Case ID: ala_177/html/0342-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "ANDERSON, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Billingsley v. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway.
    
      Damages for Grossing Injury.
    
    (Decided April 18, 1912.
    58 South. 433.)
    1. Master and Servant; Negligence of Servant; Evidence. — .Where the complaint alleges that the injuries were willfully, wantonly and intentionally caused by defendant’s servants while acting within the line and scope of their employment, and does not allege that they were so caused by defendant, proof of participation by defendant in such acts of the servant is not required.
    2. Railroads; Grossing Accident; Burden of Proof. — Under sections 5474, 5476, Code 1907, a plaintiff makes out a prima facie case by showing an injury at such a crossing described, in a collision of two trains, and need not show negligence, as the burden was on the company to acquit itself of negligence.
    3. Same; Degree of Oare Required. — Under section 5474, Code 1907, the trainmen are charged with the highest degree of diligence to ascertain that the way is clear, and will remain so long enough to allow their train to cross in safety.
    4. Same; Instructions. — A charge asserting that if those in charge of a railway train brought it to a full stop within 100 feet of the street ear crossing, and if an approaching street car was more than 100 feet away, they might assume that the street car would be brought to a stop and not proceed until the way was clear, should have been qualified by the statement .that if the circumstances indicated that the street car would not stop, those in charge of the train could not assume that it would, and it was error to give it in requested form, although section 5474, Code 1907, also requires that the street car be brought to a full stop.
    5. Same. — An instruction that those in charge of a train approaching a street car crossing might assume that the approaching street car would be brought to a stop before going on the crossing, unless it reasonably appeared that this would not be done, was improperly given, since it did not require the jury to ascertain that the train was brought to a stop as required by section 5474. as they could not indulge such a presumption unless they themselves complied with the statute.
    O. Witnesses; Impeachment; Intoxication. — Where the evidence is in conflict as to whether plaintiff was intoxicated at the time of the accident, it was competent in the issue of his condition to show that immediately after the action he was cursing and swearing in the presence of ladies; his intoxication having a bearing on his credibility as a witness.
    7. Evidence; Export; Stopping Oar. — A witness not qualified as an expert is not competent to testify that there was plenty of time to stop an electric car before a collision.
    Appeal from Gadsden City Court.
    Heard before Hon. J. A. Bilbro.
    Suit by John C. Billingsley against the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway for personal injury. Judgment for defendant, and plaintiff appeals.
    Reversed and remanded.
    The facts made by the complaint are that plaintiff was a passenger on a street car, operated by the Alabama City, G. & A. Ry. Co., and that he was injured in a collision by a train of defendant with the street car on which he was a passenger at a grade crossing. Count 2 alleges the injuries to have been willful and wanton and intentionally caused by the • defendant's servants or agents while acting within the line and scope of their employment.
    The charges refused are as follows: To the plaintiff: (73) “The court charges the jury that if they are reasonably satisfied from the evidence that the -defendant’s servants or agents were guilty of any wantonness as charged in the complaint, then the jury may assess such -punitive damages against the defendant as in their sound discretion they may deem necessary to make an example of the defendant and to deter others from such conduct in the future, not exceeding the amount charged in the complaint.” (75) “The court charges the jury that if they are reasonably satisfied from the evidence that the defendant’s servants or agents were guilty of wanton conduct as charged in the complaint, then, however wanton, willful, or intentional may have been the conduct of those in charge of the street car, such conduct can afford the defendant no defense in this suit.” (77) “The court charges the jury that if- they are reasonably satisfied from the evidence that the conduct of the servants of the defendant, while acting within the line and scope of their employment as charged in the complaint, was of such a nature as to warrant the infliction of punitive damages, then the jury may assess punitive damages against the defendant in this case.”
    The following charges were given for the defendant: (35) “The court charges the jury that if they find that the employees of the defendant in charge of the freight train caused the train to come to a stop within 100 feet of the street crossing, and if they further find that, while the train was standing within 100 feet of the crossing after having been so stopped, those in charge of the said train saw the street car approaching at a greater distance than 100 feet from the crossing, then those in charge of the freight train had a right to assume that those in charge of the street car would come to-a full stop within 100 feet of the crossing, and not proceed until they knew the track was clear.” (66) “The court charges the jury that if they find that the employees of the defendant in charge of the freight train caused the train to come to a full stop within 100 feet of the street car crossing, and if they further find that this occurred while the approaching street car was more than 100 feet from the crossing, then those in charge of the freight train had the right to assume that those in charge of the street car .would come to a full stop within 100 feet of the crossing, and not proceed until they knew that the track was clear.” (69) “The court charges the jury that those in charge of defendant’s train had a right to presume that those in charge of the electric car would bring it to a standstill before going on the crossing, and unless it reasonably appeared that this would not be done, then the defendant would not be -guilty of negligence in going on the crossing, and the verdict of the jury should be for the defendant.”
    Denson & Denson, for appellant.
    Where the accident happened at a crossing in a collision between a train and a street car, a person injured makes out a prima facie case by showing the collision and injury, and the burden is on defendant to acquit itself of negligence. The court therefore erred in charging to the contrary. — Secs. 5474:-76, Code 1907; N. C. & St. L. v. Wallace, 164: Ala. 216; So. By. v. Smith, 163 Ala. 186; Carlisle v. A. C. S., 166 Ala. 598. The complaint alleges wantonness to the servants or agents of the defendant within the line and scope' of their employment, and there was no necessity for the evidence to show a participation by the defendant. It was error, therefore, for the court to so charge, and for refusing to give the charges requested by plaintiff attempting to correct this error of the court. — B. R. L. & P. Co. v. Landrum, 153 Ala. 203; Freeman v. C. of Ga.; 154 Ala. 621; A. G. S. v. Jung, 161 Ala. 467. Under these authorities, and numerous others, it will be seen that every action of the court in the trial of this case was erroneous.
    Walker & Spragins and Goodhue, Brindley & White, for appellee. No brief reached the Reporter.
   ANDERSON, J.

