages is made, and where the court instructs the jury that the rules applicable to the federal Employer’s Liability Act (U. S. Comp. St., sections 8657-8665) governs the amount ,of damages, and where the verdict is in excess of the amount of the present cash value of that part of the expectancy which they could recover under such rule, but in fact the liability is governed by state law, the verdict will not be permitted to stand, unless a remittitur is entered, reducing the amount to such sum as could stand under such rule of liability.

Appeal from circuit court of Forrest county. Hon. R. S. Hall, Judge. Action by Mrs. Maud E. Green, as administratrix, against Walker D. Hines, agent. Judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals. The declaration in this cause states that the deceased, Jesse Green, was the engine foreman, charged by the master with the duty of controlling and directing the movement of the trains and the labor of the other employees, and to order, command and direct the workmen, that is, the engineer, fireman and switchmen on such trains. It further charged that the engineer, Zack McLendon, was a quarrelsome, vicious and dangerous man with whom the said Jesse Green, as his superior in command, was placed to work. That the cause of action accrued by reason of the said Jesse Green being placed in control of the crew in which the engineer, Zack McLendon, was in charge of the engine and by reason of his quarrelsome and dangerous character, ivhile engaged about their work, he, the said Mc-Lendon, shot and killed Green to the damage of the plaintiff. A special plea in bar to "the action was filed setting up that at the time of the injury and death of the said Jesse Green inflicted at the hands of Zack McLendon, that the said Jesse Green and Zack McLendon were engaged in interstate commerce, and that the defendant, the common master, at the same time was so engaged in interstate commerce with the said two employees above named. To this plea a demurrer was interposed. The demurrer admits that at the time of the death of the said Jesse Green that he and McLendon together with the common master, the defendant herein, were engaged in interstate commerce. It is a well settled principle of law that a demurrer interposed will search the whole record and attach to and overthrow the first pleadings in point of time of filing, found to be defective. (A) Stevens on Pleadings, page 144, states the rule to be: “That on demurrer, the court will consider the whole record, and give judgment for the party who, on the whole appears to be entitled to it. Thus, on demurrer to the replication if the court think the replication bad, but perceive a substantial fault in. tie plea, they will give judgment, not for the defendant, but the plaintiff, provided the declaration be good; but if the declaration be also bad in substance, then upon the same principle, judgment would be given for the defendant.” (B) In Vol. 6, Enc. Pleadings and Practice, page 326, the rule is thus stated: “The principle that, upon demurrer, the court will consider only the fact of the pleadings against which the demurrer is directed applies only to the consideration of the sufficiency of the pleading demurred to. While, therefore, the court is restricted to the particular pleadings for this purpose, the demurrer searches the Avhole record, and is taken as a demurrer to that pleading which contains the first fatal defect.” (C) In the case of McGavoclc v. Whitfield, 45 Miss. 452, Justice Simrall said: “It is a familiar rule in pleading that a demurrer brings into review the whole record, and should be applied to the first material defect in the pleadings.” (D) At whatever- state of the pleadings a demurrer is interposed it reaches back in its effects through the whole record, and attaches ultimately to the first substantial defect in the pleading on Avhichever side it may have occurred. Miles v. Myers, Walker, 379; Wren y. Spann, 1 How-a-rd, 115; Tucker v. Hart, 20 Miss. 458. See to the same effect, Haynes v. Covington, 9 Smedes & Marshall, 470; Shoults 'y. Kemp, 57 Miss. 218; Prairie Lodge v. Smith, 58 Miss. 301; State v. Washington Steam Fire Go., 76 Miss. 449. (E) It is not too late now to extend the demurrer back to the declaration if the declaration is defective in substance and fails to state a cause of action. Y. & M. V. R. R. Go. v. Adams, 77 Miss. 780. We contend that casual inspection of the record Avill convince this court that the learned court below erred in admitting the testimony on behalf of the plaintiff over the' objection of the defendant, for the reason that the said evidence was incompetent and should not have been admitted, as appears in the record herein on pages, 88, 91, 