Case ID: iowa_4/html/0547-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Wright, O. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Sales v. The Western Stage Company.
    It is the duty of stage proprietors, who run a line of coaches for the conveyance of passengers, to prepare good coaches, harness and horses, and good, skillful and careful drivers; and should they fail to do so, and their passengers are injured by such failure, they are responsible.
    Carriers of passengers for hire, are not only to furnish good coaches, harness and horses, and skillful and careful drivers, but they are to keep them in good repair, and to see that their drivers drive with the utmost skill and prudence.
    They are bound to exert the utmost skill and prudence, in conveying their passengers, and are responsible for the slightest negligence or want of -skill, either in themselves or their servants.
    They are bound to use such-care and diligence, as a most careful and vigilant man would observe, in the exercise of the utmost prudence and foresight.
    
      Appeal from the Van Burén District Court.
    
    This action was brought to recover damages for -an injury sustained by plaintiff, by the upsetting of a stage coach in which he was a passenger, and of which the defendants were the proprietors. On the trial, certain instructions were given, (for which see the opinion of the court-,) to which defendants excepted, and the verdict and judgment being against them, they now appeal.
    
      Clinton & Fisher, and Knapp, Caldwell & Wright, for the appellants.
    
      CL Negus, for the appellee.
   Wright, O. J.

Various exceptions were taken to the decisions and proceedings of the court below, but appellants now expressly waive all other error, and seek to reverse .this case, upon the single ground that the rule given to the jury, as to-the care, skill and diligence required of,,them, as carriers of passengers -for hire, was incorrect, and not warranted by the authorities. The instructions objected to, are as follows: “It is tbe duty of stage proprietors wHo run a line of coaches for the conveyance of passengers, to prepare good coaches, harness and horses, and good, skillful and careful drivers; and should they fail to do so, and their passengers are injured by such failure, the proprietors axe responsible. They are not only to furnish good coaches, harness, horses, and skillful and careful drivers, but they are to keep them in good repair, and are to see that their drivers drive with the utmost skill and prudence. Carriers of passengers for hire are bound to exert the utmost skill and prudence in conveying their passengers, and are responsible for the slightest negligence or want of skill either in them__selves or their servants. They are bound to use such care and diligence as a most careful and vigilant man would observe, in the exercise of the utmost prudence and foresight.”

It is objected, that by the use of the words “ utmost ” and “ slightest,” too high a degree of diligence and care is required of this class of carriers. A brief examination of the authorities, however, will show most conclusively, that the rule laid down, is well sustained by the earlier as well as later cases. We need do nothing more than refer to a few of them. What is said, as to the duty of such carriers, to furnish good coaches, harness and horses, and of their being required to keep them in repair,, and of their further duty to furnish good and skillful drivers, is taken, almost word for word, from the case of McKinney v. Niel, 1 McLean, 550, in which this language will be found: “ He (the stage proprietor) is bound to provide good coaches, and harness, gentle and well broke horses, and a skillful and careful driver. These are obligations which the law imposes on every stage proprietor; and if any injury is received by a passenger from any defect in this preparation, the proprietor is responsible.” To the same effect are the following, among other authorities-: Story on Bailments, §§ 592, 593; Crofts v. Waterhouse, 3 Bing. 314; Angell on Carriers, §'§ 534, 535, 540 ; Peck v. Niel, 3 McLean, 22; Stokes v. Salstonstall, 13 Pet. 181; 2 Kent, 601; 2 Greenl. Ev. § 221; Ingalls v. Bills, 9 Met. 1. Again, while the common carrier of goods and chattels, is held liable for all damages which do not fall within the excepted cases of the act of God and the public enemy, the carrier of passengers is not held responsible to the same extent, so far at least as relates to the persons of his passengers, but he is bound to the utmost care and diligence of very cautious persons, and is responsible for any, even the slightest neglect. Story on Bailments, § 601; Christie v. Griggs, 2 Camp. 79; Angelí on Carriers, 568, 570; 13 Peters, 181; Boyce v. Anderson, 2 Pet. 155. A few extracts from these authorities, will suffice to show how uniform and well settled the rule is upon this subject.

In reference to the duty of such carriers in respect to the character and competency of their servants, there is an entire correspondence between the English and American authorities, and this duty is thus laid down in 3 McLean, 22: “ He that establishes a line for the conveyance of passengers, and who holds out inducements to persons to travel in his vehicles, for which compensation is charged, is bound to have skillful and prudent drivers, and the utmost skill and prudence of the driver must be exercised to avoid accidents.” And see 3 Bing. 321; Farwell v. B. & W. Railroad, Co., 4 Met. 49 ; Carpue v. London & B. Railway Co., 5 A. & E.. 747. So in Angelí on Carriers, § 568, it is said, that the nature of their undertaking is to carry safely and securely, and though they do not impliedly warrant the safety of passengers at all events, yet they are bound to the utmost care and skill in the performance of their duty. The terra here used expresses the idea of something beyond ordinary care. The degree of their responsibility, therefore, is not ordinary care, which will make them liable for only ordinary neglect, but extraordinary care, which renders them liable for slight neglect.

So Baubour, J., in Stokes v. Salstonstall, 13 Pet. 181, says, the stage proprietor must have a driver of competent skill, of good habits, and in every respect qualified, and suitably prepared for the business in which he is engaged. Such driver must act with reasonable skill, and with the utmost prudence and caution; and if an injury is occasioned by the least negligence, or want of skill or prudence, on bis part, the proprietor is liable. While such carriers do not warrant the safety of their passengers at all events, yet their undertaking and liability go to the extent that they and their agents possess competent skill, and that" as far as human foresight can go, such passengers shall be transported safely. And in Astor v. Heaver, 2 Esp. Rep. 538, it is said that the carrier is not liable where there' has been no negligence or default in the driver, but he is answerable for the smallest negligence of such driver. In Story on Bailments, § 601, the inquiry is made whether such carriers are bound to ordinary care and diligence, and liable for only ordinary neglect, or are they bound to .extraordinary care, and liable for slight neglect. The answer is given in these words: Passenger carriers bind themselves to carry safely those whom they take into their coaches, as far as human care and foresight will go, that is — for the utmost care and diligence of very cautious persons, and of course they are responsible for any, even the slightest negligence.” And so in McKinney v. Kiel, 1 McLean, 540, “the driver must not only be skillful, but he is hound to exercise the utmost degree of care. The least degree of imprudence, or want of care on his part, fixes the liability of his employers.” And see Camden, & Amboy Railroad Co. v. Burke, 13 Wend. 626. And finally, in 9 Metcalf, 1, it is said: “ That carriers of passengers for hire, are bound to use the 'utmost care and diligence in the providing of safe, sufficient and suitable coaches, harness, horses and coachmen, in order to prevent those injuries which human foresight can guard against; and that if an accident happens from a defect in the coach which might have been discovered and remedied upon the most careful and thorough examination of the coach, such accident must be ascribed to negligence, for which the owner is liable, in case of injury to a passenger happening by reason of such accident.” And see the following cases to the same effect: Ware v. Gay, 11 Pickering, 106; Ross v. Hill, 2 Man Granger & S. 877; Laing v. Colden, 8 Barr. 479 ; Hall v. Conn. Steamboat Co., 13 Conn. 319.

We see nothing in the instructions given in this case, but what is fully warranted from the foregoing authorities, and we have found none holding a less stringent rule.

Judgment affirmed.