{ "id": 11271273, "name": "IDA BLACKBURN v. THE CHEROKEE LUMBER COMPANY", "name_abbreviation": "Blackburn v. Cherokee Lumber Co.", "decision_date": "1910-04-20", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "361", "last_page": "366", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "152 N.C. 361" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "98 Mo., 62", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mo.", "case_ids": [ 568129 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mo/98/0062-01" ] }, { "cite": "48 L. R. A., 531", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "154 Ind., 682", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ind.", "case_ids": [ 1592643 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ind/154/0682-01" ] }, { "cite": "23 Pac., 151", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "55 Mich., 51", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "145 N. C., 42", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11252152 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/145/0042-01" ] }, { "cite": "64 Wis., 475", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Wis.", "case_ids": [ 11284401 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/wis/64/0475-01" ] }, { "cite": "65 Fed., 196", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "case_ids": [ 3788001 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f/65/0196-01" ] }, { "cite": "129 N. C., 407", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8661120 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/129/0407-01" ] }, { "cite": "132 N. C., 865", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8661765 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/132/0865-01" ] }, { "cite": "151 N. C., 529", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655427 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/151/0529-01" ] }, { "cite": "146 N. C., 47", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11270334 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/146/0047-01" ] }, { "cite": "145 N. C., 24", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11252092 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/145/0024-01" ] }, { "cite": "141 N. C., 487", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11253466 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/141/0487-01" ] }, { "cite": "143 N. C., 283", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8657152 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/143/0283-01" ] }, { "cite": "143 N. C., 512", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8658296 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/143/0512-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 646, "char_count": 13881, "ocr_confidence": 0.467, "pagerank": { "raw": 9.008602965487442e-08, "percentile": 0.5034851452729483 }, "sha256": "1b2d019ce5c425d3a066449920ee74a804adda5601ca8ac1b4d475a84d0abc9d", "simhash": "1:97aa6783f073d50d", "word_count": 2404 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:29:47.463636+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "IDA BLACKBURN v. THE CHEROKEE LUMBER COMPANY." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "MANNING, J.\nThe exceptions taken by defendant and assigned as errors can be arranged and considered in three groups, to wit: 1. That the defendant was under the duty to furnish and equip its cars with automatic couplers, and its failure to do so was negligence. 2. That intestate was guilty of contributory negligence in voluntarily taking a position of peril, and in failing to use the larger of the two pins in coupling the car to the engine. 3. That having voluntarily undertaken to perform a service not within the scope of his employment, the relation of master and servant was temporarily suspended, and the defendant owed him no duty, except to abstain from willful injury.\nThis Court has ruled against the contentions of the defendant in its exceptions embraced in the first group, as above arranged. Hairston v. Leather Co., 143 N. C., 512; Bird, v. Leather Co., 143 N. C., 283; Hemphill v. Lumber Co., 141 N. C., 487; Sawyer v. R. R., 145 N. C., 24; Stewart v. Lumber Co., 146 N. C., 47; Wright v. R. R., 151 N. C., 529.\nWe have examined the charge of his Honor covering the view contended for by defendant in the exceptions included in the second group, and we find that his Honor charged the jury in \\he language approved by this Court in Elmore v. Railway, 132 N. C., 865, and Hairston v. Leather Co., supra, and Coley v. R. R., 129 N. C., 407. We cannot say, as a matter of law, upon the evidence presented in the record, that \u201cthe apparent danger was so great that its assumption amounted to reckless indifference to probable consequences,\u201d or that the intestate \u201cacted foolishly and without prudence,\u201d and that his conduct amounted to recklessness. If the defendant had furnished and equipped its train with automatic couplers there would have been, on the night in question, no separation of the train and no accident to the intestate.. \u201cThe proximate cause of the injury was the breaking of the defective coupling-pin, and the consequent parting of the cars. The negligence of the injured brakeman, in being in an improper place, if it can be called negligence, was a mere condition of the injury. The breaking of 'the defective pin was the proximate cause of the injury. His being on the cars was not the immediate cause of it in a juridical sense.