Fuller v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.
Fuller v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
Rehearing of case reported in 98 Neb. 727. In the former opinion it was held that the plaintiff could not recover for any injuries occurring to his horses on the line of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, for the reason that a judgment had been rendered in the action in favor of the Union Pacific Railroad Company and against him on the issues. In the motion for rehearing, and on the argument, our attention was called more particularly to the principle that an initial carrier is liable for all damages occurring due to a defective car furnished by it, although the injuries may have occurred upon the line of a connecting carrier.
The testimony on behalf of plaintiff is that some of the horses were injured by falling through a defective loading chute at Ewing. There is also testimony that the door of one of the cars in which the horses were loaded was broken
Complaint is made of the giving of instruction No. 12, to the effect that, if the jury found “that the defendant company negligently failed to provide a safe and suitable car for the'transportation of the horses, and that the car furnished was defective, then the defendant company would be liable for any damages to the stock resulting from the defective condition of the car, whether said damages occurred on its own line or on the line of the Union Pacific railroad.” This was not erroneous. It is the duty of a common carrier to furnish suitable and proper cars to be used in shipping live stock. Chicago, St. P., M. & O. R. Co. v. Deaver, 45 Neb. 307; Union P. R. Co. v. hangan, 52 Neb. 105; Allen v. Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co., 82 Neb. 726. If damages result for failure to do so, the carrier is liable. The principle of lawr applicable in this case is clearly stated in 2 Hutchinson, Carriers (3d ed.) sec. 499, as follows: “Where the vehicle is furnished by an initial carrier for the transportation of goods to a point beyond his owni line, and he negligently violates his duty by furnishing a vehicle which is defective, he wdll be liable for any subsequent damage arising from the defective condition of the vehicle, although such damage develops on the line of a connecting carrier. And this rule wdll remain true even though the
There is no proof of any injury occurring on the line of the Union Pacific railroad. The horses were injured, and their appearance, when unloaded, indicated the injuries had been suffered some time before; the blood having caked and dried upon their legs.
It is urged, there was no competent evidence of damages to the horses on which a verdict could be based. Plaintiff testified, without objection, that there was a difference of $35 between the value of one of the animals before it was injured and afterwards, and gave like testimony as to the others. The claim inspector for the Union Pacific Railroad Company was sent to examine the horses, according to 'the custom of that company. He examined the stock, and testified, without objection, to the amount that each injured animal was damaged. Defendant requested an instruction to the effect that, if the jury believed three of the horses were injured at the loading chute, they might under the evidence find a verdict for plaintiff, to the' amount of $75. Having let the evidence in without objection as to its competency, and having requested an instruction based upon the theory that it was competent, defendant cannot now urge that the court erred in its reception. We find no prejudicial error in the record.
The former judgment of this court is set aside, and the judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Judgment accordingly.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Perry L. Fuller v. Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company
- Cited By
- 1 case
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- Published