Carroll v. Chicago, Burlington & Northern Railroad

Negligence: Fellow-servants: Practice, question for special finding. 1. Where the evidence showed that the window in defendant’s office, where employees were usually paid, and the catch for fastening it, were in perfect condition, so that the window could not fall if the catch was properly fastened, and that when such window had been raised by the defendant’s servant, that he might receive a check presented by the plaintiff, it fell upon and injured the plaintiff’s hand resting on the window ledge, a presumption of negligence arises from the very happening of such accident. 2. Where, in such a case, the plaintiff, was not in the employ of the defendant, but was present for the purpose of obtaining the pay of an employee who had quit its service some time before, he cannot be deemed a co-employee with the servant who raised the window. 3. It is not essential, under the provision of sec. 2858, E. S. 1878, authorizing the court to direct the jury to find upon any particular question of fact, that the question submitted should cover all the issues in the case.

Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Crawford county: Geo. Clementson, Circuit Judge. This was an action for personal injuries sustained by the plaintiff while presenting an order for a pay check in favor ■of one William. Malloy, a former employee of the defendant, •at the window of the pay office of the defendant at La ■Crosse, Wisconsin. The facts shown upon the trial were, in ■brief, as follows: On the 16th of April, 1895, the plaintiff went to the pay office to get the pay check of his son-in-law, Malloy, who had formerly worked for the defendant, but had quit previous to this time. It was pay day, and all the men who’ were to be paid stood in line outside of the pay office; and the window was raised by one Dolson, the clerk in the office, and the men advanced to the window one by one. The window was opened by Dolson, and the men received their checks as their names were called. The window was an ordinary two-light sash, and was provided with a catch inside, which, when set, held it up. When Malloy’s name was called, the plaintiff asked for Mallo3r’s pay check, and was told by Dolson that he would have to have an order before he could get it. The plaintiff then went away, and obtained an order from Malloy, and when he returned the men were all gone from the window, and it was shut. The plaintiff came up to the window, and attracted the attention of Dolson, and Dolson opened the window about a foot, and attempted to fasten it with a catch; and the plaintiff passed in the order, and Dolson took -it out of his hand. The plaintiff’s hand rested upon the window ledge, which was about four and a half feet from the ground. Dolson turned towards the table in the office where the paymaster was sitting; and the window suddenly fell, striking one of the fingers of the plaintiff’s right hand, and injuring it so that amputation was necessary. It was shown that the window was in good condition, and that the catch was in perfect order, and that the window had never fallen either before or since the accident. At the close of the testimony the defendant moved that a verdict be directed for the defendant on the ground that no negligence had been shoAvn, and that the plaintiff was a mere licensee, or, if not, that he stood in the place of a fellow-servant with Dolson. This motion was overruled, and exceptions taken; and the court, of its own motion, submitted certain questions to the jury, which questions and their answers are as follows: “ Eirst. Did Dolson, at the time he raised the window to receive the order from the plaintiff, fasten the window with the usual window fastening? A. No. Second. If you answer the last question ‘ Yes,’ you need answer no other question; but, if you answer it ‘No,’ then answer this question: Was the failure of Dolson to fasten the window the proximate and efficient cause of the window’s falling upon the finger of the plaintiff? A. Yes. Third. As a reasonable man, ought Dolson to have anticipated that a natural, reasonable, and probable consequence of his failing to fasten the window would be an injury to the plaintiff? A. Yes. Fourth. Did any want of ordinary care upon the part of the plaintiff contribute to cause the injury to his finger? A. No. Fifth. If the court should ■determine that the plaintiff is entitled to judgment, at what sum do you assess the damages he is entitled to recover? A. Amount, four hundred dollars ($400).” A general verdict was also rendered by the jury, in addition to the special questions, by which they found for the plaintiff, and assessed his damages at $400. From judgment for the plaintiff, upon this verdict, the defendant appeals. They argued that in this case negligence could not be found from the mere fact that the accident occurred and the inference that it could not .have occurred without carelessness on the part of defendant’s servant in failing to set the catch. It differs from the case of Gu/mmings v. Nat. Furnace Go. 60 Wis. 603, in that there was evidence that such servant did set the catch. There was no testimony to show that he could reasonably have anticipated the accident. Plaintiff was acting in behalf of and as a substitute for one who was a co-employee of defendant’s servant, and was himself therefore to be deemed such co-employee. Johnson v. Ashland Water Go. II Wis. 553; Anderson v. Guineau, 9 Wash. 304; Osborne r. K. & L. li. Go. 68 Me. 49; I)egg v. Midland JR. Go. 1 Hurl. & N. 773; Wischam v. Bielcards, 136 Pa. St. 109.