Case Name: ILLINOIS CENT. R. CO. v. BEAVERS
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1919-04-15
Citations: 258 F. 447
Docket Number: No. 3365
Parties: ILLINOIS CENT. R. CO. v. BEAVERS.
Judges: Before PARDEE, WALKER, and BATTS, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 258
Pages: 447–448

Head Matter:
ILLINOIS CENT. R. CO. v. BEAVERS.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
April 15, 1919.)
No. 3365.
Negligence <©==>142 — Findings—Construction.
A finding by a jury of wanton negligence necessarily involves a finding of simple negligence.
Pardee, Circuit Judge, dissenting.
In Error to the District Court of the United States for the Northern District of Alabama; William I. Grubb, Judge.
Action by Pauline Beavers against Illinois Central Railroad Co. Judgment for plaintiff and defendant brings error.
Affirmed.
Augustus Benners, Borden Burr, and James Rice, all of Birmingham, Ala., for plaintiff in error.
Luke P. Hunt and C. C. Nesmith, both of Birmingham, Ala., for defendant in error.
Before PARDEE, WALKER, and BATTS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
BATTS, Circuit Judge.
The court submitted to the jury the issues of simple negligence and of wanton negligence upon the part of the defendant. A general verdict for plaintiff was returned. The evi dence is such that a verdict for plaintiff, based upon wanton negligence, would properly be set aside. A finding, however, by the jury of wanton negligence, necessarily involves a finding of simple negligence —the one including the other.
The jury having found' simple negligence, either upon the issue of simple negligence or in their finding upon wanton negligence, and there being evidence to sustain a finding of simple negligence, and there being no evidence which would justify a finding that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence, the judgment is affirmed.