{ "id": 5218658, "name": "Joe Moore, Administrator of the Estate of Vernon F. Adair, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, a Corporation, Defendant-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "Moore v. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co.", "decision_date": "1960-12-20", "docket_number": "Gen. No. 47,989", "first_page": "340", "last_page": "356", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "28 Ill. App. 2d 340" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "172 F. Supp. 905", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 432677 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "908" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/172/0905-01" ] }, { "cite": "48 F.2d 333", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1832215 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/48/0333-01" ] }, { "cite": "92 F. Supp. 495", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F. Supp.", "case_ids": [ 290883 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f-supp/92/0495-01" ] }, { "cite": "300 U. S. 342", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 336750 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/300/0342-01" ] }, { "cite": "69 N. E. 620", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "207 Ill. 9", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 3295299 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/207/0009-01" ] }, { "cite": "227 U. S. 59", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 8285427 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "69-72" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/227/0059-01" ] }, { "cite": "355 Mo. 248", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 1355907 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mo/355/0248-01" ] }, { "cite": "303 U. S. 640", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6148305, 6148516, 6148446, 6148367 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/303/0640-01", "/us/303/0640-04", "/us/303/0640-03", "/us/303/0640-02" ] }, { "cite": "7 N.E.2d 393", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "289 Ill. App. 320", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App.", "case_ids": [ 3197780 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app/289/0320-01" ] }, { "cite": "229 U. S. 114", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3665980 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "120" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/229/0114-01" ] }, { "cite": "67 Fed. 219", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 3961736 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "221" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/67/0219-01" ] }, { "cite": "242 U. S. 630", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "230 Fed. 88", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 6738210 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "92" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/230/0088-01" ] }, { "cite": "234 F. 245", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 6740595 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "249-50" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/234/0245-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 N. E. 899", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "902" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "140 Ill. 486", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 5806944 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "496" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/140/0486-01" ] }, { "cite": "43 N. E. 403", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "149 N. Y. 23", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 27364 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/149/0023-01" ] }, { "cite": "97 Miss. 201", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Miss.", "case_ids": [ 1510865 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/miss/97/0201-01" ] }, { "cite": "321 U. 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S. 53", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3938748 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "61" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/336/0053-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1111, "char_count": 25683, "ocr_confidence": 0.53, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.6259007101033816e-07, "percentile": 0.8217685664299347 }, "sha256": "27259afd124b583943d09a18ff2b22b952032d47877a79e1c46b097baa0441a8", "simhash": "1:bb673842b05d549e", "word_count": 4559 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:56:20.019953+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "FEIEND, J., and BETANT, J., concur." ], "parties": [ "Joe Moore, Administrator of the Estate of Vernon F. Adair, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, a Corporation, Defendant-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "MR. PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE\ndelivered the opinion of the court.\nThe Administrator of the Estate of Vernon F. Adair, deceased, sued on behalf of the widow and seven dependent children under the Federal Employers\u2019 Liability Act to recover damages for his death caused by the alleged negligence of defendant in a collision of two of its trains. Following a verdict and judgment for the defendant, and the denial of motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial, plaintiff appealed.