Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad v. State
Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Railroad v. State
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court:
This is an appeal from a judgment rendered against the appellant for the death of Maria L. Hall, the daughter of Amelia Hall and mother of Nacmi Hall, an infant, which resulted from a collision between an automobile in which she was riding, and one of the cars of the appellant. There are seven bills of exception presenting rulings on the admissibility of evidence and one embracing the rulings on the prayers. Three prayers of the plaintiff were offered, all of which were granted, with some modifications of the second and third, and twelve were offered by the defendant, six of which were granted but the first, second, third, third and one-half, sixth and ninth were rejected. Some special exceptions to- the plaintiff’s prayers were overruled. To the granting of the plaintiff’s prayers and to- the rejection of the defendant’s six prayers exceptions were taken.
As the rulings on the prayers present the important questions we will first consider them. Erank Kratzmeyer, who owned a Chalmers roadster, took E. J. T. Jockell, Miss Van Fossen and Miss- Hall out riding on Sunday night, March 25th, 1917, and the collision occurred about 11.30 P. M. which resulted in injuries to Miss Hall, from which she died on April 5th. She lived with her mother, Mrs. Amelia Hall, and contributed to her support. Naomi Hall is her daughter, being twelve years of age in July, 1919, and the father of Naomi was said to be George Kelly, to whom the equitable-plaintiffs claim Miss Hall was married, but that she was with him only one day and night, and she continued to us© her maiden name. The four persons named above were on the front seat of the automobile. Kratzmeyer was driving, Miss
Although there were conflicting statements made by the witnesses as to the speed of the electric car and of the automobile, as well as to whether any signals were given by the ear as it approached Hamburg Street-, it would be difficult for Kratzmeyer to avoid the effects of his contributory negligence if this was a suit by him. While the accident occurred in a part of the city which is closely built up, the evidence shows that it was Sunday night, in the neighborhood of half past eleven and the street was quiet, little or no traffic being then upon it. If the car was going at such a speed as some of the plaintiff’s witnesses said it was, on an upgrade which was shown to be there, there could have been no possible reason for Kratzmeyer not hearing it coming, if the automobile was going at the speed he said it was, and he was using ordinary care and caution in approaching the tracks. He said he was going ten or twelve miles an hour, was running within three or four feet of the north curb on Hamburg Street and
When that is taken in connection with other evidence, it would seem that Kratzmeyer was trying to cross ahead of
In the Crain Case the plaintiff testified that just before the accident she heard Mr. Goodman, the driver’, tell Mr. Pfutz, another passenger, that there was a crossing somewhere along there but just where it was located he did not know. The plaintiff was enjoying the scenery. There were poles- fifteen or eighteen inches in diameter upon each side of the railroad track, at a distance not greater than 110 feet apart, with wires strung upon them, extending for at least half a mile to the westward, which located the railroad and the crossing upon the highway, and they were plainly visible at a point some distance from the crossing, thus pointing out the place of danger of which Goodman had given notice to those in the automobile, including the plaintiff. As the Court said, “it would seem that said poles and wires would have been noticed and observed by the plaintiff in the exercise of ordinary care and caution on her part to avoid the threatened , danger, but if they were observed by her she made no mention of them.” Yet the Court said that it would not hold as a matter of law she was guilty of contributory negligence, “but nevertheless we think the evidence tending to show a want of due care on her part — which under the circumstances she was bound to take — should have been submitted to the jury.” In that ease, Brommer v. P. R. R. Co., 179 Fed. 577, 29 L. R. A. (N. S.) 924, is referred to- at some length and was said by Judge
While there are cases in which the guests or occupants have been held guilty of such contributory negligence as to pro-elude recovery as matter of law, it will be found by an examination of tbe numerous cases on tbe subject that generally the question must be submitted to the jury. There are a great many cases on thei general rule and exceptions to' it which are cited in the note to Anthony v. Kiefner, Ann. Cas. 1916 E, 269, and in the note to Christopherson’s Case, 28 N. D. 128, as reported in Ann. Cas. 1916 E, 685. In this
So although we have reached the conclusion that it cannot properly be said as a matter of law that Maria L. Hall was guilty of contributory negligence, we will no-w consider it as referred to in the plaintiff’s prayers. The first prayer submitted to the jury to find, amongst other things, “that said Kratzmeyer was in exclusive control of said automobile, and that the deceased wTas not driving said automobile and had no control over the driving or operation thereof,” and again that “'if the jury further find the deceased was exercising ordinary care and caution as a passenger in said automobile as the same was proceeding along Hamburg Street, approaching and crossing Scott Street, and that when she saw or heard, or by the exercise of ordinary care could have seen or heard the said interurban electric car approaching said intersection of Hamburg and Scott Streets, sbe could not have stopped said automobile or alighted therefrom before said collision or otherwise avoided said collision by the exercise of ordinary care and prudence on her part, if the jury shall so find, and that she did not contribute to the happening of said collision by the failure on her part to exercise ordinary care and caution.” Inasmuch as that prayer specifically referred to Miss Hall not driving the automobile, not having control over it, etc.— thus emphasizing those matters — the jury might well have been misled as to other duties which she was called upon to perform in the exercise of due care, and which were more important to be considered by the jury under the circumstances of this case. Whether or not she used due care in looking for an approaching car and informing the driver of its approach, if she saw one, or could have seen it in time to warn the driver, whether the position she occupied in the car was negligence directly contributing to tbe accident and whether she should have warned the driver in approaching the crossing, if the jury .found that the automobile was running at an excessive speed, were more material under the evidence, yet the