92, 93, 101, 126 to 130, 136, and 142 to 144, and that the admitting of this testimony was very prejudicial to the rights of the appellant, in the minds of the jury. The second error assigned herein complains of the action of the court beloAV in excluding - evidence offered by the appellant and excluded by the court, as appears of record on pages 104, 177, 179, 190, and 199. This evidence Avas competent, Avas offered for the purpose of showing the situation and relation of the parties to each other and the master, and should have been admitted. If admitted manifestly it would have changed the result of the trial. We most earnestly contend that the most serious error committed by the learned court below was in the action of the court in overruling appellant’s motion at the close of the appellee’s testimony, to exclude all the evidence offered on behalf of the appellee, plaintiff in the court below, and to peremptorily charge the jury to return a ver- • dict for the appellant for the following reasons, to-wit: First: The record in this case shows that McLendon was a fellow servant with the deceased Green. Green had the authority to direct the movements of the train, and to that extent directed the movements of McLendon, Mc-Lendon’s employment and the scope of the duties assigned him was to run the engine as directed by Green. At the time of the difficulty, McLendon had gotten down off the engine, and thereby abandoned his post of duty and the work he was employed to do and engaged in a personal affair of his'own. The record further shows that the deceased Green was not engaged in any duties that he was employed to perform. That both had abandoned their master’s business and had engaged in the settlement of a personal difficulty between themselves. As neither employee was acting in the course of his employment, with the view to the master’s business, the peremptory instruction should have been given. Hinds v. Cole, 85 So. 199; Petroleum Iron Works v. Bailey, No. 21384, 86 So. 644, decided at this term of court. Neither of the employees having acted in the course of his employment toward the furtherance of his master’s business, with the view to the promotion of the business of the master, the fellow servant rule applies. The master is not liable for the injury and death inflicted by one upon the other. Petroleum Iron Works v. Bailey, supra, and the cases cited therein. Second: The uncontradicted evidence in this case shows that engineer McLendon and the deceased Green were engaged in and about the master’s business prior to and up •until the time that they entered into the conflict, which resulted in Green’s death, and that they were engaged in interstate commerce. Under the Employers’ Liability Act, the master is not liable for injuries wilfully inflicted by a servant upon a fellow servant. Roebuck v. A. T. & 8. F. R. R. Go., 99 Kan. 544, 162 Pac. 1158; Hulley v. Moos Brougger, 95 Atl. 1007; L. & N. R. R. Go. v. Hudson, 78 So. 30. Third: Under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act the employee assumes all the risk obvious to an ordinarily careful and prudent person. The uncontradicted evidence in this „ case shows that Green knew the habits and conduct of McLendon better than any other man: He worked with McLendon for a number of years, during which time they disagreed repeatedly. He was then separated from McLendon by the master at his own request and given another run. After the contract had been entered into, which gave the employee the right of seniority, Green compelled appellant, over its objection and protest, to put him back on the run with Mc-Lendon after lie had been separated from him eight months or more. Green entering into the discharge of his duties with McLendon, with a full knowledge of his disposition, temperament, and character, assumed the risk of the dangers that such employment would entail. Chesapeake & Ohio R. R. Go. v. John J. D’Alley, 36 Sup. Ct. 564; G. R. I. & P. R. R. Go. v. Ward, 40 Sup. Ct. 275; See 5 Thompson, Corp., sec. 5443, p. 239. The eleventh and twelfth assignments of error complains of the excessiveness of the judgment and the wrong measure given by the court in submitting the measure of damages to the jury. The amount of recovery in this case, if a recovery had been proper, must be based upon the proper measure by computation of the amount that the widow might reasonably be expected to receive from her husband for her support, and such sums as the children might reasonably be expected to receive from their father for support during tbeir minority. McGovey’s Guardian v. McGovery, Administratrix; 178 S. W. 765; N. 0. & St. L. R. R. Go. V. Anderson, 185 S. W. 678. . The amount shown by the mortality