{ "id": 8614117, "name": "ELLEN WATTS TRAVIS, Administratrix Estate of FLOYD WATTS, Deceased, v. WILLIAM ROSCOE DUCKWORTH and EARL M. BOWMAN", "name_abbreviation": "Travis v. Duckworth", "decision_date": "1953-04-08", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "471", "last_page": "475", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "237 N.C. 471" } ], "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": "108 S.E. 387", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "182 N.C. 80", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655290 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/182/0080-01" ] }, { "cite": "50 S.E. 2d 530", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "229 N.C. 509", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 12166673 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/229/0509-01" ] }, { "cite": "43 S.E. 2d 845", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "227 N.C. 630", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626851 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/227/0630-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 S.E. 2d 203", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "224 N.C. 119", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8595981 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/224/0119-01" ] }, { "cite": "14 S.E. 2d 408", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "219 N.C. 457", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8624566 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/219/0457-01" ] }, { "cite": "6 S.E. 2d 40", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "216 N.C. 584", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8610660 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/216/0584-01" ] }, { "cite": "168 S.E. 415", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "204 N.C. 359", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8618545 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/204/0359-01" ] }, { "cite": "53 S.E. 2d 448", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "230 N.C. 476", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8630603 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/230/0476-01" ] }, { "cite": "31 S.E. 2d 766", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "224 N.C. 607", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8610821 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/224/0607-01" ] }, { "cite": "127 S.E. 593", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "189 N.C. 482", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8654490 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/189/0482-01" ] }, { "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" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 524, "char_count": 10876, "ocr_confidence": 0.474, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.229486439344632e-07, "percentile": 0.9409575616184573 }, "sha256": "c44fa2f742eff92434883344817c8ab3eecec4bd3dff7bb7366a96b7381238f9", "simhash": "1:35f389bfa7dce0d4", "word_count": 1865 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:56:56.799237+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "ELLEN WATTS TRAVIS, Administratrix Estate of FLOYD WATTS, Deceased, v. WILLIAM ROSCOE DUCKWORTH and EARL M. BOWMAN." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "DeviN, C. J.\nThe defendant Bowman\u2019s appeal presents the question whether the evidence offered was sufficient to support the finding and judgment that defendant Duckworth, the driver of the offending tractor, at the time and place of the injury and death of plaintiff\u2019s intestate, was acting within the scope of his employment by defendant Bowman and in the furtherance of his employer\u2019s business. Appellant contends that his motion for judgment of nonsuit should have been allowed, or that in any event he was entitled to have the court give a peremptory instruction to the jury in his favor as prayed.\nThe plaintiff, however, invokes the provisions of Chap. 494, Session Laws 1951, as sufficient under the evidence and admissions here to withstand defendant\u2019s motion for judgment of nonsuit and to carry the case to the jury. This statute, now codified as G.S. 20-71.1, provides that (a) in all actions to recover damages for injury to the person or death arising out of an accident in which a motor vehicle is involved, \u201cproof of ownership of such motor vehicle at the time of such accident or collision shall be prima facie evidence that the motor vehicle was being operated and used with the authority, consent, and knowledge of the owner in the very transaction out of which said injury or cause of action arose.\u201d (b) Proof of the registration of a motor vehicle in the name of any person shall, for the purpose of any such action, \u201cbe prima facie evidence of ownership and that such motor vehicle was being operated by and under the control of a person for whose conduct the owner was legally responsible, for the owner\u2019s benefit, and within the course and scope of his employment.