{ "id": 8599479, "name": "AGNES RIGSBEE, Administratrix of EDWARD W. RIGSBEE v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY", "name_abbreviation": "Rigsbee v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad", "decision_date": "1925-10-07", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "231", "last_page": "235", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "190 N.C. 231" } ], "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": "163 N. C., 431", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272100 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/163/0431-01" ] }, { "cite": "144 N. C., 184", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8659322 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/144/0184-01" ] }, { "cite": "182 N. C., 708", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8657898 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/182/0708-01" ] }, { "cite": "145 N. C., 383", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11253472 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/145/0383-01" ] }, { "cite": "154 N. C., 328", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8652309 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/154/0328-01" ] }, { "cite": "139 N. C., 500", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "86 N. C., 221", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11273398 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/86/0221-01" ] }, { "cite": "151 N. C., 545", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655472 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/151/0545-01" ] }, { "cite": "153 N. C., 322", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272352, 11272332 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/153/0322-02", "/nc/153/0322-01" ] }, { "cite": "171 N. C., 634", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271626 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/171/0634-01" ] }, { "cite": "166 N. C., 539", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11270442 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/166/0539-01" ] }, { "cite": "170 N. C., 281", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8658726 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/170/0281-01" ] }, { "cite": "172 N. C., 116", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11252652 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/172/0116-01" ] }, { "cite": "178 N. C., 509", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11273081 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/178/0509-01" ] }, { "cite": "179 N. C., 216", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655514 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/179/0216-01" ] }, { "cite": "181 N. C., 153", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655482 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/181/0153-01" ] }, { "cite": "140 N. C., 209", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8651801 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/140/0209-01" ] }, { "cite": "109 N. C., 472", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8650757 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/109/0472-01" ] }, { "cite": "122 N. C., 910", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8662892 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/122/0910-01" ] }, { "cite": "155 N. C., 203", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8651963 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/155/0203-01" ] }, { "cite": "166 N. C., 592", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11270705 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/166/0592-01" ] }, { "cite": "167 N. C., 611", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11273626 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/167/0611-01" ] }, { "cite": "180 N. C., 290", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653566 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/180/0290-01" ] }, { "cite": "181 N. C., 196", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655588 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/181/0196-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 654, "char_count": 11356, "ocr_confidence": 0.467, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.0941776979832984e-07, "percentile": 0.5664363057460107 }, "sha256": "f1feb419467ec07ec439d2f893abc8981acf576f3ae70ddcb4d5343fff7ec4f5", "simhash": "1:2422f630981aa3f8", "word_count": 1995 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:38:29.672014+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "AGNES RIGSBEE, Administratrix of EDWARD W. RIGSBEE v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Adams, J.\nThe circumstances under which the plaintiff says her intestate suffered death are set out in the complaint and related in the testimony of her witnesses. The injury occurred about three-quarters of a mile from South Rocky Mount. At this place the defendant has two main lines, using the east line for northbound trains and the west line for trains moving southward. To the east of the northbound line is a track known as the lead track or the \u201cFlorence Lead,\u201d connecting the north and south freight yards and the Y. D. tower. Between the east and west main lines and between the east main line and the \u201cFlorence Lead\u201d the distance is about three feet. Ten feet east of the \u201cFlorence Lead\u201d there is a building designated in the record as the \u201cD. I. office.