Case Name: Clarence S. Doyle v. Toledo Furnace Co.
Court: Lucas Circuit Court
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1909-06-12
Citations: 25 Ohio C.C. Dec. 299
Docket Number: 
Parties: Clarence S. Doyle v. Toledo Furnace Co.
Judges: Parker, Wildman and Kinkade, JJ.
Reporter: Ohio Circuit Court Decisions
Volume: 25
Pages: 299–305

Head Matter:
MASTER AND SERVANT.
[Lucas (6th) Circuit Court,
June 12, 1909.]
Parker, Wildman and Kinkade, JJ.
Clarence S. Doyle v. Toledo Furnace Co.
Peremptory Order from Master to do Act of Simple Character not Ground for Damages for Personal Injuries.
A peremptory order from a master to a servant to do a certain thing does not of itself render the master liable for injuries received by the servant while obeying the command so given, where the thing ordered done is of a simple every day character and one which any adult would understand as fully as the master.
Error to common pleas court.
Stephen Brophy, for plaintiff in error:
Assumption of risk, Hitrits v. Brown, 180 Fed. Rep. 1019; West v. Railway, 179 Fed. Rep. 801 [103 C. C. A. 293] ; KlunJc v. Railway, 74 Ohio St. 125 [77 N. E. Rep. 752]; Insurance Go. v. Hull, 51 Ohio St. 270 [37 N. E. Rep. 1116; 25 L. R. A. 37; 46 Am. St. Rep. 571] ; Perry v. O’Neil, 78 Ohio St. 200 [85 N. E. Rep. 41] ; Labatt; Mast. & Serv. See. 433; Van Dusen Gas & Gasoline Eng. Go. v. Schelies, 61 Ohio St. 298 [55 N. E. Rep. 998] ; Larimore v. Wells, 29 Ohio St. 12; Pennsylvania Co. v. McCurdy, 66 Ohio St. 119 [63 "N. E. Rep. 585] ; Cincinnati Gas & Elec. Co.- v. Johnston, 76 Ohio St. 119 [81 N. E. Rep. 155].
Doctrine of direct command, Golley & Finley Iron Wks. v. Callan, 4 Circ. Dec. 233 (9 R. 217); Cleveland, C. C. & St. L. Ry. v. Tehen, 26 O. 0. 0. 457 (4 N. S. 145) ; affirmed, no op., Cleveland, C. C. & St. L. Ry. v. Tehan, 72 Ohio St. 689; Crockett v. Michael, 29 O. 0. C. 41 (9 N. S. 15); 2 Cooley, Torts (new ed.) 1136, 1137, 3138; Thompson, Negligence (2 ed.) Sec. 3809; Miller v. Railway, 12 Fed. Rep. 600; Northern Pac. Ry. v. Egeland, 163 0. S. 93 [16 Sup. Ct. Rep. 975; 41 L. Ed. 82]; Southern Pac. Ry. v. Yeargin, 3.09 Fed. Rep. 436 [48 C. C. A. 497] ; National Steel Co. v. Hore, 155 Fed. Rep. 62 [83 C. C. A. 578] ; Felton v. Girardy, 104 Fed. Rep. 127 [43 C. C. A. 439]; Pennsylvania Ry. Go. v. Garcia, 3.52 Fed. Rep. 104 [81 C. C. A. 322] ; Choctaw 0. & G. Ry. v. Jones, 77 Ark. 367 [92 S. W. Rep. 244; 4 L. R. A. 837; 7 Ann. Cas. 430}; Southern Cotton Oil Co. v. Spotts, 77 Ark. 458 [92 S. W. Rep. 249]; Mullin v. Horseshoe Co. .105 Cal. 77 [38 Pac. Rep. 535] ; Cincinnati I. St. L. & C. Ry. v. Lang, 118 Ind. 579 [21 N. E. Rep. 317] ; Oolitic Stone Co. v. Ridge, 174 Ind. 558 [91 N. E. Rep. 944]; Madden Son & Co. v. Wilcox, 174 Ind. 657 [91 N. E. Rep. 933]; Consolidated Coal Co. v. Haenni, 146 111. 614 [35 N. E. Rep. 362]; Illinois Steel Co. v. Schymanowski, 162 111. 