Sailer v. United States Railway Administration
Sailer v. United States Railway Administration
Opinion of the Court
On May 16, 1919, plaintiff shipped over the Northern Pacific Railway from South St. Paul to Hazen, North Dakota, thirty-one head of cows in good condition. Five days afterwards, when the animals arrived at Hazen, their condition was terrible to behold. They were nearly starved, many of them were unable to walk or to eat. Six of them died within a few days. Five cows had calves prematurely, of which some died in the car and the others died within a few days. At Hazen a veterinary was called and tried to milk the cows that had calved, but the milk had dried up and turned to putrid matter and the cows had a high fever. The calves had not sucked them and they had not been milked. The value of the animals that survived was greatly reduced, and the jury gave plaintiff' a verdict for damages, $850, with interest from May 21, 1919. Plaintiff paid freight charges, $110.26.
To quote and book the evidence would serve only to waste time and add to the tax burdens. The parties have their copies and strangers have no interest in the matter.
. The counsel does insist that there is no evidence of negligence on the part of the carrier, but there is positive evidence to show the good condition of the animals at the time and place of shipment and showing their pitiful condition on arrival at Hazen. It shows beyond question that the carrier was guilty of very gross negligence and want of care, and even cruelty to the animals. It shows damages in excess of the verdict. The testimony is entirely convincing and the verdict is very moderate. Hence the long string of objections, exceptions, and errors assigned do merit no consideration.
In this ease there was no express contract between the plaintiff and the Director General. In the shipping bill the carrier named is the Northern Pacific Railway Company, not the Director General, who had taken control of the railway. Hence the judgment must be corrected by striking out the name of the Northern Pacific Railway Company, both in the title of the action and in the body of the judgment where-over the same occurs. There will be no judgment either against the Northern Pacific Railway Company or in its favor, and as thus corrected, the judgment is affirmed, with costs in favor of the plaintiff.
Corrected and affirmed.
Concurring Opinion
(specially concurring). I concur in the affirmance of the judgment as to the Director General and for its dismissal as to the railway company. I am of the opinion that the record presents questions of fact for the jury concerning the negligence of the carrier in failing to give proper care and protection to the milch cows shipped. There is evidence in the record that these cows, when shipped, were in good condition. Although shipment was made under a live-stock contract which provided for an attendant to accompany the cows, nevertheless, there is evidence in the record from which the jury might find that the company became aware that the cows were not attended, and furnished feed, care, and attention even to the extent of services furnished and charged in assisting one of the cows when giving birth to a calf. The carrier thereupon assumed a duty and was liable for its negligence in the performance thereof. See Morrell v. Northern P. R. Co. 46 N. D. 535, 179 N. W. 922; Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co. v. Williams, 61 Neb. 608, 55 L.R.A. 289, 85 N. W. 832; Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co. v. Slattery, 76 Neb. 721, 124 Am. St. Rep. 825, 107 N. W. 1045, 20 Am. Neg. Rep. 405; Millam v. Southern R. Co. 58 S. C. 247, 36 S. E. 571; Spalding v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co. 101 Mo. App. 225, 73 S. W. 274; McGrath v. Northern P. R. Co. L.R.A.1915D, 644, and note (121 Minn. 258, 141 N. W. 164); Trout v. Gulf, C. & S. F. R. Co. — Tex. Civ. App. —, 111 S. W. 222; 10 C. J. 97. Although more complete instructions might have been given upon the issues, I am of the opinion that the prime question of the carrier’s negligence was fairly tried and submitted to the jury, and that no prejudicial error exists in the record, with respect to the carrier held.
070rehearing
On Petition for Rehearing, Filed January 18, 1921.
Upon a petition for rehearing the carrier complains that there is no evidence of negligence on the part of the carrier concerning this shipment of live stock. That the failure to milk the cows was not negligence. In this regard there is evidence in the record' of inspection by the switch foreman of the carrier when the stock was
Again, the carrier complains because the issue of plaintiff’s negligence was not submitted to the jury, for the reason that the carrier did not know and were not informed covering the conditions of the cows when shipped, and, further, that the jury were not given an opportunity io pass upon the question whether the injury was occasioned through the natural propensities and physical condition of the cattle or through the negligence of the carrier. Prejudicial error did not occur by reason of the failure of the trial court to submit such issue to the jury. The evidence discloses without contradiction that the cows were in good condition when loaded. The carrier, after it became aware of the condition qf the cattle, may not excuse its lack of caro and attention thfereto because of the failure of the plaintiff to notify the carrier concerning •the. character of the shipment. See Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co. v. Williams, 61 Neb. 608, 55 L.R.A. 289, 291, 85 N. W. 832; 10 C. J. 97. Complaint is also made that the trial court prejudicially charged the
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JACOB SAILER v. UNITED STATES RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION, W. D. Hines, Director General, and Northern Pacific Railway Company, a Corporation
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published