Sikorski v. Philadelphia & Reading Railway Co.
Sikorski v. Philadelphia & Reading Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The present suit was brought in trespass to recover for personal injuries; the verdict favored' plaintiff, and judgment was entered accordingly; defendant has appealed. The assignments of error complain, of the charge, the declination of binding instructions and refusal of judgment n. o. v. for defendant, and, lastly, the refusal to grant a new trial. At argument in this court, the appellee moved to quash several of the assignments, thereby raising a nice point of practice, which we shall first discuss and determine.
Section 2 of the Act of May 11, 1911, P. L. 279, 280,
It was early decided, under legislation prior to 1911, that one might take a general exception to a charge without at the time particularly specifying the error complained of (Curtis v. Winston, 186 Pa. 492) ; but the relevant statutes then before the court contained no such provision as that just quoted from the Act of 1911, supra. While this latter statute provides that, “upon request of counsel,” exceptions may be noted by the official stenographer, “without allowance,” yet, in plain words, it also requires, when an exception is attempted to be taken in that way, reasons therefor shall be given, and that this must be done “in the hearing of the court”; further, that, if a general exception is not taken in the way indicated before the jury retires, thereafter it can be had only “by leave of the court.”
The provisions of this recent legislation are both wise and fair; and, as stated in the paper book of counsel for the appellee, “It is difficult to conceive how hardship is worked on any one by its requirement [that reasons shall be stated when a general exception is taken thereunder]. If the charge is deemed to over-emphasize one side of the case to the injury of the other, all that needs to be stated is that fact. If the charge be deemed misleading, unfair or inadequate, all that needs to be stated is a brief
In the taking of a general exception, under the Act of 1911, supra, the statute does not demand minute particularization, but it does require that reasons be given. The words of the statute plainly disclose a purpose, first, to grant a remedy, under which a trial judge cannot arbitrarily prevent the notation of a general exception; and, second, to guard against abuse of the remedy, thus afforded, by compelling counsel to state generally the grounds of their objections. While the language used in the latter connection is not imperative in form, yet, it is clear, a ruling that the requirement in question is not mandatory would defeat the legislative intent that a trial judge shall always, at least in a general way, be informed of the reasons why his instructions are objected to, so that he may make proper corrections. If this were not the purpose of the language employed, then there would be no sense in the express provision for the statement of reasons, therefore that provision can be read properly as a requirement; and, considering the words of the act, as well as the deprivation contained therein of the historic right of a judge to determiné every request for an exception, it should be so construed. In fact, the proper maintenance of the long established and just rule that a trial court will not be reviewed on matters in no way called to its attention, unless for basic and fundamental error imperatively calling for reversal, requires that the provision in question be so construed. On a general exception, taken under and in accordance with
If, disregarding the- Act of 1911, supra, and. following common law practice, a general exception is asked of the trial judge and, without requiring a statement of reasons, really allowed by him, in several recent cases we have held that, under such circumstances, the appellant “may assign all actual errors of law and any material matter that is so inadequately presented as to be calculated to mislead the jury; moreover, he may assign the whole charge as inadequate, if it fails to present the real questions in the case, or if its general effect is to give a wrong or misleading impression to the jurors concerning the material issues involved or their duties in connection therewith”: Mastel v. Walker, 246 Pa. 65, 71; Foley v. Philadelphia R. T. Co., 240 Pa. 169, 172; Torak v. Philadelphia & R. Ry. Co., 60 Pa. Superior Ct. 248, 254; see also Geiger v. Maddon, 58 Pa. Superior Ct. 616, 621 (last two opinions by Rice, P. J.). On the other hand, in Watson v. Monongahela River Consolidated Coal & Coke Co., 247 Pa. 469, 477, and Eichenhofer v. Philadelphia, 248 Pa. 365, 373, we ruled that “a mere inadequacy of charge ......cannot be taken advantage of......if not especially excepted to at trial,” and, in Lerch v. Hershey Transit Co., 255 Pa. 190, 195, that courts of appeal will refuse to review “matters not called to the attention of the trial court, unless the alleged errors are basic and fundamental”; but there is nothing in any of these cases which materially affects the question now before us. Upon the general subject under discussion, see Merritt v. Poli, 236 Pa. 170, 174; Reznor Mfg. Co. v. B. & L. E. R. R. Co., 233 Pa. 369, 372; Reeves v. D., L. & W. R. R. Co., 30 Pa. 454, 460; Lehigh Valley R. R. Co. v. Brandtmaier, 113 Pa. 610, 619; Person & Riegel Co. v. Lipps, 219 Pa. 99, 112;
In Foley v. Philadelphia R. T. Co., supra (p. 172), we held that “the Act of May 11,1911, P. L. 279, has not changed the practice so as to dispense with the necessity for a general exception where appellant desires parts of the charge not especially excepted to reviewed on appeal”; that, “even under this recent act, counsel is required to request such an exception”; that “it may be taken ‘without allowance by the trial judge/ but the request must be made ‘in the hearing of the court’ ”; that, “if counsel neglects to get his exception noted at trial, he can only secure it thereafter ‘by leave of the court’”; and, in Mastel v. Walker, 246 Pa. 65, 71, we held that “a litigant is entitled as a matter of right to except generally to a charge.” In neither of these cases, however, did ■we make any reference to the provision of the Act of 1911, supra, which deals with the manner of taking an exception, for that point was not there involved; and, so far as research discloses, this is the first time any question as to the proper, and requisite, statutory method to be pursued in securing the notation of an effective general exception has been brought before us for determination.
