Strauss v. St. Louis Transit Co.

• Decision Date: 17 November 1903
• Citation: 77 S.W. 156,102 Mo.App. 644
• Parties: STRAUSS, Respondent, v. ST. LOUIS TRANSIT COMPANY, Appellant
• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals

77 S.W. 156

102 Mo.App. 644

STRAUSS, Respondent, v. ST. LOUIS TRANSIT COMPANY, Appellant

Court of Appeals of Missouri, St. Louis

November 17, 1903

Appeal from St. Louis City Circuit Court.--Hon. Daniel G. Taylor Judge.

AFFIRMED.

STATEMENT.

In view of the conclusion reached in this cause, we deem it best to exhibit the pleadings intact. Plaintiff's cause of action was thus set forth:

"The plaintiff states the defendant is and at the time herein stated was a corporation by virtue of the law of Missouri and used and operated the railway and car herein mentioned for the purpose of carrying passengers for hire from one point to another as a public carrier of passengers. That on the evening of June 18, 1902, the defendant, by its servants in charge of its car, stopped its car at Broadway and Catlin streets, in the city of St. Louis, for the purpose of receiving passengers on said car, and as the plaintiff at such invitation was proceeding to get upon said car as a passenger whilst stopped or slowly moving, defendant's conductor in charge of said car violently, wickedly willfully and maliciously assaulted the plaintiff, kicked him in the breast and on the body, causing him to be thrown and fall from said car and sustain a compound and comminuted fracture of his right arm and dislocation of the elbow, and other injuries and bruises on his body. And plaintiff avers that his said injuries and said assault were without any provocation or justification, whilst he was a passenger on said car and the step thereof. That by said injuries the plaintiff has suffered and will suffer great pain of body and mind, has been permanently disabled from labor, and has lost and will lose the earnings of his labor. Has incurred and will incur large expenses for medicines, medical and surgical attention, and nursing, to his actual damages in the sum of ten thousand dollars--and as said injuries were wrongfully willfully and maliciously inflicted, the plaintiff claims ten thousand dollars by way of punishment for said wrongful acts. The plaintiff prays judgment in the total sum of twenty thousand dollars."

To this complaint defendant filed the demurrer following:

"Comes now the defendant and demurs to the petition of plaintiff filed in this cause, for the grounds of objection following to-wit:

"1. Because said petition does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.

"2. Because said petition does not show or allege that the alleged assault was made by the conductor whilst engaged in the performance of any duty for the defendant, but does allege that the act complained of was the personal act of the conductor, done of his personal malice, and no ratification by the defendant is pleaded."

Which demurrer the court overruled and defendant filed an amended answer thus:

"Comes now the defendant, and, leave of court therefor having been first had and obtained, files this its first amended answer to plaintiff's petition.

"Defendant for first amended answer to plaintiff's petition, denies each and every allegation therein contained.

"For further answer and defense, defendant says, that the car which plaintiff attempted to board was, at the time and place alleged in the petition, in charge of defendant's conductor, one Joseph Jezeck; that said Joseph Jezeck had for several weeks prior to said date been continuously in charge of said car on defendant's Broadway line, and during that time, had regularly passed the point where plaintiff attempted to board said car; that on two or three several occasions prior to the said eighteenth day of June, 1902, said Jezeck, while in charge of said car, had been threatened with assault, and had been assaulted by plaintiff, at or near Horn's Grove or Mannion's Park, on defendant's said line, and on one occasion a week or two prior to this occurrence, plaintiff attempted to assault said conductor with a dangerous knife, and at another time, and within about one week prior to June 18, 1902, plaintiff assaulted said conductor by throwing a rock and striking said conductor therewith on the breast.

"That on said eighteenth day of June, 1902, when defendant's car in charge of said Jezeck as conductor thereof, had arrived at or near said Mannion's Park, plaintiff attempted to board the same and approach the platform thereof in a manner threatening to said conductor, who was at that time on the said platform of said car.

"That said conductor, by reason of the previous assault on him made by plaintiff, and by reason of the ill feeling cherished against him by plaintiff, and by reason further, of the angry and threatening manner of plaintiff in approaching said car, believed that plaintiff was then about to make an assault upon him and do him great bodily harm and injury, and, so believing, and out of regard for his own personal safety, said conductor put his foot forward over the platform of said car and against plaintiff, and thereby prevented him from boarding said car and making upon said Joseph Jezeck the then apprehended assault, and for said purpose no more force than was reasonably necessary to accomplish that end."

The reply was a general denial.

A jury trial resulted in a verdict in behalf of plaintiff for substantial sums as actual and punitive damages, and...