Parker Motor Company, a Corp. v. Northern Packing Company, a Corp.
| Decision Date | 22 October 1929 |
| Citation | 227 N.W. 226,58 N.D. 685 |
| Court | North Dakota Supreme Court |
Appeal from the District Court of Ward County, Lowe, J. The defendant, Northern Packing Company, appeals from a judgment and from an order denying its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or a new trial.
Reversed.
Nestos Herigstad & Stenerson and McIntyre, Burtness & Robbins, for appellant.
"In order to establish the liability of a master to a third person for the negligent act of his servant, the burden is on the plaintiff to prove . . . that the tort-feasor was a servant of the master, working under his control, when injury was sustained, and that the negligent act was done within the course of the employment." Kohlman v. Hyland, 54 N.D. 710, 210 N.W. 643; Clark v. Feldman, 57 N.D 741; City Service Co. v. Brown, 231 S.W. 140.
"The presumption that a chauffeur using an automobile in the business of the employer, is acting within the scope of his employment when an injury is done to another by its negligent operation, does not prevail where the employee is driving his own automobile." 2 Blashfield, Auto. Law, 1644.
"In an action by one injured by an auto where it is not shown that the machine belonged to the defendant, no presumption is raised against him." Cullen v. Thomas, 135 N.Y.S. 22.
"Proof only that the negligent truck driver was in the general employ of the defendant is not sufficient to prevent a nonsuit." Kisk v. Cal. St. Auto Asso. 212 P 27.
"Test of master's liability for negligence of servant in all cases depends on the question whether injury was committed by authority of the master, expressly conferred or fairly implied from the nature of the employment and duties incident, having regard to the object, purpose and end of the employment." Nussbaum v. Traung Label Co. (Cal.) 189 P. 728.
"When the evidence shows as a matter of law that an automobile at the time of an accident was not being operated by the owner or under his direction, the inference that an automobile is so operated does not require submission of the case to the jury." Curry v. Bickley, 195 N.W. 617.
"Questions of negligence and contributory negligence must be determined with reference to the standards of conduct prescribed by law." Clark v. Feldman, 57 N.D. 741, 224 N.W. 167.
"The fact of agency and the extent of an agent's power cannot be proved by the agent's declarations." Plano Mfg. Co. v. Root, 3 N.D. 165, 54 N.W. 924; Bratton v. Hoerr, 49 N.D. 719, 193 N.W. 308; Embden State Bank v. Schulze, 49 N.D. 777, 193 N.W. 481.
McGee & Goss and I. H. Breaw, for respondent.
2 Jones, Ev. 2d ed. 1645-1657.
Clark v. Feldman, 57 N.D. 741, 224 N.W. 167.
If the other circumstances involved in the case are inconsistent with or require the inference that the tort complained of was within the scope of the servant's employment, the mere fact that the instrumentality which occasioned the plaintiff's injury did not belong to the master will not preclude him from recovering damages. McCaughen v. Missouri P.R. Co. (Mo.) 274 S.W. 97.
The weight of telephone conversations as evidence depends largely on circumstances of such case and it is always a question for the trial court or jury. 2 Jones, Ev. 2d ed. §§ 1478-1485. See also H. Soc. v. New Haven Co. 117 Am. St. Rep. 173; Godair v. Hamilton, 116 Am. St. Rep. 172; Gardner v. Herman, 133 N.W. 558.
This action grew out of a collision between two automobiles, -- one belonging to the plaintiff and the other to the defendant Evenson. Plaintiff claims that the collision occurred by reason of the negligence of Evenson and brought this action to recover damages alleged to have resulted therefrom. The plaintiff claims, and in its complaint alleges, that at the time of the collision Evenson was an employee of the defendant Northern Packing Company and was then "engaged in the performance of its business and his duties to it as his employer." There was a verdict in favor of the plaintiff against both Evenson and the Northern Packing Company. The Northern Packing Company moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial. The motion was denied and it has appealed from the judgment and from the order denying its motion.
The damages sought to be recovered in this action were caused by a collision between a Chevrolet coupe driven by the defendant Evenson and a Dodge sedan driven by an employee of the plaintiff company. The collision occurred on one of the streets of Minot about 9:00 or 9:30 P.M. on January 23, 1928. Both cars were damaged.
A transcript of all the evidence taken upon the trial is contained in the record; but the only question raised as to the sufficiency thereof is whether there is any competent evidence whatsoever tending to establish that at the time of the collision, Evenson was engaged in the performance of any duty incident to his employment with the Northern Packing Company. A careful examination and consideration of all the evidence leads us to the conclusion that this question must be answered in the negative.
One Waller, the driver of plaintiff's car, testified that immediately after the collision he asked Evenson if he (Evenson) had any insurance; that he (Evenson) answered this question in the affirmative and further stated that the insurance was not written in Minot but in Grand Forks. Waller was further asked whether at this time he inquired of Evenson who Evenson was working for, or if Evenson told him who he was working for, and Waller answered that he would not swear that any such conversation was had. The witness, Waller, however, was permitted to testify, over objection on the part of counsel for the Northern Packing Company, that a day or two after the collision he (Waller) went to Evenson's house and that Evenson then stated that he was employed by the Northern Packing Company; and that during the same conversation Evenson stated that at the time of the collision he (Evenson) was taking to his home a certain man, who was then riding with him, and that he (Evenson) was "coming from off his territory, just getting in from his territory -- the territory he covered for the Northern Packing Company."
Evenson testified that after supper on the evening of the day of the accident he drove down to the Oak Park Meat Market to purchase some meat for use in his home the next day; that at the Oak Park Meat Market he met a man named Christenson who had a house that he wanted to dispose of and that at the time the collision occurred Evenson was taking Christenson down to his (Evenson's) house to show it to him with the idea of making an exchange of properties.
Aside from the alleged admissions on the part of Evenson the only evidence as to Evenson's employment with the Northern Packing Company is Evenson's testimony. In response to questions propounded to him by the court Evenson testified as follows:
Q. Where did you keep this car when you were in town?
A. At my home.
Q. Where was that?
A. 1012 Valley Street.
Q. By the way, this was your own car?
A. Yes.
Q. Where did you come from that day, that afternoon?
A. Sherwood.
Q. You came from Sherwood and drove to your home?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And you came home at about what time?
A. I imagine about six o'clock, six-thirty o'clock and stayed home for some time.
Q. Stayed home for some time?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And then after that is when you started out for this meat?
A. Yes.
Q. What were you going to do with the meat?
A. We were going to have it to eat at home the next morning.
Q. You had come off the territory that day had you not?
A. Yes.
Q. And when you came off the territory you went directly home?
A. Yes, sir.
And in response to questions propounded to him by counsel for the plaintiff on cross-examination Evenson testified as follows:
Q. By the way, what time of the night was it that this collision occurred?
A. Oh, I would say about nine o'clock.
Q. You had been up at Sherwood for the Northern Packing Company that Monday?
A. Yes.
Q. Handling, selling the day's meat, doing the...
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