Luckenbach S. S. Co. v. American Mills Co.

Appellee was awarded by the decree appealed from the value of 1,450 cots that were destroyed by fire while on a wharf in New Orleans awaiting loading on appellant’s steamer for shipment to Seattle. Appellee had 2,852 cots, which it desired to ship, and which it delivered, at appellant’s request, on the wharf, and was given by appellant’s agent a memorandum acknowledging receipt. After 1,-402 cots had been loaded, a fire broke out and destroyed the 1,450 cots that remained on the wharf. It was agreed that the fire originated and spread through no fault or neglect on the part of appellant. The bill of lading, which was not issued until after the fire, contained a clause exempting the carrier from liability for loss by fire, and ex-eluded the cots so lost. It was the standard bill of lading used by appellant.

There was a delivery of the cots, as they were placed on the wharf at appellant’s request. T¡he memorandum was a sufficient acknowledgment of receipt to show that the cots had passed into appellant’s possession, and that its liability as a common carrier had begun. But the minds of the parties had not met upon the terms of the contract of carriage. Appellee insists, as there was no agreement to the contrary, that appellant’s responsibility as a common carrier was that of an insurer for any loss except such as might arise from the act of God or the public enemy; and it was so held by the District Judge. 20 F.(2d) 217.

In our opinion, that was an erroneous view under the particular facts of this ease. Appellant was required by law to issue a bill of lading, but it had the right to except liability for loss by fire. The memorandum merely acknowledged receipt of the goods; it did not purport to he a contract of carriage. Appellee is presumed to know the law, and therefore must have known that the terms and conditions on which its goods were received and would be transported would be contained in a bill of lading to be issued later. In the circumstances, it cannot be inferred that it was the intention of the parties to enter into a contract that would bind the carrier as insurer; but an implied understanding arose from common business experience that the carrier would issue such bill of lading as it was its custom to issue to shippers in the usual course of its business. The Caledonia (C. C.) 43 F. 681, 685; s. c., 157 U. S. 124, 139, 15 S. Ct. 537, 39 L. Ed. 644.

Appellant’s bill of lading was issued after the fire, but it Was in accordance with its standard form, issued to all shippers alike, and was not made to fit a special ease, in order to escape a liability that had already accrued. It, therefore, but evidenced the contract the parties entered into at the time the goods were delivered and accepted. In the ordinary ease of a shipment of goods, it is not to be assumed, upon proof of delivery without condition, that the carrier intends to become insurer; but a shipper, in the absence of a special contract, must be presumed to deliver his goods on the terms and conditions usually and customarily imposed by the carrier in the regular course of business.

The decree is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.