447 [44 N. E. Rep. 876]; Kapacsynski v. Wells Co. 110 111. App. 477; Pressed Steel Car Co. v. Herath, 110 111. App. 596; Barnett & Record Co. v. Schlapka, 208 111. 426 [70 N. E. Rep. 343]; Henrietta Coal Co. v. Campbell, 211 111. 216 [71 N. E. Rep. 863j; Greenleaf v. Railway, 29 Iowa 14 [4 Am. Rep. 181]; Illinois Cent. Ry. v. Keebler, 27 Ky. Law Rep. 305 [84 S. W. Rep. 1167]; Lord v. Wakefield, 185 Mass. 214 [70 N. E. Rep. 123; McKee v. Tourtellotte, 167 Mass. 69 [44 N. E. Rep. 3.071; 48 L. R. A. 542] ; Igo v. Railway, 204 Mass. 197 [90 N. B. Rep. 575]; Chicago & N. W. By. v. Bay-field, 37 Mich. 205; Shorlell v. City of St. Joseph, 104 Mo. 114 [16 S. W. Rep. 397; 24 Am. St. Rep. 317] ; Chicago B. I. & P. By. v. McCarty, 49 Neb. 475 [68 N. W. Rep. 633] ; Bering Mfg. Co. v. Femelat, 35 Tex. Civ. App. 36 [79 S. W'. Rep. 869] ; Norfolk & W. By. v. Ward, 90 Ya. 687 [19 S. B. Rep. 849; 24 L. R. A. 717; 44 Am. St. Rep. 945] ; 26 Cyc. L. & P. 1163, 1164; Lake Shore & M. S. By. v. Corcoran, 6 Gire. Dec. 773 (14 R. 377); Lake Shore & M. S. By. v. Lavalley, 36 Ohio St. 221; Lake Shore & M. S. By. v. Murphy, 50 Ohio St. 135 [33 N. E. Rep. 403]; Hennessy v. Boston, 161 Mass. 502 [37 N. E. Rep. 668] ; Cincinnati H. <& H. By. v. Frye, 80-Ohio St. 289 [88 N. É. Rep. 642; 131 Am. St. Rep. 709] ; Tibbs v. Manufacturing Co. 182 Fed. Rep. 448 [104 G. G. A. 488] ; Texas c& Pac. By. v. Archibald, 170 U. S. 665 [18 Sup. Gt. Rep. 771; 42 L. Ed. 1188] ; Missouri Pac. By. v. Lehmberg, 75 Tex. 61 [12 S. W. Rep. 838j ; Hough v. liailway, 100 U. S. 223 [25 L. Ed. 612] ; Union Pac. By. v. Fort, 84 Li. S. (17 Wall.) 553 [21 L. Ed. 739] ; Ford v. Bailway, 110 Mass. 240 [14 Am. Rep. 598] ; Labatt, Mast. & Serv. Secs. 2, 6, 28; Thompson, Negligence (2 ed.) Sec. 4614; Benzing v. Steinway, 101 N. Y. 547 [5 N. E. Rep. 449] ; Bichards v. Hayes, 17 App. Div. 422 [45 N. Y. Supp. 234]; Bowen v. Bailway, 95 Mo. 268 [8 S. W. Rep. 230] ; Lauter v. Duckworth, 19 Ind. App. 535 [48 N. E. Rep. 864] ; 1 White, Pers. Inj. See. 384 (1909 ed.); Littlefield v. Allis Co. 177 Mass. 151 [58 N. E. Rep. 692] ; Mannion v. Hagan, 9 App. Div. 98 [41 N. Y. Supp. 86]; Bepublic Iron & Steel Co. v. Ohler, 161 Ind. 393 [68 N. E. Rep. 901] ; Orr v. Telephone Co. 130 N. C. 627 [41 S. E. Rep. 880],
Distinction between assumption of risk and contributory negligence, Labatt, Mast. & Serv. Secs. 305, 309; Thompson. Negligence (2 ed.) Sec. 4611; Cole v. Transit Co. 183 Mo. 81 [81 S. W. Rep. 1138] ; Pauck v. Provision Co. 159 Mo. 467 [61 S. W. Rep. 806] ; Curtis v. McNair, 173 Mo. 270 [73 S. W. Rep. 167] ; Parks v. Bailway, 178 Mo. 108 [77 S. W. Rep. 70; 101 Am. St. Rep. 425] ; Cleveland, C. & C. By. v. Terry, 8 Ohio St. 570; Lake Shore & M. S. By. v. Murphy, 50 Ohio St. 135 [33 N. E. Rep. 403]; Fisher v. Railway, 22 Ore. 425 [30 Pac. Rep. 425] ; Washington & G. Ry. v. McDade, 135 TJ. S. 554 [10 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1044; 34 L. Ed. 235].
