Case Name: AMERICAN CAR & FOUNDRY CO. v. ROCHA
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1919-03-24
Citations: 257 F. 297
Docket Number: No. 5227
Parties: AMERICAN CAR & FOUNDRY CO. v. ROCHA.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 257
Pages: 297–298

Head Matter:
AMERICAN CAR & FOUNDRY CO. v. ROCHA.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit.
March 24, 1919.
Rehearing Denied May 21, 3919.)
No. 5227.
Master and Servant ©=>185(27)—Master’s Liability for Injury to Servant —Safe Place to Work.
Whore plaintiff was at work tinder a car, which had boon raised from its trucks and blocked up, Ms employer owed him a positive duty to warn him before the car was moved, which could not be delegated to another employe, so as to relieve Itself from liability for its neglb gence resulting in plaintiff's injury.
©=>For other cases see same topic & KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests & Indexes'
In Error to the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Missouri; Jacob Trieber, Judge.
Action at law by Saropia Rocha against the American Car & Foundry Company. Judgment for plaintiff, and defendant brings error.
Affirmed.
William R. Gentry, of St. Louis, Mo. (M. F. Watts and Edwin W. Lee, both of St. Louis, Mo., and G. A. Orth, of New York City, on the brief), for plaintiff in error.
Edward W. Eoristel and Jesse T. Friday, both of St. Louis, Mo., for defendant in error.'
Before GARLAND and STONE, Circuit Judges, and AMI DON, District Judge.

Opinion:
GARLAND, Circuit Judge.
Rocha sued the foundry company to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been caused by the negligence of the latter. The plaintiff recovered a verdict, and defendant assigns error.
The only evidence introduced was that of the plaintiff. It showed that on the 17th day of May, 1917, the plaintiff, while in the employ of the defendant, was directed by a foreman to go under a railroad car, which had been raised from its trucks and was resting on some blocks, to tighten up some bolts and nuts. While the plaintiff was partially under the car, with his left leg over one of the axles of the truck, the foreman, without any warning to the plaintiff, caused the car to be moved by a derrick or hoisting machine. The movement caused the car to fall upon plaintiff, thereby breaking one of his legs. Counsel for defendant moved for a directed verdict in its favor, upon the ground that the foreman was a fellow servant of the plaintiff, for whose negligence the defendant was not liable. The same point was raised in other ways. This is the only question specified and discussed in the briefs of counsel.
The plaintiff's petition in substance alleged that the defendant was negligent in ordering the plaintiff under the car and in moving the same while he was still under the car without warning. The defendant's answer denied negligence and pleaded contributory negligence. The defense of fellow servant was not pleaded. We think it is immaterial whether the foreman was a fellow servant of the plaintiff or not. In a case like the present it was the positive duty of the defendant to warn the plaintiff that the car was about to be moved. This duty could not be delegated to the foreman by the defendant, so as to relieve itself of liability for his negligence.
We do not deem it necessary to cite authority in support of a rule so well 'established.
The judgment below is affirmed.