Ortiz v. Bull Insular Line
Ortiz v. Bull Insular Line
Opinion of the Court
delivered tlie following opinion:
This matter comes up upon demurrer to the complaint. The demurrer sets up two grounds: First, that it does not appear from the complaint that the plaintiff is a duly declared heir of Maximino Ortiz under the special proceedings of 1905.
The second ground of demurrer is that the plaintiff alleges the injuries were caused by the failure of the defendant properly to direct the unloading, and upon the argument it is explained that this second ground means that the agent is not shown to have done any act or to have been guilty of omitting to do what he should have done. I do not think this comes under § 1627 of the Civil Code as cited. That relates to contracts, on its face. I think it comes under § 1804- of the Civil Code, this being a proceeding under the local law, and not under the Federal Liability Statute. The local law, and perhaps the general law, is that a person is liable under § 1803 for both acts and omissions. And § 1804 goes on to say in one of the subdivisions that this liability extends to principals when it relates to carrying on a business, an impresa.' The occupation of unloading a steamship, especially by a regular steamship line, would seem to be a business; so that both acts
So that it does not appear that either ground is well taken, and I overrule the demurrer.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LEONCIA ORTIZ, Plff. v. BULL INSULAR LINE, Dft.
- Status
- Published