{ "id": 8627837, "name": "ELVIN AIKEN v. JAMES L. SANDERFORD and JOHN F. SANDERFORD, Trading and Doing Business as SANDERFORD FUEL SERVICE", "name_abbreviation": "Aiken v. Sanderford", "decision_date": "1953-01-06", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "760", "last_page": "762", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "236 N.C. 760" } ], "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": "19 S.E. 2d 14", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "221 N.C. 53", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625969 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/221/0053-01" ] }, { "cite": "27 S.E. 2d 644", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "223 N.C. 617", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8614518 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/223/0617-01" ] }, { "cite": "65 S.E. 2d 336", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "233 N.C. 717", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8616282 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/233/0717-01" ] }, { "cite": "31 S.E. 2d 535", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "224 N.C. 508", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8607957 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/224/0508-01" ] }, { "cite": "156 S.E. 135", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "199 N.C. 794", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8616066 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/199/0794-01" ] }, { "cite": "140 S.E. 85", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "194 N.C. 546", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8613204 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/194/0546-01" ] }, { "cite": "129 S.E. 413", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "190 N.C. 190", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8597869 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/190/0190-01" ] }, { "cite": "64 S.E. 783", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "150 N.C. 674", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272330 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/150/0674-01" ] }, { "cite": "86 N.C. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272558 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/86/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "75 N.C. 310", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8694703 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/75/0310-01" ] }, { "cite": "58 S.E. 2d 757", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "231 N.C. 680", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8631749 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/231/0680-01" ] }, { "cite": "41 S.E. 2d 586", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "227 N.C. 193", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8622684 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/227/0193-01" ] }, { "cite": "174 S.E. 308", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "206 N.C. 468", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8631037 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/206/0468-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 435, "char_count": 6493, "ocr_confidence": 0.497, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.285206651856261e-07, "percentile": 0.8709928648349768 }, "sha256": "d92de4e5a76b1378dfd0deb97c066402852d9907e87d1bfd3ae147438a89c201", "simhash": "1:393bbf01e585b65f", "word_count": 1130 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:03:47.341722+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "ELVIN AIKEN v. JAMES L. SANDERFORD and JOHN F. SANDERFORD, Trading and Doing Business as SANDERFORD FUEL SERVICE." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Parker, J.\nOn 8 December, 1950, about 1:30 p.m., the plaintiff\u2019s wife was operating his automobile on Fleming Street in the Town of Creedmoor, traveling east at around 20 or 25 miles an hour on the right side of the street. Fleming Street runs east and west. The defendants had a fuel station on the south side of this street. On the west side of this station was a driveway. The plaintiff\u2019s wife saw a pickup truck loaded with coal standing in the driveway. About the time she drove by the driveway, this truck backed out into the street, and there was a collision between it and'the plaintiff\u2019s automobile causing damage to both. The driver of the truck was Charlie Moss. The truck belonged to the defendants. The plaintiff commenced his action on 15 December, 1951.\nThe only allegation in the complaint as to the relationship of the driver of the truck to the defendants appears in paragraph 5, as follows: \u201cone Ford truck owned by the defendants loaded with coal and being operated by one of the drivers of the defendants, whose name, so this plaintiff is informed, was Oharlie Moss.\u201d The plaintiff filed no amended complaint or reply.\nGr.S: 20-71.1 entitled in part \u201cOwnership evidence of defendant\u2019s responsibility for conduct of operation\u201d is not applicable as the plaintiff did not bring his action within one year after his cause of action accrued.