Case Name: Mrs. Catherine Conolly vs. Crescent City Railroad Company
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1889-01
Citations: 41 La. Ann. 57
Docket Number: No. 10,025
Parties: Mrs. Catherine Conolly vs. Crescent City Railroad Company.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 41
Pages: 57–65

Head Matter:
No. 10,025.
Mrs. Catherine Conolly vs. Crescent City Railroad Company.
1. Although a common carrier of passengers• owes obligations to its well passengers as well as to those who are sick, and is bound to protect the rights of both; and although when the condition of one passenger, from sickness or otherwise, is such as to be inconsistent with the safety, health or even comfort his fellow-passengers, regard for the rights of the latter will authorize the carrier to terminate the carriage by excluding him j yet this right cannot he exercised arbitrarily or inhumanely or without due care and provision for the safety and well-being of tlie ejected passenger.
2, A passenger .stricken with apoplexy while* riding ón a street car, although attended with severe vomiting, to the inconvenience and great discomfort of other passengers, cannot he removed while in a speechless and helpless condition, aud laid in the open street on a bleak, drizzling December day, and there abandoned with no -effort to procure him attention, without a gross violation by the carrier of its duty as such, and liability for resulting damage,
3. The mistake of the driver in supposing that the iiassenger was drunk, when the latter had ridden a considerable distance without misbehavior,' and had been guilty of none except the vomiting occasioned by his illness, cannot excuse the company.
4. The defense admits the absence of any attempt whatever of the company to perform its duty of seeing to the care of the ejected passenger and rests upon a denial of any such duty in the premises. Hence the kind and degree of the care to be exercised under peculiar conditions which attend the operation of street railways in New Orleans, are not involved.
APPEAL from the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans. Voorhics, J.
James Wilkinson and Zacharie <& Armstrong for Plaintiff and Appellee:
1. Common carriers, in the conveyance of passengers, are bound to exercise a very high degree of diligence, care, skill and foresight. Lehman vs. R. R. Co., 37 Ann. 707.
2. Especially where the passenger is known to be in any manner affected with a disability by which the hazards of travel are increased. Wardle vs. C. C. Co., 35 Ann. 204 and authorities there cited; Hickman vs. Mo. R. R. Co., decided by Supreme Court Missouri, March 21, 3887; East Line R. R. Co. vs. Rushing, S. C. Texas. Dec. 9, 1887, G S. W. Reporter, 834; Cent. Law Journal, vol. 26, p. 296; Shenandoah R. R. Co. vs. Morse, S. C. Virginia. Nov. 10, ’87, 3 S. E. Reporter 796 ; Cent. Law Journal, vol. 26, p. 313.
3. Street railway companies are held to the exercise of the same care, diligence and foresight for the safety of passengers as steam railroad companies. Central Law Journal, vol. 26. p. 50, Cittizens’ St. R. R. Co. vs. Twinane, S. C. Ind.. Sept. 27, ’87, 33 N. E. R.. 55; R. R. Co. vs. Buck, 96 Inp. 346; R. R. Co. vs. Rambolt, 99 Tnd. 551; Lemon vs. Clianslor, 68 Missouri 340 ; Dougherty vs. R. R. Co., 81 Missouri 330 ; Kelley vs. R. R. Co., 70 Missouri 609; Leslie vs. R. R. Co., 88 Missouri 55; Smith vs. Ry. Co., S. C. Minnesota, April 2, ’84, Am. aud Eng. R. R. Cases, vol. 36, p. 310 ; Kellow vs. Central Iowa Ry. Co., 8. C. Iowa, June 5.1885, cited in Am. and Eng. It. It. Cases, vol. 23, p. 490; Sales vs. Western Stage Co., 4th Towa 547; Brink vs. Coe, 4 Green 556 ; Bonce vs. Dubuque R. R., 53 Iowa 278; Me-Elroy vs. Nashua R. It., 4 Cushing, p. 400 ; Christie vs. Greggs, 2 Campbell, p. 79; Hutchinson on Carriers, §§ 498 to 504.
