Illinois Cent. R. v. Beavers

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Illinois Cent. R. v. Beavers, 258 F. 447 (5th Cir. 1919)
169 C.C.A. 463; 1919 U.S. App. LEXIS 1234

Illinois Cent. R. v. Beavers

Dissenting Opinion

PARDEE, Circuit Judge

(dissenting). On a careful examination of all the evidence submitted by the plaintiff on the trial below, I find none sufficient to warrant the submission to the jury of the issue of simple negligence on the part of the railroad company or any of its employes'. However, over the objections of the defendant below, the trial judge did submit to the jury in an involved charge the question of wanton negligence, and that error was sufficient to mislead and prejudice the jury in determining the questions of simple, wanton, and contributory negligence involved in the case; and I doubt whether we are'authorized to assume that the jury based their verdict wholly upon the evidence submitted under the first count of the complaint.

Opinion of the Court

BATTS, Circuit Judge.

The court submitted to the jury the issues of simple negligence and of wanton negligence upon the part of the defendant. A general verdict for plaintiff was returned. The evi*448dence is such that a verdict for plaintiff, based upon wanton negligence, would properly be set aside. A finding, however, by the jury of wanton negligence, necessarily involves a finding of simple negligence —the one including the other.

The jury having found' simple negligence, either upon the issue of simple negligence or in their finding upon wanton negligence, and there being evidence to sustain a finding of simple negligence, and there being no evidence which would justify a finding that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence, the judgment is affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
ILLINOIS CENT. R. CO. v. BEAVERS
Status
Published