Case Name: MULLINAX v. HAMBRIGHT
Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1921-08-01
Citations: 116 S.C. 459
Docket Number: 10706
Parties: MULLINAX v. HAMBRIGHT
Judges: Mr. Chief Justice Gary and Mr. Justice Watts concur.
Reporter: South Carolina Reports
Volume: 116
Pages: 459–463

Head Matter:
10706
MULLINAX v. HAMBRIGHT
(108 S. E. 187)
Highways — Complaint Alleging Negligence by Highway Commission Held Sufficient. — A complaint alleging that deceased was killed on. account of the willful and careless conduct of defendants, their agents and servants, and that the defendants constitute a highway commission, is good against demurrer, since defendants are liable for their wrongful or careless misconduct as such commissioners, even though they may not be liable for the acts of their employees.
Before Townsend, J., Cherokee, November, 1920.
Reversed.
Action by John Mullinax, as Admr., against J. B. Ham-bright et al., as Cherokee Highway Commission. From order sustaining a demurrer to the complaint the plaintiff appeals. For former appeal in this case see 115 S. C., 22.
Messrs. N. W. Hardin and John Gary Evans, for appellant,
cite: Master is liable for willful and malicious acts of his servants, done in the scope of his employment: 26 Cyc, 1528; 13 S. C, 19. Even though he did not participate in them or know of them, or even forbade them: 13 S. C, 19; 37 S. C, 199; 68 S. C, 55; 69 S. C, 22; 74 S. C, 177; 74 S. C, 502; 75 S. C, 294; 76 S. C,-9; 92 S. C„ 506; 85 S. C, 471; 93 S. C, 342. Question of scope of employment is for fury: 3 S. C, 8; 67 S. C, 398; 82 S. C, 546; 104 S. C„ -286; 106 S. C, 20; 113 S. C, 522.
Messrs. Butler & Elall and Dobson & Vassey, for respondents,
cite: Commission created by 30 Stat., 266; 30 Stat., 1086. Liability of public officers: 29 Cyc, 1445; 23 A. & E. Ene. Eaw, 382; 127 U. S, 507-17; 32 E. Ed, 203; 22 R. C. E, 487. Relation of master and servant did not exist between deceased, a convict, and the Highway Commission: 21 R. C. E, 1182.
August 1, 1921.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Mr. Justice Fraser.
This is an action for death by wrongful act. The complaint alleges that the deceased was killed on account of the willful, reckless, and earless conduct of the defendants, their agents and servants, and that the defendants compose and constitute the Cherokee Highway Commission.
The defendants demurred to the complaint on the ground that the complaint did not state facts' sufficient to constitute a cause of action, in that the defendants are not liable for the .negligence of subordinates engaged in the work. The demurrer was sustained.
The statute gives a right of action where death is- caused by the wrongful act of another. It may be that on the trial it will appear that the déath was caused, not by the negligence of the defendants, but by others for whose conduct the defendants are not responsible. But the complaint alleges that the death was caused by the wrongful act of the defendants, and in so alleging stated a good cause of action.
The judgment appealed from is reversed.
Mr. Chief Justice Gary and Mr. Justice Watts concur.