Zumwalt v. Texas Cent. R.
Zumwalt v. Texas Cent. R.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I agree that the judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded, but cannot assent to the full scope of the opinion of the majority.
If plaintiff is entitled to recover, it must be by virtue of the contract, either express or implied, under which the deductions of 50 cents per month from his wages were made, and this contract should be interpreted by the rules applicable to other contracts of like character. If it was the understanding by and between plaintiff and defendant that in consideration of such deductions from his earnings the defendant would treat him for any injuries he might receive while engaged in defendant’s service, then the surgeon employed 'by defendant would be its servant, and defendant would be liable for damages resulting to plaintiff through the negligence of the surgeon in such treatment. Plaintiff in effect testified that such was the contract, and, in view of his testimony and other circumstances in evidence, I think it was error for the trial court to instruct a verdict in defendant’s favor, as that issue, like any other controverted issue of fact, should have been submitted for determination by the jury. Likewise I believe defendant would be liable at all events for any negligence of the surgeon in treating plaintiff, if it realized a profit from the total deductions for the hospital fund, as was held by this court in Tex. & Pae. Coal Co. v. -Con-naughton, 20 Tex. Civ. App. 642, 50 S. W. T73, or if the plan established for treatment of such employés for injuries was designed by appellee for the purpose of realizing therefrom any character of profit to the railway company. But, if the undertaking by the
If the contract between defendant and its employés was of the character last above indicated, the fact that there was not a further agreement for the return of any funds not expended, in the event of a termination of the contract, I think, would make no difference, as equity would supply the omission and vest title to the unused portion of the fund in the employés. It might be difficult to determine the relative interests of the em-ployés in the fund, but clearly it would not he the property of the defendant. And the fact that the defendant deposited the hospital fund to its own credit prior to its payment to the surgeon, and the further fact that under the arrangement between defendant and its employés the former had exclusive authority to select a surgeon, are not inconsistent with defendant’s contention that the authority so to do was given it under the contract with its employés, and that its undertaking was to act in those matters solely as a trustee or agent for those contributing to the hospital fund.
Opinion of the Court
For majority opinion, see 121 S. W. 1133.
See, also, 132 S. W. 113.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ZUMWALT v. TEXAS CENT. R. CO.
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- Published