{ "id": 8623768, "name": "STONE SHIPP, by his Next Friend, N. R. SHIPP, v. UNITED STAGE LINES, Inc., and SAFETY COACH LINES, Inc.", "name_abbreviation": "Shipp ex rel. Shipp v. United Stage Lines, Inc.", "decision_date": "1926-11-03", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "475", "last_page": "480", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "192 N.C. 475" } ], "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": "137 S. W., 543", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "143 Ky., 765", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ky.", "case_ids": [ 8589051 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ky/143/0765-01" ] }, { "cite": "150 Pac., 581", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "96 Kan., 321", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Kan.", "case_ids": [ 1300999 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/kan/96/0321-01" ] }, { "cite": "121 N. C., 512", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653469 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/121/0512-01" ] }, { "cite": "59 W. Va., 688", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "W. Va.", "case_ids": [ 8630022 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/w-va/59/0688-01" ] }, { "cite": "141 N. C., 195", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11252529 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/141/0195-01" ] }, { "cite": "163 N. C., 431", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272100 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/163/0431-01" ] }, { "cite": "161 N. C., 528", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "159 N. C., 362", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "186 N. C., 746", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8654556 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/186/0746-01" ] }, { "cite": "183 N. C., 614", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8657611 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/183/0614-01" ] }, { "cite": "168 N. C., 457", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8660662 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/168/0457-01" ] }, { "cite": "171 N. C., 445", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11270868 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/171/0445-01" ] }, { "cite": "181 N. C., 359", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8656014 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/181/0359-01" ] }, { "cite": "174 N. C., 458", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11254383 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/174/0458-01" ] }, { "cite": "178 N. C., 612", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "119 N. C., 710", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655969 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/119/0710-01" ] }, { "cite": "172 N. C., 848", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11255935 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/172/0848-01" ] }, { "cite": "121 N. C., 372", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "146 N. C., 316", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271067 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/146/0316-01" ] }, { "cite": "178 N. C., 584", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11273341 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/178/0584-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 669, "char_count": 13313, "ocr_confidence": 0.469, "pagerank": { "raw": 9.319647851575871e-07, "percentile": 0.9802241366195481 }, "sha256": "0de1a982df0fe5b5b6a33e780825f45508c891b825adb6e7b49d18d27bcdd475", "simhash": "1:df46fca0991ed6cb", "word_count": 2359 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:52:38.190415+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "BbogdeN, J., having been of counsel, took no part in tbe consideration or decision of tbis case." ], "parties": [ "STONE SHIPP, by his Next Friend, N. R. SHIPP, v. UNITED STAGE LINES, Inc., and SAFETY COACH LINES, Inc." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "PLAINTIFF'S APPEAL\nStacy, C. J.\nTbe plaintiff appeals only from tbe verdict on tbe second issue and that part of tbe judgment wbicb exculpates tbe defendant, Safety Coacb Lines, Inc., from liability.