Easterling v. Atlantic Coast Line R. R.
Easterling v. Atlantic Coast Line R. R.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
The exceptions raise only two questions:
1. Was this action brought under section 2132, volume I, Code 1902?
2. Did the Court err in refusing to direct the verdict for defendants ?
The complaint charges, in paragraph 4, that Easterling “was crossing a public crossing and traveled place,” when he was struck and killed by an engine and train of cars operated by the defendant railroad company. In paragraph 5 it is alleged that his death was caused by the negligence, recklessness and wantonness of the defendants* in “failing and omitting to give any signal, by ringing the bell or sounding the whistle, or in any other way whatsoever of the approach of said locomotive and train of cars to said public crossing or traveled place.”
These allegations are clearly sufficient to bring the case under the statute. The answer of defendants and the course of the trial clearly show that defendants were fully apprised of the fact that plaintiff intended to rely upon the statute. But if the allegations were so indefinite as to leave the matter in doubt, their remedy was by motion to make the complaint more definite and certain. Lee v. R. Co., 84 S. C. 140.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Easterling v. Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Co.
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Railroads—Crossing Signals.—The allegations that a deceased was struck by a locomotive “while crossing a public crossing- and traveled place” by the negligence and wilfulness of the defendant in “failing and omitting to give any signal by ringing the bell or sounding the whistle or in any other way whatsoever of the approach of said locomotive and train of cars to said public crossing or traveled place,” although indefinite, brings the action under section 2138 of Code of 1902, requiring railroads to give signals at crossings, in absence of motion to make definite. 2. Ibid. — Ibid. — Negligence — Wantonness — Contributory Negligence.—There being positive evidence that the signals were not given on approaching the crossing, the issue of recklessness and wantonness' was properly sent to the jury, to which contributory negligence is not a defense. 3. Issues—Negligence.—Nor was the evidence susceptible of the only inference that deceased was guilty of gross or wilful negligence so ¿is to defeat recovery under section 2139 of Code of 1902.