{ "id": 11270286, "name": "A. Y. LINVILLE v. C. F. NISSEN and CARL NISSEN", "name_abbreviation": "Linville v. Nissen", "decision_date": "1913-04-26", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "95", "last_page": "104", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "162 N.C. 95" } ], "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": "157 N. C., 443", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8658217 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/157/0443-01" ] }, { "cite": "144 S. W., 52", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "128 S. W., 276", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "5 L. R. A. (N. S.), 601", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "9 Ga. App., 406", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ga. App.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "47 Wash., 663", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Wash.,", "case_ids": [ 1295776 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/wash/47/0663-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 L. R. A. (N. S.), 856", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "168 Mich., 294", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich.", "case_ids": [ 1608955 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mich/168/0294-01" ] }, { "cite": "76 N. J., 754", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "127 Ia., 601", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Iowa", "case_ids": [ 8648149 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/iowa/127/0601-01" ] }, { "cite": "57 Vt., 135", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Vt.", "case_ids": [ 1292415 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/vt/57/0135-01" ] }, { "cite": "151 N. C., 300", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "75 N. H., 3", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.H.", "case_ids": [ 1798023 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nh/75/0003-01" ] }, { "cite": "14 L. R. A. (N. S.), 216", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "3 Ga. App., 50", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ga. App.", "case_ids": [ 1258742 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ga-app/3/0050-01" ] }, { "cite": "4 L. R. A. (N. S.), 1130", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "97 Minn., 305", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Minn.", "case_ids": [ 1712994 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/minn/97/0305-01" ] }, { "cite": "26 L. R. A., 382", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.", "opinion_index": 0 } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 893, "char_count": 20312, "ocr_confidence": 0.457, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.4667532693750953e-06, "percentile": 0.9914245965691436 }, "sha256": "81e4dd19e59eaa556eb490fc226c055849a6d3a194e56bee5b479a0c21b66f24", "simhash": "1:b82bfa0aa192a086", "word_count": 3641 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:55:37.824965+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "A. Y. LINVILLE v. C. F. NISSEN and CARL NISSEN." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Clark:, C. J.\nOn Sunday afternoon 23 April, 1911, the plaintiff\u2019s son, a young man of 19, took three of his young friends to ride in his father\u2019s automobile, from his home in Waughtown, in the direction of High Point. On his return, about 5 miles from Waughtown, he passed the machine owned by the defendant O. F. Nissen, which was driven by his son, the other defendant, Carl Nissen, a young man of about 20, who also had taken three of his young friends out to ride that afternoon. The latter machine was standing still with its head pointed towards Kernersville, in the opposite direction from that in which the plaintiff\u2019s machine was going. Whether by invitation or not is in doubt, but soon afterwards Carl Nissen turned his machine around and started after the plaintiff\u2019s machine. At that time the plaintiff\u2019s machine was going about 25 miles an hour. As soon as the defendant\u2019s machine started to follow, a race began in wbicb both machines proceeded at the rate of 40 miles or more. After racing some 3 miles, the driver of the foremost machine, Stokes Linville, perceived that the other machine was about to overtake him, and turned his machine to the right. The road was in good condition 10 feet in the center, being macadam and 10 feet on each side, being sand-clay road. Stokes Linville\u2019s evidence is that his machine went entirely off upon the dirt road to the right. The evidence for the other side is that it was partly on the dirt road and partly on the macadam. However that may be, there was room for the defendant\u2019s machine to pass, and for a short while they ran side by side; but as the defendant\u2019s machine was forging ahead its right hind wheel struck the left ,fore wheel of the plaintiff\u2019s machine, smashing it and throwing the latter machine upside down, injuring its occupants somewhat and damaging the machine. This action is against C. E. Nissen, the owner of the machine, who was not present, and Carl Nissen, the driver, for the injury to the plaintiff\u2019s machine.