Charleston & Western Carolina Railway Co. v. Miller

Supreme Court of Georgia
Charleston & Western Carolina Railway Co. v. Miller, 113 Ga. 15 (Ga. 1901)
38 S.E. 338; 1901 Ga. LEXIS 143
Simmons

Charleston & Western Carolina Railway Co. v. Miller

Opinion of the Court

Simmons, C. J.

1. Where an action is brought solely upon a common-law liability, it is error to allow an amendment thereto which seeks a recovery upon a statutory liability. Such an amendment would add a new and distinct cause of action. Exposition Cotton Mills v. Railroad Co., 83 Ga. 441; Bolton v. Railway Co., 83 Ga. 659; Parmelee v. Railway Co., 78 Ga. 239.

2. In an action in this State by a servant against his master for an injury occurring in another State by reason of defective machinery furnished by the master, it will be presumed, unless the contrary be shown, that the common law prevails in such other State. The declaration in such case, brought under the common law, must allege, not only that the servant was ignorant of the defect, but also that he could not have discovered it by ordinary diligence, and that the master knew or ought to have known of it.

3. Under the principles ruled above, tlie demurrer to the plaintiff’s petition should have been sustained, and the subsequent trial was a nullity.

Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concurring.

Reference

Full Case Name
Charleston and Western Carolina Railway Co. v. Miller
Cited By
6 cases
Status
Published