Phelps v. Chicago & W.M. Ry. Co.

• Decision Date: 12 December 1899
• Citation: 122 Mich. 171,81 N.W. 101
• Parties: PHELPS v. CHICAGO & W. M. RY. CO.
• Court: Michigan Supreme Court

81 N.W. 101

122 Mich. 171

PHELPS v. CHICAGO & W. M. RY. CO.

Supreme Court of Michigan

December 12, 1899

Error to circuit court, Grand Traverse county; Roscoe L. Corbett Judge.

Action by George W. Phelps against the Chicago & West Michigan Railway Company. Judgment for plaintiff. Defendant brings error. Reversed.

Moore and Montgomery, JJ., dissenting.

Smith Nims, Hoyt & Erwin, for appellant.

Dodge &amp Covell, for appellee.

LONG J.

Plaintiff was a brakeman in the employ of the defendant company. For two years prior to the accident complained of, he had been employed by the defendant as a yard master in its yards at Traverse City; but on Friday preceding April 27, 1896, he had been transferred from that work to brake on a freight train running from Traverse City to Petoskey and Bay View. At Petoskey the defendant's road is located near to, and conforms to, the bay. On the northerly side of the track, and about 40 feet from it, was located a fish house, for storage and package of fish. Leading from the platform of the fish house to the railroad side track was an inclined platform or chute, about 4 feet in width constructed of planks, and about the height of the floor of a car, over which fish cars were run between the fish house and the defendant's car. This chute extended up to within 12 or 13 inches of the side of the freight cars standing on the side track. On April 27, 1896, the plaintiff made a trip to Petoskey as a brakeman. When the train reached Petoskey, two box cars were standing on the side track northerly from this fish chute. These cars were to be moved upon the main track. For that purpose the engine was run north to the switch opening into the side track; and, after the switch was thrown by the plaintiff, he coupled the engine to two of the cars, then got upon the first car, walked on the top of it, and got down onto a ladder attached to the side of the other car, next to the fish chute. The plaintiff stood on the lower step of the ladder, held onto it with his left hand, and with the other took hold of a lever at the end of the corner of the car for the purpose of uncoupling the cars; his intent being to get off the car upon which he was standing before it got onto the main track. After the cars were under motion he attempted to uncouple, and while in this act his body came in contact with the fish chute, and he was forced between it and the car, and seriously injured. Plaintiff testified that this was the first time he had ever done any work in that yard; that he did not see the fish chute, and had no knowledge it was there. The court charged the jury that it was the duty of the railway company to provide a reasonably safe place for its employ�s in the performance of the duties in which they were employed; and if the jury found from the evidence that the fish chute was built so near the main track of defendant's road that there was not sufficient room for persons to pass between it and an ordinary box car moving upon the track, and the plaintiff, whthout fault on his part, was unconscious of the conditions there, and was injured as claimed, he would be entitled to recover. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for $500. Defendant appeals.

Defendant contends that the plaintiff must have known from his experience that all railroads have platforms where they handle freight at freight houses; that this fish company was shipping a large amount of fish over this road; that in going from the depot, either in riding upon the pilot engine, or in the gangway of the engine, to the switch, plaintiff was facing this fish chute, and must have seen the situation there in passing it; that, had he looked at the fish house, he must necessarily have seen the chute; that he was guilty of contributory negligence in not having seen it in passing by, as it was in broad daylight at the time of passing; that it was his duty to be watchful of his personal safety; and that, in the absence of knowledge of his surroundings, there was an increased duty to use his senses, and not proceed blindly with his work. Defendant asked the court to charge the jury: 'Even though the plaintiff did not actually know of the presence of said fish chute, but the same was in plain view, and the danger in attempting to pass by the same, riding on the side of the car, was apparent, and the plaintiff failed to see the fish chute and to apprehend the danger, it was his own fault, arising from his inattention or failure to note his surroundings when he got on the ladder on the side of the car; and, if you find this condition to be true, then you are instructed, as matter of law, that the plaintiff would not be entitled to recover.' This was refused. The court charged the jury upon this subject that: 'It was the duty of the plaintiff to use reasonable care and caution in the performance of his labors as brakeman, and, to that end, he was required to make close and careful observation as to the main and side tracks, note all the objects of danger situated at or along the same; and if he failed to do so, and afterwards sustained an injury on account of not seeing or observing such obstruction or object, then you are instructed, as matter of law, that said plaintiff cannot recover, and your verdict should be for the defendant.' Also, the court charged: 'The defendant's claim or theory is that the presence of the fish chute was known to the plaintiff, and that he thoughtlessly took his position at the side of the car without looking, was carried forward against the side of the chute, and thereby injured, and that said injury would not have happened but for the inattention of the plaintiff. Now you are instructed, as matter of law, if you find this theory of defendant to be true, your verdict should be in its favor.'

The testimony clearly shows that, had plaintiff looked, he could have seen this fish chute. It was not negligence for the defendant to place it there for the convenience of its business. It was no more a dangerous object than a platform of the same height would be, placed as near this side track and was as plainly to be seen. The plaintiff, in engaging as a brakeman, assumed the risks incident to such employment; and we think this was one of the assumed risks. Elliott, in his work on Railroads (volume 3, � 1290), lays down the rule of assumed risks as follows: 'The employ� assumes all the risks of the service in which he voluntarily engages, except as to such as arise from negligence on the part of the employer; so that, in whatever form the question may arise, the general rule must be that risks of the service shall not be increased or caused by the employer's negligence; but risks not increased or caused by the employer's negligence are risks of the service, which the employ� assumes. The test is not danger, but negligence on the part of the employer.' At section 1269 the same author, after speaking of the rules laid down by courts in the different states in reference to structures so near the tracks as to endanger the safety of employ�s while engaged in the performance of their duties, continues: 'It seems to us that where the employ� has knowledge,...