tables, computed on its present worth, was the maximum amount for which recovery could be had. This amount is shown to be sixteen thousand eight hundred sixty-four dollars and thirty-two cents. This is the proper measure to determine the amount of recovery in proper case for a recovery. C. & 0. R. R. Go. v. Gainey, 36 U. S. Sup. Ct. 683; G. & O. R. R. Go. v. Kelly, 26 U. S. Sup. Ct. 630. In conclusion, we most respectfully submit that on the whole record this was not a case to be submitted to the jury but one that should have been decided by the court, as the law was and is manifestly with the appellant and the court should have given the peremptory instruction requested, directing the jury to return a verdict for the defendant. For the reason assigned, the court should reverse the case and give judgment for appellant. Green and McLendon, his slayer, were members of switching crew and not engaged in interstate commerce when Green was killed and therefore the rights of parties are governed by state law. Yol. 2, Roberts, Federal Lia-bilit of Comp., Section 503, accurately states the rule to be; The ordinary and usual test in determining whether switching crews employed in railroad yards are engaged in interstate commerce is Avhether at the very moment of the accident they are assisting in moving interstate traffic, that is, cars either loaded or empty, originating in one state and destined to a place in another state, territory or foreign country. Erie R. Go. v. Welsh, 242 U. S. 303, 61 L. Ed. 319; Seaboard Air Line Ry. v. Koennecke, 239 U. S. 352, 60 L. Ed. 324; Penn. Ry. Co. v. Donat, 239 U. S. 50, 60 L. Ed. 139; I. C. R. R. Co. v. Benhoms, 233 U. S. 473, 58 L. Eel. 1051; Qlarke v. Brie B. B., 230 Fed. 479; A. G. S. B. B. Go. v. Skotzy, 71 So. 335. We quote the authorities for the purpose of showing that the rights of appellant and appellee are not governed or controlled by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, and the amendment thereto. Ill (2). Burden of proving interstate employment upon the defendant. 1 Roberts, Injuries to Interstate Employees, sec. 466, page 808; Chicago B. & Q. B. B. v. Bar-rington, 241 XT. S. 177; Dell Lack é West B. B. v. Yur/c-onis, 238 XJ. S. 439; Shanks v. Del. Lack. <& West B. B., 239 XJ. S. 556; Minneapolis é St. Paul B. B. Go. v. Winters, 242 XJ. S. 353. Fellow Servant rule abolished under Federal Employer’s Liability Act. Prior to the enactment by Congress of the Federal Employer’s Inability Act the laws of the several states were regarded as determinative of the liability of employers engaged in interstate commerce for injuries received by their employees while engaged in such commerce. So, if we are mistaken as to rvhich of the laws, state or federal, should control in the final determination of this case, we respectfully submit the difference in permitting recovery is of minor importance, and under the state or federal law this case should be affirmed on the law and the facts disclosed in the record. Section 1 of the federal employer’s Liability Act provides that a recovery for the death may be had if such death resulted in whole or in part from the negligence of any of the officers, agents or employees of such carrier. This section therefore abolishes the fellow’- servant rule. 1 Roberts, Federal Liabilities of Carriers, section 428, page 736. Y. Fellow7 Servant Rule abolished in this state. Section 4056, Code of 1906, section 6684, Hemingway’s Code. VI. Contributory negligence no bar to action. Law's of 1910, chapter 135, in effect April 16, 1810, section 502, Hemingway’s Code. VII. Assumption of risk. Where master is negligent. Abolished. Laws of 1914, chapter 156, in effect January 28, 1914, section 504, Hemingway’s Code, is as follows: “In all actions for personal injury to an employee, and in all actions where such injury results in death, such employee shall not be held to have assumed the risks of his employment in any case where such injury or death results in whole or in part from the negligence of the master. IX. Very slight difference in right to recover under the state or the federal law. We submit, that under the facts of this case the rights of the litigants are governed and controlled by the law of the state rather than the law of the Nation. However, the only difference in the two i@ that under the law of the state the assumption of risk is abolished where the master is negligent, and under the law of the Nation the assumption of risk is not abolished where the servant has actual constructive knowledge of the master’s negligence and appreciates the dangers necessarily incident thereto and voluntarily enters or continues in the employment of the master. Y. & M. V. R. R. v. Dees, 121 Miss. 439, 83 So. 