4. Where the company has the right to eject a passenger who is drunk, or disorderly, or refuses to pay his fare, or is suffering from delirium tremens, the right of ejection must be exercised with a reasonable care and a due regard for the welfare of the person ejected. This duty does not end with the removal, but it is the duty of the carrier to make such temporary provision for the protection and comfort of the ejected passenger, as the offices of humanity shall dictate, until some suitable provision for him shall be made. Louisville C. and L. R. R. Co. vs. Sullivan, S. C. Kentucky, Beb. 28. .’84, Am. and Eng. R. R. Cases, vol. 36, p. 390; Atchison, Top. and Santa Be R. R. Co. vs. Weber Administrator, S. O. Kansas, May 8, 3885. Am. and Eng. R. R. Cases, vol. 21, p. 418; Hall vs. South Carolina Ry. Co., S. C. South Carolina, March 20, 1888. S: E. Reporter, p. 632; Lovett vs. Salem and Danvers R. R., 9 Allen 557; Higgins vs. Watervliet R. R. Co., 4G N. Y. 23; Nichols vs. Middlesex R. R. Co., 106 Mass. 463: Wilton vs. Middlesex R. R. Co., 307 Mass. 308; Sand-ford vs. 8th Av. R. R. Co.. 23 N. Y. 343 : 'Isaacs vs. 3rd Av. R. R. Co., 47 N. Y. 122 ; Penn. R. R. vs. Yandiver. 52 Penn. 365; Kline vs. Central Pacific, 37 Cal. 400; Meyer vs. Pacific R. U„ 40 Missouri 151; Shearman & Redfield on Negligence. § 264, note A.
The Appellate Court will not reverse two verdicts of two separate juries in the same suit-awarding damages unless exorbitant, excessive or manifestly erroneous. 37 Ann. 231 ; Hennen’s Digest, vol. 1, p. 92, (verbo) Appeal IX‘(b).. and authorities there cited; 5 K. S. 433 ; 6th L. 138; 2Ann.46; 33 L. 273; 5Ann 522,704; 13th L. 514; 6Ann.745; 7 Ann. 89: 3 0 Ann. 1: 12 Ann. 714; 10 Ann. 285; 37 Ann. 94.
Since the oral argument in this cause we have found several cases establishing the principle that “the duty of care aud abstaining from injuring another is due to the weak, the *• sick, the infirm, equally with the healthy and strong; and when that duty is violated “ the measure of damage is the injury inflicted, even though that injury might have been “ aggravated, or might not have happened at all, hut for the peculiar physical condition of “ the person injured.” Lapleine vs. Morgan L. and X. R. R., 40th Ann., decided July “ term. 1888, and authorities there quoted. Owens vs. R. R. Co., S. C. Missouri 8 S. AV. R. 350; R. R. Co. vs. Jones, S. C. Alabama, 3 South. R. 902; R. R. Co. vs. Ealvey, S. C. Tnil., 3 K. E. Rep. 389; Eeauchamp vs. Mining-Co.; S. C. Michigan. 35 K. AV. 65. R. R. Co. vs. Jones; S. C. Alabama, 3 South. R. 002.
John M. Bonner for Defendant and Appellant:
1. AVhere a person gets into a street car filled with passengers, and, after riding a short distance, becomes sick and vomits on the floor of the car and some of the passengers, it is the duty of the driver to remove him from the car. 13 Allen. 304; 118 Mass. 228; 33 Kansas. 548 ; 47 Ann. 238.
2. AVhere snch person, on being remonstrated with as to his condition, undertakes to leave the car, hut is unable to do so, and in the attempt falls headlong on the floor of the car in his own vomit, it is the duty of the driver to assist iu removing him from the car, and no action will lie against the carrier therefor.
Volanti non fit injuHa.
3. The driver -of a street car is required to exercise the cliligentia diligentis patris-familiax; the diligence which a good specialist in his particular line of business would exercise. But this is the utmost extent of his liability. “ The utmost degree of diligence exacted is that which a good business man is. under the particular circumstances, accustomed to show.” AVhar. on Reg. § 48; Slier, and Red. on Keg. 4th Ed. § 3.
4. AVhere a street car is managed by the driver alone and where lie is required by city ordinances to make schedule time in running his car, he is not required to stop or leave his car to care for a sick passenger whom*lie honestly believes to he only drunk. 42 Miss. 607; 47 Am. R. 238.
5. Plaintiff must prove damages iu order to recover them. She must make her case certain ; to make it probable is not enough. 16 Aim. 121; 35 Ann. 498; 35 A an. 697; 34 Midi. 507; 44 Pa. St. 377; 34 Ann. 161.