\nThe plaintiff\u2019s machine was a 1,500 pounds \u201cFord\u201d and the defendant\u2019s was a 3,500 pounds \u201cCadillac\u201d and capable of greater speed than the other. There was conflicting evidence as to how the injury occurred. The plaintiff contended that it was caused entirely by the negligence of Carl Nissen, the driver of the defendant\u2019s machine, and the defendants contended that it was caused by the negligence of the plaintiff, whose machine, they allege, swerved to the left as the defendant\u2019s machine was passing. This was a question of fact for the jury, who found that the defendant Carl Nissen was negligent and that the driver of the plaintiff\u2019s machine did not contribute to the negligence. There was evidence that the occupants of the rear car were drinking, eighteen empty beer bottles being found therein. This and the fact that the race was begun by defendant\u2019s ear, which ran into the other, doubtless had weight with the jury.\nBoth parties were in violation of Laws 1907, ch. 728, which makes it a misdemeanor for any person to exceed 15 miles an hour with an automobile on the roads of Forsyth County, and of tbe general law of tbe State, Laws 1909, cb. .445, sec. 9, wbicb makes it a misdemeanor to operate an automobile at a greater speed than 25 miles an bour outside tbe towns and villages and .witb slower speed allowed witbin municipal limits. A strict enforcement of tbis law would prevent sucb dangerous occurrences as tbis. It is to be presumed tbat tbe public prosecutor bas done bis duty, and tbat botb these young men bave answered for tbeir violation of law at tbe bar of tbe criminal court. Tbe public are entitled to tbis protection.\nThere were exceptions to evidence, but they do not merit serious consideration. There is no ground to consider seriously tbe exceptions as to Carl Nissen, whose negligence was a matter of fact to be determined by tbe jury, nor as to tbe measure of damages, wbicb was fairly presented to tbe jury by tbe charge of tbe court and were assessed by tbe jury at $225.\nTbe real controversy in tbe case is as to tbe liability of Charles F. Nissen, tbe owner of tbe machine, who was not present. He and bis son botb testified tbat bis son took out tbe machine tbat Sunday afternoon not only without the consent of bis father, but against bis positive prohibition. There was evidence tbat C. F. Nissen bad bought tbe machine for tbe use of himself and bis family, and also for tbe collection of bills incident to bis business, and tbat Carl at different times bad acted as chauffeur, sometimes witb bis father and sometimes when bis father was not present. There was also evidence offered to show tbe recklessness of Carl Nissen in tbat while driving tbe machine be bad injured two buggies, and tbat bis father bad paid tbe damages. Tbis was competent as tending to show tbat be was reckless and a careless driver, and tbat bis father knew it. It was in evidence tbat when be bad another machine tbe father on one occasion bad taken off a wheel to keep Carl from using it, and tbat though be bad forbidden bis son to use tbis machine, be bad not locked up tbe garage, on wbicb there was no lock. It was argued, therefore, that as tbe son, as a member of tbe family, bad an implied authority to use tbe machine, and tbat if forbidden to use tbe machine, bis father being aware of bis reckless and negligent driving, was bimself negligent in not locking it up to prevent Ms son taking it out, and bence was responsible for tbe consequent injury wbicb occurred.\n\u25a0 Tbe principles of law involved are important and should be clearly stated. They may be thus summed up upon tbe authorities :\n(1) Tbe owner of an automobile is not liable for personal injuries caused by it, merely because of bis ownership. \u201cIt is not per se a dangerous machine, requiring it to be placed in tbe same category with tbe locomotive, ferocious animals, dynamite, and other dangerous contrivances and agencies' Tbe dangers incident to their use as motor vehicles are commonly tbe result of tbe negligent and reckless conduct of those in charge of and operating them, and do not inhere in the construction and use of the vehicles. It is well known that they are being devoted to and used for the purposes of traffic, and as conveyances for the pleasure and convenience of all classes of persons, and without menace to the safety of those using them or to others upon the same highway, when they are operated with reasonable care. The defendant cannot, therefore, be held liable upon the ground that the automobile is a dangerous contrivance.