613; Railroad Company v. Horton, 233 U. S. 492; Railroad Co. v. Hdll; 232 U. S. 94; McGovern V. Ry. Company, 235 U. S. 389. X. Appellant negligent in two respects. We submit, that the facts show and the jury found, the appellant was negligent in two respects: (A) In the employing and retaining the said McLendon in its service when it knew or should have known that he was a notoriously vicious, dangerous and unfit servant to place to work with other servants and employees. (B) The said McLendon, for whose acts the appellant is liable, negligently and unlawfully assaulted and killed the decedent, while he and McLendon were acting within the view of furthering their master’s business in moving and handling said engine and cars and the switch in question. Nil. Appellant’s rule that certain employees should be removed. It violated this rule. Appellant recognized that it was its duty to select employees possessing mental, moral, and physical qualifications and to see that no man of bad character, vicious or reckless habits and disposition, should be retained or kept in its employment. It had the following rule: “Employees who are dishonest, immoral, quarrelsome, or otherwise vicious will not be retained in the service.” This rule was breached by appellant in retaining Mc-Lendon and placing him to work with the decedent and others. It is argued that decedent selected his position with appellant. This is a mistake. He was doing what he had a right to do under his contract and under the rules and regulations of appellant. He had a right to assume that suitable and competent fellow employees would be placed Avith him to perform his work. This Avas not done. This was negligence, a result of Avhich was that decedent lost his life. This court in the recent case of Walker D. Hines Director General v. Cole, 85 So. 199, held: “The rule at common laAV is that a master is not responsible to a servant for an injury sustained by him because of the negligence of another servant while both are engaged in the same service, with this exception, that a master avIio negligently or knowingly employs or retains in his service an incompetent servant is liable for injuries to a fellow servant, through the incompetency of the servant so employed and retained, unless the injured servant has assumed the risks incident to such incompetency.” Railroad Company v. Ward, 173 Pac. 212; Dickinson v. Granberry, 174 Pac. 776; Railroad Company v. Davern, 177 Pac. 909; Gila R. R. Go. v. Hall, 232 ü. S. 94, 58 L. Ed. 521. It will be observed that the assumption of risk was fully covered by the instructions in this case as applicable to the facts. The court will remember that the felloAV-servant rule does not apply in this case. These employees Avere admittedly engaged in the operation of a train. The fellow-servant rule is abolished as to them, and the master is responsible for any injury wrongfully inflicted by one servant on another when acting within the course of his employment with a view of the master’s business, although the master was not negligent in employing such servant or retaining him in his service. Cole case, supra. Counsel cite the Cole case in support of their contention. We submit, this case establishes appellee’s right to recover. The appellee did not assume the risk of being negligently and wilfully assaulted by McLendon while acting in and about the master’s business, and in the furtherance thereof, in operating said train. Could it be seriously contended that if the engineer of this train had willfully, and with gross negligence, run the engine over the decedent and killed him because he had not opened the switch, that the appellant would not have been liable. This court has held that even in the case of a trespasser or a licensee, that an employee can not wilfully, wantonly or negligently kill or injure a trespasser or licensee. Barmore v. V. 8. & P. By. Go., 85 Miss. 440; Barmore v. V. 8. & P. By Go., supra; 1 Shear & Ked., Negligence, sec. 146. And the master cannot escape liability, even though the acts of the servants were unauthorized, wilful, and wrongful. Id. sec. 150; Thompson, Negligence, secs. 518, 519. The court in Banc in Indianola Ootton Oil Company v. Gromley, 121 Miss. 263, held: “Where the general manager of a plant told a bookkeeper to leave the books and accounts with him for inspection and when the bookkeeper hesitated to do so, assaulted him, in such case the general manager was acting within the scope of his employment and about his master’s business and the master was liable for his acts, though he desired to inspect his individual account with the master. The court in this case reaffirms its announcement in the Barmore case, supra. Yazoo & Mississippi Valley