Competency of evidence of usage, custom and practice and expert testimony, Wigmore, Evidence Sec. 461; Bailey, Pers. Inj. (1897 ed.) Sec. 1744; Elliott, Evidence Sec. 2505; Rice, Evidence (1892 ed.) Sec. 440-b; Thompson, Negligence (2 ed.) Secs. 7776, 7777; Baird v. Reilly, 92 Fed. Rep. 884 [35 C. C. A. 78] ; Hennesey v. Bingham, 125 Cal. 627 [58 Pac. Rep. 200]’; New England Glass Co. v. Lovell, 61 Mass. (7 Cush.) 319; Punkowski v. Leather Co. 4 Pen. 544 (Del.) [57 Atl. Rep. 559] ; Indiana I. & 1. Ry. v. Bundy, 152 Ind. 590 [53 N. E. Rep. 175]; Taylor v. Coal Co. 110 Iowa 40 [81 N. W. Rep. 249] ; Myers v. Iron Co. 150 Mass. 130 [22 N. E. Rep. 631] ; Lang v. Terry, 163 Mass. 138 [39 N. E. Rep. 802] ; McCarthy v. Duck Co. 165 Mass. 165 [42 N. E. Rep. 568] ; O’Brien v. Look, 171 Mass. 36 [50 N. E. Rep. 458] ; Sisson v. Railway, 14 Mich. 489 [90 Am. Dec. 252] ; Bettys v. Denver Twp. 115 Mich. 228 [73 N. W. Rep. 138] ; Flanders v. Railivay, 51 Minn. 193 [53 N. W. Rep. 544] ; Kolsti v. Railway, 32 Minn. 133 [19 N. W. Rep. 655] ; Filer v. Railway, 49 N. Y. 42; Harnett v. Garvey, 66 N. Y. 641; Richmond Locomotive Wks. v. Ford, 94 Va. 627 [27 S. E. Rep. 509] ; Steamboat Clipper v. Logan, 18 Ohio 375; Hartford Protection Ins. Co. v. Harmer, 2 Ohio St. 452 [59 Am. Dec. 684] ; Baltimore & O. Ry. v. Schultz, 43 Ohio St. 270 [1 N. E. Rep. 324> 54 Am. Rep. 805] ; Ohio & Ind. Torpedo Co. v. Fishburn, 61 Ohio St. 608 [56 N. E. Rep. 457; 76 Am. St. Rep. 437] ; Memphis & C. Packet Co. V. Britton, 25 O. C. C. 253 (1 N. S. 33); Toomey v. Stamping Co. 11 Circ. Dec. 216 (20 R. 183); Lake Shore & M. S. Ry. v, Whidden, 13-23 O. C. C. 85 (2 N. S. 544).
What certainty of proof is required as to how servant was injured, Davis v. Guamieri, 45 Ohio St. 470 [15 N. E. 350; 4 Am. St. Rep. 548]; Lake Shore & M. S. Ry. v. Andrews, 58 Ohio St. 426 [51 N. E. Rep. 26] ; Cincinnati H. & D. Ry. v. Frye, 80 Ohio St. 289 [88 N. E. Rep. 642; 131 Am. St. Rep. 709] ; Rowe v. Baber, 93 Ala. 422 [8 So. Rep. 865] ; Supreme Conclave Knights of Damon v. Wood, 320 Ga. 328 [47 S. E. Rep. 940]; National Steel Co. v. More, 155 Fed. Rep. 62 [83 C. C. A. 578] ; Igo v. Railway, 204 Mass. 197 [90 N. E. Rep. 574] ; Gagnon v. Machine Co. 174 Fed. Rep. 477.
King, Tracy, Chapman & Welles, for defendant in error:
Assumption of risk, McGill v. Traction Co. 79 Ohio St. 203 [86 N. E. Rep. 989; 19 L. R. A. (N. S.) 793; 128 Am. St. Rep. 705] ; Labatt, Mast. & Serv. 1233.