\nAt 12:36 A. M. on July 5, 1955, two trains of the defendant came together in a head-on collision on a single track main line near Cardenas, New Mexico. Adair, the head brakeman on one of the trains was killed. He was head brakeman on a train designated as \u201c241 West.\u201d The other members of the crew were J. C. Cenipe, the engineer, I. W. Bell, the fireman, C. C. McDaniel, the conductor, and D. Moreland, the rear brakeman. Cenipe and Bell were also killed in the collision. Cenipe had been an engineer for about 32 years and knew how to check ont a train. He arose at 9:30 that morning and spent most of the day at home. He was in good health. He had a plate in his head from a previous accident hut it was not known to cause him any trouble. Bell had 14 years railroading experience and had been promoted to engineer. He arose that morning about 6 o\u2019clock and spent the day at the site of the house he was building. He appeared to be in good health that day. The engineer and fireman were good, competent employees.\nAdair appeared to be in good physical condition when he appeared for work the night of the occurrence. He had passed the examination for and had been promoted to conductor. He was conversant with defendant\u2019s rules which, among other things, placed responsibility on him for communicating to members of the engine crew the indication of each signal affecting movement of the train. In case of emergency he was required to call it to the attention of the other employees and do what he could to meet it safely, including stopping the train. As head brakeman Adair was in the cab of extra \u201c241 West\u201d along with the engineer and the fireman. The engineer and fireman were primarily responsible for keeping a lookout ahead. Under the company rules if the engineer failed to observe signals or became incapacitated the fireman was required to stop the train. The rules provided that the engineer must require the brakeman to look back over the train frequently to detect any defect in the train and for signals. The engineer must not permit even the fireman to operate the engine except when he has been qualified by a certain amount of experience. There is no evidence that on that night Adair had either the occasion or the authority to touch the controls of the locomotive.\nThe westbound train, \u201c241 West,\u201d consisted of 3 diesel-electric units, 132 freight cars and a caboose. It was a mile and a quarter long. In the cab of tbe diesel from which tbe train was operated, tbe engineer\u2019s seat was on tbe right side, tbe fireman\u2019s on tbe left and tbe brakeman\u2019s in tbe middle. Tbe train with which \u201c241 West\u201d collided was designated as \u201cExtra 205 East.\u201d It was made up of 4 diesel-electric units, 84 cars and a caboose. Tbe crew of that train consisted of E. Gr. Abernathy, tbe engineer, W. B. Hester, tbe fireman, C. H. Peterson, tbe conductor, J. W. Fryer, tbe bead brakeman, and E. W. Hailey, tbe rear brakeman. Abernathy and Fryer were killed in tbe collision. Tbe diesel units on \u201c241 West\u201d were given tbe yearly, monthly and daily electrical and mechanical tests and inspections required by tbe Interstate Commerce Commission, and were found to be in perfect running order. Tbe only defect noted in this equipment by tbe last engineer who operated it was a leak in tbe radiator of one unit, which was held at Clovis, New Mexico, for repairs and was not a part of tbe train at tbe time of tbe collision. This train departed from Clovis, New Mexico, at approximately 8:05 P. M. on July 4, 1955, beading west to Yaugban, New Mexico, 130.8 miles away.\nTbe eastbound train, \u201cExtra 205 East,\u201d left Yaugban beaded east to Clovis at approximately 12:05 A. M. on July 5, 1955. Its headlight was in proper working order and was on up to tbe time of tbe collision. Both \u201c241 West\u201d and \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d were equipped with a safety pedal located immediately in front of and below the engineer\u2019s seat. It requires about 3% or 4 pounds of pressure from tbe engineer\u2019s foot to depress this pedal to tbe floor. If for any reason tbe engineer\u2019s foot is released from tbe safety pedal tbe train\u2019s brakes are automatically applied. When \u201c241 West\u201d departed from Clovis tbe gauge in tbe caboose which reflects tbe air pressure in tbe train\u2019s braking system showed 70-75 pounds of pressure, within the allowable minimum of 80 pounds. The brakes on \u201c241 West\u201d worked properly when used that night at Tolar, New Mexico, at 9:36 P. M., about 50 miles east of Cardenas. The brakes on \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d tested normally before it departed from Vaughan.\nAt the point of the occurrence, Cardenas, New Mexico, defendant operates a single-track main line along which are numerous sidings to permit trains to pass one another. The movement of trains in this area is governed by signals and switches controlled by a dispatcher located at Clovis, under a system referred to as \u201cCentralized Traffic Control\u201d or simply \u201cC. T. C.