Inasmuch as the jury were instructed that if they found the facts therein stated “their verdict should be for’ the plaintiff,” and'the prayer so prominently brought before them the questions referred to but omitted all reference to those which were actually the material facts to he determined in reference to her negligence it was a defective'prayer. The only queer tion we have had any doubt about was whether there was reversible error, inasmuch as the Court granted tíre defendant’s seventh 'prayer, as to whether the deceased exercised ordinary care to ascertain whether or not an electric car was approaching, its eighth, as to whether the automobile was being operated at a rate of speed greater than was reasonble under the circumstances and whether she made objection to it, and protested againsit the speed, and its tenth as to whether she could, by'the exercise of ordinary care and prudence, have seen the car and warmed the driver of its approach in time to have prevented the accident, etc. Each of those prayers concluded with an instruction that the verdict of'the'jury should bei for the defendant, if they found the facts set out. We are, of course, aware of the decisions of this and other'courts to the effect that it may not he necessary to reverse a judgment by reason of some omission in a prayer of the successful party, if one was granted to the other party covering! that question, and there wasi no danger of the jury being misled. But in this case the plaintiff selected some things which might he evidence of negligence and then omitted all other’ 'matters re^ fleetingi on that question excepting in so far asi they were included in the general and indefinite statements of'“exercising ordinary care and caution,” “did not contribute to the happenings of said accident by the failure on her part to exercise ordinary care -and caution,” etc. The defendant’s prayers were not mere modifications or qualifications of plaintiff’s
But that first prayer and the defendant’s fifth were clearly repugnant and contradictory. The only reference in the plaintiff’s first prayer to Kratzmeyer’s care and caution is: “and that the said Kratzmeyer1 was driving1 said automobile at a reasonable rate of speed along Hamburg, Street, approaching ’Scott Street, and that he'had said automobile under control,” but by the defendant’s fifth the jury was instructed, “that if they shall find from, the evidence that at the time of the accident mentioned in the testimony the deceased Maria Hall was a passenger in tire automobile mentioned in the evidence, then it was the duty of the driver of the automobile to exercise the highest degree of care and 'skill practicable under all the circumstances for her” care and safety, and if the jury shall further find that the 'driver of the automobile failed to use such care and that his failure to do so-was the direct and proximate cause of "the accident, without which the accident would not have occurred, if the jury so-find, then the verdict of the jury should he for 'the defend-, ant.”
That prayer is precisely like defendant’s I) prayer in Crain's Case, which we said should have1 been granted as offered. The plaintiff’s prayer concluded by an instruction that if they found the 'facts therein stated the verdict of the jury should be for the plaintiff, yet it utterly ignored all questions of negligence of Kratzmeyer, excepting what we have quoted above as to the speed he 'Was running and having the automobile under' control, but the defendant’s fifth prayer directed the verdict for the defendant if the jury found him negligent as therein1 stated. There was ample evidence tending to show negligence on his part, which was for the jury to-determine. For instance, that of a passenger on the electric car tended to'show that Kratzmeyer attempted to run around
We ‘deem it proper to add that although we did approve a similar prayer in Crain’s Case, and hence the lower Court was justified in granting the fifth prayer, as it was. a part of the law of thei State, we think that the degree of care imposed on the driver by it'isi not justified by the facts of this case, and we must say was not in the Crain Case. Miss Hall was not a passenger for hire, but was simply a guest or occupant of the automobile by invitation of the owner. He was not a common carrier, certainly was not on the occasion of the accident, but like most other people he was the owner of the automobile for his own pleasure and purposes so far as the record shows. Such a driver should not be held to “the highest degree of care and skill practicable under all the circumstances” for the care and safety of his guest, and We are not aware of any authority in this State, or any outside of it which would be binding on us that so holds, except the Crain Case. In Huddy on Automobiles, Sec. 113, page 139, it is said: “In considering the lights, of a guest we have a different situation presented, although he pays; nothing for riding’, he is,, nevertheless, in the; care and custody of the owner or driver of fhe machine and is entitled to'a reasonable degree of care for bis safety.” There are a great many cases cited in 2 Words and Phrases, 2nd Series, on pages 875-876, as
Our understanding of what is meant by the concluding part of the prayer is that if the accident is caused wholly by the negligence of the driver, which was the direct and proximate cause of the accident, which would not have happened •except for such negligence or failure of the driver to use proper and reasonable eare, then the railway company is not responsible because the accident wa.s not due to its negligence. It is not a question as to whether the negligence of the driver is to he imputed to the guest or occupant, hut if the driver caused the accident there could he no i*eason why a third party should be held responsible for it. The case of Bagwell v. Southern R. Co., 167 N. C. 611, is an illustration of what we mean. That part of the prayer as to proximate cans© •might perhaps he improved on so as to show that the negligence of the driver was the sole, only and proximate cause of the accident. The fifth prayer of defendant was not of much use with the plaintiff’s first before, the jury.