Direct command, Cincinnati Gas Elec. Co. v. Johnston, 76 Ohio St. 119 [81 N. E. Rep. 155] ; Vanderpool v. Partridge, 79 Neb. 165 [112 N. W. Rep. 318; 13 L. R. A. (N. S.) 668]; Martin v. Manufacturing Co. 128 N. C. 264 [38 S. W. Rep. 876; 83 Am. St. Rep. 671] ; H. S. Hopkins, Bridge Co. v. Burnett, 85 Tex. 16 [19 S. W. Rep. 886]; Koschman v. Ash, 98 Minn. 312 [108-N. W. Rep. 514; 116 Am. St. Rep. 373] ; Stork v. Cooperage Co. 127 Wis. 318 [106 N. W. Rep. 841; 7 Ann. Cas. 339]; Langhorn v. Wiley, 28 Ky. Law Rep. 1186 [91 S. W. Rep. 255] ; Meyer v. Ladewig, 130 Wis. 566 [110 N. W. Rep. 419; 13 L. R. A. (N. S.) 684j ; Lynn v. Sugar Co. 128 Iowa 501 [104 N. W. Rep. 577]; Mulligan v. Crimmins, 75 Hun. 578 [27 N. Y. Supp. 819],
Affirmed, no op.,- Doyle v. Furnace Co. 85 O. S. 463.

Opinion:
KINKADE, J.
The common pleas court directed a verdict for the defendant on the authority of Nusbaum v. Railway, 35 O. C. C. 121. It is said that the trial judge made a serious error in failing to discover the fact that this case belongs in a different class than cases like the Nusbaum case, for the reason that in this case there was a peremptory order by the master to do what was done by the servant, and hence none of the principles involved in the Nusbaum case apply here. We are advised that this case belongs to that elass of eases best described by our own Supreme Court in Van Duzen v. Schelies, 61 Ohio St. 298 [55 N. E. Rep. 998], and all that is necessary is to assign this ease to its proper place, and all difficulties will at once disappear. From the number of times that this Van Duzen case is cited as a controlling authority in personal injury cases, one might conclude that it is a specific for all ills and injuries arising from torts of every kind. Just why it should be so regarded, when the case makes no such pretensions and the Supreme Court has several times stated its proper scope, we do not pretend to understand.
' We have devoted-a good deal of time to an examination of the record in this case and have examined with care the brief of counsel for plaintiff in error. This brief is very exhaustive, very well prepared for ready reference with the least practicable confusion and delay in finding what is wanted on any of the points discussed, and it may be said that it fairly covers about all the important cases to be found on the different subjects treated. It is said that when the situation is properly considered from the right view point, harmony and only harmony can be seen in all the well considered cases on questions involved. This may be so, but as we read the cases there is a good deal of conflict. We cari not take the time to review all the cases cited by counsel," and we will only state the conclusions we have reached in this case.
Even considering that there was a peremptory command from the master to the servant in this case to do the thing that was done, we are of the opinion that no recovery can be had in this case for the reason that the order was to an adult and was to do a thing in no sense out of the ordinary course of human affairs, a simple thing that any adult can know all about as easily as can the employer. If the doctrine contended for by the plaintiff in this case is correct, then before any employer can safely ask a servant to chop wood, the master must first learn whether the servant knows that in chopping wood chips may fly, or else he may be liable for an injury caused by flying chips. It is even said that in all cases where a peremptory order is given, the burden is upon the master to show that the servant not only knew what was likely to happen, but that he fully appreciated the situation in all its respects. We say that it is no hardship to hold then an adult who understands the intricacies of the Australian ballot should be presumed to know the powerful simplicity of the ax, the hammer, the spade and the pick. We need not multiply illustrations. Many will readily suggest themselves to anyone who considers the subject in all its scope.
Our conclusion is that tbe principles contended for, while proper enough in cases to which they may apply, have no application to the commonplace every day affairs of men that are perfectly simple and easily comprehended by any adult person. We are aware that eases like the one at bar in many respects have been sustained by courts, and our conclusions have not been arrived at without a full consideration of the reasoning in those eases, but after full reflection, we feel compelled to decline to follow those decisions. If any such rule is to be adopted in Ohio, we have no ambition to be the first in announcing it We prefer to respectfully wait until we hear from our own Supreme Court on this subject. We find no prejudicial errors in the record and the judgment of the court of common pleas will be affirmed.
Parker and Wildman, JJ., concur.