\u201d The track and roadbed in this area are inspected regularly and were inspected the day before the collision and found to be in good condition. On the C. T. C. machine at Clovis there is a track diagram and a series of lights and levers showing the status of signals and switches in the territory covered. A graphic record of the operation of signals and switches is maintained by the machine. The dispatcher in charge of the C. T. C. machine governs the movements of trains in the C. T. C. territory covered by the particular machine. He can determine from the machine approximately where trains will meet, and when two trains are approaching one another he switches one into a siding in order that the other train may pass. While the dispatcher cannot at all times determine the exact location of all the trains in the territory, he can tell whether a train is on a \u201cO. S. Circuit\u201d (a 500 foot stretch of track extending from either side of the switch) between \u201cO. S. Circuits\u201d or that it is in a siding, and can thereby follow its progress as it moves through these points.\nIf a switch operated by the dispatcher fails to lock properly the C. T. C. machine automatically puts the signals at that point in a red condition. All switches are equipped with, a time control safety device which requires the lapse of approximately 5 minutes before a switch can be reversed, once signals have been cleared for an opposing movement. If the dispatcher directed a westbound train into a siding in order to let an eastbound train pass and gave the eastbound train a green board (signal), he could not, in the face of that green light, reverse the switch and let the westbound train out of the siding. If the westbound train in the siding disregarded the red signal against it and went out past the switch onto the main line the green signal for the eastbound train would automatically go red. The system is designed so that it is not possible to clear opposing signals in the same area at the same time, and actual tests confirmed this. Begular inspections prior to the collision failed to disclose any defects in the signal mechanisms in the area.\nTrain \u201c241 West\u201d first came into the C. T. C. territory from the east headed west at 8:50 P. M. It did not stay on the main line all the time as it proceeded westbound. It was directed into sidings to permit trains to pass at Cantara (9:00 P. M.), Krider, Tolar (9:36 P. M.), Bicardo (10:17 P. M.), Evanola (11:02 P. M.), and Yeso (11:42 P. M.). \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d came into the C. T. C. territory headed east from the west at 12:18 A. M. on July 5, 1955. After \u201c241 West\u201d and \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d were both in the C. T. C. territory the dispatcher ascertained that they would meet at Cardenas. Because \u201c205 East\u201d carried perishable commodities, while \u201c241 West\u201d carried mostly empties, the dispatcher determined that \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d should be the \u201csuperior\u201d train, given the right of way, and \u201c241 West\u201d directed into a siding at Cardenas to permit it to pass. The siding at Cardenas into which the dispatcher determined to direct \u201c241 West\u201d is 2.28 miles long. At each end of it there are signals and switches to govern ingress and egress to and from the main line. There was an \u201cintermediate\u201d signal along this siding to govern the movement and speed of trains operating on it. These switches and signals were regularly inspected. The switch at the west end of the Cardenas siding had been inspected and found to be operating properly only 9 hours before the collision. The dispatcher set the signal at the east end of the Cardenas siding so that \u201c241 West\u201d would be directed into the siding. It was his intention to put \u201c241 West\u201d on the siding to permit \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d to proceed without delay along the main line. Until \u201c241 West\u201d was in the siding, the signal at the east end would show red to an eastbound train. However, as soon as \u201c241 West\u201d was off the main line and on the siding, the dispatcher would line the main line signals and switch to show green, permitting \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d to pass.\nThe signals at the east end of the Cardenas siding were set for \u201c241 West\u201d to enter the siding at 12:18 A. M. on July 5. At 12:23 the signal and switch at the west end of the siding were set red against \u201c241 West\u201d and green for \u201cExtra 205 East.\u201d At 12:29 A. M. \u201c241 West\u201d started into the siding and at 12:31 A. M. the whole train was in the siding. At that time the dispatcher changed the switch and signal at the east end of the siding to permit \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d to pass. As \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d approached the intermediate signal next west of the west end of the Cardenas siding it was green. Under the C. T. C. system this would indicate that the signal at the west end of the Cardenas siding was green to \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d on the main line and red to \u201c241 West\u201d on the siding. That was the last movement the dispatcher made prior to the collision. The signals and switches at that time were set through the C. T. C. machine so that the signals at each end of the siding should have been green to \u201cExtra 205 East.