Case ID: utah_9/html/0213-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "ZANE, C. J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ROSE DURFEE and Another, Respondents, v. UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, Appellant.
    Kailuoads. —Ejection op Passenger. —Stopping Place. — Under the laws of Utah Territory, a railroad company can put off a passenger, who refuses to pay double fare as required by the rules of the company, because such passenger has purchased no ticket, only at a passenger station, affirming Nichols v. Railway Co., 7 Utah, 510.
    
      Damages. — Ejection oe Passenger. — Amount.—A verdict of $50 damages in favor of a passenger, who has been ejected from a train for refusal to pay-fare, at a place where there was no station, and had been in consequence compelled to walk three and a half miles to her home, is not excessive.
    Appeal from a judgment of the district court of the fourth district and from an order refusing a new trial, lion. James A. Miner, judge. The opinion states the facts.
    
      Messrs. Williams and Van Gott, for the appellant.
    
      Messrs. Maloney and Perkins, for tíhe respondent.
   ZANE, C. J.:

This is an appeal by defendant from a judgment for the plaintiff for $50 damages, and for costs. It appears from the evidence in the record that the plaintiff resided in the town of Willard, on defendant’s road; that she purchased a ticket from Hot Springs, Weber county, to Salt Lake City, and return; that, when her train reached the Hot Springs on her return, she did not get off and purchase a ticket to Willard, the cost of which would have been 25 cents; that, after the train had passed the Springs, the conductor demanded her fare, which was 50 cents when paid on the train; that, for this extra quarter, the rule of the company was to give a rebate ticket, which, upon presentation to any ticket agent, entitled the holder to that amount; that the plaintiff was willing to pay the 25 cents, but not 50; that the conductor stopped the train, and told her to get off, which she did; that there was no station where she got off; and that she walked 3-J miles to her home. There is some evidence tending to prove the plaintiff got off because another lady did so. We think, however, that the jury were authorized to find she got off because the conductor ordered her to. We think $50 damages not excessive, under the circumstances. The employés of the defendant had no right to pnt the plaintiff off its train, for not paying fare, at a place other than a. passenger station. Nichols v. Railway Co., 7 Utah, 510, 27 Pac. Rep. 693. The judgment of the court below is, affirmed.

BaetCH, J., and Smith, J., concurred.