Case ID: nys_79/html/1103-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(77 App. Div. 469.)
    FAST et ux. v. INTERNATIONAL NAV. CO.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
    December 19, 1902.)
    1. Carriers—Bill of Lading—Evidence of Delivery.
    A bill of lading acknowledging the receipt of a trunk was evidence of its delivery to the carrier.
    2. Same—Loss of Goods—Burden of Proof.
    Where a carrier, instead of delivering a trunk at the port as required by its contract, without giving the owner an opportunity to examine or take charge of it for the purpose of entry, sent it to the customhouse, and, after entry and release, forwarded it by an express company to the owner’s address, it had the burden of showing that a loss therefrom did not occur while it was in its actual custody.
    3. Same—Negligence—Limitation of Liability.
    A condition in a bill of lading limiting' liability did not exempt the carrier from liability for negligence.
    If 3. S’ee Carriers, vol. 9, Cent. Dig. §§ 654, 699.
    Patterson and McLaughlin, JJ., dissenting.
    Appeal from trial term, New York county.
    Action by Alfred Fasy and wife against the International Navigation Company. From a judgment for plaintiffs and order denying motion for new trial, defendant appeals. Affirmed.
    The following is the opinion of the court below (NASH, J.):
    The defendant’s bill of lading acknowledging the receipt of the trunk is evidence of the fact that it was delivered to the defendant’s agent at Basle. By its terms the defendant agreed to deliver the trunk of effects in good order and condition at the port of New York with “the International Navigation Company 'of New York, for disposal of Dr. Wells,” Richmond Hill, Long Island. The defendant was not required by its contract to deliver the trunk to Dr. Wells at Richmond Hill. It could have relieved itself of liability by the delivery of the trunk of effects to the consignee in New York in good order and condition, and upon tendering such delivery the question as to good order and condition, if raised by the plaintiffs, would then have been determined, and, if not, the plaintiffs would have been con-eluded. The defendant did not do this. Its agent, without giving to the consignee, or the plaintiff Mrs. Wells, an opportunity to see or examine the trunk, or take it in charge for the purpose of entry, sent it to the customhouse, and after entry there and its release hy brokers of its selection forwarded the trunk hy an express company chosen hy the defendant. The defendant thereby retained the entiré control of the trunk, to the exclusion of the plaintiff, until it was finally delivered to her at Richmond Hill. The defendant in this manner made the express company it selected its agent for the purpose of the delivery of the trunk to the consignee, and, while the act of delivery was entirely voluntary, not being required by the contract, it deprived the plaintiffs of the right which they had to examine the trunk of effects at the place of delivery provided in the contract. It is fair, I think, to hold that the burden of proof was thereby shifted, and that the defendant was called upon to show whether or not the loss occurred while the trunk was in its actual custody. The evidence also' fairly discloses the fact that the sealskin sacque was not in the trunk when delivered at the customhouse. The entry and fees then amounted to only $4.03, whereas the sacque was subject to a duty of 35 per cent, on its valuation of $180, the excess above $100, which it may be assumed would have been levied if the trunk had contained the sacque. It seems that the conditions of the bill of lading limiting the liability of the defendant cannot be regarded as exempting the defendant from liabilities for negligence. The Kensington, 22 Sup. Ot. 102, 46 L. Ed. 190. The loss must have occurred through negligence of the defendant’s servants or agents if the sacque was taken from the trunk while in its custody. Motion for a new trial denied, with $10 costs.
    N. B! Beecher, for appellant.
    J. P. Osborne, for respondent.
   PER CURIAM.

Judgment and order affirmed, with costs, on opinion of NASH, J.

" PATTERSON and McLAUGHXIN, JJ., dissent.