\nIt appears tbat on 24 November, 1924, about 5 o\u2019clock in tbe afternoon, tbe plaintiff, a boy 14 years of age, was standing on tbe side of tbe Ealeigb-Durbam bigbway, in front of bis father\u2019s borne near Nelson, wben be was injured by a bus of tbe United Stage Lines, Inc., as it backed off tbe bigbway in order to avoid a collision witb a bus owned and operated by tbe Safety Coach Lines, Inc., or was bit and knocked off tbe bigbway by tbe said last named bus. Tbe drivers of botb busses were charged witb negligence wbicb contributed to and proximately produced plaintiff\u2019s injuries. Tbe allegation of tbe complaint, as amended, in this respect is to tbe effect \u201cthat the driver of the bus of the Safety Coach Lines, Inc., negligently, recklessly, and with wanton disregard for the rights of the public, and the plaintiff, continued to bear down upon said bus owned and operated by the United Stage Lines, Inc., at a terrific and reckless rate of speed, and struck the bus operated by the United Stage Lines, Inc., somewhere on the right side of said bus and near the front of same, whereupon the driyer of the bus of the defendant, United Stage Lines, Inc., suddenly and simultaneously and at or about the moment the bus driven by him was struck by the bus of the Safety Coach Lines, Inc., without any warning, recklessly and wantonly shot said bus back across the road in the direction of the plaintiff,\u201d striking.him and injuring him, etc.\nUnder this allegation \u2014 the evidence being both ways as to whether the two busses actually collided \u2014 the trial 'court instructed the jury, \u201cas a matter of law, that if they failed to find by the greater weight of the evidence that the Safety Coach bus did hit the bus of the United Stage Lines, Inc., they would answer the second issue No.\u2019 \u201d This instruction is assigned as error and forms the basis of one of plaintiff\u2019s exceptions. We think the exception is well taken.\nTrue, it is alleged that the two busses actually collided. But it is also alleged, giving a liberal interpretation to the complaint, that the bus of the Safety Coach Lines, Inc., \u201ccontinued to bear down upon the said bus owned and operated by the United Stage Lines, Inc.,\u201d causing the driver of the latter bus suddenly to back off the road, thereby negligently injuring the plaintiff; and there is evidence tending to support as well as to refute this allegation. Its weight, of course, is a matter for the jury. \u201cThe plaintiff is entitled to recover any relief to which the facts alleged in the complaint and the proof entitle him to receive.\u201d Clark, C. J., in Henofer v. Realty Co., 178 N. C., 584. See, also, McCulloch v. R. R., 146 N. C., 316; Gilliam v. Ins. Co., 121 N. C., 372; C. S., 506.\nAppellee, the Safety Coach Lines, Inc., says, however, that the plaintiff, by his deliberate allegation of a collision, thereby selected the ground upon which he was willing to wage battle; that he has had a fair chance of winning on his chosen field; that he thought it wise to risk his fortunes on a singl\u00e9 strong position rather than take another also which might tend to weaken it; and that he ought not to be given another chance, after losing, to shift his ground to some other position, which he had not taken when he had a fair opportunity to do so. Webb v. Rosemond,, 172 N. C., 848; Allen v. R. R., 119 N. C., 710. This is undoubtedly a sound position, for it is well established that a party to a suit may not' change his position with respect to a material matter during the course of litigation. Hill v. R. R., 178 N. C., 612; Lindsey v. Mitchell, 174 N. C., 458. Especially is this so where the change of front is sought to be made between the.trial and appellate courts. Ingram v. Power Co., 181 N. C., 359; Coble v. Barringer, 171 N. C., 445. A party is not permitted to try his case in the Superior Court on one theory and then ask the Supreme Court to hear it on another and different theory. Warren v. Susman, 168 N. C., 457.\nBut in answer to appellee\u2019s position, we think it is sufficient to say that the fact, if such it be, is not made to appear on the record, and we find nothing in the case which would seem to limit the plaintiff to the allegation of an actual collision. It is true, his Honor told the jury that the only allegation of negligence in the complaint was \u201cthat the bus of the Safety Coach Lines, Inc., negligently crashed into the bus of the United Stage Lines, Inc., and knocked it against the plaintiff,\u201d but this is not conceded by the plaintiff, and the instruction itself forms the basis of one of his exceptions on appeal.\nThe plaintiff is entitled to a new trial as against the defendant, Safety Coach Lines, Inc., and it is so ordered.