\u201d The roadbed is lower than the adjacent ground, and for this reason the defendant keeps up a bridge extending from the embankment in front of the D. I. office to the lead track and another extending from the west embankment to the southbound line. Near the office were other tracks or switches, the relative situation of which it is not necessary to describe. On 15 March, 1923, to make use of needed space in one of the yards, the defendant pulled down on the lead track a freight train made up for Wilmington and left it standing near the place of the injury. Close to the bridge extending from the east embankment to the lead track there was an open space between two of the cars in this train covering a distance, according to the several estimates of the witnesses, ranging from five to fifty feet. There is evidence that for a number of years this crossing has been used, not only by the employees of the defendant, but by -others, one witness testifying that in his opinion a thousand people cross the track at this place every day.\nThe plaintiff\u2019s intestate was an employee of the defendant, serving in the capacity of switchman or brakeman. He had been called for the 3 o\u2019clock shift and a short time before his death had been seen cleaning his lantern on the rear porch of the D. I. office. A short time after-wards (about 3:10 p. m.), the defendant\u2019s train with seven or eight cars approached on the northbound track. It had come from Florence and was going in the direction of Rocky Mount. According to the plaintiff\u2019s evidence it was running forty miles an hour; and while it is usual for trains to blow for the crossing (R., p. 14), on this occasion no signal or warning was given by sounding the whistle or ringing the bell. The plaintiff\u2019s intestate, coming from the D. I. office, j>assed through the open space between the box cars and while in the act of crossing the east main line was struck by the engine and killed. Evidence on behalf of the defendant tended to show that the proper signals were given and that the intestate heedlessly ran upon the track in front of the train and solely by his own negligence caused his injury and death.\nThe defendant contends that upon.its motion the action should have \u25a0 been dismissed as in case of nonsuit. Exceptions 2 and 4. This position cannot be maintained. It was unquestionably the duty of the defendant in the exercise of due care to give timely warning of the train\u2019s approach by sounding the whistle or ringing the bell, or by both means if reasonably necessary, and if it failed to perform this duty such failure was evidence of negligence, requiring determination by the jury of all matters involved in the first issue. Costin v. Power Co., 181 N. C., 196; Jackson v. R. R., ibid., 153; Perry v. R. R., 180 N. C., 290; Bagwell v. R. R., 167 N. C., 611; Hill v. R. R., 166 N. C., 592; Jenkins v. R. R., 155 N. C., 203; Norton v. R. R., 122 N. C., 910; Hinkle v. R. R., 109 N. C., 472. The specific contention, that, as a proposition of law, the intestate\u2019s negligence was essentially the sole cause of his injury and death and a consequent bar to the recovery of damages, is not in accord with our decisions. We adhere to the principle that qualifying facts and conditions may so complicate the question of contributory negligence as to make it one for the jury even when there has been a failure to look or listen (Cooper v. R. R., 140 N. C., 209); and surely upon the facts disclosed in the case at bar we cannot hold as a legal inference that the intestate\u2019s \u00e1lleged negligence was such as entitles the defendant to a dismissal of the action. It is incumbent upon the defendant to establish contributory negligence as a matter of affirmative defense. Jackson v. R. R., 181 N. C., 153; Goff v. R. R., 179 N. C., 216; Lea v. Utilities Co., 178 N. C., 509; Lutterloh v. R. R., 172 N. C., 116; Davidson v. R. R., 170 N. C., 281; Shepard v. R. R., 166 N. C., 539. In Davidson v. R. R., 171 N. C., 634, it is said that where a pedestrian without looking or listening goes in the daytime upon a railroad track, the view of which is unobstructed, and is injured thereby, his own negligence will be deemed the proximate cause of his injury and will preclude his recovery See, also, Coleman v. R. R., 153 N. C., 322; Trull v. R. R., 151 N. C., 545; Parker v. R. R., 86 N. C., 221. But in the present ease there is evidence tending to show that the intestate\u2019s view was obstructed and that he could not have seen the approaching train until he had come within one step of the track, and even then only by \u201csticking his head around the box car after getting down on the bridge.\u201d Whether he approached the track rapidly or slowly was a matter for the jury. Considering the entire evidence we think the defendant\u2019s motion for nonsuit was properly denied.\nA witness for tbe plaintiff, after testifying as to tbe character, tbe babits, and tbe earning capacity of tbe intestate, said: \u201cIt is not my opinion that be spent much money on bimself as distinguished from bis family.\u201d To this tbe defendant excepted. In ascertaining net earnings tbe rule requires tbe jury to deduct only tbe reasonably necessary personal expenses of tbe deceased and not tbe amount spent for bis family or those dependent upon him. Carter v. R. R., 139 N. C., 500; Roberson v. Lumber Co., 154 N. C., 328. Tbe evidence excepted to must be considered in its relation to tbe preceding testimony of tbe witness, and when so considered it is not objectionable as a mere expression of opinion. It is apparent that this clause was an estimate based upon observation and knowledge of tbe intestate\u2019s industry and babits. Taylor v. Security Co., 145 N. C., 383. Tbe first exception, then, must be overruled.