Erickson v. Great Northern Railway Co.
Erickson v. Great Northern Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
Respondent brought this action to recover for injuries sustained in falling or being thrown from one of appellant’s trains upon which he was acting as brakeman, the negligence alleged being excessive speed of the train and poor track and roadbed. Appellant denied negligence, and among other affirmative defenses pleaded a full settlement and release upon the payment of $225. Respondent admitted
In determining these questions, the only thing that need be considered is the alleged settlement and release. The injury happened June 14, 1907, at or near Shelby, Montana. Respondent was taken to Whitefish, where he was placed in a hospital and given medical aid and attention. On July 19, respondent says, he was called on by Mr. Bissell, the general claim agent of the company, who told him that he had talked with the doctor concerning his condition and learned that he was all right; that he had no claim against the company, but that the company “always treat the boys all right and I will give you as a donation $225” ; that Bissell wrote a check for that amount, which he indorsed, and Bissell then left the room and soon returned with $225, which he gave to respondent and, saying he would have “to have something to show what he had done with the money,” he produced some papers and requested respondent to sign them; that the papers were folded up, but there was nothing on them, and that the paper signed by respondent was a blank; that at the time no one was present except his wife, Bissell, and himself.
The facts as disclosed and conclusively shown in the record, make it appear that respondent was very forgetful in giving
Respondent does not attack the settlement upon the ground of fraud or that he was overreached or advantage was taken of his physical condition, thus raising a triable issue for the jury; but his position in his pleading and in his testimony was that he never did make any settlement or sign any release. It appears that in this he was mistaken; that he not only executed a full release and settlement on July 20, but in subsequent letters to the company, asking for favors, sets forth the settlement and release as a reason why the favors should be granted. There is other substantiating testimony in the record which we do not care to take time or space to refer to. It is sufficient that it is conclusively shown that the release and settlement was made, and there being no fraud or other "nullifying circumstance shown, it is conclusive of the cause of action and should have been so held by the court below upon the challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, and upon the motion for judgment. And for such error, the judgment is reversed, and cause remanded with instructions to dismiss.
Rudkin, C. J., Chadwick, and Gose, JJ., concur.
Fullerton, J., concurs in the result.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Charles W. Erickson v. Great Northern Railway Company
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Release and Discharge — Execution—Evidence—Sueeioiencv. In an action for personal injuries sustained by a railroad brakeman, the evidence conclusively shows a valid release and settlement, barring the right to recover, where it appears that the plaintiff received $225 and signed a typewritten release and discharge, showing just above the signature a statement that he had read the release and fully understood it; that plaintiff must have been mistaken in his testimony that he received the money only as a donation and signed a blank sheet of paper so folded as to show only four blank lines; that the release signed could not have been so folded; that the nurse and physician, who witnessed the release, corroborated the defendant’s claim agent in the statement that the release was read and signed by the plaintiff; and that plaintiff subsequently wrote letters referring to the settlement; no claim being made of fraud or that plaintiff was overreached or advantage taken of his condition.