Southern Pac. Co. v. Henderson
Southern Pac. Co. v. Henderson
Opinion of the Court
Henderson brought this suit against appellant to recover damages arising out of personal injuries. From a verdict and judgment in his favor, the defendant appeals.
Henderson was an employé of defendant, serving as a switchman in its yards in Los Angeles, Cal. On January 20, 1917, he was working in that portion of the yards known as “the Cornfield.” The crew of which he was a member had gone there to get some cars. He was standing near a switch which he was to throw. While so standing another string of cars unexpectedly came down the High Line. He was struck thereby and sustained severe injuries. There is evidence that this string of cars was a part of a train of cars that was being switched from the Midway yard to the Cornfield.- The train was being pushed, and whilst in motion a coupling became disconnected. The disconnected cars. *562 moving by momentum, struck Henderson and inflicted bis injuries. As grounds of .negligence, it was alleged tbat tbe uncoupling of tbe cars was due to defective coupling appliances, and tbat tbe car which struck plaintiff was not equipped with efficient band brakes. There was one other ground of negligence alleged but was not submitted to tbe jury. Defendant pleaded tbat the courts of Texas bad no jurisdiction of tbe cause of action. It was pleaded that the injuries were sustained in California and while Henderson was engaged in intrastate commerce, tbat California bad a law known as the Workmen’s Compensation Insurance and Safety Act (St. 1913, p. 279), and tbat under this iaw, where an employé was injured by a railroad company in tbe discharge of duties not connected with interstate commerce, tbe Industrial Accident Board, created by said iaw, bad exclusive jurisdiction of all claims arising out of such injury.
Upon trial, the court gave a peremptory instruction to find against defendant upon its jurisdictional plea, and submitted the case upon tbe two grounds of negligence charged as above indicated and tbe defensive issues presented by defendant.
There is ample evidence to show defects in both coupling appliances and brakes. There is no use to quote it. We simply reier to the testimony of tbe witnesses Shoemaker and Bedor. As to proximate cause tbe testimony shows tbat tbe string of cars which struck 'Henderson became uncoupled by reason of the defective coupling appliance, and, having-become uncoupled, ran down tbe High Line, where they were not intended to go, and struck plaintiff.
As to the hand brake of tbe front car, it was shown to be out of repair, so tbat it could not be set. Tbe jury was warranted in finding tbat tbe string would have been stopped before it struck Henderson, if tbe brake could have been set by the men on tbe cars. It seems very clear tbat whether or not the defects complained of were proximate causes was raised by the evidence, and questions for tbe jury.
As to those complaining that certain interrogatories were leading and suggestive of the answer desired, the questions are not regarded as subject to the objection made. Railway Co. v. Jamison, 12 Tex. Civ. App. 689, 34 S. W. 674; Long v. Steiger, 8 Tex. 466.
Affirmed.
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Reference
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