Wolek v. Public Service Railway Co.
Wolek v. Public Service Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
Wolek, a boy eighteen years old, was in the employ of one Simon as a helper on a truck used in Simon’s business, his work being to assist in helping to load and unload the truck. AWiile riding on this truck oil the 16th of March, 1921, there
We think, after reading the evidence, the jury was justified in finding that the collision was not the result of any carelessness on the part of the motonnan.
As to the alleged errors in the charge. No exception was taken to the instructions. It is argued, however, that that is not necessary in order to justify the making of the rule absolute. This is true as an abstract proposition. Butler v. Hoboken Printing, &c., Co., 73 N. J. L. 45; Clark v. Public Service Railroad Co., 83 Id. 319. The principal error is said to consist in the submission by the court to the jury of the question as to whether the relationship of master and servant, or principal and agent, or mutual responsibility in a common enterprise, existed between the driver of the track and Wolek. We think this is true. There was no such relationship, the only relation between the two> being that they _ were employes of a common master. But the court was induced to deal with this subject by reason of a request to charge submitted by the plaintiff, which was as follows, so far as this point is' concerned: “If you find from the evidence that the plaintiff was not exercising any control at all over this automobile truck, and was simply occupying a place on the seat, I then charge you that any negligence on the part of the driver of the automobile truck is not to be attributed to the plaintiff.” The effect of this request was to leave it to the jury to determine whether or not tíre plaintiff was exercising any control over the automobile truck, and, of course, he could not do- that unless one of the relationships suggested by the court existed between the
The only other ground of reversal is that which has just been mentioned — that is, the refusal to charge this request.
The rule should be discharged on the merits. It ought to be an unusual case where a court will set aside a verdict for an error io the charge, if it exists, which is not called to the attention of the trial judge by a proper exception.
The rule +o show- cause is discharged.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.