Case ID: sc_111/html/0456-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Fraser.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

10155
    GRIFFIN v. THAYER ET AL.
    
    (98 S. E. 201.)
    Master and Servant — Assumption of Risk and Contributory Negligence — Affirmative Defenses. — Assumption of risk and contributory negligence are affirmative defenses to a servant’s action for injuries, and must be pleaded by the employers.
    Before Smith, J., Colleton, Fall term, 1917.
    Affirmed.
    Action by William Griffin against H. S. Thayer and others. From judgment for plaintiff, defendants appeal.
    
      Mr. M. P. Howell, for appellants.
    
      Messrs. Padgett & Moorer, for respondent,
    submit: That the defense of assumption of risk must be pleaded, and, not having been set up in the answer, defendants cannot now invoke it: 73 S. C. 511; 75 S. C. 68; 80 S. C. 7; 76 S. C. 452; 50 S. C. 53; 68 S. C. 514; 70 S. C. 470.
    February 5, 1919.
   The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Justice Fraser.

Little need be said of the facts in this case, as only two questions are raised in the argument. The other exceptions were abandoned at the hearing.

The plaintiff, an employee of the defendants, brought this action for damages for personal injuries. The trial Judge refused to submit to the jury the questions of assumption of risk and contributory negligence, inasmuch as assumption of risk and contributory negligence had not been pleaded. From these rulings this appeal is taken. Bota are affirmative defenses and must be pleaded in order to be available defense. Neither was pleaded, and his Honor, Judge Smith, could not have submitted either.

The rule is so well settled that a review, or even a citation of authorities, is unnecessary.

The judgment is affirmed.

Messrs. Justice Hydrick, Watts and Gage concur.

Mr. Chieb Justice Gary did not sit.