Morgan's Administrator v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad
Morgan's Administrator v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad
Opinion of the Court
Opinion op the Court by
Reversing.
Appellant sought to recover of the appellees $50,-000.00 for the death of his intestate, and, having lost his case in . the court below,-has appealed to this court. The intestate, Farris Morgan, lost his life in a fire which de
The suit to recover for the death of Bert Morgan came to this court twice, and for the assistance of those who may read this opinion, reference is now had to 181 Ky. 76, 203 S. W. 1065, and 188 Ky. 291, 221 S. W. 539.
It was the contention of the appellant that the house was set on fire by a spark or sparks negligently emitted from one of two locomotives drawing appellees’ freight train No. 26 on an up grade between Fineastle and Torrent, past the home of F. W. Morgan, father of'intestate, which home was situated about 55 feet from the center of the railroad track.
Appellees contended that this house was not fired by a spark or sparks from an engine, but by a spark from a
Nine of jhe jury found a verdict for the defendants, which appellant seeks to reverse. Several grounds are assigned as reasons for a new trial, but the principal complaint seems to be of the instructions. Instructions 1, 2, and 3 were offered bj^ appellant. Appellees offered an instruction, a portion of which was given by the court, and which portion is instruction 4. There is nothing in the record showing on whose motion instructions 5, 6, 7 and 8 were given. In this state of the record the presumption will be that they were given upon the court’s own motion. The record shows that they were objected to by the appellant and exception reserved at the time.
Instruction No. 7 was erroneous, and this case must be reversed because of it. If, upon a new trial of this case, the evidence is substantially the same as upon this trial, the court will instruct the jury as follows:
a. The court instructs the jury that it was the duty of the defendants, L. & N.'R. R/Co. and Lexington & Eastern Railway Company, to equip the engines of the train mentioned in the proof, with the most effectual screens and spark arresters in practical use, and to keep the same in good order and properly adjusted and to operate them carefully so as to prevent as far as possible sparks, cinders and coals of fire from escaping therefrom, and if the jury believe from the evidence that the defendants then failed so to do and that by reason of such failure, if any, the house of the father of plaintiff’s intestate was set on fire by sparks or cinders that escaped from said engines, or either of them, and not otherwise, and that the fire caused said house to be burned and burned the plaintiff’s intestate, Farris Morgan, to death, you will find for plaintiff, and unless you so believe, you will find.for the defendant.
b. Although the jury may believe from the evidence that the. plaintiff’s intestate, Farris Morgan, lost his life in a fire occurring on February 10,1915, and that
c. The court instructs the jury that if from the evidence they are unable to determine the origin of said fire; or if from the evidence they are unable to determine whether said fire was caused by sparks from defendants’ engine, or from some other cause; or if they believe from the evidence that said fire originated from fire inside the house, they will find for the defendants.
d. If the jury believe from the evidence that the plaintiff’s intestate, Farris Morgan, lost his life in a fire occurring on February 10, 1915, and that such fire originated from and was caused by sparks of fire or burning cinders emitted by one of defendants’ engines, yet if the jury further believe that such loss of life was due to or caused by negligence on the part of Farris Morgan, the plaintiff’s intestate, in not exercising ordinary and reasonable care for his own safety on the occasion of said fire and that but for such negligence on the part of said Farris Morgan, his death would not have occurred, the jury will find for the defendants.
e. ‘ ‘ Carefully, ’’ as used in these instructions, means with ordinary care; and ordinary care is such care as an ordinarily prudent person will exercise under like or similar circumstances.
f. If you find for the plaintiff you will award plaintiff such a sum in damages as will reasonably eompen-, sate the estate of said Farris Morgan for the destruction of his power to earn money, not to exceed, however, the sum of $50,000.00, the amount claimed in the petition. If you find for the defendant, you will merely say so in your verdict, and nothing more.
g. Nine of the jury may find a verdict, but if less than the whole of the jury agree on a verdict, then those so agreeing must sign it.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.