While there was a conflict in the evidence as to whether or not the plaintiff was injured in the collision, yet, if he was injured, it was at a crossing, as covered by section 5474 of the Code of 1907, and section 5476 places the burden on the defendant of acquitting itself of negligence when an injury is inflicted at the place in question.—So. R. R. Co. v. Smith, 163 Ala. 186, 50 South. 390; N. C. & St. L. Ry. Co. v. Wallace, 164 Ala. 216, 51 South. 371; Carlisle v. A. G. S. R. R. Co., 166 Ala. 598, 52 South. 341; Weatherly v. N. C. & St. L. Ry. Co., 166 Ala. 584, 51 South. 959. The trial court in the oral charge, as well as by giving certain special charges, misplaced the burden of proof by requiring the plaintiff to show negligence on the part of the defendant. When the plaintiff proved an injury at the place in question, as a result of the collision, he made out a prima facie case, and the burden was on the defendant to show a compliance with the statutory requirements and to acquit itself of negligence.

The trial court, in the oral charge as well as by refusing charges 73, 75, and'77, seems to have applied the Henry Case, 139 Ala. 161, 34 South. 389, by requiring proof of Avantonness on the part of the defendant as distinguished from its agents or servants in charge of the train and Avhile acting in the line or scope of authority. The Avanton count in the case at bar is unlike the count in the Henry Case, supra, Avhich charged a corporate trespass. Count 2 does not charge a corporate act or a trespass, but charges willful or Avanton conduct on the part of defendant’s servants or agents Avhile acting AAdthin the line or scope of their employment.

The statute (section 5474 of the Code) not only requires trains to come to a full stop Avithin 100 feet of the crossing, but also provides that they must not proceed until the trainmen “knoAv” that the way is clear. The defendant’s servants Avere charged AAdth the highest degree of diligence to ascertain that the Avay Avas clear, and Avould remain so a sufficient length of time to allow their train to pass the crossing in safety.—So. Ry. Co. v. Bryan, 125 Ala. 310, 28 South. 445; So. Ry Co. v. Bonner, 141 Ala. 529, 37 South. 702.

The trainmen on one road, hoAvever, who have complied Avith the statute in approaching a crossing, may assume that the trainmen on the intersecting road AAdll also .comply therewith, unless the .circumstances indicated that the other train Avould not stop.—R. & D. R. R. Co. v. Greenwood, 99 Ala. 501, 14 South. 495; Birmingham R. R. Co. v. Jacobs, 101 Ala. 149, 13 South. 408. Charges 35 and 66 given for the defendant should have been refused, as they pretermit the fact that the circumstances did not indicate that the other train could or Avould stop. In fact, it Avas stated in the Greemoood Case, supra, that an oral charge similar to these charges was made good because coupled with the further declaration, that this presumption did not arise if the circumstances indicated that the other train would not stop.

Charge 69, given for the defendant, should have been refused also, for while it contains the vital proviso omitted from charges 35 and 66, it pretermits the assertion that the defendant had complied with the statute and which was a prerequisite to the right to indulge in the assumption that the other train would comply with the statute. This presumption arises only in favor of those who are not themselves at fault. —L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Mosby, 125 Ala. 341, 28 South. 43.

There was no error in permitting the defendant to prove that the plaintiff was cursing and swearing in the presence of ladies immediately after the accident. There was a conflict in the evidence as to whether or not the plaintiff was intoxicated at the time, and his conduct Avas an element to be considered by the jury in determining whether or not he was intoxicated at the time; and, if he was intoxicated, this fact would be a circumstance to be considered by the jury in weighing his evidence and in passing upon the accuracy of his statement and recollection as to what happened at the time of the accident.

The trial court should have sustained the motion to exclude-the statement by the witness Tucker, “He had plenty of time to stop it before it got to us.” It Avas not responsive to the question. Moreover, the Avitness did not qualify as an electric car expert.

The judgment of the city court is reversed, and the cause is remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

All the Justices concur, except Dowdell, C. J., not sitting.