The damages must result from the injury, aud the injury must be directly caused by defendant. Hutch, on Carrier, § 807.
The damages must also he the natural and ordinary conseuqence of the act complained of. 53 Pa. St. 436: 105 U. S. 249; 34 Ann! 144 ; 55 K. Y. 118, 119 ; 32 Ohio, 350, 8£1; 7 C. P. 253; AVhrr. on Keg. § 3 ; Shear, and Red. on Keg., 4th Ed., § o.
AVhére speculation or conjecture has to be resorted to, the rule of law excludes the allowance of damages. 71 HI. 391.
6. It is the invariable practice of tlie Supreme Court of Louisiana to set aside verdicts that are manifestly contrary to the law and CAidence.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Fenner, J.
On a Sixnday in December, at about two o'clock of the afternoon, Patrick Conolly, a sober", respectable citizen, of 55 years, en tercel a car of tlie defendant's street railway, and paid his fare as a passenger. Nothing in tlie evidence indicates that he exhibited any sign of intoxication or was guilty of the slightest impropriety of behavior, on entering the car, or until he had ridden a, considerable number of squares (from Terpsichore to Third street), and the testimony is conclusive that, in point of fact, he was perfectly sober. After passing Third street, he was suddenly stricken with apoplexy, accompanied, as the medical experts prove to be common, with severe vomiting. The car had numerous passengers to whom thin vomiting undoubtedly occasioned serious discomfort- and inconvenience. Some of them left the car on account of it, while others of those remaining suggested that he should leave the car and took -stexis to call the attention of the driver to the necessity of removing him. The sick man had sufficient consciousness and sense of propriety left to observe this, and he said, " I will get out myself," but on rising to do so, he fell x>rone upon the floor, where he lay absolutely helpless. As far as apxiears, he never spoke again, and was incaxiable of taking any care of himself. The driver then came, back and, with the assistance of a passenger, bodily lifted him, carried him out of the car, and laid him down' in the street between the car track and the gutter, between two and three feet from the former. Tin-evidence is conclusive that, almost immediately afterward, and while the car was moving of, he shifted his position, by some convulsive-movement, so that his legs were across the rail of the. track. 'Phis is X>roven by passengers who saw him in this position as the car moved away, and by others who came to him immediately afterwards. The driver, however, after thus summarily disposing of his stricken pmssen•ger, x>aid no further attention whatever to the matter. He took no stops to secure for him any relief or assistance. It is doubtful if he made any rex>ort of the incident to his employers, and if he did it was not acted up>on. He simpdy went his way in a serene confidence that, as he e-x-pm-Mses it, he had " done his duty," and although he passed the promt several times while his ejected prassenger was still lying helpfless on the adjoining sidewalk, he states that he does not recollect whether he saw him or not. A female passenger, observing his perilous prosition across the track, went to his assistance and, with the aid of a gentleman, removed and laid him on the sidewalk. Here he remained for more than four hours, on a. bleak, drizzling December day, in the open street, without aid or relief, in his terrible condition. At last tlie pmlio.o authorities came to his assistance ¡md he was conveyed to the Charity Hosputal where he died on the following- morning.
ft should need no parade of learned authorities to maintain the propo sition that a connuon carrier cannot treat, an unfortunate passenger stricken with apoplexy while under its charge, in the manner above indicated, without a breach of the plainest obligations of its contract, of carriage. If there were any precedent, to the contrary, humanity would revolt at it, and it would be one "more honored in the breach than in the observance." But. there is uo such precedent; and those cited by defendant's counsel are far from sustaining the position.
No doubt a carrier owes obligations to its well passengers as well as to sick passengers, and is bound to protect the rights of both. When the condition of a sick passenger is such that his continued carriage is inconsistent with the safety or even the reasonable comfort of his fellow-passengers, regard for the rights of the latter will authorize the carrier to exclude him from the conveyance. Thus if he had cholera, or smallpox, or (Milium trcmenn, or even if, as in this case, he were subject, from any cause, to continuous vomiting, utterly inconsistent with the comfort of other passengers in a street ear, the right of the carrier, in protection of the latter's privileges, to exclude him, would undoubtedly arise. Such is the reasonable doctrine of the cases cited. Lemont vs. R. R., 47 Ann. Rep. 238; Vinton vs. R. R., 11 Allen (Mass.) 304; Murphy vs. R. R., 118 Mass. 228; R. R. vs. Weber, 33 Kansas 543; R. R. vs. Statham, 42 Miss. 607.