\u201d Terre Haute and I. R. Co. v. Mansberger, 65 Fed., 196; Phillips v. Railway Co., 64 Wis., 475. If the death of intestate had been caused by being jostled from the running-board, on which his feet were resting, or by being thrown\u201d from his position by \u25a0the ordinary movement of-the train, then the proximate cause might have been, in a \u201cjuridical sense,\u201d the perilous position he had assumed; but this view is not presented by the evidence. The separation of the train \u2014 -the parting of the cars \u2014 would not have occurred if the automatic coupler had been used. It was not furnished, and this failure constituted negligence continuing up to the time of the injury, and bars the defense of contributory negligence, unless the negligent conduct of the injured employee amounted to recklessness. This was a question for the jury; and they have resolved the question, upon the evidence, against the defendant.\nThe third group of exceptions embraces those resting upon the contention that the intestate was doing work without the scope of his employment and beyond the sphere of his assigned duties, and that the intestate became \u00e1 volunteer as to that work \u2014 a bare licensee \u2014 and the defendant cannot be compelled to answer in damages for an injury which the intestate \u201cbrought on himself by undertaking to do that which he was not directed to do. or required.to do.\u201d This contention is rested upon the doctrine so well stated by Mr. Justice Walker in Patterson v. Lumber C., 145 N. C., 42, and, if applicable, is decisive of this appeal. The witness Fleming, the general manager of the defendant company, being offered as a witness for it, testified: \u201cBlackburn was employed as engineer \u2014 was not to do any switching or firing. He was to. have complete charge of 'the train crew. He had power to hire and discharge the trainmen. This was the power he had up to the time he was killed. When Lem Rich went to work, I told him I wanted him to learn all he could about the engine. I did not tell him I wanted him to run the engine or do any switching. I told him I wanted him to learn all he could. Will -Hassell was employed as switchman at the time of Blackburn\u2019s death.\u201d Again this witness said: \u201cI did not tell Blackburn to do any switching or not to do any switcbing. Rich ran the engine \u2019that nigbt, after Blackburn was killed.\u201d Here, by this evidence, we have a man to whom is given the entire charge of his train crew, with the power to hire and discharge any of his trainmen; yet it is contended he cannot fire his own engine \u2014 he cannot, when the switchman is not doing his work satisfactorily, do it himself, without going beyond the sphere of his assigned duties and becoming a volunteer \u2014 a bare licensee \u2014 doing his master\u2019s work, but with no master to serve, suspending thereby the relation of master and servant. If the intestate had, that night, discharged Hassell, the switchman, we think he could have performed his duties as switchman without absolving his master (the defendant) from liability for injuries caused by its breach of duty.\nIn Rodman v. Mich. Central R. R. Co., 55 Mich., 51, Cooley, G. J., says: \u201cThat contingencies may and do arise in which the conductor should take charge of the engine for the time, is undoubted. The necessity may sometimes be as urgent as it is plain, and lives may depend upon it. This might happen from injury to the engineer, or sudden illness, and when, to leave the train where the disability of the engineer occurs, would endanger some other train. But there might be other reasons for the engineer leaving his post, for which the company would not be at fault, and the conductor, with the train in his charge and under obligation to avoid other trains, must act in the emergency as the necessities of the case shall require. His highest and plainest duty, in some circumstances,'will -be to take possession-of the engine and operate it * * * and he being the person responsible for the safety and management of the train, must-be allowed a certain discretion in deciding upon emergencies, and the presumption must favor his action.\u201d To the same effect is Seley v. Southern Pac. Ry. Co., 23 Pac., 151; Terre Haute and I. R. Co. v. Fowler, 154 Ind., 682; 48 L. R. A., 531; Barry v. Hannibal and St. J. R. Co., 98 Mo., 62; 2 Bailey Per. Inj. Relating to Master and Servant, sec. 3524.\nThe intestate being in charge of the train, in full charge of the train, having ample power to discharge and hire his crew, it would seem clear that his authority extended to supervision of the work done by his crew, and, as we have said, if any one of his crew did his work unsatisfactorily or was incompetent, the intestate had authority to discharge him or temporarily to suspend him and assign him other work on the train, and, for the time, perform the work of this removed trainman, without, in legal contemplation, going beyond the scope of his employment. \u25a0He would still be the servant of the defendant. He must be considered, under the evidence, as invested with a certain discretion in deciding upon the occasion which makes his interference necessary in the proper management of his train and the proper conduct of the master\u2019s business entrusted to him, \u201cand the presumption must favor his action.\u201d\nThe defendant requested his Honor to charge the jury that if the intestate voluntarily assumed to act as switchman and, while so acting, was injured, the injuries were received by the intestate in doing work outside the sphere of his assigned duties, and hence the defendant would not be liable. None of the defendant\u2019s instructions, however, presented the view, predicated upon the evidence of defendant\u2019s general manager, that we have herein presented as the decisive view, to wit, that intestate was in full charge of the train crew, etc., and we do not think it constitutes reversible error for his Honor to have refused the defendant\u2019s prayers. We are of the opinion that there was no reversible error committed at the trial, and the judgment is affirmed..