\u201d Steffen v. McNaughton (Wis.), 26 L. R. A., 382, which further states that this principle has been adopted in Slater v. Thresher Co., 97 Minn., 305; McIntyre v. Orner (Ind.), 4 L. R. A. (N. S.), 1130; Lewis v. Amorous, 3 Ga. App., 50; Jones v. Hoge (Wash.), 14 L. R. A. (N. S.), 216; Cunningham v. Castle, 111 N. Y. Sup., 1057. There are many other cases to the same effect, among them, Vincent v. Crandall, 115 N. Y. Sup., 600; Danforth v. Fisher, 75 N. H., 3; Freibaum v. Brady, 143 App. Div. N. Y., 220.\n(2) A parent is not liable for the torts of his minor son. \u201cThe relationship does not alone make a father answerable for the wrongful acts of his. minor child. There must be something besides relationship to connect him with such acts before he becomes liable. It must be shown that he has approved such acts or that the child was his servant or agent.\u201d Johnson v. Glidden, 74 Am, St., 795, which cites a large number of cases. This is quoted and approved in Brittingham v. Stadiem, 151 N. C., 300, this Court adding: \u201cWherever the principles of the common law prevail, this is a well-established doctrine.\u201d\nWe would not be understood, however, as holding that the father would not be liable if he should place his automobile in charge of a child of tender years any more than if he would intrust an unruly horse to him. But in such case the liability arises from the father\u2019s negligence, and not from the imputed negligence of the child. This is too well settled to need discussion. It is, however, contended that in this case the son was acting by the authority of the father, and therefore quasi his servant. Aside from the fact that the evidence of both the father and son is that he took the automobile out not only without his father\u2019s consent, but against his prohibition, the reason of the thing cannot sustain the proposition that the son was pro hoc vice acting as his father\u2019s agent. He did not take any of the family out to ride, but some of his friends, and was acting for his own purposes.and not as agent for his father. In Way v. Powers, 57 Vt., 135, a son who was living as a hired man on his father\u2019s farm took his horse without his permission, though he would have given permission if asked, and drove to the railroad station for one of his friends. He there tied the horse, which broke loose and ran into the plaintiff\u2019s team and injured him. It was held that though the son was negligent, the father was not liable.\nIn Reynolds v. Buck, 127 Ia., 601, it was held that \u201cthe owner of an automobile is not liable from injury resulting from the negligent operation of the machine by a son, without the father\u2019s knowledge and consent, and not at .the time in his employ or about his business.\u201d That case is exactly \u201con. all-fours\u201d with this.\nIn Doran v. Thomsen, 76 N. J., 754, where a father was possessed of an automobile which he kept upon his premises, and his daughter, about 19 years of age, was accustomed to drive it, and did so whenever she felt like it, asking permission to use it when the father was at home, but when not at home, talcing it sometimes without permission, it was held that when she used the machine for her own pleasure and negligently injured a person in tbe highway there was no proof sufficient to constitute her the servant or agent of the master, and that her father was not responsible. This case is thoroughly discussed and cites numerous authorities which sustain the proposition that \u201cthe doctrine of respondeat superior applies only when the relation of master and servant is shown to exist between the wrongdoer and the person sought to be charged for the result of wrong, at the time and in respect to the very transaction out of which the injury arose.\u201d It also cites numerous authorities to the other well-settled principle that \u201cthe mere fact of the relation of parent and child does not make the child the servant of the defendant\u201d in actions for tort. That case well says that while \u201cliability might arise by reason of the father\u2019s intrusting a dangerous machine or agency to the hands of an inexperienced or incompetent person, such liability does not rest upon the negligence of the servant in permitting his child to use a dangerous machine.\u201d In such case the ground of the action is the negligence of the father and not the imputation of the negligence of the servant to the master. The distinction between the two is well set out in 29 Cyc., 1665. This latter was not the case here, for there is no evidence that the father intrusted the machine to the hands of his son or that he was inexperienced, but the evidence on both points is to the contrary.