Ionnone v. New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R.
Ionnone v. New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R.
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff sues to recover damages for the loss of life of her husband, who was killed on the defendant’s road, in Providence, November 28, 1898. The declaration alleges that the deceased, on the date named, had been in the employ of defendant, his work being the removal of snow from the tracks and road-bed of the company ; that, having completed his work for the day, he was invited, with other shovelers, to ride upon a certain car belonging to the defendant, from the point where they had finished their labor *453 to another point a mile or two distant and adjacent to the place of abode of the deceased ; that he accepted the invitation and boarded the car to be carried over this distance. The breach of duty alleged is that the train was carelessly managed and controlled, and, while moving forward, was suddenly, without notice or warning, stopped, and started backward with a jolt or jerk, whereby the deceased was thrown under the wheels of the flat-car on which he was riding, and received the injuries resulting in his death.
The defendant has demurred to the declaration and contends, in support of the demurrer, that the case shows that the deceased received his injuries by the negligence of a fellow-servant. The plaintiff, on the other hand, contends that, under the facts set up in the declaration, the deceased was a passenger at the time of the accident, and not an employee, and hence that the fellow-servant doctrine has no application. She argues that the relation of carrier and passenger was established between her intestate and the defendant by the invitation extended to him, when his day’s work was done, to ride on the train to a place near his home, and that, the intestate’s work being done, he was not to be considered, at the time he received his injuries, as in the service of the defendant.
The cases cited by the plaintiff are cases of passengers carried gratuitously, and not cases of employees so carried.
Demurrer sustained, and case remitted to the Common Pleas Division for further proceediügs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Annina Ionnone vs. New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R. Company
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published