Wagner v. Larsen

Owen, J.

It is strenuously argued on the part of the appellant that the, plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. Diagrams are presented and distances are delineated thereon to indicate that the plaintiff could have seen defendant approaching when he was upwards of 200 feet east- of Madison street, the conclusion being that had he exercised care he'would have seen the approaching .team and avoided the accident. There is no -evidence that the plaintiff was driving at an excessive rate of speed. There is evidence *29 from which the jury might have found that he was traveling where he had a right to travel, namely, on the right side of the street in close proximity to the curb. He had the right of way over the team going north on Madison street. Even though he had seen a team approaching, as he had the right of way he had no reason to assume that Lardinois would drive the team into his automobile. The answer to defendant’s argument in this respect is, even though plaintiff had seen the team approaching he was under no obligation to yield the right of way nor to assume that Lardinois would not stop and yield the right of way to him.

Upon the meager facts concerning the cause of this collision it was. plainly a jury question. The evidence was .abundant to show negligence on the part of Lardinois, and the jury was plainly justified in exonerating the plaintiff of any negligent conduct. Not only the testimony of Lardi-nois but his subsequent actions are strongly indicative of guilt. He did not pause to see what had become of the automobile. He made no effort to find out who the owner was. He did not even notice that the automobile had collided with a tree. He proceeded at a smart pace on his way. He paid for the broken sleigh tongue upon demand without protest. He denied having been in a collision when questioned by the Hurlbut Company. It is plain that the verdict of the jury in this respect cannot be disturbed.

The important question in the case is whether the defendant is liable for Lardinois’ negligence, and this depends upon whether, in the performance of the negligent act resulting in the collision, Lardinois was the servant of Larsen. It is contended by appellant that he was the servant of Hurlbut and not of Larsen and that the doctrine of respondeat superior is applicable to the Hurlbut Company and not to Larsen. “It is well settled at common law that where an employee with his own consent was loaned to a special employer he became the servant of such employer.” Cayll v. Waukesha G. & E. Co. 172 Wis. 554 , 179 N. W. 771 ; Standard *30 Oil Co. v. Anderson, 212 U. S. 215 , 29 Sup. Ct. 252. To this 'rule, however, an exception has been firmly established by a well nigh unbroken line of decisions, which exception may be stated as follows: Where an owner hires his team and driver, or his automobile and chauffeur, or his machine and operator to another to do work to be designated and as directed by the hirer, the hirer having no authority by the terms of the contract of hire to discharge the driver, chauffeur, or operator and substitute another, the driver, chauffeur, or operator remains the servant of the owner in matters relating, to the safety and management of the team, automobile, or machine, and the owner is liable to third persons for damages resulting from the negligent management or operation of the team, automobile, or machine by such servant. Quarman v. Burnett, 6 M. & W. 499; Driscoll v. Towle, 181 Mass. 416 , 63 N. E. 922 ; Shepard v. Jacobs, 204 Mass. 110 , 90 N. E. 392 ; Morris v. Trudo, 83 Vt. 44 , 74 Atl. 387 , 25 L. R. A. n. s. 33; Joslin v. Grand Rapids Ice Co. 50 Mich. 516 , 15 N. W. 887 ; Frerker v. Nicholson, 41 Colo. 12 , 92 Pac. 224 , 13 L. R. A. n. s. 1122; Wilbur v. Forgione & Romano Co. 109 Me. 521 , 85 Atl. 48 ; Standard Oil Co. v. Anderson, 212 U. S. 215 , 29 Sup. Ct. 252; Gerretson v. Rambler G. Co. 149 Wis. 528 , 136 N. W. 186 ; Ouellette v. Superior M. & M. Works, 157 Wis. 531 , 147 N. W. 1014 . See, also, notes in 37 L. R. A. 33; 13 L. R. A. n. s. 1122; 25 L. R. A. n. s. 33; 38 L. R. A. n. s. 973; L. R. A. 1918E, 121.

The reason is that the hiring is not-of the team distinct from the driver or of the driver distinct from the team, but is the hiring of the entity composed of the two. While the hirer acquires dominion or authority over the entity to designate the work that shall be done and direct the manner of doing it, he acquires no authority to direct how the team shall be driven, managed, or cared for, nor can he divide the entity by separating the driver from the team. Pie may *31 dispense with the services of the entity — the driver and the team — but he cannot discharge the driver and substitute another. The safety and well-being of the team is a matter of concern to the owner. It may be greatly damaged from the standpoint of health and soundness, as well as disposition and habits, by unskilful management and inconsiderate and cruel treatment. Hence the owner says, in effect: “I will not hire my team to be driven by a stranger, but I will hire my team with a driver of my own choosing, one in whom I repose trust and confidence. You shall not discharge him and substitute another. That is a right I reserve.” It is entirely possible and consistent, as pointed out in Driscoll v. Towle, 181 Mass. 416 , 63 N. E. 922 , for the driver to be the servant of the hirer in the general performance of the work and remain, the servant of the owner in the details of driving, caring for, and managing of the team.

The last load of coal delivered by Lardinois on the day in question contained 'three tons for three different customers. The coal company could direct the route he should take, the customer he should first serve, to sprinkle the coal, and to collect before delivery, etc. In all such respects he was acting as the servant of the coal company, and if he had driven the heavily loaded wagon over an adjacent lawn in approaching a customer’s dwelling the coal company would no doubt have been liable for the damage. But this collision resulted from his negligence in the immediate handling of the team. In this respect he was not the servant of the coal company. He was the servant of Larsen, and for his negligence Larsen and not the coal company is liable.

In this case the jury found that Lardinois, at the time of the collision, was not the servant or employee of the F. Hurlbut Company in the driving or handling of the team and sleigh. Under the instructions given by the court in submitting this question to the jury, its answer to the question was tantamount to a finding that the coal company *32 acquired no authority by virtue of the contract of hiring to discharge Lardinois as the driver of the team. As the finding is based upon ample evidence it must be considered as a verity in the case, and the respective liability of the parties is governed by the principle embodied in the exception above stated.

Attorneys for appellant have dwelt upon the proposition that Larsen is not the principal contractor, hence not liable. We agree that Larsen was not a principal contractor, but we have demonstrated, we trust, that his liability is not. dependent upon that fact. By the application of. well-settled principles of law to the facts as found by the jury the liability of the defendant is plain. The judgment must stand.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.