\u201d This suit was instituted within one year after the cause of action accrued and thus came within the terms of the statute.\nThe evident purpose of this statute was to require that proof of ownership of an offending motor vehicle should be regarded as prima facie evidence that it was being operated at the time of the accident by the authority of the owner, doubtless in view of the decision of this Court in Carter v. Thurston Motor Lines, Inc., 227 N.C. 193, 41 S.E. 2d 586, and that, in the absence of proof of ownership, proof of motor vehicle registration in the name of a person would be prima facie evidence that the motor vehicle was being operated by one for whose conduct such person is legally responsible.\nIt must be conceded that proof of ownership by defendant Bowman of the motor vehicle involved in the injury complained .of, by force of the statute, must be regarded as prima facie evidence that at the time and place of the injury caused by it the motor vehicle was being operated by his employee with the authority, consent and knowledge of defendant Bowman, and hence sufficient to carry the case to the jury-on the question of the legal responsibility of defendant Bowman for the operation of the tractor on the occasion of the injury and death of plaintiff\u2019s intestate.\nWhile the courts originally established the rules of evidence, they recognize the power of the Legislature to declare that proof of certain related preliminary facts shall be regarded as prima facia evidence of the ultimate fact at issue, and hence as affording sufficient basis for the consideration of the jury. Hunt v. Eure, 189 N.C. 482, 127 S.E. 593; Vance v. Guy, 224 N.C. 607, 31 S.E. 2d 766; Stansbury, sec. 203.\nBut there is here a dearth of any evidence, other than that afforded by the statute, to show that at the time and place of the accident defendant Duckworth was acting within the scope of his employment and about his employer\u2019s business. Without the knowledge, consent or approval of defendant Bowman, Duckworth parked the trailer in Charlotte, detached the tractor, and undertook to drive it 75 miles away on an errand- of his own. The evidence seems clearly to indicate such a deviation from the scope of the driver\u2019s employment and so substantial a departure from the course of the employer\u2019s business as should relieve the latter from liability for a tort committed by the employee while on this errand. He was engaged in an activity, in his own interest and not connected -with the business of his employer. There was no evidence competent against Bowman to show that Bowman had given permission, or knew of Duck-worth\u2019s driving the tractor to Morganton on this occasion. Duckworth testified that on a former occasion he had driven the tractor to-Morganton but that Bowman had objected and forbidden him the use of the tractor except for the employer\u2019s business.\n\u201cThe rule is well settled that the master is responsible for the tort of his servant which results in injury to another when the servant is acting in the course of his employment, and is at the time about the master\u2019s business. And it is equally well settled that the master is not liable if the tort of the servant which causes the injury occurs while the servant is acting outside the legitimate scope of his authority, and is then engaged in some private matters of his own Hinson v. Chemical Corp., 230 N.C. 476, 53 S.E. 2d 448.\n\u201cA servant is acting in the course of his employment, when he is engaged in that which he was employed to do, and is at the time about his master\u2019s business. He is not acting in the course of his employment, if he is engaged in some pursuit of his own. Not every deviation from the strict execution of his duty is such an interruption of the .course of employment as to suspend the master\u2019s responsibility; but, if there is a total departure from the course of the master\u2019s business, the master is no longer-answerable for the servant\u2019s conduct,\u201d Tiffany on Agency, p. 270, quoted with approval in Robertson, v. Power Co., 204 N.C. 359, 168 S.E. 415, and Hinson v. Chemical Corp., supra.\nThis rule has been applied in numerous decisions of this Court in exoneration of the liability of'employers for torts committed by employees who have departed from the course of their employment, and who were at the time engaged in pursuits of their own. Parrott v. Kantor, 216 N.C. 584, 6 S.E. 2d 40; Creech v. Linen Service Corp., 219 N.C. 457, 14 S.E. 2d 408; Rogers v. Black Mountain, 224 N.C. 119, 29 S.E. 2d 203; Temple v. Stafford, 227 N.C. 630, 43 S.E. 2d 845; McIlroy v. Motor Lines, 229 N.C. 509, 50 S.E. 2d 530; Hinson v. Chemical Corp., 230 N.C. 476, 53 S.E. 2d 448. An incidental divergence, however, such as appeared in Duncan v. Overton, 182 N.C. 80, 108 S.E. 387, would not be sufficient to relieve the employer from liability for the tort of his employee while engaged in the general scope of his agency or employment.