{ "id": 1357158, "name": "Missouri Pacific Railroad Company v. Hanna", "name_abbreviation": "Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Hanna", "decision_date": "1923-01-29", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "32", "last_page": "37", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "157 Ark. 32" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "97 N. E. 434", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "108 Ark. 292", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1342341 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/108/0292-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 Ark. 12", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1517156 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/88/0012-01" ] }, { "cite": "105 Ark. 340", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1347040 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/105/0340-01" ] }, { "cite": "40 Ark. 298", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1897121 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/40/0298-01" ] }, { "cite": "50 N. E. 1019", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "200 Fed. 197", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 6740376 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "207" } ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/f/200/0197-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 C. C. A. 503", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "C.C.A.", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "227 Fed. 127", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 3532107 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/f/227/0127-01" ] }, { "cite": "189 Fed. 153", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 37323 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/f/189/0153-01" ] }, { "cite": "50 N. E. 1097", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "97 Ark. 438", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1318854 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/97/0438-01" ] }, { "cite": "11 Ark. 309", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "98 Ark. 370", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1316059 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/98/0370-01" ] }, { "cite": "66 Ark. 109", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "171 N. W. 86", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "case_ids": [ 5370148 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/sd/41/0409-01" ] }, { "cite": "85 Fed. 945", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 7853922 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "948" } ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/f/85/0945-01" ] }, { "cite": "82 N. E. 403", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "78 S. E. 925", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "142 Ark. 59", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "113 Ark. 265", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1537579 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/113/0265-01" ] }, { "cite": "114 C. C. A. 157", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "C.C.A.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "194 Fed. 79", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 6743143 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/f/194/0079-01" ] }, { "cite": "49 Fed. 801", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 3818426 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/49/0801-01" ] }, { "cite": "42 Minn. 183", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Minn.", "case_ids": [ 751094 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/minn/42/0183-01" ] }, { "cite": "229 Ill. 608", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5630935 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/229/0608-01" ] }, { "cite": "97 N. E. 434", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 555, "char_count": 10607, "ocr_confidence": 0.491, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.2240919645422112e-07, "percentile": 0.6004786379437566 }, "sha256": "d4f05abf54156d989aa7353d332ed13d64e9cb35f075b4c3873c193aa6e17c0a", "simhash": "1:b95de934400e5a80", "word_count": 1866 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:48:13.496195+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Missouri Pacific Railroad Company v. Hanna." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Humphreys, J.\nAppellee instituted suit against appellant in the Poinsett Circuit Court to recover damages in the sum of $2,000, on account of injuries received in alighting from its train at Gale, Illinois, through the alleged negligent act of its conductor in inviting and advising him to get off at that place. It was alleged that appellee was, at the time, accompanying a shipment of stock from Harrisburg, Arkansas, to St. Louis, Missouri, and in obedience to the advice of the conductor did alight from said train, with the result that he was thrown to the ground and seriously and permanently injured; that at the time it was so dark he could not tell how fast the train was moving, and in debarking acted solely upon the advice of appellant\u2019s employee.