{
  "id": 1464462,
  "name": "Sinclair Refining Company v. Piles",
  "name_abbreviation": "Sinclair Refining Co. v. Piles",
  "decision_date": "1949-06-06",
  "docket_number": "4-8791",
  "first_page": "469",
  "last_page": "476",
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    {
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      "cite": "215 Ark. 469"
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      "cite": "221 S.W.2d 12"
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    "id": 8808,
    "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court"
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      "cite": "83 S. W. 2d 526",
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      "reporter": "S.W.2d",
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    {
      "cite": "190 Ark. 1117",
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:42:13.131733+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Sinclair Refining Company v. Piles."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Holt, J.\nAppellee, Erma Lee Piles, a minor, by ber mother, sued appellant, Sinclair Refining Company, and Jim Andas to compensate personal injuries alleged to have been sustained by appellant\u2019s negligence when Erma\u2019s mother, Mrs. Young, attempted to light a fire in a heating stove by using what was thought to be kerosene, and a violent explosion occurred.\nThe defendants below answered separately with general denials and appellant here, Sinclair, specifically denied liability on the grounds that appellee and her mother were guilty of contributory negligence which would bar recovery and that it was not responsible for the acts of the persons who caused the explosion.\nWhen the cause came on for trial, a non-suit was taken as to Audas. The trial jury awarded appellee $2,500 damages against appellant, Sinclair. This appeal followed.\nAppellee, a minor, lived with her mother at Hon, Arkansas. In the early morning of February 25, 1947, Mr. Young, her step-father, brought to the home four gallons of a liquid purchased as kerosene from Claud Stewart\u2019s store, a short distance away. Mrs; Young, after placing a small quantity of this liquid in a glass, poured it over some wood in a cold wood stove, applied a match, and an explosion immediately followed, severely burning and injuring appellee, who was standing near making candy on an oil stove.\nAppellant, in January and early February, 1947, bought two tank cars of kerosene from Atlas Refining Company, a manufacturer and refiner of petroleum products, in Shreveport, La. The cars were shipped to appellant at Waldron, Arkansas, and there received by its agent, Harris, who was, by the terms of a written agreement, in charge of its storage tanks and bulk sales station there. An employee of Harris, Jim Audas, removed the liquid from the tank cars to the storage tanks of Sinclair.\nUnder the terms of the elaborate and lengthy agreement, Harris assumed charge of appellant\u2019s storage tanks and property and made sales and deliveries of appellant\u2019s kerosene and gasoline on a commission basis. These products at all times, until sold and delivered, and also tanks and oil containers, were the property of Sinclair. Section 24 of the agreement provides: \u201cEither party may terminate this agreement at any time with or without cause; and upon the termination thereof the Agent shall forthwith deliver to the Company or its representatives all equipment, property, products, monies, credits, books of account, and station records of whatsoever form entrusted to Agent or coming under Agent\u2019s control. \u2019 \u2019\nThroughout the agreement, Harris is referred to as Sinclair\u2019s agent, and the agreement is signed by him as Agent. Harris was given an exclusive territory. The proceeds from all sales were the property of Sinclair, duplicate sales slips or forms were furnished by Sinclair for its agent\u2019s use in making sales and deliveries, all proceeds collected from sales were deposited to Sinclair\u2019s credit in the Bank of Waldron and its agent, Harris, was paid his commissions every two weeks. All checks received by Harris or Audas were made payable to Sinclair. The name of Sinclair Refining Company was on Harris\u2019 truck. The duties of its agent, Harris, required him to take proper care of appellant\u2019s products, storage tanks, warehouse, and other equipment as well as to solicit, carry on appellant\u2019s business at its direction, make deliveries, collect accounts and make reports as indicated. The authority of agent, Plarris, to extend credit to customers was controlled by appellant. Appellant furnished all forms used in the business. Sinclair furnished all containers for its kerosene and gasoline. Harris furnished his own truck and a driver, Audas, whom he paid, to make deliveries. Sinclair required Harris to furnish to it the name of his designated agent, Audas, and under the agreement, Harris could only make a change by giving written notice to Sinclair. Sinclair fixed the prices on its products.