Barr v. St. Louis & Suburban Railroad
Barr v. St. Louis & Suburban Railroad
Opinion of the Court
The suit was commenced before a justice of the peace on the following complaint:
“St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 30, 1904.
“St. Louis & Suburban Railway Company (a corporation and common carrier), Dr.
“To John C. Barr: For personal injuries sustained by plaintiff on Sunday, Sept. 25,1904, about 12:30 p. m., at Ailanthus street and Suburban tracks in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, whilst attempting to board one of defendant’s passenger cars with the intent to become a passenger, by reason of the agents of defendant starting said car before plaintiff could reach a place of safety thereon and thereby throwing plaintiff violently to the ground, whereby his right shoulder was fractured and bruised, and he was otherwise severely bruised and hurt to his damage in. the sum of $500.”
From the judgment of the justice, the cause was appealed to the circuit court, where on a trial de novo plaintiff recovered a judgment for five hundred dollars, from which defendant appeals to this court.
The conductor of the car testified that he was standing on the rear vestibule and the little girl told him plaintiff was blind; that plaintiff was coming along the stationary platform with one hand on the railing and he (the conductor) reached out to take him by the arm but his arm was too short and plaintiff Avalked off the end of the platform and fell into the ditch; that the car had come to a full stop and did not move or give a jerk in any direction until after the plaintiff fell into the ditch and was picked up; that plaintiff did not touch the car xintil he fell over into the ditch, when in falling he struck the car. The conductor was corroborated by Michael
Tbe motorman swore that after coming to a full stop tbe car was not moved an inch in any direction until after tbe plaintiff fell into tbe ditch and was picked up.
“1. If tbe jury find and believe from tbe evidence, that on or about tbe twenty-fifth day of September, A. D. 1904, one of defendant’s cars was bailed at or near Ailantbus street and defendant’s tracks, for tbe purpose of plaintiff becoming a passenger thereon and that defendant’s servants and employees stopped said car at or near tbe end of tbe platform from which defendant was accustomed to receive passengers, and that whilst plaintiff was in tbe act of boarding said car, and before be bad time to reach a place of safety on said car, defendant’s motorman started said car forward in such a manner as to drag plaintiff from said platform into a ditch or depression, into which plaintiff was thrown, and that be was thereby injured in bis person, then your verdict should be in favor of tbe plaintiff.”
Tbe instruction required tbe jury to find facts that constituted negligence and to have prefixed tbe term would not have improved the instruction in tbe least.
“5. The court instructs the jury that if they believe from the evidence in this case that plaintiff fell from the station platform at Ailanthus street before he touched defendant’s car, the jury will find against plaintiff and in favor of defendant.
“6. The court instructs the jury that if you believe from the evidence in this case that plaintiff was in charge of and relied upon Mrs.' Henderson and her daughter, Serene, and that they or either of them was negligent at the time and place, and in view of the circumstances surrounding plaintiff’s alleged injury, and that such negligence on their part, if any, directly contributed to plaintiff’s injury or fall, if any, then you will find your verdict in favor of the defendant herein and plaintiff cannot recover.”
These two instructions, with number one given for plaintiff, fully, plainly and correctly declare the whole law of the case and there was no need of any others, except the one on the measure of damages which is unobjectionable. Other instructions were given for both parties and, while needless, they are harmless and do not call for a reversal of the judgment.
“The court instructs the jury that they will not allow any damages for medical expenses in this case, nor will they allow any damages for any permanent injuries alleged by plaintiff in his evidence to have been sustained by him.”
Plaintiff offered no evidence to prove that he had paid or incurred any liability for medical expenses. Plaintiff’s instruction on the measure of damages does-not include medical expenses as an element of damages. It only authorizes the jury to assess compensation for the injury to plaintiff’s shoulder and for pain and suffering. There was, therefore, nothing in the evidence or
The judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.