\nAppellant filed an answer admitting that appellee was a passenger upon said train, accompanying a stock shipment to St. Louis, but denied all other material allegations in the complaint. Appellant also interposed the following defenses:\nFirst, contributory negligence on the part of appellee in alighting from a moving train.\nSecond, the written contract for transportation, which required the appellee to remain in the caboose attached to the train, while the train was in motion, and to get on and off the caboose while the same was still.\nThe cause was submitted to the jury upon the pleadings, testimony, and instructions of the court, which resulted in a verdict and judgment against appellant in the sum of $2,000. From that judgment an appeal has been duly prosecuted to this court.\nAppellee, plaintiff below, introduced testimony to the effect that early in January, 1921, he shipped two carloads of cattle and one carload of hogs to St. Louis, Missouri, from Harrisburg, Arkansas; that he accompanied the livestock, riding by right as a passenger in the caboose; that when they were getting into Gale, Illinois, the conductor told the passengers to get off at the yard house, and it would save them walking through the dark yards; that it was then about nine o\u2019clock, and dark; that all of them got their baggage and followed the conductor to the door for the purpose of debarking; that, while standing in the door, the conductor again told them to get off;.that the conductor got off first, J. E. Arnold next, and appellee next, who, by reason of the rapid movement of the train, was thrown violently to the ground, some twelve feet distant, and injured; that at the time he stepped off he thought the train was barely moving.\nAppellant introduced testimony to the effect that the conductor told the passengers, if the train stopped at the hill, to get off so they would have time to eat; that the train was slowing down, and the conductor remarked, \u201cI believe we are going to stop at the hill\u201d; that the engineer took slack and started down the hill, whereupon the conductor told the passengers not to get off until they reached the bridge, about one hundred yards below the yard house; that the conductor himself got off at the yard house in order to register the train in; that Arnold succeeded in getting off safely, but that appellee fell in the attempt to do so. Appellant also introduced the bill of lading for the shipment of the livestock upon which appellant traveled, which contained a provision to the effect that the party in charge of the stock should remain in the caboose attached to the train while in motion, and to get on and 'off the caboose while the same was still.\nAppellant\u2019s main contention for reversal is that, according\u2018to the undisputed facts, appellee was injured while attempting to debark from a moving train, in violation of his contract for transportation. In support of this contention, appellant cites the case of Illinois Central Railroad Co. v. Jennings, 229 Ill. 608, which decided that such a stipulation was valid. Conceding that the liability is determinable by the law of the State where the injury occurred, and that the Supreme Court of Illinois has upheld the validity of such a clause in a transportat-ion contract as being- reasonable and just, the contract and adjudication, upholding- its validity, have no bearing upon or application to the instant case. This suit is not for a breach of the contract, but for an injury resulting from an alleged negligent act of appellant\u2019s employee. The action is outside of the contract. It is based upon the maxim, \u201crespondeat superior,\u201d which imputes liability to a master for the negligent acts of his servant, within the scope of the servant\u2019s actual or apparent authority, irrespective of any contract. 4 R. C. L. \u00a7 596.\nAppellant\u2019s next and last contention for reversal is, that the court erred in giving instruction No. 2, which is as follows:\n\u201cIf you find from a preponderance of the evidence that, upon approaching, or while in or near the yards of the defendant at Gale, Illinois, the conductor in charge of said train of defendant advised the plaintiff to alight or get off of said train at the yard office, and if you further find that plaintiff acted upon the advice of said conductor, and attempted to alight from said train, and that in attempting to alight from said train he was in the exercise of due care for his own safety, and if you further find that the plaintiff was injured in alighting from said train and falling, you will find for the plaintiff; and, unless you find for the plaintiff under this instruction, your verdict will be for the defendant.\u201d\nThe instruction is assailed because it assumed that the conductor acted within the scope of his authority if he advised appellee to get off of a moving train at the yard house; and, if such advice was given, that it constituted negligence as a matter of law.