\nPrior to the morning when the explosion occurred and injured appellee, Harris\u2019 driver, Audas, delivered thirty gallons of what was thought to be kerosene to a store keeper, Claud Stewart, which Stewart placed in a metal container furnished by Sinclair with its name printed on it. Stewart had an agreement with Sinclair to sell its products which were to be delivered to him through its agent, Harris. Appellee\u2019s step-father, Young, purchased four gallons of the liquid taken from this tank, thought to be kerosene, and sold to him as such, carried it to Ms home, and, as noted, the expMsion occurred when Mrs. Young poured a small amount of the liquid from the four gallon can over wood in a cold heating stove and applied a lighted match.\nThere ivas evidence that this liquid sold as kerosene was tested and shown to contain 15 \u00b0/o gasoline and that any liquid containing as much as % of 1% gasoline is unsafe for use as kerosene. There was evidence that a sample of kerosene taken from one of the cars in question flashed at 136\u00b0 Fahrenheit and that from the other car at 134\u00b0. Our statute (Ark. Stat. (1947), \u00a7 53-604) requires, that \u201cno oils or fluids \u2014 which ignite or burn (Called Fire Test) at any temperature less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit \u2014 shall be offered for sale or used for illuminating or heating purposes Avithin the State, etc. \u2019 \u2019\nIt is also required that \u201cwhen any person, firm or corporation shall receive within this- State any of the petroleum oils mentioned in this act for the different purposes mentioned in this act, he shall at once notify the Commissioner of Revenues, or one of his deputies or inspectors, of the quantity of said oils received, and request the inspection of same.\u201d (Ark. Stat. (1947), \u00a7 53-608). There was evidence that appellant received the two tank cars of kerosene in this State and failed to notify the Commissioner of Revenue, or to comply with the statute.\nWe do not attempt to detail the testimony. The record is voluminous. It suffices to say that after a careful review of the evidence, Ave have concluded that the relationship between appellant, Sinclair, and Harris Avas that of principal and agent and that in the circumstances Harris was not an independent contractor and Audas his servant.\nAs we read the agreement between Sinclair and Harris, and interpret it in the light of the actions and conduct of the parties to it, Aye think that it was the purpose of Sinclair to retain complete control of all that was . done in connection with the sale and delivery of its kerosene, gasoline and products, and that Avhen we give to the testimony its strongest aspect in favor of appellee, as we must, it warranted a finding that Harris and Audas, Harris\u2019 driver, were servants of the company and under its control and supervision.\nThe agreement, in addition to providing that agent, Harris, should furnish his own truck, provided that he should furnish (subject to appellant\u2019s approval) and pay out of his own funds a driver, and be responsible for, and hold appellant blameless for, any negligent acts of such driver (Audas here). Appellant contends that for this court to hold, in the circumstances, that Harris was not an independent contractor and Audas his servant for whose acts Harris would be responsible, would be contrary to our holding in Magnolia Petroleum Company v. Griych, 206 Ark. 352, 176 S. W. 2d 435. We cannot agree. That case is distinguishable on the facts. While the written agreement in that case was similar to that in the instant case, such agreement would not altogether control the relationship between the parties. Their acts and conduct, and what they did under the agreement may be taken into account in determining that relationship. Here, there is evidence (absent in the Griych case) that would warrant an inference that Sinclair intended or consented that Audas (as well as Harris) was to be its servant or agent, when the agreement is interpreted in the light of appellant\u2019s conduct, supervision and control over Harris and Audas.\nThe principles of law announced in Magnolia Petroleum Co. v. Johnson, 149 Ark. 553, 233 S. W. 680, a case in which the facts are strikingly similar, in effect, to the instant case, apply with equal force here. There this court said: \u201cThe insistence is that the undisputed evidence shows that Smith was an independent contractor, and that the drivers of the wagons were the servants- of Smith.\n\u201cThe majority of the court are of the opinion that the facts stated made a case for the jury, and that the contract between the company and Smith created the relation of principal and agent, and that the company had reserved the right to control and direct the manner of making deliveries of oil, and that, while no directions were given in the particular instance as to the manner of delivering the oil to appellee, which caused the fire that destroyed the barn, the company had reserved the right of direction; and, in the discharge of all duties, whether performed by Smith himself or by men employed by him, in selling and delivering the oil, the work done was that of the 'company.