\nTo avoid a compulsory nonsuit it is requisite for the plaintiff to allege and offer evidence tending to show three things: (1) that Moss was negligent; (2) that the negligence of Moss was the proximate cause of the injury to the plaintiff\u2019s automobile; and (3). that the relation of master and servant existed between the defendants and Moss at the time of the injury, and in respect to the transaction out of which the injury arose. Hoover v. Indemnity Co., 206 N.C. 468, 174 S.E. 308; 35 Am. Jur., Master and Servant, Sec. 593, p. 1032; Carter v. Motor Lines, 227 N.C. 193, 41 S.E. 2d 586; Graham v. Gas Co., 231 N.C. 680, 58 S.E. 2d 757.\nWe bave examined tbe complaint in Hoover v. Indemnity Co., 206 N.C. 468, 174 S.E. 308, and tbis is tbe allegation in respect to tbe 'agent and tbe defendant: Paragraph 5 \u201cThat during said period of treatment tbe defendant, through and by means of its duly constituted servant and agent, one P. B. Clark, whom tbis plaintiff is informed, believes and so alleges was its claim adjuster and general agent to direct and control such cases as may develop against tbe defendant, Globe Indemnity Company, under tbe North Carolina Workmen\u2019s Compensation Act, assumed and took absolute and complete physical control of tbe plaintiff\u2019s, intestate against bis wishes, etc.\u201d In that case Mr. Justice Connor speaking for tbe court in reversing tbe overruling of a demurrer said : \u201cConceding, without deciding, that tbe facts alleged in tbe complaint are sufficient to constitute a cause of action in favor of tbe plaintiff and against tbe agent of tbe defendant, and that tbe Superior Court of Gaston County would bave jurisdiction of an action instituted by tbe plaintiff against said agent to recover on such cause of action, we are of tbe opinion that tbe facts alleged in tbe complaint are not sufficient to constitute a cause of action against tbe defendant. It does not appear from tbe complaint, construed most liberally in favor of tbe plaintiff, that tbe wrongful act of its agent was within tbe scope of bis employment by tbe defendant, or that such act was authorized or ratified by tbe defendant.\u201d\nTbe defendant in bis brief has raised tbe point that in bis complaint tbe plaintiff has failed to allege that Charlie Moss, tbe driver of tbe defendants\u2019 truck, was acting within tbe scope of bis employment. If tbe defendants bad not raised tbe point, we would do so ex mero motu. McIntosh, North Carolina Practice and Procedure, Section 436, page 447, citing McDougald v. Graham, 75 N.C. 310; Tucker v. Baker, 86 N.C. 1; Garrison v. Williams, 150 N.C. 674, 64 S.E. 783. Tbe last cited case has been cited and approved in Snipes v. Monds, 190 N.C. 190, 129 S.E. 413; Seawell v. Cole, 194 N.C. 546, 140 S.E. 85; Key v. Chair Co., 199 N.C. 794, 156 S.E. 135; Watson v. Lee County, 224 N.C. 508, 31 S.E. 2d 535, and in Lamm v. Crumpler, 233 N.C. 717, 65 S.E. 2d 336. See also Hopkins v. Barnhardt, 223 N.C. 617, 27 S.E. 2d 644.\nTbe complaint most liberally construed fails to allege that Charlie Moss was an agent of tbe defendants at tbe time and in respect to tbe transaction out of which tbe injury to plaintiff\u2019s automobile arose. Probata without allegata is insufficient. Both must concur to establish a cause of action. Whichard v. Lipe, 221 N.C. 53, 19 S.E. 2d 14.\nTbe judgment of nonsuit of tbe court below is\nAffirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Parker, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "J. Grover Lee for plaintiff, appellant.", "Hugh M. Ourrin for defendant, appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "ELVIN AIKEN v. JAMES L. SANDERFORD and JOHN F. SANDERFORD, Trading and Doing Business as SANDERFORD FUEL SERVICE.\n(Filed 6 January, 1953.)\n1. Automobiles \u00a7\u00a7 2454 a, 2454 e\u2014\nG.S. 20-71.1 is not applicable to an action not brought within one year after the cause of action accrues'.\n2. Same\u2014\nIn order to hold the owner of a vehicle liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, plaintiff must allege and prove that the driver was guilty of negligence constituting a proximate cause of the injury and that the relationship of master and servant existed between the owner and the driver at the time of and in respect to the transaction out of which the injury arose.\n3. Automobiles \u00a7 24 54 a\u2014\nComplaint alleging in effect that defendants owned the vehicle in question and that it was negligently operated by one of their drivers fails' to state a cause of action against the owners under the doctrine of respondeat superior, it being required that it be alleged that the driver was at the time acting within the scope of his employment.\n4. Appeal and Error \u00a7 37\u2014\ni Failure of plaintiff to state a cause of action may be raised by a party in his\u2019 brief on appeal, or the Supreme Court may take cognizance thereof ex mero motu.\n5. Pleadings \u00a7 34c\u2014\nProbata, without allegata is unavailing.\nAppeal by plaintiff from Bone, J., October Term, 1952, of Granville.\nCivil action to recover damages for injury to plaintiff\u2019s automobile alleged to have been caused by the actionable negligence of the defendants. At the close of the plaintiff\u2019s evidence the defendants\u2019 motion for judgment of nonsuit was allowed. From the judgment based on such ruling the plaintiff appealed, assigning error.\nAffirmed.\nJ. Grover Lee for plaintiff, appellant.\nHugh M. Ourrin for defendant, appellee." }, "file_name": "0760-01", "first_page_order": 812, "last_page_order": 814 }