\nThe conductor was in command of the train, and necessarily possessed authority to direct passengers when and Avhere to get off. His own testimony reveals that he had such authority. In instructing the jury it was therefore proper for the court to assume that he was acting within the scope of his authority if he directed appellee to debark at the yard house.\nIt was also proper to assume, in instructing the jury, that if the conductor directed appellee to get off of a moving train, which threw him violently to the ground in the attempt to debark, it was a negligent act as a matter of law. The general law is that a carrier owes a passenger the highest degree of care consistent with the practical operation of its trains (2 Hutchinson on Carriers [3d ed.] \u00a7 1118), and to direct a passenger in the night time to debark from a moving train without furnishing ample means and protection for doing so is clearly in violation of this duty, amounting in the law to negligence. Jones v. Chicago, M. & St. P. R. Co., 42 Minn. 183; Eddy v. Wallace, 49 Fed. 801; Lake Erie & W. R. Co. v. Huffman, 97 N. E. 434.\nThe issue of contributory negligence on the part of appellee in debarking from the moving train was submitted to the jury under proper instructions.\nNo error appearing, the judgment is affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Humphreys, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Thos. B. Pryor, and Gordon Frierson, for appellant.", "Irving M. Greer, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Missouri Pacific Railroad Company v. Hanna.\nOpinion delivered January 29, 1923.\n1. Carriers \u2014 negligence\u2014alighting prom moving trains. \u2014 Though the transportation contract of a shipper accompanying- live stock provided that he was to remain in the caboose and not get off from a moving train, he could nevertheless sue for personal injuries sustained' in alighting from a moving train on the advice of the conductor; the suit being not for breach of a contract but for the negligence of the carrier\u2019s servant.\n2. Trial \u2014 instruction assuming pact. \u2014 In an action for personal injuries sustained by a passenger while alighting from a movi\u00f1g train on the advice of the conductor, an iiistruction which assumed that the conductor was acting within the scope of his authority in directing the passenger to get off was not erroneous where such fact was established by the evidence.\n3. Trial \u2014 instruction as to negligence. \u2014 In an action for personal injuries sustained by an owner accompanying a shipment of live \u2022stock while alighting from a moving train under advice of the conductor, an instruction which assumed that it was negligence for a conductor to advise a passenger to alight from a moving train was correct.\nAppeal from Poinsett Circuit Court; J. M.'Futrell, Judge;\naffirmed.\nThos. B. Pryor, and Gordon Frierson, for appellant.\n1. Tlie question of liability in this case is to be determined according to the law of the State of Illinois, where the injury occurred. 194 Fed. 79, 114 C. C. A. 157; 113 Ark. 265; 142 Ark. 59; 78 S. E. 925; 119' N. E. 539; Hutchinson on Carriers, \u00a7 205; Elliott on Contracts, \u00a7 3313.\n2; Under the law of the State of Illinois appellee cannot recover in this action. 229 111. 608, 82 N. E. 403 ; 85 Fed. 945, 948; 171 N. W. 86. The contract involved was a rule and regulation of the company on the subject of transporting shippers in charge of livestock, which the conductor had no right to abrogate. Elliott on Railroads, \u00a7 2391; Id. 2480.\n3. Instruction numbered 2 given by the court was erroneous in assuming that the conductor acted within the scope of his authority, and also in assuming that if he did invite plaintiff to alight from a moving train, such conduct constituted negligence on his part as 'a matter of law, whereas the question of negligence was one for the jury. 66 Ark. 109;- 98 Ark. 370; 11 Ark. 309 ; 97 Ark. 438.\nIrving M. Greer, for appellee.\n1. The validity of the contract, which was made in this State, will be determined by the law of this State. 5 R. C. L. \u00a7 670; 174 111. 13; 50 N. E. 1097; 189 Fed. 153; 10 C. J., 1164, Carriers; 227 Fed. 127; 29 C. C. A. 503.\n2. Negligence on the part of the railroad company or its employees deprives it of any protection under the contract, 1st, because such a contract is void as against public policy, and 2nd, because, under the statutes \u00f3f this State, such a contract is void and not enforceable. 5 R. C. L. \u00a7 665; Id. \u00a7 667-; 200 Fed. 197; Id. 207; 174 111. 13; 50 N. E. 1019; 40 Ark. 298; 105 Ark. 340; C. & M. Digest, \u00a7\u00a7 843, 844. The procedure is governed by the lex fori. 113 Ark. 265. If negligence can be attributed to the defendant, liability attaches, irrespective of the contract. 4 R. C. L. \u00a7 596.\n3. Instruction No. 2 was correct, and properly assumed that the conductor was acting within the scope of his authority, and also in assuming that he was guilty of negligence as a matter of law, in inviting the plaintiff to alight from the moving train. 88 Ark. 12, and cases cited; 113 Ark. 265; Minor, Conflict of Laws, 486; 108 Ark. 292; 177Ind. 126; 97 N. E. 434; Ann. Cases, 1914-C, 1272." }, "file_name": "0032-01", "first_page_order": 54, "last_page_order": 59 }