\n(3) Even if the son had been the servant of his father in driving the machine, the father would not be liable for his negligence unless his son was at the time acting in the scope of his employment and in regard to his master\u2019s business. 26 Cyc., 1518; 20 A. and E., 167; 2 Thompson Neg., 855, 885, 886; S. and R. Neg., 62, 63; Cooley on Torts, 533. The authorities applying this well-known principle to automobiles are already numerous. In Riley v. Roach, 168 Mich., 294, the Court held: \u201cA chauffeur employed by defendant was especially instructed by him not to take the automobile out without permission. But without his knowledge or consent, he did take the machine out, and on the trip collided with the plaintiff\u2019s buggy: Held, this was not in the scope of the chauffeur\u2019s employment, and the owner was not liable.\u201d Numerous authorities are cited to this effect, which is a well-settled principle .of general law. This case cited and distinguished Moon v. Matthews (Pa.), 29 L. R. A. (N. S.), 856, in that, in that case, the automobile having been taken out by the chauffeur in obedience to the command of the master\u2019s family for the entertainment of the friends and guests of the family, he was not acting outside the scope of his employment so as to relieve the master from liability for injury by the negligent handling of the car.\nIn this case the father had sold out his business a year before the accident, and had no chauffeur. But even if the son had been a regularly employed chauffeur, in Jones v. Hoge, 47 Wash., 663, it was held that \u201cWhere the chauffeur, without authority, took defendant\u2019s automobile from the garage without his. knowledge or permission, and, while using it on a, personal errand of his own, ran over plaintiff, the accident occurred while the chauffeur was acting beyond the scope of his master\u2019s business, and hence defendant was not liable.\u201d This case also is well considered and cites very numerous authorities to the same effect, some of which are cited in Huddy Automobiles, 95-98.\nIn Stewart v. Baruch, 103 App. Div. N. Y., 577, the Court said: \u201cA chauffeur who in violation of the instructions of his employer takes out the latter\u2019s automobile for his own pleasure, is not, in so doing, acting in the scope of his employment, and his employer is not responsible to a stranger for his negligence.\u201d But this is so well settled as a general principle of the law that it scarcely needs discussion further than to say that repeated authorities, which are indeed uniform, hold that there is nothing in the nature of automobiles which excepts them from the application of this principle.\nIn Durham v. Straus, 38 Pa. Sup. Ct., 621, which was the case of a collision like the present, it was held that the chauffeur having taken the machine out contrary to the owner\u2019s general order not to do so without his consent, the owner was not responsible, the Court saying: \u201cThe plaintiff must not only show that the person in charge was defendant\u2019s servant, but the further fact that he was at the time engaged on the master\u2019s business. Evidence of the mere ownership of the machine is insufficient.\u201d To the same effect, Sarver v. Mitchell, 35 Pa. Sup., 69, and numerous cases there cited. And Danforth v. Fisher, 75 N. N, 111, which held that the owner of an automobile was \u201cnot liable for injuries caused by the negligence of his servant in driving his machine, not in the scope of his master\u2019s employment, but for purposes of his own.\u201d This case cites numerous authorities.\nIn McIntyre v. Hartfelder, 9 Ga. App., 406, it was held that \u201cThe owner of an automobile is not usually liable for the injuries inflicted by one who at the time is driving it without his consent, contrary to his 'directions, even though he is an employee of the owner and had authority to drive it for certain purposes.\u201d In that .case the chauffeur, instead of leaving the machine at the garage as he was told to do, used it to go to dinner, and inflicted the injury while in pursuit of that object.\nIndeed, the rule is thus stated with full citation of authorities in Slater v. Thresher Co. (Minn.), 5 L. R. A. (N. S.), 601: \u201cIt is not controlling that the master intrust the servant with exclusive control of the instrumentality causing the injury. The test is, Was the servant acting in the scope of his employment at the time of the act complained of?\u201d citing English and American authorities. It is true that the \u201cemployer is liable for damages caused by his employee\u2019s negligence while driving his automobile in the scope of his employment, though the negligent act was not necessary to the performance of his duties or especially authorized by or known to the employer, and was forbidden by him.