{ "id": 8626851, "name": "JAMES E. TEMPLE v. J. A. STAFFORD", "name_abbreviation": "Temple v. Stafford", "decision_date": "1947-09-17", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "630", "last_page": "632", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "227 N.C. 630" } ], "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": "220 N. C., 165", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11300240 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/220/0165-01" ] }, { "cite": "220 N. C., 131", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11299697 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/220/0131-01" ] }, { "cite": "219 N. C., 535", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625248 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/219/0535-01" ] }, { "cite": "218 N. C., 308", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8618598 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/218/0308-01" ] }, { "cite": "216 N. C., 584", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8610660 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/216/0584-01" ] }, { "cite": "196 S. E., 820", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "213 N. C., 550", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8629327 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/213/0550-01" ] }, { "cite": "177 S. E., 126", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "207 N. C., 355", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625930 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/207/0355-01" ] }, { "cite": "140 S. E., 718", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "194 N. C., 750", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8618787 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/194/0750-01" ] }, { "cite": "104 S. E., 530", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "180 N. C., 267", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653501 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/180/0267-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 392, "char_count": 6383, "ocr_confidence": 0.444, "pagerank": { "raw": 8.47006567249072e-08, "percentile": 0.4854072573343079 }, "sha256": "70dfcf0e94c73e259052fe78a6b6bacd896c6ef09397c4c02576d4d735c65ac1", "simhash": "1:381e56c32eb1fe98", "word_count": 1144 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:20:04.384970+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "JAMES E. TEMPLE v. J. A. STAFFORD." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Barnhill, J.\nThe one assignment of error relied on by defendant is bottomed on the refusal of the court below to grant his motion to dismiss as in case of nonsuit, entered at the end of the evidence for plaintiff and duly renewed at the conclusion of all the testimony. This assignment presents the one question: Is there any evidence in the record tending to show that Proctor was the agent or employee of the defendant at the time of and in respect to the transaction out of which plaintiff\u2019s injury and damage arose? Ve are constrained to answer in the negative.\nThe plaintiff insists that Proctor was about his master\u2019s business from the time he left home with the truck to go to South Mills \u201cfor the purpose of having the truck greased and brake fluid put in it\u201d until- his return to his home. If this were true, plaintiff\u2019s right to recover could not be successfully challenged. But such is not the case.\nPlaintiff\u2019s testimony other than that elicited through the adverse -examination of the defendant discloses nothing more than negligence of the driver and ownership of the truck by defendant. Carter v. Motor Lines, ante, 193.\nOn the other hand, the evidence as to the nature of Proctor\u2019s trip to -South Mills and the purpose for which he went is positive and uncon-tradicted. He went while off duty, for his own convenience, without the knowledge of defendant, to have his shoes repaired. Theretofore he had \u2022complained about the condition of the brakes and defendant told him to have brake fluid put in the first time he went for groceries or any other purpose. While in South Mills he recalled these instructions, drove by the filling station and had the truck greased and brake fluid put in. This was merely incidental and when the work was done the mission, if it may be so termed, was complete. He did not go to South Mills to get brake fluid and he was not on his way home from the performance of that duty when the accident occurred.\nAs he was not about his master\u2019s business at the time of the collision bis negligence may not be imputed to defendant. Reich v. Cone, 180 N. C., 267, 104 S. E., 530; Tyson v. Frutchey, 194 N. C., 750, 140 S. E., 718; Van Landingham v. Sewing Machine Co., 207 N. C., 355, 177 S. E., 126; Tribble v. Swinson, 213 N. C., 550, 196 S. E., 820; Parrott v. Kantor, 216 N. C., 584, 6 S. E. (2d), 40; McLamb v. Beasley, 218 N. C., 308, 11 S. E. (2d), 283; Hawes v. Haynes, 219 N. C., 535, 14 S. E. (2d), 503; Riddle v. Whisnant, 220 N. C., 131, 16 S. E. (2d), 698; Smith v. Moore, 220 N. C., 165, 16 S. E. (2d), 701.\nThe relationship of master and servant should be pleasant and harmonious. To this end it is not unusual for the master to permit his servant to use, for his own! convenience, the master\u2019s means of conveyance. Perhaps this custom prevails on our farms more than elsewhere. In -any event, this effort of the master to accommodate and assist his servant \u25a0and make his life more pleasant does not bring within the scope of the master\u2019s employment acts of the servant otherwise outside such scope. The master is not so penalized for his kindness.\nThe judgment below is\nReversed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Barnhill, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "J. W. Jennetie for plaintiff, appellee.", "W. A. Worth for defendant, appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JAMES E. TEMPLE v. J. A. STAFFORD.\n(Filed 17 September, 1947.)\nAutomobiles \u00a7 24e \u2014 Evidence held insufficient to be submitted to jury upon doctrine of respondeat superior.\nIn this action to recover against the owner \u00f3f a truck upon the doctrine of respondeat superior, plaintiff\u2019s evidence showed defendant\u2019s ownership of the truck and negligence of the driver causing the injury. The uncon-tradicted evidence tended to show that defendant maintained the truck for farm use and permitted his day to day laborer to use the truck for his own purposes when not engaged in farm work, that defendant had told him to have fluid put in the brake system the next time he went to town for groceries or any other purpose, that on the occasion in question, the laborer, without defendant\u2019s knowledge, took the truck to town to get his shoes repaired, that while there he had fluid put in the brake system, that on his return trip he stopped at a piccolo \u201cjoint,\u201d and that the accident in suit occurred as he was leaving the piccolo \u201cjoint\u201d to return to the farm. Held: The evidence fails to show that the driver was the agent or employee of defendant at the time of and in respect to the transaction out of which the injury arose, and defendant\u2019s motion to nonsuit should have been allowed.\nAppeal by defendant from Burgwyn, Special Judge, at May Term, 1947, of PasquotaNK.\nEeversed.\nCivil action to recover compensation for property damage and personal injury resulting from an automobile-truck collision.\nDefendant operates a farm in Pasquotank County and maintains thereon a truck for farm use. One George Proctor lives on the farm and works for defendant as needed on a day-to-day basis. Defendant permitted Proctor to use the truck for his own purposes when not engaged in farm work. Proctor complained about the condition of the brakes and defendant told him the next time he went to South Mills after groceries, or for any other purpose, to take the truck to Mullen\u2019s Esso Station and have them put in brake fluid.\n\u201cMr. Stafford told me to grease the truck and put the brake fluid in. He didn\u2019t tell me no special day. He told me that the next time I was up there to have this done and I had it done.\u201d\nOn 14 December, 1944, the weather was bad and Proctor was not working that afternoon. He, without the knowledge of the defendant, decided to go to South Mills on the truck to get his shoes fixed and \u201cwhile I was over there I decided to have the truck fixed up, greased and brake fluid put in. They were my shoes, and I thought I\u2019d have this other done while I was over there.\u201d\nOn his way home after dark Proctor stopped at a piccolo \u201cjoint\u201d to get something to eat and drink. As he left the \u201cjoint\u201d and drove out onto the highway the truck and plaintiff\u2019s automobile collided. There was evidence tending to show that Proctor drove or backed into the highway without lights and immediately in front of plaintiff\u2019s oncoming automobile.\nAs a result of the collision, plaintiff\u2019s automobile was badly damaged and he suffered certain personal injuries.\nIssues were submitted to and answered by the jury in favor of the plaintiff. From judgment on the verdict defendant appealed.\nJ. W. Jennetie for plaintiff, appellee.\nW. A. Worth for defendant, appellant." }, "file_name": "0630-01", "first_page_order": 678, "last_page_order": 680 }