We cannot, however, agree with the contention of counsel for appellee that the rule of the court below, that “exceptions to the charge shall be made before the jury retires and shall state explicitly the parts of the charge to which exceptions are taken,” controls here. ■ So far as it fails to coincide with the Act of 1911, supra, the rule can have no effect; and it so fails in two particulars, i. e., (1) in providing that exceptions “shall state explicitly the parts of the charge” objected to, and (2) in requiring that exceptions “shall be made before the jury retires.” As alreády pointed out, when a general exception is entered, under the present statute, explicitness of parts of the charge is not required; and the statute expressly per
The only assignments properly before us are the third and sixth, which go to the application for judgment n. O', v.; the remainder, for one reason or another, are all defective. Those complaining of the charge are faulty, since they are not supported by either a special or general exception (as already fully discussed); further, because there is no request of record to reduce the charge to writing and have it filed (Curtis v. Winston, supra, p. 496; Foley v. Philadelphia R. T. Co., supra, p. 171); and, lastly, for the reason that, in the complaint of the charge as a whole, it is not quoted ipsissimis verbis (Montalini v. Pa. Co., 256 Pa. 249, 254). The assignment complaining of the refusal to grant a new trial fails to “set forth the motion, the reasons assigned, or the order of the court”: Peoples Nat. Bank of Pensacola v. Hazard, 231 Pa. 552, 554; Fuoss v. Tipton Water Co., 251 Pa. 68, 71. We may add that no reason to convict the court below of manifest error or abuse of discretion in refusing a new trial has been shown.
It remains but to consider appellant’s application for judgment n. o. v.; in this connection, it is contended that the case alleged was not proved. The declaration avers that Mary Sikorski, the plaintiff, was injured while a guest in an automobile which, at the time of the accident, was being driven by its owner over the railroad tracks of the defendant corporation, at a regular street crossing; that, at this point, defendant operated safety gates of the lifting type; that, when the machine in question started to cross defendant’s tracks, from the east, these gates were fully raised; that, “as and at the time when the said Mary was with due care in the act of crossing the
The testimony produced by plaintiff, if believed and viewed in the light most favorable to her, as the verdict demonstrates it was, shows she occupied a place on the rear seat of the automobile; the driver of the vehicle exercised due care; when he approached the railroad tracks, the gates were down; the car was brought to a standstill for several minutes; the railroad flagman raised the gates and beckoned in such a manner as to indicate that the way was safe, thus inviting the chauffeur to make the crossing; the machine started and, when about half way over the tracks, a locomotive was observed approaching the crossing; at the same moment, the flagman started to lower the gates, which “suddenly” came “down fast” and were broken by collision with the automobile, before the latter could clear them; in anticipation of this impending collision with the gates, plaintiff “made an effort to get out,......collapsed and......fell to the ground.”