B. B. Go. v. Hare, 104 Miss. 564; Bichberger v. Express Co., 73 Miss. 171; Whitaker v. B.. B., 160 S. W. 1009; 2 Me-cliem on Agency (2 Ed.), sec. 1929; section 1957, of Me-chero. on Agency; M. K. & T. Ry. Co. V. Day, 136 S. W. 435; Booth v. White Engineering Co., 86 S. E. 32; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Hudson, 73 S. E. 30. XIII. McLendon was a reckless, grossly negligent and incompetent servant, and the court properly permitted evidence to explain his reputation. Vicksburg & Jackson R. R. Co. Y. Patton, 31 Miss. 194; Magourik v. Telegraph Co., 79 Miss. 636; Railroad Co. v. Hicks, 91 Miss. 354; Railroad Company v. Hare, 61 So. 648; Bwrmore v. Railroad Co., 85 Miss. 440; Hines v. Cole, 85 So. 199; Petroleum Iron Works v. Bailey, 86 So. 644. XIY. Appellee Liable Under Federal Law. In Erie R. R. Co. v. Purcker, 244 U. S. 320, the United States supreme court held: “Under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, an employee does not assume a risk attributable to the negligence of his co-employees until he is aware of it, unless the risk is so obvious that an ordinarily prudent person in his situation would observe and appreciate it. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific R. R. Co. v. Ward, 252 U. S. 18. The question of assumption of risk, even under the Federal Act, was one for the jury. Yazoo & Mississippi Valley It. R. Co. v. Dees, 121 Miss. 464; Railroad Co. v. Horton, 233 U. S. 492. As the federal act does not apply, however, thére is no question of the assumption of risk under our state statute, the jury having found on the facts that defendant and its servant were negligent. The Roebuck case, 162 Pac. 1153, from the Kansas supreme court, is relied on by counsel. This case is not applicable to the case at bar. The Roebuck case was brought under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act and the assault was not committed, within the scope of Mexican employment. It was not committed while he and his fellow employee were in the prosecution of the master’s business in furtherance of their employment. The decedent in the case at bar was negligently and wil-fully assaulted in furtherance of his master’s business. Not so in the Roebuck case. The Hulley Case, 95 Atl. 1007, was governed, and controlled by the Workmen’s Compensation Act of New Jersey and is not applicable to the case at bar. XVI., Verdict Not Excessive. The verdict is large but the loss is great. The loss of their young husband and father with his splendid earning capacity and support, justifies a large verdict. Verdicts for much larger sums have been permitted to stand for death claims. In Brick-man v. Southern Ry. Co., 54 S. E. 553, the supreme court of South Carolina allowed a verdict for forty-four thousand dollars for the loss of two legs. In Beard v. A. & V. ■Ry. Co.,-So. Rep.-, this court permitted a verdict to stand for twenty-five thousand dollars for the loss of .one hand. Other large verdicts, where the injuries and losses were great have been permitted to stand. We therefore earnestly insist that this award is not too large and should be permitted to stand. XVII. We therefore respectfully submit: 1. That the state law rather than the Federal Act controls the law and the facts of this case, as the employees were engaged in intrastate commerce at the time when and the place where decedent was killed. 2. That appellant was guilty of negligence in violating it rules and retaining said McLendon in its service in violation of said rules, when it knew that he was a desperate character and a grossly negligent and reckless-man and unfit to associate with diligent, careful and faithful em ployees. 3. That as a result of retaining McLendon in its service the decedent was negligently and wantonly killed to the great loss and detriment to his wife and children. 4. That appellant was negligent in furnishing decedent with unfit fellow servant and under the law of this state the decedent did not assume the risk of the negligent and wanton acts of McLendon at whose hands the decedent met his death. 5. That the Federal Employers’ Liability Act does not apply in this case and if so under this act it was a question of facts as to whether the decedent assumed the risk of the acts of McLendon from which the decedent died, and as this question of fact was decidéd in appellee’s favor this question is foreclosed under the decisions of this court ' and. the supreme court of the United States. 6. That appellant received more at the hands of the court below than it was entitled to receive in the instructions given and therefore it cannot now justly or legitimately complain. We, therefore, earnestly and respectfully submit, that this case should be affirmed.