\u201d The signal at the west end of the siding into which \u201c241 West\u201d had'been run should have been red so that it would not go out upon the main line until \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d had passed.\nUpon leaving Teso, 15 to 18 miles east of Cardenas, \u201c241 West\u201d maintained its speed of 18-20 m. p. h. It proceeded into the Cardenas siding at a speed of 20 m. p. h. or less. It never slowed down. Instead of stopping, it proceeded at an even speed of about 20 m. p. h. along the siding to the west end where it re-entered the main line. Due to the nature of the terrain and the curvature of the track the conductor could not see the signal at the west end of the siding before the head end of the train passed it. After reentering the main line \u201c241 West\u201d proceeded 2620 feet to the point of collision. The brakes were never applied. After the collision the bodies of the three men in the cab were found in their seats, Cenipe, the engineer, in the engineer\u2019s seat, Adair, the head brakeman, in the fireman\u2019s seat, and Bell, the fireman, in the brakeman\u2019s seat. About 20 \u2014 45 seconds before the collision the engineer of \u201c205 East\u201d made an emergency application of the brakes on his train. At the time of the impact \u201c241 West\u201d was traveling at a speed of about 20 miles and \u201cExtra 205 East\u201d at approximately 50 m. p. h. After the collision it was found that the signal at the west end of the siding was red against \u201c241 West\u201d and that the switch point had been run through. Upon inspection it was found that the signal and switch were functioning properly through the C. T. C. machine. At 12:32 the eastbound train passed Duoro, 4.5 miles from the west end of the Cardenas siding. At any time after 12:28% it would have been possible for the dispatcher to change the signal and switch at the west end of Cardenas to permit \u201cExtra 241 West\u201d to return to the main line, but he testified that he did nothing to give the westbound train a green board. While it was not raining at the time of the collision, it was sultry and hot and there was lightning \u201cflashing around.\u201d Earlier, between Evanola and Yeso, \u201c241 West\u201d had gone through a severe \u201celectrical storm.\u201d The conductor testified that to his knowledge no lightning struck the train and it stopped without incident at Yeso to wait for a \u201csuperior\u201d train.\nPlaintiff insists that the trial court should have entered judgment notwithstanding the verdict in his favor on the issue of liability, leaving the issue of damages to be determined by a jury. In his post-trial motion the plaintiff asked for judgment in his favor notwithstanding the verdict on the ground that the verdict is contrary to the law and the evidence. Paragraph 2 of Section 68.1 of the Civil Practice Act provides that relief after trial \u201cmay include the entry of judgment if under the evidence in the case it would have been the duty of the court to direct a verdict without submitting the case to the jury, even though no motion for directed verdict was made, or if made was denied or ruling thereon reserved.\u201d The Joint Committee comments say that this language removes \u201cany doubt respecting the propriety of a request for judgment based on the legal insufficiency of the evidence made in the first instance after trial.\u201d It cannot be doubted that the trial court had the power to grant judgment for plaintiff notwithstanding the verdict. The Federal Employers\u2019 Liability Act imposes liability on a defendant only for its negligence. Wilkerson v. McCarthy, 336 U. S. 53, 61. The jury\u2019s right to draw inferences from evidence and the sufficiency of that evidence to support a verdict are federal questions. Jesionowski v. Boston & Main R. Co., 329 U. S. 452, 457. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur \u201cmeans that the facts of the occurrence warrant the inference of negligence, not that they compel such an inference; that they furnish circumstantial evidence of negligence where direct evidence of it may be lacking, but it is evidence to be weighed, not necessarily to be accepted as sufficient; that they call for explanation or rebuttal, not necessarily that they require it; that they make a case to be decided by the jury not that they forestall the verdict. Ees ipsa loquitur, where it applies, does not convert the defendant\u2019s general issue into an affirmative defense. When all the evidence is in, the question for the jury is, whether the preponderance is with the plaintiff.\u201d Sweeney v. Erving, 228 U. S. 233, 240.