While the before-quoted introductory part of plaintiff’s declaration alleges a state of facts, relating to the collision and the actions of plaintiff at the moment there
Appellee very properly contends that, the real cause of action being plainly averred, whether the automobile collided with the gates or the latter with the forme**, is of no particular moment; further,- that the other alleged variance of which defendant seeks to take advantage relates merely to consequential acts following in the wake of the latter’s negligent lowering of its gates, the averment in question being that plaintiff was “thrown about with great violence and thereby grievously hurt” by the actual collision, and the proofs showing that she was in fact “thrown about with great violence and thereby grievously hurt” because she arose from her seat and attempted to guard herself against an impending collision. If this can be called a departure at all, it is an immaterial one, for, had the gates not been carelessly operated after plaintiff was invited and started to cross defendant’s railroad, there would have been no accident, and defendant is accountable for all the consequences naturally following from its original wrongful act; hence, the proximate cause of plaintiff’s injury was not the very natural effort which she made to save herself from apparent imminent danger, but the negligent lowering of defendant’s safety gates. The real or proximate reason for plaintiff’s injury having been properly averred as her cause of action, and duly proved at trial, there was no material variance; therefore, the assignments now under discussion are without merit.
The assignments of error are either dismissed or overruled, and the judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Sikorski v. Philadelphia & Reading Railway Company
- Cited By
- 35 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Practice, O. P. — Exceptions to charge — General exception — Leave of court — Failure to state reason — Act of May 11,1911, P. L. 879— Rules of court — Rule lift of Common Pleas Courts of Philadelphia County — Appeals—Practice, Supreme Court — ■Assignments of etror —Refusal of new trial — Basic errors — Request to file charge. 1. While in the taking of a general exception to the charge to the jury under the Act of May 11, 1911, P. L. 279, relating to the taking of exceptions, the statute does not demand minute particularization,'it does require that reasons be given. The words of the statute plainly disclose a purpose, first, to grant a remedy, under which a trial judge cannot arbitrarily prevent the notation of a general exception; and, second, to guard against the abuse of +he remedy, thus afforded, by compelling counsel to state in a general way the grounds of their objections. 2. Where at the conclusion of the charge to the jury counsel for defendant asked for a general exception to the charge, and declined to state his reasons, although requested so to do by the court, and the court thereupon refused the exceptions, the defendant can not, on appeal, bring before the Supreme Court portions of the charge alleged to be erroneous, but not specially excepted to. 3. On a general exception, taken under and in accordance with the requirements of the Act of 1911, the appellant may assign all errors which, by liberal interpretation, .properly can be said either to fall within or be suggested by the reasons stated when taking the exception and, in addition, basic and fundamental errors of law. 4. If, disregarding the Act of 1911, and following the common law practice, a general exception is asked of the trial judge, and, without requiring a statement of reasons, is really allowed by him, the appellant may assign all actual errors of law and any material matter that is so inadequately presented as to be calculated to mislead the jury, and may assign the whole charge as inadequate, if it fails to present the real questions in the case, or if its general effect is to give a wrong impression to the jurors concerning the material issues involved or their duties in connection therewith. Courts of appeal will refuse to review matters not called to the attention of the trial court unless the alleged errors are basic and fundamental. 5. The Act of 1911 has not dispensed with the necessity for a general exception where appellant desires par+s of the charge, not specially excepted to, reviewed on appeal, but counsel must request the exception. It may be taken as a matter of right, without allowance, if in the hearing of the court, but if not noted at the trial can be secured thereafter only by leave of court. 6. Rule 140 of the Courts of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, providing that “exceptions to the charge shall be made before the jury retires and shall state explicitly the parts of the change to which exceptions are taken,”*is in conflict with the Act of 1911 (1) in providing that exceptions shall state explicitly the parts of the charge objected to and (2) in requiring that exceptions shall be made before the jury retires, and is invalid. 7. Assignments of error complaining of the charge to the jury are defective where no request is made of record to reduce the charge ’ to writing and have it filed. 8. An assignment of error complaining of the charge to the jury as a whole is erroneous where the charge is not quoted ipsissimis verbis. 9. An assignment of error complaining of the refusal of the court to grant a new trial is defective, where it fails to set forth the motion, the reasons assigned, and the order of the court thereon. Negligence — Railroads — Automobiles — Safety gates — Sudden closing — Pleading, allegata et probata — Variance—Immaterial departure. 10. In an action against a railroad company to recover for injuries sustained by a passenger in an automobile by reason of the safety gates at a grade crossing being suddenly lowered on the automobile, the case is for the jury and a verdict for the plaintiff will be sustained where there was evidence that the gates were so closed after defendant’s flagman had beckoned the driver of the automobile to cross. 11. Where in such case the statement of claim averred that the automobile collided with the gates and that plaintiff was thrown out, but the proof was that the gate closed down on the automobile, and that plaintiff made an effort to get out, collapsed and fell to the ground and was injured, the alleged variance from the pleadings was immaterial, the real cause of the injury being the negligent closing of the gates.