\nNo error.", "type": "majority", "author": "MANNING, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Faison & Wright for plaintiff.", "George E. Butler and II. L. Stevens for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "IDA BLACKBURN v. THE CHEROKEE LUMBER COMPANY.\n(Filed 20 April, 1910.)\n1. Railroads \u2014 Automatic Couplers \u2014 Negligence\u2014To What Roads Applicable.\nA corporation operating a short standard-guage railroad with steam motive power, well surveyed and constructed, over which a very large output of sawed lumber from a mill was exclusively hauled to its connecting, railroad for further transportation, is responsible for an injury received by its employee in the course of his employment, caused by its negligently failing to furnish and equip its cars with automatic couplers.\n2. Same \u2014 Continuing Negligence \u2014 Contributory Negligence \u2014 Question for Jury.\nWhen the injury complained of was received by reason of the parting of a freight car from the engine, which would not have occurred if the defendant railroad company had equipped its cars with automatic couplers, the plaintiff being an employee acting within the scope of his duties, at the time, the negligent failure of the defendant to so equip its ears continued up to the time of the injury, and bars the defense of contributory negligence, unless the negligence of the defendant amounted to recklessness; and the mere fact that the plaintiff was on the running-board of the engine at the'time, and used an .iron pin to make the coupling, furnished for the purpose by the defendant, raises a question of fact for the jury, under the circumstances, upon the question of such contributory negligence.\n3. Master and Servant \u2014 Servant\u2019s Discretionary Powers \u2014 Scope of Agency.\nAn engineer having full authority to hire or discharge his train crew is presumed as not acting beyond the sphere of his assigned duties in doing the work of a \u2018 brakeman, when, dissatisfied with the manner in which the brakeman was doing his work, and having ordered him to fire the engine and ordered a competent man to run it, and when killed while acting as brakeman, by the negligence of the defendant in failing to equip its train with an automatic coupler, the relation of master and servant still existed, and the master is liable for the injury received by reason of its negligent act.\nAppeal front O. II. Allen, J., at August Term, 1909, of SAMPSON.\nThe following issues were submitted to the jury:\n1. Was plaintiff\u2019s intestate injured by the negligence of the defendant, as alleged? Answer: Yes.\n2. If so, was the plaintiff\u2019s intestate guilty of contributory negligence, as alleged? Answer: No.\n3. What damage, if any, is plaintiff entitled to recover? Answer: $725.\nThe evidence tended to show, and was accepted by the jury as sufficient to prove, that \u25a0 defendant company was operating a well-constructed railroad from its mill to a station named Garland on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; that its track was standard guage, well surveyed and constructed, and regularly and properly inspected and maintained; that its output of sawed lumber was very large and it was hauled over this track exclusively, and in cars of standard guage, furnished it by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company; that the intestate was the engineer having in charge the trains operated on its road, with power to hire and discharge his train crew, brakemen and firemen. The length of this road was two miles. On the night of 30 November, 1907, the engineer, Blackburn, \u2022 was run over and killed while going from the defendant\u2019s mill to Garland. This action was brought by his widow, as administratrix.\nThe circumstances of the alleged negligent killing were substantially as follows: At the mill, a certain amount of shifting of cars had to be done by the engine; Will Hassell was doing the switching and Lem Rich was firing for the engine. The intestate, for some reason, became impatient with-the manner in which Hassell was doing his work, and ordered him to the engine to fire it; that intestate did the work of the switchman, and Rich, under his orders, acted as engineer; Rich had had some experience in running the engine, and seems to have performed his work well that night. The defendant did not use automatic couplers, but coupled its cars in the old way. One of the cars to be hauled by the engine that night was an A. O. L. box car, equipped with the automatic coupler, but it had to be coupled to the engine of the defendant by an iron pin; it was so coupled by intestate, he using the smaller of two pins on the engine, provided by the defendant for coupling. The engine was running backward, pulling the car. There was evidence that intestate tried to use the larger pin, but unsuccessfully; and there was evidence that he picked it up, but did not attempt to use it. After the train was ready to move, the intestate, having a lantern on his arm, stepped on the board running across in front of the engine,, the usual place for the switchman; there being no hand-hold on the engine, he leaned back against the box car and signaled the acting engineer to proceed. The train started and proceeded without accident until it reached an upgrade, when, in pulling' it, the coupling-pin bent, the car separated from the engine, the intestate fell and was run over and tilled. There was evidence that intestate\u2019s attention was called to his position of danger, but he replied he did not think he would get hurt. There was evidence that the intestate had been drinking, but this was contradicted; this was submitted by his Honor to the jury, to be considered by them in passing upon the conduct of the intestate. From the judgment entered upon the verdict, the defendant appealed.\nFaison & Wright for plaintiff.\nGeorge E. Butler and II. L. Stevens for defendant." }, "file_name": "0361-01", "first_page_order": 407, "last_page_order": 412 }