\nDefendant, arguing that the case was properly submitted to the jury under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, states that the case at bar is a classic one for application of that doctrine; that there was no direct evidence as to why the trains collided, so it became necessary for plaintiff to resort to the circumstantial evidence afforded by the occurrence itself; that the circumstantial evidence, in turn, created only a permissive inference of negligence which might be accepted or rejected by the jury and which left it open to defendant to go forward with such evidence as it could adduce tending to prove the absence of any negligence; and that defendant did go forward with the evidence, and the jury, as was its right under the res ipsa loquitur doctrine enunciated in Sweeney v. Erving, considered all the evidence and rejected the permissive inference of negligence. Defendant asserts that it produced uncontradicted testimony that the roadbed, signals, brakes and locomotives were all functioning properly, and that if the train went through a red signal it did so a full 2 minutes before the collision. Defendant inquires why the entire locomotive crew on \u201c241 West\u201d remained in their seats while they proceeded at only 20 m. p. h. 2620 feet down the main line to a head-on collision, and why the brakes on \u201c241 West\u201d were not applied before the collision, and could the lightning that was \u201cflashing around\u201d have anything to do with what happened. Defendant also calls attention to the presumption in law not only that Adair was exercising due care at the time of the collision hut that all other employees involved were doing the same. Daulton v. Southern Pacific Co., 237 F.2d 710, 713. Defendant states that bearing in mind that the burden of proof was at all times on the plaintiff and never shifted to the defendant, the case was one for the jury to decide and the trial court would have erred if it entered judgment n. o. v. in his favor, and states further that experience teaches that some things in life can never be understood, that the accident involved in this case is one of them and that the jury properly determined that the blame could not fairly be placed on defendant. Defendant insists that the case having been properly submitted to the jury, the courts are now powerless to disturb the jury\u2019s verdict, citing Tennant v. Peoria & P. U. Ry. Co., 321 U. S. 29, 35, and a discussion on the subject by one of the attorneys for plaintiff in Belli, Modern Trials, pp. 458, 459.\nThe doctrine of res ipsa loquitur applies in FELA actions the same as the similar doctrine in any other negligence action. Jesionowski v. Boston & Main R. Co., 329 U. S. 452, 456. Since the doctrine gives rise only to a permissive inference, in most cases a directed verdict for either party would not be appropriate because it must be left to the jury whether to draw the inference of negligence from the occurrence. A leading authority on the law of evidence cites Sweeney v. Erving, 228 U. S. 233, for the proposition that normally the inference is merely permissive, but goes on to say: \u201cEven under the view as to the normal procedural effect of the doctrine, it is recognized that the circumstances in the particular case may make the inference irresistible and entitle the plaintiff to a directed verdict when his evidence is not refuted by counter-proof.\u201d McCormick, Evidence 644 n. 23. Prosser, in his work on torts (2d ed. 1955) p. 212, states:\n\u201cThere are cases, however, such as that of the human toe in the plug of chewing tobacco, or the collision of railway trains trying to run on the same track, where the inference of negligence is so clear that no reasonable man could fail to accept it; and in such cases, if the defendant offers no explanation, a verdict should be directed for the plaintiff. In other words, the procedural effect of a res ipsa case is the matter of the strength of the inference to be drawn, which will vary with the circumstances of the case.\u201d\nWe are of the opinion that a plaintiff is entitled to a directed verdict in a res ipsa loquitur case if the circumstances are such as to make the inference of negligence so strong that reasonable men cannot reject it. See Alabama & V. R. Co. v. Groome, 97 Miss. 201, 52 So. 703; Hogan v. Manhattan Ry. Co., 149 N. Y. 23, 43 N. E. 403; North Chicago Street Ry. Co. v. Cotton, 140 Ill. 486, 496, 29 N. E. 899, 902; Chicago Rys. Co. v. Kramer, 234 F. 245, 249-50.\nWe agree with the plaintiff that the case is a simple one. Train \u201c241 West\u201d went through a red signal. Plaintiff concedes that defendant established the perfection of its signal system, the competence and experience of the dispatcher, and that everything was in excellent working order and condition at the time of the tragedy, but asserts that defendant\u2019s facts offer no explanation as to how the collision could have happened non-negligently. Under these circumstances there is a presumption that the engineer and fireman were in a normal condition at the time of the collision. Virginia Ry. Co. v. Linkous, 230 Fed. 88, 92, cert. denied 242 U. S. 630. The defendant offered no evidence to vitiate the presumption and the jury was not free to speculate to the contrary. There may be reasons for going through a red light which would exclude negligence. The jury is not free to supply such reasons by speculation and conjecture. The act of going through a red signal, not explained by the evidence, entitled plaintiff to a directed verdict on the issue of liability. Defendant suggested that perhaps lightning hit the engine, disabling all the employees. Defendant\u2019s witness McDaniel, the conductor, testified that to his knowledge lightning did not strike the train. Reasonable minds cannot conclude that the collision was the result of lightning when there is no evidence that lightning struck the train or that it could have disabled the engineer and fireman if it had. In 1895 the court in Rouse v. Hornsby, 67 Fed. 219, 221 (8th Cir.) said: \u201cThe time will probably never come when a collision resulting from an attempt to have two trains going at full speed, in opposite directions, pass each other on the same track, will not be held to be negligence, in law.