But none of these cases hold that this right of exclusion can be exercised arbitrarily and inhumanely, or without due care and provision for the safety and well-being of the ejected i>assenger. On the contrary, the duty of exercising such care and provision is universally recognized. Thus, in the. Kansas case, above quoted, the Court said : "Under these facts, the propriety of.his removal cannot be doubted. The duty of the railroad company, with respect to Weber, did not end with his removal from the train. He was unconscious and unable to take care of himself. They could not. leave him on the, platform, helpless, exposed and without care and attention. It was its duty to have exercised reasonable care and diligence to make temporary provision for his protection and comfort." This was a case of intoxication;
And in the case most relied on, Lemont vs. R. R., the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, after recognizing the. right of removal, is 'careful to add: "Of course, for an abuse of this discretion, or for any oppression in its exercise, the company would be responsible."
In another ease the. Court, while recognizing the right of ejection, said: " It does not follow that the right may be exercised in such manner, under such circumstances, or against a person in such physical or mental condition as that death or serious bodily harm will necessarily or even probably result from putting him off." R. R. Co. vs. Sullivan (Ky.) 16 Am. and Eng. R. R. cases, 390, See also Hall vs. R. R. Co. (So. Ca.) S. E. Rep., March, 1888; Lovett vs. R. R., 9 Allen (Mass.) 557; Higgins vs. R. R., 46 N. Y. 23.
We conclude, therefore, that the conduct of the defendant's agent, in turning ont this helpless and.speechless sick passenger into the roadway of the street, and there leaving him, on an inclement day, without the slightest attempt, at the moment or afterward, to have him taken care of, was a gross violation of its duty.
The company attempts to shield its agent on two special grounds, viz : 1. That he supposed, and appearances justify him in supposing that Conolly was drunk. Even if his illness had been the result of drinking, yet he had ridden a considerable distance without misbehavior, and was never guilty of any, except in the sudden access of vomiting bringing about a condition of complete helplessness. In such case, the duty of the company to see to his being taken care of, after ejection, would have arisen, and would have been abridged by no fault on his part, because, until his sickness, he had been in lit condition to take passage and had committed no voluntary misbehavior. Moreover, it is admitted that (Ionoily was not under the influence of liquor, and the assumption that he was so was a. rash one, under the circumstances, and the company, not Conolly, must suffer for the mistake.
2. It is claimed that Conolly had signified his desire, and had attempted, to get out, and that the driver only helped him to accomplish his purpose. That he wished to get out while he thought he was able to do so and to take care of himself, may be true; but to suppose that he desired to be put ont and left in the street after he had fallen down in an utterly helpless condition, is too preposterous to merit consideration.
We are not here concerned with the measure of the duty which a street company, operated under the conditions prevailing in the City of Ne\y Orleans, owes to a passenger in such unhappy case, nor with the kind of degree or care, which it is bound to take for his protection. .If we were, we should give due consideration to such conditions and would be careful to adjust the duty according to praticability. But the defense here rests upon the entire absence of any effort whatever to perform the, duty and a denial that any duty arose in the premises. Such a defense can receive no sanction at our hands.
Nothing remains for determination but the measure of damages.
The cause of action arose, prior to the recent amendment of Article 2315, Rev. C. 0., and the damages recoverable are those, only which wore suffered by Couollv.
Tlie case was tried twice before a jurj\ The first verdict was for $1500, ou which a new trial was granted. The second verdict, from which the present appeal is taken, was for $2500.
The evidence indicates that Conolly was not entirely deprived of consciousness, but. his faculties were, no doubt, greatly obtunded. His sufferings were severe; and though he must have suffered in any event, it would be a reproach to the medical art to suppose that it could not have means to alleviate them, had he received proper attention.
The medical testimony indicates 'that the attack was necessarily fatal. The humiliation of this position was extreme, and it is probable that he felt that to some extent, because one witness states that, when asked if he was drunk, he shook his head.
On the whole, considering all the circumstances, we consider that an award of $1500 will do justice.
It is, therefore, ordered and decreed that the judgment appealed from be amended by reducing the amount to $1500, and that, as thus amended, the judgment appealed from be affirmed, plaintiff to pay costs of appeal.