Then there was no reference made in any of the plaintiff’s prayers as to whether Naoxni Hall was a legitimate child of Maria Hall, or to the effect of it, if she was not. The only evidence on the subject of the marriage of Maiia was that of her mother and of Jockell. She was asked, “When was your
Without discussing them we find no reversible error in the other exceptions, but must reverse the judgment for the reasons stated.
Judgment, reversed and new trial awarded, Amelia. Hall, an equitable plaintiff and next friend of the infant, to1 paa/ the costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WASHINGTON, BALTIMORE AND ANNAPOLIS RAILROAD COMPANY v. STATE, Use of Amelia Hall
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- Collision With Street Car — Death of Automobile Occupant— Contributory Negligence — Instructions—Death of Illegitimate Child — Bight of Action. The contributory negligence of a carrier, or of the driver of a public or private vehicle, not owned or controlled by the passenger, who is himself without fault, will not constitute a bar to the right of recovery for injuries received by the passenger. It is ordinarily a question for the jury whether the occupant of a vehicle driven by another was guilty of negligence in failing to observe a possible danger or to warn the driver thereof. In an action on account of a death caused by a collision at a street crossing between the automobile in which deceased was riding and defendant’s electric car, it appearing that deceased and two others were sitting on the same seat as the driver of the automobile, decedent being towards the side from which defendant’s car came, but with her view possibly obstructed by the fact that one of the others was sitting partly on her lap and partly on the side of the car, and it further appearing that there was an unobstructed view from the automobile for a considerable distance in the direction from which the car came, held that the question of deceased’s contributory negligence was for the jury, it being for them to consider whether she had thus voluntarily put herself in a position which prevented her seeing or hearing the approaching car, or which interfered with the driver’s view of the car, or with his management of the automobile. In an action for death caused by an automobile in which deceased was riding being struck by defendant’s electric car at a street crossing, held that there was evidence to go to the jury of negligence on defendant’s part. In an action for death caused by the collision of defendant’s electric car with the, automobile in which deceased was riding, a prayer submitted by plaintiff which specifically referred to the evidence that deceased was not driving the automobile and did not have control of it, as tending to show that she was not guilty of contributory negligence, held misleading, as not also referring specifically to other matters bearing on the same question, such as whether deceased used due care in looking for an approaching car and informing the driver thereof, whether the position in the automobile occupied by her involved contributory negligence, and whether she should have warned the driver in approaching the street crossing at which the collision occurred, if the jury found that the automobile was running at an excessive speed. The failure of the prayer specifically to refer to other matters bearing on the question of deceased’s negligence was not obviated by its submission of such matters under general state-, ments, such as “or otherwise could have avoided such collision by the exercise of ordinary care and prudence.” In an action for death, caused by an automobile in which deceased was riding being struck by defendant’s electric car, error in granting a prayer submitted by plaintiff, which emphasized the fact that deceased was not driving or in control of the automobile, but failed to mention other matters bearing on the question of her contributory negligence, held not to be cured by the granting of prayers submitted by defendant which did mention these matters, the plaintiff’s prayer and those of defendant being in effect contradictory, and the latter not merely qualifying or modifying the former. In an action for death caused by the collision of defendant’s electric car with the automobile in which decedent was riding, a prayer submitted by plaintiff, the only reference in which to the care exercised by the driver of the automobile was as to whether he was driving at a reasonable rate of speed and had the automobile under control, was in conflict with one submitted by defendant to the effect that it was the driver’s duty to exercise the highest degree of care and skill practicable for his passengers’ care and safety, and that if tliey find that he failed to do so and that this failure was the direct and proximate cause of the accident, without which it would not have occurred, the verdict must be for defendant, and it was error to grant both of such conflicting prayers, there being evidence of negligence on the part of the driver other than that specifically referred to in plaintiff’s prayer. Although the negligence of the driver of an automobile is not to be imputed to a passenger therein, there can be no recovery against a third party for injuries to such passenger, if they were caused wholly by the negligence of the driver, which was the sole, only and proximate cause of the accident. In an action for injuries to one who was merely-a guest or occupant of an automobile, on the invitation of the driver or owner, who was not a common carrier, a prayer is erroneous, unless under very peculiar circumstances, if it requires such driver or owner to have exercised “the highest degree of care and skill under all the circumstances” for the care and safety of his guest. Code, Article 67, authorizing recovery in damages for negligence causing death, by an action for the benefit of a “child” of deceased, does not support a recovery for the benefit of an illegitimate child. In an action for death caused by negligence, brought for the benefit of the child of deceased, the question whether the child is illegitimate, and so not entitled to recover under the statute, was for the jury, there being a conflict of evidence in this regard. On an issue as to the legitimacy of a child, the declaration of the child’s deceased mother, as to her marriage to the child’s father, is admissible.