\u201d That observation is as true today as it was then. We are satisfied that plaintiff is entitled to judgment notwithstanding the verdict on the issue of liability.\nThe court instructed the jury that if they believed from the evidence that the death of the decedent was caused in part by defendant\u2019s negligence and in part by decedent\u2019s negligence, they should consider the combined negligence of defendant and decedent as a whole, and based on the evidence should determine in what ratio the combined negligence should be distributed between them, and having determined the fact should deduct from the total amount of damages, if any, that proportion corresponding with the share of negligence, if any, charged by the jurors against the decedent and the balance, if any, or proportion corresponding with the share of negligence, if any, charged against the defendant, should be awarded as damages, if any, to the plaintiff. Plaintiff\u2019s motion for a directed verdict on contributory negligence was denied. The court also denied plaintiff\u2019s request for an instruction that there was no evidence of any negligence by Adair. The burden of proof of contributory negligence in FELA cases is on the defendant. Norfolk & Western Ry. Co. v. Earnest, 229 U. S. 114, 120. Like any other fact to be found, there must be an evidentiary basis for a finding of contributory negligence. Goodman v. Chicago B. & Q. R. Co., 289 Ill. App. 320, 7 N.E.2d 393, cert. denied 303 U. S. 640; Williamson v. Wabash R. Co., 355 Mo. 248, 196 S.W.2d 129. In FELA cases there is a presumption that the deceased was engaged in the performance of his duty and exercised due care for his own safety at the time of his death. Tennant v. Peoria & P. U. Ry. Co., 321 U. S. 29, 34; Stanford v. Pennsylvania R. Co., 171 Fed.2d 632, 635; Chicago & N. W. Ry. Co. v. Grauel, 160 Fed.2d 820, 825. Defendant offered no evidence to rebut that presumption. There was no evidence on which Adair could be found guilty of negligence and it was error to submit an issue as to his negligence.\nPlaintiff complains that he was prejudiced by controversy over treatment of the fact that Adair\u2019s widow had remarried again to a man named Lary. At the outset of the case the court ruled that evidence of the subsequent marriage of the widow would not be competent, and instructed the jury that the fact that any beneficiary may have married or remarried, \u201cif such appears in evidence or has been suggested to you is immaterial and should be disregarded by you in your deliberation.\u201d The measure of damages in actions for death under the FELA follows the rules developed under Lord Campbell\u2019s Act and comparable state wrongful death statutes. Michigan Central R. Co. v. Vreeland, 227 U. S. 59, 69-72; Dow v. Carnegie-Illinois Steel Co., 165 Fed.2d 777, 779. This is the rule applied in wrongful death actions in Illinois, where it is held proper for the trial court to instruct the jury not to consider the fact of the widow\u2019s remarriage. Chicago & E. I. R. Co. v. Driscoll, 207 Ill. 9, 69 N. E. 620. The measure of damages under the Jones Act is the same as under FELA. Van Beeck v. Sabine Towing Co., 300 U. S. 342; Petition of United States, 92 F. Supp. 495. In actions brought under the death on the high seas Act, the statutory measure of damages is the same as that which the courts have adopted for the FELA. The City of Rome, 48 F.2d 333. See also United States v. The S. S. Washington, 172 F. Supp. 905, 908. These cases support the ruling in the case at bar that the fact of marriage is immaterial.\nThe scope of the voir dire examination and the conduct of the trial is under the control of the judge. We cannot say that in the instant case the court erred in ruling on mention of the present name of Mrs. Adair, or that counsel for defendant acted in bad faith in that respect.\nFor these reasons the judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded with directions to enter judgment notwithstanding the verdict on the issue of liability and for a new trial as to damages.\nJudgment reversed and cause remanded with directions.\nFEIEND, J., and BETANT, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "MR. PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE" } ], "attorneys": [ "\"William H. De Parcq and Robert J. Martineau, of Chicago (Charles Alan Wright, of counsel) for appellant.", "Floyd Stuppi, William J. O\u2019Brien and John J. Schmidt, of Chicago, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Joe Moore, Administrator of the Estate of Vernon F. Adair, Deceased, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, a Corporation, Defendant-Appellee.\nGen. No. 47,989.\nFirst District, Second Division.\nDecember 20, 1960.\nRehearing denied January 31, 1961.\n\"William H. De Parcq and Robert J. Martineau, of Chicago (Charles Alan Wright, of counsel) for appellant.\nFloyd Stuppi, William J. O\u2019Brien and John J. Schmidt, of Chicago, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0340-01", "first_page_order": 350, "last_page_order": 366 }