\nTbe third exception also is without merit. Tbe engineer, testifying on behalf of tbe defendant, offered to repeat a remark be bad made to tbe fireman, probably concerning tbe ringing of tbe bell, although tbe substance of tbe remark is not set out in tbe record. Snyder v. Asheboro, 182 N. C., 708. But if tbe purpose was to show that tbe bell bad in fact been rung and was still ringing, this circumstance was afterwards related by tbe engineer and tbe fireman. R., pp. 37, 52.\nTbe fifth exception is addressed to an instruction which is a literal excerpt from tbe opinion in Cooper v. R. R., supra. It is perfectly evident that bis Honor intended merely to state an established principle of law to be applied by tbe jury to tbe evidence relating to tbe second issue. He did not assume or intimate that tbe intestate\u2019s view was in fact obstructed, as contended by tbe plaintiff, and herein tbe instruction excepted to differs from that which was disapproved in Withers v. Lane, 144 N. C., 184.\nTbe prayer for instruction which is tbe subject of tbe sixth exception runs counter to recognized principles in this class of cases. It was not tbe absolute duty of tbe intestate to stop, look, and listen simply because tbe defendant\u2019s track is a place of danger. There is no authority for bolding that tbe law imposed upon tbe intestate tbe unqualified duty to stop before going upon tbe track. Jackson v. R. R., supra, and cases therein cited. The prayer is objectionable for tbe further reason that it disregards tbe alleged negligence of tbe defendant as a factor tending to explain tbe conditions under which tbe intestate-approached tbe track. Johnson v. R. R., 163 N. C., 431. Upon tbe same principle, and for tbe additional reason that tbe prayer omits all reference to tbe question of proximate cause, tbe seventh exception must be overruled. So likewise as to tbe eighth and ninth. 'Whether tbe crossing is technically a highway is immaterial. It was used by tbe public as well as by tbe defendant\u2019s employees and whether the defendant exercised due care in the operation of its train at the place of the injury was a matter to be considered by the jury in connection with the character of the crossing and the defendant\u2019s knowledge of its use. The remaining exception is formal and requires no discussion.\nWe find\nNo error.", "type": "majority", "author": "Adams, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "R. T. Fountain and George M. Fountain for plaintiff.", "Thos. T7. Davis, V. E. Phelps, F. 8. Spruill and Bridgers & Bourne for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "AGNES RIGSBEE, Administratrix of EDWARD W. RIGSBEE v. ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY.\n(Filed 7 October, 1925.)\n1. Negligence \u2014 Railroads\u2014Evidence\u2014Questions for Jury \u2014 Nonsuit.\nWhere there is evidence tending to show that the defendant railroad company had left a space between the cars in its stationary freight train on its yard, where it had continuously permitted its employees and others to pass in large numbers, and plaintiff\u2019s intestate, an employee, was killed there by a train rapidly moving on a close parallel track beyond, coming without signals or the customary warnings of its approach: Held, the failure of the defendant to give the customary warning on its moving train is sufficient on the issue of its actionable negligence to deny defend-, ant\u2019s motion as of nonsuit thereon.\n2. Same \u2014 Contributory Negligence \u2014 Burden of Proof.\nUnder the facts of this case: Held, the mere fact that the defendant's employee may not have stopped, before going upon the track whereupon he was killed by the defendant\u2019s negligence in not giving the customary signals of its approach, did not bar him of his right to recover, as the sole, proximate and efficient cause.\n3. Negligence \u2014 Railroads\u2014Death\u2014Measure of Damages.\nTo ascertain the damages recoverable by the administratrix of the deceased for his negligent killing by the defendant, the net-earnings rule requires the jury to deduct only the reasonably necessary personal expenses of the deceased, and not the amount spent by him for his family or dependents, and testimony of a witness relatively construed that bases his estimate upon the witness\u2019 knowledge of the habits of the deceased, in this connection is properly admitted.\n4. Appeal and Error \u2014 Evidence\u2014Harmless Error.\nWhere corroborative evidence is erroneously excluded, its subsequent admission will render the error harmless.\nAppeal by defendant from Crammer, J., at April Term, 1925, of Edgecombe.\nCivil action to recover damages for tbe intestate\u2019s death which occurred 15 March, 1923. The jury returned the following verdict:\n1. Vas the plaintiff\u2019s intestate killed by the negligence of the defendant, as alleged in the complaint ? A. Yes.\n2. Did the plaintiff\u2019s intestate, by his own negligence, contribute, to his death? A. No.\n3. Vhat damage, if any, is plaintiff entitled to recover ? A. $15,000.00.\nDefendant appealed from the judgment, assigning error.\nR. T. Fountain and George M. Fountain for plaintiff.\nThos. T7. Davis, V. E. Phelps, F. 8. Spruill and Bridgers & Bourne for defendant." }, "file_name": "0231-01", "first_page_order": 335, "last_page_order": 339 }