\nNew trial.\nAPPEAL OF DEFENDANT, UNITED STAGE LINES, INC.\nStacy, C. J.\nNumerous exceptions are presented by the appeal of defendant, United Stage Lines, Inc., but we shall not consider them seriatim, as we find it necessary to award a new trial for error in the charge on the measure of damages.\nAs bearing on the issue of damages, the following instruction forms the basis of several exceptive assignments of error':\n\u201cIn this class of cases, if the plaintiff is entitled to recover at all he is entitled to recover as damages one compensation \u2014 in a lump sum\u2014 for all injuries, past, present and prospective in consequence of the defendants\u2019 negligent acts. These are understood to embrace indemnity for actual nursing or medical expense, and loss of time or loss from inability to perform labor or capacity to earn money. The plaintiff is to have a reasonable compensation, if he is entitled to recover at all, for the loss of both bodily and mental powers and for' actual suffering, both- of body and mind, which are the immediate and necessary consequences of the injury. And it is for you, gentlemen of the jury, to say under all the circumstances what is a reasonable and fair sum which the defendants should pay to the plaintiff, by way of compensation, for the injury he has sustained. The age of the plaintiff, his occupation, the nature and extent of his ability to work, his earning capacity at the time of the injury or whether he was employed or not or whether he was able to go to school or not, are all matters to be considered by the jury.\u201d\nThis charge is almost in the identical language of the Court\u2019s opinion in the case of Ledford v. Lumber Co., 183 N. C., 614, with the exception that in the Ledford case the following was added: \u201cThe award is to be made on the basis of -a cash settlement of the plaintiff\u2019s injuries, past, present and prospective.\u201d And this was further amplified in Murphy v. Lumber Co., 186 N. C., 746, where it was said: \u201cDefendant\u2019s position in regard to limiting the damages, if any, which may accrue in the future to the present cash value or present worth of such damages is undoubtedly the correct one, for if the jury assess any prospective damages, the plaintiff is to be paid now, in advance, for future losses. The sum fixed by the jury should be such as fairly compensates the plaintiff for injuries suffered in the past and those likely to occur in the future. The verdict should be rendered on the basis of a cash settlement of the plaintiff\u2019s injuries, past, present and prospective.\u201d See, also, Fry v. R. R., 159 N. C., 362; Penny v. R. R., 161 N. C., 528; Johnson v. R. R., 163 N. C., 431.\nBut the present case is distinguishable from those cited above, in that the plaintiff is a minor, fourteen years of age, living with his parents. This suit is brought by his father as next friend. It seems to be the universal holding that an unemancipated infant cannot recover, as an element of damages in an action for personal injuries, for loSs of time or diminished earning capacity during his minority. Hayes v. R. R., 141 N. C., 195, 31 C. J., 1114; Comer v. Lumber Co., 59 W. Va., 688, 8 Anno. Cas., 1105, and note. The father is entitled to the services and earnings of his minor child so long as the latter is legally in his custody or under his control and not emancipated. Floyd v. R. R., 167 N. C., p. 59; Williams v. R. R., 121 N. C., 512; 29 Cyc., 1623.\nThe charge is defective in that it fails to limit the plaintiff\u2019s recovery to the present worth of a fair and reasonable compensation for his mental and physical pain and suffering, if any, and for his permanent injuries, if any, resulting in the impairment of his power or ability to earn money after reaching his majority. Murphy v. Ludowici Gas and Oil Co., 96 Kan., 321, 150 Pac., 581; Cincinnati, etc., Ry. Co. v. Troxell, 143 Ky., 765, 137 S. W., 543.\nIn the case from Kentucky, just cited, it was held that a minor railway employee, not manumitted, could recover only for his mental and physical pain and suffering, if any, and for the permanent impairment, if any, of his power to earn money after arriving at the age of twenty-one years, and not for loss of time during his minority.\nIn regard to tbe assignments of error directed to tbe refusal of tbe court to grant tbe defendant\u2019s motion for judgment as of nonsuit, made first at tbe close of plaintiff\u2019s evidence, and renewed at tbe close of all tbe evidence, we deem -it sufficient to say tbat, in our opinion, tbe evidence was sucb as to require its submission to tbe jury. As a new trial must be awarded, we omit any discussion of tbe testimony.