\nWhile the motion of defendant Bowman for judgment of nonsuit was properly denied, we think, upon the evidence offered in the trial, the defendant was entitled to have the court instruct the jury if they found the facts to be as the evidence tended to show to answer the second issue \u201cNo.\u201d\nFor failure to charge the jury to this effect as prayed there must be a new trial as to defendant Bowman, and it is so ordered.\nOther exceptions noted and brought forward in appellant\u2019s assignments of error a-re not discussed as they may not arise on another hearing.\nNew trial.", "type": "majority", "author": "DeviN, C. J." } ], "attorneys": [ "G. Andrew 'Warlick and Theodore F. Cummings for plaintiff, appellee.", "Mull, Patton & Craven for defendant Bowman, appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "ELLEN WATTS TRAVIS, Administratrix Estate of FLOYD WATTS, Deceased, v. WILLIAM ROSCOE DUCKWORTH and EARL M. BOWMAN.\n(Filed 8 April, 1953.)\n1. Automobiles \u00a7 2i%e\u2014\nUnder tbe provisions of G.S. 20-71.1 proof of ownership by a defendant of a vehicle involved in a collision while being driven by another constitutes prima facie evidence that at the time and place of the collision the vehicle was being operated by the owner\u2019s employee with his authority, consent and knowledge, and is therefore sufficient to carry the case to the jury upon the issue of respondeat superior.\n2. Constitutional Law \u00a7 8a: Evidence \u00a7 6\u2014\nThe General Assembly has the power to declare that certain related facts shall be regarded as prima facie evidence of the ultimate fact at issue, and hence constitute sufficient basis for the submission of the issue to the jury.\n3. Automobiles \u00a7 24 54 e \u2014 Defendant employer held entitled to peremptory instruction on issue of respondeat' superior.\nPlaintiff offered evidence that the vehicle involved in a collision with the car of his intestate was owned by defendant. But the evidence further disclosed that the driver of defendant\u2019s vehicle detached the trailer thereof and left it at a point on his authorized route, and that when the accident occurred he was driving the detached tractor on a journey of some 75 miles to a city off his route on a purely personal errand, without the knowledge or consent of his employer. Held: While the provisions of G.S. 20-71.1 preclude nonsuit, defendant employer was entitled to an instruction that if the jury found the facts to be as the evidence tended to show, to answer the issue of respondeat superior in the negative.\nAppeal by defendant Bowman from Moore, J., January Term, 1953, of Catawba. New trial.\nAction to recover damages for injury and death of plaintiff\u2019s intestate alleged to have been caused by the negligence of the defendants in the operation of a motor tractor.\nIt was admitted that defendant Bowman was the owner of the tractor involved in the injury complained of, and that with the trailer attached it was being used by him in the transportation of produce from Florida to points north and return, and that the defendant Duckworth was regularly employed by defendant Bowman to operate the tractor-trailer in the owner\u2019s business. The tractor-trailer bore Florida vehicle registration number 170165.\nThe evidence disclosed that on 9 January, 1952, the defendant Duck-worth driving the tractor-trailer of his codefendant, and proceeding south, arrived in Charlotte about 1:30 p.m. Duckworth parked the trailer in Charlotte, detached the tractor, and, driving the detached tractor, set out for Morganton \u2014 75 miles west \u2014 for the purpose of visiting his wife and children who resided there and to secure fresh clothing before continuing his journey south with the tractor-trailer. En route to Morganton and near Newton in Catawba County, the tractor driven by Duckworth was involved in an accident which cost the life of plaintiff\u2019s intestate.\nDefendant Duckworth did not appeal from the judgment based on the verdict of the jury that the death of the intestate was due to his negligence in the operation of the tractor. As to defendant Bowman, the jury for their verdict found that at the time of the accident and death of the plaintiff\u2019s intestate defendant Duckworth was \u201cacting within the scope of his employment and in the furtherance of the business of defendant Bowman,\u201d and awarded damages in a substantial sum.\nFrom judgment on tbe verdict the defendant Bowman appealed.\nG. Andrew 'Warlick and Theodore F. Cummings for plaintiff, appellee.\nMull, Patton & Craven for defendant Bowman, appellant." }, "file_name": "0471-01", "first_page_order": 515, "last_page_order": 519 }