Hopkinson v. Mason & Hanger Contracting Co.
Hopkinson v. Mason & Hanger Contracting Co.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
This is a suit for damages. The case was tried before Judge Gary, and a jury, at the January term of Court, 1920, • for Charleston county, and resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for $12,000. Plaintiff’s intestate was a boy 11 years of age, who was killed by being run over by an automobile truck while in the employment of the defendant.
The exceptions are two in number. The first exception and subdivision 3 o'f the third exception refer to the same point, and will be considered together. They are:
“First Exception: Because the presiding Judge erred in refusing to direct a verdict for the defendant made upon the ground that there was no evidence to sustain the allegation in the complaint that the deceased in the course of his employment was sent out to deliver a message for the defend *299 ant and in the discharge of his duty signaled a truck which ran over and killed him; the whole evidence showing, and the only inference from the testimony being, that the deceased, in attempting to mount the truck, was not doing any duty for the master which he was required to do at the time and place of the accident.”
“Third Exception: * * * That the only inference from the testimony is that the plaintiff received his injuries while attempting to mount an automobile truck for purposes of his own, and not in discharge of any duty to the master.” These exceptions cannot be sustained. The Judge could not have directed as asked for by the defendant, under the evidence in the case and specification of negligence made in the complaint. The specifications of negligence are:
“In causing and allowing and inviting said Leonard A. Hopkinson to ride on truck, and particularly the truck in question, in order to carry out the duties of his employment.
“(a) 'In causing and allowing said truck to be suddenly started with a jolt, jerk, and jar so as to throw off the said Leonard A. Hopkinson and fatally inju’re him.
“(b) In failing and omitting, although said Leonard A. Hopkinson was an infant of tender years, to warn him of the danger of riding on said truck. * * *
“(d) In failing and admitting, although said Leonard A. Hopkinson was an infant of tender years, to take such care and precautions as would have prevented the said Leonard A. Hopkinson from having been fatally injured.”
The exceptions are all overruled, and judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Hopkinson, Admr., v. Mason & Hanger Contracting Co.
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Master and Servant — Negligence Held for Jury. — In an action against the employer of an 11-year-old office boy killed by being run over by employer’s automobile truck when sent out to deliver a message, case held for the jury on the issues of negligence made by the pleadings and evidence. 2. Trial — Reouested Instruction on Assumption of Risk Not Pleaded Properly Refused. — Where defendant employer sued for .death of a servant failed to plead assumption of risk, which is an affirmative defense, the trial Court could not be required to charge a request thereon. . 3. Master and Servant — Evidence Held to Support Verdict for Death of Minor Employee. — Evidence held to support verdict in favor of an administrator suing his intestate’s employer for the death supporting the specifications of negligence as to deceased, an 11-year-old boy killed by a truck.