\nNew trial.\nBbogdeN, J., having been of counsel, took no part in tbe consideration or decision of tbis case.", "type": "majority", "author": "Stacy, C. J. Stacy, C. J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Brawley & Gantt for plaintiff.", "Biggs & Broughton for defendant, United Stage Lines, Inc.", "Broolcs, Parker & Smith and Fuller, Beade & Fuller for defendant, Safety Coach Lines, Inc." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STONE SHIPP, by his Next Friend, N. R. SHIPP, v. UNITED STAGE LINES, Inc., and SAFETY COACH LINES, Inc.\n(Filed 3 November, 1926.)\n1. Negligence \u2014 Automobiles\u2014Collisions'\u2014Instructions\u2014Evidence\u2014 Questions for Jury \u2014 Appeal and Error.\nWhere there is allegation and evidence tending to show that the plaintiff was injured by the negligence of the defendant\u2019s driver of its auto-passenger bus upon a public highway, negligently driving at a high speed upon an auto-bus of another line, causing the driver of the other bus to back his bus off the road and strike the plaintiff, and thus cause the injury in suit, it is reversible error to the plaintiff\u2019s prejudice for the trial judge, in his instructions to the jury, to make the question of negligence of the first line to depend solely upon whether there was an actual collision of the busses.\n2. Election of Remedies \u2014 Trials\u2014Appeal and Error \u2014 Burden of Proof\u2014 Record.\nWhile the plaintiff in an action to recover damages for a negligent personal injury may not elect upon the trial to hold only one of the two defendants liable, and upon appeal seek to hold the other liable also, the record on appeal must show that he had chosen to try the case in the Superior Court upon the theory that only the negligence of one of the defendants caused the injury in suit.\nS. Appeal and Error \u2014 Instructions\u2014Record\u2014Statement of Facts by tbe Judge.\nAn instruction of the court based upon the judge\u2019s statement of fact not supported by the evidence appearing of record, and not conceded by the party adversely concerned, will not effect an error of law committed in the instructions to the jury, according to the record evidence in the case sent up.\n4. Negligence \u2014 Personal Injuries \u2014 Infants\u2014Measure of Damages \u2014 Parent and Child \u2014 Earnings of Child \u2014 Appeal and Error \u2014 Instructions.\nWhile one entitled to damages negligently caused by the act of another may recover 'the present cash value of such sum as will compensate him past, present and prospective, this rule must be limited, when the plaintiff so receiving the' injuries is an unemancipated infant, .supported by his father, his next friend in the action, to such compensation as will\\continue after he has reached his majority, the father being entitled to the infant\u2019s earnings, etc., before that time, and an instruction that fails to observe this limitation as to the amount of recovery is reversible error.\nBbogden, J., having been of counsel, took no part in the consideration of decision of this appeal.\nAppeal by plaintiff and tbe defendant, United Stage Lines, Inc., from Schench, J., at June Special Term, 1926, of Dubham.\nCivil action to recover damages for an alleged negligent injury, tried upon tbe following issues:\n\u201c1. \"Was tbe plaintiff, Stone Sbipp, injured by tbe negligence of tbe defendant, United Stage Lines, Inc., as alleged in tbe complaint? Answer: Yes.\n\u201c2. Was tbe plaintiff, Stone Sbipp, injured by tbe defendant, Safety Coacb Lines, Inc., as alleged in tbe complaint? Answer: No.\n\u201c3. Did tbe plaintiff, Stone Sbipp, by bis own negligence, contribute to bis own injury, as alleged in tbe answer? Answer: No.\n\u201c4. Wbat damages, if any, is tbe plaintiff, Stone Sbipp, entitled to recover of tbe defendants? Answer: $22,000.00.\u201d\nFrom a judgment on tbe verdict in favor of plaintiff against tbe defendant, United Stage Lines, Inc., and exculpating tbe defendant, Safety Coacb Lines, Inc., from liability, tbe plaintiff and tbe United Stage Lines, Inc., appeal, assigning errors.\nBrawley & Gantt for plaintiff.\nBiggs & Broughton for defendant, United Stage Lines, Inc.\nBroolcs, Parker & Smith and Fuller, Beade & Fuller for defendant, Safety Coach Lines, Inc." }, "file_name": "0475-01", "first_page_order": 549, "last_page_order": 554 }