Ross v. May
Ross v. May
Opinion of the Court
This is an action by appellee against appellant to recover damages sustained on account of personal injuries, alleged to have been received by reason of the latter’s negligence. The complaint was originally in one paragraph, apparently drawn under the Employers’ Liability Act of this state. §8020a Burns 1914, Acts 1911 p. 145. Later a second paragraph, drawn under the federal Employers’ Liability Act, (§§8657-8665 U. S. Comp. Stat. 1918) was filed, designated as second paragraph of amended complaint. A demurrer was overruled to the latter paragraph. Issues were joined on each' paragraph by general denials. The cause was submitted to a jury for trial, resulting in a verdict and judgment in favor of appellee. Appellant filed a motion for a new trial, which was overruled, and this appeal followed.
Appellant contends that the court erred in overruling his demurrer to said second paragraph of amended complaint. He bases this contention on a claim that said paragraph, being under the federal Employers’ Liability Act, supra, is based on facts to which the doctrine of assumption of risk is applicable as a defense, and asserts that there is not only a failure to show that the injury in question did not result from such a risk, but a positive showing that it did so result. We cannot concur in this contention. The injury involved in this action is alleged to have been caused by a telegraph pole rolling off a hand car, while it was being transported slowly along appellant’s railroad track. It is alleged that appellee had assisted in loading said pole, and at the time of his injury was
Appellant predicates error on the action of the court in giving certain instructions, among which is No. 13, reading as follows: “The plaintiff assumed the risk of general service in which he was engaged, but not those which were not reasonably and fairly incident thereto.” (Our italics.) Since the second paragraph of amended complaint is drawn under the federal Employers’ Liability Act, supra, and is based on facts that render the doctrine of assumption of risk applicable, an instruction on that question was proper. Pennsylvania Co. v. Stalker, Admx. (1918), 67 Ind. App. 329, 119 N. E. 163. In considering this instruction it should be borne in mind, that in all cases where the doctrine of assumed .risk is applicable, the employe assumes two classes of risks, viz.: (1) those ordinarily incident to the service in which he is engaged; and (2) those unusual perils, not ordinarily incident to such service, but which are known and appreciated by him. Chicago, etc., R. Co. v. Wagner, Admr. (1896), 17 Ind. App. 22, 45 N. E. 76, 1121; Barley v. Southern, etc., R. Co. (1903), 30 Ind. App. 406, 66 N. E. 72; Evansville Gas, etc., Co. v. Raley
Appellant also predicates error on the action of the court in refusing to give certain requested instructions on the question of assumed risk. An examination of these instructions discloses, that all ignore the fact that the doctrine of assumption of risk is not applicable, where an employe sustains an injury while in obedience to a direct command or specific order, unless the danger is so great and imminent
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.