Powell v. Sutherlin Land Co.
Powell v. Sutherlin Land Co.
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
At the close of plaintiff’s testimony, defendant moved for a judgment of nonsuit; and, at the close of the evidence, moved for a directed verdict. It is principally upon the denial of these two motions upon which defendant bases this appeal.
The court in its general instructions to the jury fairly covered the ground stated in these two requests so far as the evidence justified. He instructed the jury to the effect that, if the plaintiff was employed by the defendant to carry on the electric plant, not including the duty of keeping' the poles in repair, then it would have been the duty of the defendant to have done so. Also he instructed them:
“If you find * * that the plaintiff knew the defendant had no other servant whose duty it was tó inspect its poles and continued in the employment, * * he assumed the obligation and duty of testing the poles himself. * * ”
We find no error in the refusal of the requested instructions.
The judgment is affirmed.
Aeeirmed . Rehearing Denied.
070rehearing
Denied May 26, 1914.
On Petition eor Rehearing
(141 Pae. 1016.)
delivered the opinion of the court.
Defendant urges that the opinion of this court did not decide whether plaintiff by remaining in defendant’s employ, knowing that defendant had no one employed to test the safety of the poles, assumed the duty to inspect them himself, and that he was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. In other words, he thinks this court should say as a matter of law that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence, thereby entitling defendant to judgment of non-suit. In the opinion we held that that was a question for the jury, and was properly presented to them. Counsel assumes that plaintiff was the foreman of the plant and had authority to set new poles in the Oakland circuit. He was only 22 years old, but was al
The case of Goddard v. Interstate Telephone Co., 56 Wash. 536 (106 Pac. 188), is not in point, as in that case the defect causing the injury was open and visible to plaintiff, and he had his hand on it, which was proof of contributory negligence. In this case the defect was invisible, and was made to appear only by plaintiff’s weight at the top of the pole and the cutting of the wire to disconnect it. The case of McGorty v. Southern etc. Telephone Co., 69 Conn. 635 (38 Atl. 359, 61 Am. St. Rep. 62) says that whether it is incumbent on the master or servant to test the poles before permitting the lineman to climb them is usually a question of fact for the jury: See, also, Cumberland Telephone Co. v. Loomis, 87 Tenn. 504 (11 S. W. 356). The employee assumes the ordinary hazard of the employment, and also the risks that are open and visible. An assumed risk is defined by Mr. Justice Moore in Johnston v. Oregon Short Line Ry. Co., 23 Or. 95 (31 Pac. 283), as an open, visible risk, which latter is defined as one so patent that a person familiar with the business will instantly recognize it, and about which there can be no difference of opinion: See, also, Roth v. Northern Pac. L. Co., 18 Or. 205 (22 Pac. 842); Mitten v. Pacific Bridge Co., 51 Or. 538 (95 Pac. 196). In Williams
The petition is denied.
Affirmed. Rehearing Denied.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.