Peterson v. Louisville & N. R.
Peterson v. Louisville & N. R.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff’s son, 19 years old, fell under the wheels of a small flat car loaded with heavy timbers, which he and 17 other men were pushing along upon the railroad bridge of the defendant company that crosses Bay St. Louis, and he died the next day from his injuries; and this suit is brought in damages.
This bridge is an open trestle, the top of which consists of the cross-ties, the two rails, and a plank walk on each side between the ends of the cross-ties and the rails. Beginning where it leaves the land, the grade for about half a mile going out is down, 8 inches to the 100 feet at first, tapering to 5 inches. The men were on each side of the car and back of it. Its platform was hip high to them, and there was sitting room on each side of the load. When it reached the downgrade and began moving of itself, the men let go, and some stood back, while others jumped and sat upon it. Plaintiff’s son was on the side, with men in front and back of him. Whether his fall was caused by his attempting to jump on the car, or by his stumbling, the testimony leaves 'uncertain.
This guard rail was 12 feet long, and, when plaintiff’s son fell, he had passed that end of it which stood close to the plank walk, and had reached, or nearly reached, the end touching the main rail. At the latter point there was little, if any, danger of his striking his foot against it.
Besides, it was not as the result of negligence that this guard rail was there, but intentionally, for a useful purpose. Hence whatever danger was created by its presence was only such as men engaged in railroad construction work are encompassed with on every side, and against all of which it is not possible for warning to be given. Such dangers as these are incident to the work, and are assumed by the workmen. The accidents that result from them are due to unavoidable circumstances, and not to the fault of individuals.
“To take a young man out upon a bridge and point out the rails to him and warn him not to stumble over them would be beyond even paternal care.”
And they add, with a touch of pleasantry which perhaps the baseless character of the suit excuses:
“It would be grandmotherly.”
Judgment affirmed.
070rehearing
On Application for Rehearing.
The application came one day too late, under Act No. 223, p. 341, of 1908, which reads as follows:
“That judgment rendered in the Supreme Court * * * shall become final and executory on the fifteenth calendar day after rendition, in term time and out of term time, unless the last day shall fall on a legal holiday when the delay shall be extended to the first day thereafter not a legal holiday: Provided, that in the interval parties in interest shall have the right to apply for rehearing: Provided further, in the recess of the court, the court shall have the right to dispose, at chambers, of applications for rehearing.”
As January 26, 1915, was not a legal holiday, the decree of the court in this case became final and executory on that day, and the “interval” for rehearings expired on the day previous.
Therefore plaintiff’s application came too late and cannot be considered by the court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- PETERSON v. LOUISVILLE & N. R. CO.
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- (Syllabus by Editorial Staff.) 1. Master and Servant The danger created by a guard rail placed along a railroad track for a useful purpose was assumed by an employ! engaged in railroad construction work. [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Master and Servant, Cent. Dig. §§ 610-024; Dee. Dig. 2. Master and Servant &wkey;>150 — Railroad Employé — Duty to Warn. An employ! engaged in railroad construction work was not entitled to special warning in respect to the construction of the track or manner of working, that he might avoid stumbling while engaged, with other employ!s, in pushing upon a railroad bridge a flat car loaded with heavy timbers. [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Master and Servant, Cent. Dig. §§ 297, 299-302, 305-307; Dec. Dig. &wkey;>150.] On Application for Rehearing. (Syllabus by the Court.) 3. Appeal and Error &wkey;>833 — Application eor Rehearing — Time. Under' Act No. 223, p. 341, of 1908, an application for a rehearing comes too late when filed on the day the judgment of the Supreme Court becomes final and executory. [Ed. Note. — Eor other cases, see Appeal and Error, Cent. Dig. §§ 3214, 3229-3240, 324833.]