\u201d Winfrey v. Lazarus, 128 S. W., 276 (Mo. App.). There is nothing that brings this case within this principle, but it is cited that there may be no misconception of the purport of this decision.\nIn Stowe v. Morris (Ky.), 144 S. W., 52, which is relied on by the plaintiff, the defendant had bought an automobile for the comfort and pleasure of his family, and the son was authorized to use it at any time for that purpose. \u2022 He took it out for the purpose of giving his sister and himself and friends a pleasure ride. In that case it was held that the son was not performing an independent service of his own, but was discharging the business of the defendant and was acting as the servant of his father in the scope of his agency, and hence the father was liable for the son\u2019s negligence in driving it. That case resembles Moon v. Matthews above cited, in which the machine was taken ont by the authority of the sister of the owner, she being a member of the family. In both those cases the owner was held liable because the driver was acting within the scope of his authority. The facts of those cases in no wise resemble this.\nIn Power v. Engineering Co., 142 App. Div. N. Y., 401, it was held that where an automobile owned by a corporation and used in its business was at the time of the accident driven and occupied by officers of the corporation and their friends on a pleasure trip, unconnected with the business of the corporation, the corporation was not liable for damages sustained by the negligence of the driver.\nThe general principle that \u201cthe master is not responsible for the tort of his servant when done without his authority and not for the purpose of executing his orders, or while doing the work, but wholly for the servant\u2019s own purposes and in pursuit of his private or personal ends,\u201d has been repeatedly held in our own Court and has very recently been restated in Bucken v. R. R., 157 N. C., 443, and Dover v. Manufacturing Co., ib., 325.\n\u2022 The court below erred in refusing to give prayers for instruction in accordance with the principles of law above laid down. Indeed, the judge might well have directed a nonsuit in respect to Charles E. Nissen, for the evidence is undisputed that the driver at the time of the injury to plaintiff\u2019s car was not engaged in any business for the owner, but was about his own business or pleasure, and no jury question was raised on that point.\nAs to appellant, Carl Nissen, there is no error. As to C. F. Nissen there is\nError.", "type": "majority", "author": "Clark:, C. J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Jones & Patterson, A. E. Holton, and II. 0. Sapp for plaintiff.", "Manly, Ilendren & Womble and Watson, Buxton & Watson for defendants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "A. Y. LINVILLE v. C. F. NISSEN and CARL NISSEN.\n(Filed 26 April, 1913.)\n1. Automobiles \u2014 Negligence Pe'r Se \u2014 Liability of Owner.\nAn automobile is not inherently a dangerous machine so as to render the owner liable for damages caused by the unauthorized acts of another, by virtue of the fact that he is the owner.\n2. Automobiles \u2014 Parent and Child \u2014 Master and Servant \u2014 Negligence \u2014Respondeat Superior.\nA parent is not liable for the torts of his minor son done without his knowledge and consent; and where under such circumstances the son has taken an automobile owned by his father, and bjr liis negligent or reckless driving has caused damages, the father is not responsible therefor by reason of the relationship; and to make him so it must appear that the son was in some way acting in a representative capacity, such as would make the master responsible for the servant\u2019s tort.\n3. Same \u2014 Scope of Employment.\nTo hold the master responsible for the tort of his servant it must be shown that the tort complained of occurred while the servant was acting within the scope of his duties and while in pursuance of them, and the driving of an automobile comes within this principle; and where it is shown that at times a father used the services of his son as a chauffeur, as in taking the family for a pleasure ride, etc., the tort of the son while taking a party of his friends to ride without the knowledge and against the commands of his father cannot be considered an act done for or in. behalf of the latter, and as no negligence can therein be imputed to the father, he cannot be held liable, though he knew the son to be a reckless driver anci had not locked up the automobile to prevent his having access to it.\nAppeal by defendants from O. II. Allen, J., at September Term, 1912, of FoRsyth.\nJones & Patterson, A. E. Holton, and II. 0. Sapp for plaintiff.\nManly, Ilendren & Womble and Watson, Buxton & Watson for defendants." }, "file_name": "0095-01", "first_page_order": 139, "last_page_order": 148 }