Strong v. Wells Fargo & Co. Express
Strong v. Wells Fargo & Co. Express
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff, an experienced shipper, turned over to a drayman of Oacoma, S. D., a box of furs with directions to ship the same by express to St. Louis, Mo. The contents were concealed from view. The express' company issued the uniform express receipt then required under federal regulations, the material portions of which were as follows:
*392 “Form 708. Uniform Express Receipt.
“Wells Fargo & Company Express.
“Nonnegoti'able Receipt.
“Oacoma, S. D., 318] 19x6.
“Received from T. B. Strong subject to- the classifications and tariffs in effect on the date hereof, I p Bx raw furs, value herein stated and warranted by shipper to be fifty dollars. .
“Consigned to E. W. Biggs .Co. at Kansas City,. Mo. Charges collect.
“Which the company agrees to carry upon the terms and conditions printed on the back hereof, to which the shipper agrees, and as evidence, thereof, accepts and signs this receipt.
“T. B. Strong, W. H. Tubbs,
“G.. G. I. Shipper. For the Company.
“Note. — The company’s charge is based upon the character of the property, of which its value is an element, and its value must be declared in writing by the shipper unless its character is otherwise disclosed. When goods are hidden from view by wrapping, boxing or other means .and the company is not notified of the character thereof, the shipper’s declaration of value may be. made lty notation: ‘Nlot exceeding $50.00,’ or ‘not exceeding $50.00, or 50 cents per pound actual weight.’ ” . ...
On the back of the receipt section 2 of the conditions, reads as follows:
“The rate charged for carrying said property is dependent upon the actual value of the property, which'must be specifically stated in writing by the shipper, and applies only upon property of an actual value not exceeding fifty dollars for any shipment of 100 pounds or less, or not exceeding fifty cents per pound, actual weight, for any shipment in excess of 100 pounds. If the actual value is greater than fifty 'dollars1 for any shipment of 100 pounds1 or less, or exceeds fifty cents per pound, actual weight, for any shipment in excess of 100 pounds, such actual value must be specifically stated in writing by the shipper, and excess charges for such greater value must be paid therefor in accordance with the lawfully published tariffs of the company.”
The initials below the name of plaintiff were tho-se of the draym'an. The shipment was lost, and this action was brought to recover judgment for $107 and interest, notwithstanding the
The twelfth finding of fact made by the, trial court was as follows:
“That at the time the said express receipt, .Exhibit A, was made, no reference was made to the actual value of the said goods, nor to the charges to -be made for carrying them at that value or at any other value, and the valuation of $50, stated in the express receipt, bore no1 relation to the amount to be charged for shipping the goods, so far as the contract in this case is concerned, but the said value of $50 was arbitrarily placed in said express, receipt for the purpose of limiting the amount for which defendant would be liable if the said goods were lost.”
“The valuation declared or agreed upon as evidenced by the contract of shipment upon which the published tariff rate is applied, must be conclusive in an action to recover for loss or damage a greater sum. In saying this we lay on one side, as not here involved, every question which might arise when it is shown that the carrier intentionally connived with the shipper to give him an illegal rate, thereby causing a discrimination or preference forbidden by the positive terms of the act of Congress and made punishable as a crime. To permit such a, declared valuation to be overthrown by evidence aliunde the contract, for the purpose of enabling the shipper to obtain a recovery in a suit for loss or damage in excess of the maximum valuation thus fixed, would both encourage and reward undervaluations, and bring- about*394 preferences and discriminations forbidden by the law. Such a result would neither be just nor conducive to sound morals or wise policies.”
“If' such a valuation be made in good faith, for the purpose of obtaining- the lower rate applicable to a shipment of the declared value, there is no exemption from carrier liability, due to negligence forbidden by the statute, when the shipper is limited to a recovery of the value so- declared.”
Not at all. The learned justice was there discussing the question whether the shipping- contract was one for exemption from liability for negligence, and therefore forbidden. The good faith spoken of was the absence of connivance causing a preference or discrimination mentioned in the above quotation. The excerpt last quoted was the answer to that question. No question of discrimination or preference arises in this case under any aspect thereof. Under federal regulation there is no possibility of disassociation of the two ideas-; the fixing of a rate according to value and the limitation of recovery based on -the rate. The two go automatically together.
The judgment and order appealed from are vacated, and the .cause remanded for further proceedings in harmony herewith.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- STRONG v. WELLS FARGO & COMPANY EXPRESS
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- 1 case
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- Published