Stewart v. Whitford
Stewart v. Whitford
Opinion of the Court
Error to the court of common pleas.
The defendants in error brought actions in the court of common pleas to recover damages sustained by reason of the alleged negligent management of an automobile belonging to the plaintiff in error, which resulted in a serious personal injury to Sarah E. Whitford, the wife of Charles W. Whitford. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff in each case. The trial judge granted a motion for a new trial and rendered an opinion in doing so, to the effect that the evidence produced in the case was not sufficient to sustain a judgment in favor of plaintiff against the owner of the automobile. Thereupon the
Stewart, who resided on Shaker Heights in the eastern portion of the city of Cleveland, was the owner of an automobile and had in his employ a chauffeur by the name of Pelrein. It was the custom of Stewart to have his chauffeur, Pelrein, drive him in his automobile from his home at Shaker Heights to his office in the Perry Payne Building in the morning, and then call for him with the machine at four in the afternoon to take him home.
It was stipulated between the plaintiff and defendant that the chauffeur, Pelrein, -was employed by Stewart to drive the machine when, where and as directed by Stewart.
On the morning of the day on which the accident to Mrs. Whitford occurred, in accord with the usual custom, Pelrein had driven Stewart to the office at the usual hour and was either then instructed to return for him at the Perry Payne Building at four o’clock in the afternoon, or was acting in accord with the usual custom and understanding between himself and Stewart when he did start to return for Stewart a little prior to that hour in the afternoon of that day. He drove from the residence in a westerly direction and by the route usually taken, until he reached East Ninth street, at which point he turned to the right and followed East Ninth street, which bore slightly in a westerly direction, until he reached the intersection of Superior street. From this point to the office of Stewart in the Perry Payne Building his direct course would be to the left westerly along Superior street a distance of about a quarter of a mile from its intersection- with East Ninth. As he approached the intersection of East Ninth and Superior streets the chauffeur met two lady friends of his, who were on the sidewalk at this point, and stopped to converse with them for a few moments. The ladies informed him that they were going to a dressmaker’s
There was no dispute about the facts in the case. That which took place is as I have stated it, and no one pretends that the chauffeur, Pelrein, had any inteution to do anything other than to take the ladies to the destination mentioned .and then to return to the office of Stewart and take him home. After making-the journey with the ladies he did return to the Perry Payne Building and took his employer Stewart home without disclosing to him at that time that he had made this trip with his two friends or that he had injured anybody wMle doing- so.
The common pleas judge to whom the case was submitted without a jury, upon the evidence showing the facts as I have stated them, found the owner of the automobile, Stewart, to be liable and entered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs for the. amount covered by the stipulation between the parties.
The question that is submitted for our consideration by counsel is whether upon these facts, the owner of the automobile is liable for the injury to Mrs. Whitford caused by the negligence of the chauffeur while running the ear as stated.
Counsel for plaintiff in error contend that on the authority of Lima Ry. v. Little, 67 Ohio St. 91 [65 N. E. 861]; White Oak
The defendants in error contend, and the court of common pleas so held, that inasmuch as Pelrein was in the employ of Stewart during the whole time, and in view of the fact that he must have intended to do what he did after this journey to •the side, to wit: to go after his employer; therefore, it was a continuing engagement on his part, with the implied, if not the express, authority of the master attending him all the time, and thait, therefore, the master is as liable for the result of the injury as though it had occurred on a regular journey from the residence to the office and without any turning aside by the chauffeur for any such purpose of his own.
Some question is made in the ease ais to whether it is not a question for the jury whether the employee, under a given state of facts, is within or without the scope of his employment; and it may be admitted that in many instances facts might exist
The common pleas court in deciding the case in favor of the defendants in error delivered .a written opinion covering over forty-one pages of typewritten matter, l’eviewing a very large number of authorities both English and American. We have read this opinion with care. It is presented to us by counsel for defendants in error in connection with, and as a part of their briefs in the ease, and wre think it fully reviews the authorities. It -would serve no useful purpose to attempt to review these cases in detail.
Our conclusion is, after the fullest examination of the case, that the authorities cited and relied, upon by the plaintiffs in error fully sustain their contention. We find ourselves unable to concur in the very full opinion rendered by the trial judge.
It follows from what has been said that1 the judgment of the court of common pleas must be reversed in each case. There being no dispute as to the facts, it is the duty of this court to enter the judgment in favor of the plaintiff in error in each case that should have been entered by the court below, and such will be the finding here.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.