\n\u201cWe recognize, of course, that the designation of Smith as \u2018 agent \u2019 in 'the contract is not conclusive of the relation. J. R. Watkins Medical Co. v. Williams, 124 Ark. 545, 187 S. W. 653. The test is, not whether the company actually directed the manner of the delivery of the oil, but is whether the company had the right to control the delivery. 14 R. C. L., \u00a7 67, of the article on Independent Contractors. And the majority are of the opinion that the contract between the company and Smith, as interpreted by the conduct of the parties under it, shows that it was the purpose of the comp\u00e1ny to retain complete control of everything done in connection with the sale and delivery of the oil, and that the testimony, in its entirety, warranted the finding that the drivers of the wagon were themselves the servants of the company. \u2019 \u2019\nIn Monk v. Jones, 190 Ark. 1117, 83 S. W. 2d 526, we said: \u201cThe mere fact G. P. Scarborough was working for his co-appellees on a commission basis, and that he furnished the conveyances in which the merchandise was transported and also hired and fired the employees retained by him, is not conclusive that he was an independent contractor. We so expressly decided in Magnolia Petroleum Co. v. Johnson, supra,\u201d and in Houston Oil Company v. McGuire, 187 Ark. 293, 59 S. W. 2d 593, we said: \u201cThe test of the fluid as analyzed by Dr. Rose showed it contained 96 per cent, of gasoline and ignited at a temperature of 88 degrees, when the statute (\u00a7 5903, Crawford & Moses\u2019 Digest, as amended by Act 277 of 1923) provides that, if the fluid ignit\u00e9s at a temperature of less than 140 degrees, it shall not be offered for sale for illuminating and heating purposes. * * *\n\u201cIt certainly was not kerosene of tlie grade required by the statute for heating purposes, and it makes no difference where the mistake was made, since it was made by appellant or its agents.\u201d\nWe are also of the opinion that the jury was warranted in finding that there was no negligence, in the circumstances, on the part of either appellee or her mother, Mrs. Young. We are unable to find any negligence at all on the part of either.\nAs indicated, there was evidence that the oil which Avas purchased by Mr. Young for kerosene, as he had a right to assume, was a mixture of kerosene and gasoline, Avhick would burn or flash at a point below 140\u00b0 Fahrenheit, and chemical tests showed that it contained 15% gasoline, and Avas not safe for use in making a fire as aauis attempted here.\nAs was said in Goode v. Pierce Oil Corporation, 171 Ark. 863, 286 S. W. 1009, \u201cit is a matter of common knowledge that refined kerosene is used to furnish light and as fuel for oil stoves. It is also commonly used in kindling fires. Hence in the absence of contributory negligence by the plaintiff, the evidence for the plaintiff was sufficient to allow a recovery by her. \u2019 \u2019\nWe cannot agree that the jury\u2019s verdict was based upon speculation or conjecture. There was substantial testimony, both direct and circumstantial, sufficient to take the case to the jury on the question of appellant\u2019s negligence, in the circumstances.\nAppellant complains because the court gave instruction No. 1, on its oavu motion, because said instruction was given in the language of the Arkansas Inspection Statutes, (Ark. Stat. (1947), \u00a7\u00a7 53-604 and 53-608), and concluded with: \u201cSo, in this case if you find from the evidence that the defendant did not comply with the statute, then you may take such fact, together with all the other facts or circumstances in evidence into consideration in determining whether the defendant was negligent or not.\u201d\nThere was no error in this instruction. The language used in the two sections of the statute is unambiguous, clear and understandable from the layman\u2019s viewpoint. We have many times held that it was not error to give an instruction in the words of a statute when they are simple declarations of law which no person of reasonable intelligence could misunderstand. (Missouri Pacific Transportation Company v. Parker, Admr., 200 Ark. 620, 140 S. W. 2d 997).\nOther assignments of error by appellant relate to the giving, and refusal to give, certain instructions. In this connection, it suffices to say that we have examined all of the instructions, including those complained of and find that they correctly declared the law as applied to the facts.\nFinding no error, the judgment is affirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Holt, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Sloan Blair, Paul E. Gutensolm and Warner & Warner, for appellant.",
      "Bates, Poe & Bates, for appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Sinclair Refining Company v. Piles.\n4-8791\n221 S. W. 2d 12\nOpinion delivered June 6, 1949.\nSloan Blair, Paul E. Gutensolm and Warner & Warner, for appellant.\nBates, Poe & Bates, for appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0469-01",
  "first_page_order": 491,
  "last_page_order": 498
}
