Okla. City v. Richardson

• Decision Date: 23 March 1937
• Docket Number: Case Number: 25399
• Citation: 180 Okla. 314,1937 OK 195,69 P.2d 334
• Parties: OKLAHOMA CITY v. RICHARDSON
• Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court

1937 OK 195

69 P.2d 334

180 Okla. 314

OKLAHOMA CITY v. RICHARDSON

Case Number: 25399

Supreme Court of Oklahoma

Decided: March 23, 1937

Syllabus

¶0 1. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS - City Operating Garage and Repair Shop Under Control of Police Department Held to Act in Corporate Capacity With Same Responsibilities as Those of Private Corporation.

Where a city maintains and operates a garage and repair shop for the purpose of repairing motor vehicles used in connection with the police department, and places same under the control and supervision of the police department, it is nevertheless, in so far as the repair and maintenance of its motor vehicles is concerned, acting in its corporate or ministerial capacity, and while engaged in such business, its responsibilities are the same as those of a private corporation, or individual, in the conduct of such an enterprise.

2. DEATH - Action for Wrongful Death of Husband - Necessary Proof That no Administrator Had Been Appointed as Condition Precedent to Recovery.

In an action by the surviving wife for the wrongful death of her deceased husband, wherein it is alleged that no administrator has been appointed upon the estate of said decedent and that said estate has not been administered, and where such allegations are put in issue, it is necessary to submit proof in the support thereof before recovery can be had. Under such circumstances, if the plaintiff fails to submit such proof, it is error to overrule a demurrer to the evidence of the plaintiff. (White v. McGee, 157 Okla. 204, 11 P.2d 924.)

Appeal from District Court, Oklahoma County; George A. Henshaw, Judge.

Action by Josephine Richardson against Oklahoma City. Judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals. Reversed.

Harlan Deupree, Municipal Counselor, and P.E. Gumm, Asst. Municipal Counselor, for plaintiff in error.

O.A. Cargill and Howard K. Berry, for defendant in error.

BAYLESS, V. C. J.

¶1 Josephine Richardson instituted an action in the district court of Oklahoma county, Okla., against the city of Oklahoma City, a municipal corporation, to recover damages sustained by reason of the death of her husband, Henry Richardson, whose death she alleged was attributable to the negligence of the city.

¶2 It is a sufficient statement of the facts to say that the husband's death occurred as a result of a collision between an automobile belonging to the city, driven by one of its police officers, and an automobile in which the husband was riding. The negligence charged to the city was limited to that spoken of in Oklahoma City v. Haggard, 170 Okla. 473, 41 P.2d 109. The plaintiff pitched her cause of action on the alleged negligence of the city in furnishing the police officer with a defective and unsafe automobile to drive. In the briefs the plaintiff differentiates between the city's responsibility to furnish cars in a safe state of repair from shops owned and operated by it, and the city's responsibility for the alleged negligence of one of its police officers in the performance of his duties as such officer. See Oklahoma City v. Haggard, supra.

¶3 The first assignment of error relates to the failure of the plaintiff to prove that there was no administration upon the estate of her husband. See Whitehead, etc., Co. v. Winton, 107 Okla. 99, 230 P. 509; Alko-Nak Coal Co. v. Barton, 88 Okla. 212, 212 P. 591; and White v. McGee, 157 Okla. 204, 11 P.2d 924. The rule is well established in this state that the surviving wife must (1) allege, and (2) prove, that there is no administration. The plaintiff pleaded this fact. She admits that she did not prove the fact, but argues, first, that the fact is established by inference. We do not agree. Seco...