Case Name: John Kavale, Appellee, v. Morton Salt Company, Appellant
Court: Illinois Appellate Court
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1926-10-13
Citations: 242 Ill. App. 205
Docket Number: Gen. No. 30,747
Parties: John Kavale, Appellee, v. Morton Salt Company, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Appellate Court Reports
Volume: 242
Pages: 205–220

Head Matter:
John Kavale, Appellee, v. Morton Salt Company, Appellant.
Gen. No. 30,747.
Thomson, J., dissenting.
Opinion filed October 13, 1926.
Rehearing denied October 27, 1926.
McCormick, Kirkland, Patterson & Fleming, for appellant; Weymouth Kirkland, Joseph D. Ryan and William H. Symmes, of counsel.
Schuyler, Ettelson & Weineeld, for appellee; William C. Graves, Edward J. Hennessy, Carl J. Appell and George W. D. Lederer, of counsel.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice O'Connor
delivered the opinion of the court.
Plaintiff was struck by defendant's truck in Twenty-Second Street, just west of Wabash Avenue and severely injured. He brought suit against the defendant and the chauffeur who was driving the truck to recover damages. The suit was dismissed as to the chauffeur and after a trial there was a verdict and judgment in plaintiff's favor for $31,000.
The evidence shows, and there is no contention to the contrary, that the truck was being driven negligently by Joseph Peter Fotre, who was in the employ of the defendant, and that plaintiff was in the exercise of due care for his own safety. The controversy is whether at the time of the accident the truck was in use for defendant's benefit and on its account, or whether the defendant's chauffeur was driving it at the time in question on a frolic of his own. The court instructed the jury that no recovery could be had unless they believed from the evidence that the truck was being operated for the use of the defendant in connection with its business at the time of the accident.
The evidence shows that the chauffeur had been employed by the defendant for three or four years and had driven the truck in question for a considerable period of time before the accident occurred; that the truck was a large one, having a capacity of about 7% tons; that on Saturday, October 27, 1923, the chauffeur reported for work at defendant's place of business, which was located near East South Water Street and the railroad tracks, which is a short distance east of Michigan Avenue; that after delivering two loads of salt on that morning, he returned to defendant's place of business at about eleven o'clock in the forenoon for further orders and was told by those in charge to await further instructions. The chauffeur waited until about twelve o 'clock when he was advised that there was nothing further for him to do that day to take the truck to the garage where it was kept by the defendant, the garage being located at No. 2625 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago. The chauffeur left with the truck at about 12:15 or 12:25 and started down Wabash Avenue toward the garage and about 3:15 o 'clock in the afternoon he drove the truck westerly in Twenty-Second Street, struck the defendant who was out in the roadway of Twenty-Second Street just west of Wabash Avenue and who was in the act of boarding a street car at that place. Plaintiff was thrown to the ground and when the truck stopped, which was done within a short distance, he was found underneath the truck and caught in the drive chain. Police officers came and endeavored to extricate him, but were unable to do so until they called some members of the fire department who melted a link in the chain and thereby released the defendant.
The evidence further shows there is a double line of street car tracks in Twenty-Second Street; that the street cars do not run east of Wabash Avenue but come to a stop a few feet west of Wabash Avenue on the south car track and that the cars in going west a short distance cross over to the north or westbound track. At the time in question the street car had stopped at its usual place, just west of Wabash Avenue. The men in charge of the car were adjusting the trolley pole, and five or six persons, including plaintiff, were out in the street waiting to get in the back door, which was located on the north side, at the east end of the street car. The doors of the car were just being opened when the truck driven by defendant's chauffeur turned from Wabash Avenue west and struck plaintiff and others. Three witnesses for the plaintiff testified that the truck came from the north in Wabash Avenue and turned west in Twenty-Second Street. The chauffeur of the truck testified that he drove the truck north in Wabash Avenue and turned west in Twenty-Second Street. Police officers who came within a few moments after the accident testified that the chauffeur was intoxicated; that while he was able to talk and walk around, he stumbled and "wabbled"; that he was placed under arrest and taken to the police station. The captain of police testified that about 6:30 o 'clock on the same evening, which was about three hours after the accident, he talked to the chauffeur and that he was not sober at that time. After the chauffeur was dismissed out of the case he was called as a witness for the defendant. He testified that he left defendant's plant at Bast South Water Street on the day in question at about 12:20 or 12:25 p. m., having-been told that there was no further work for him to do that day and to take the truck to the garage, located at No. 2625 South Wabash Avenue, which is on the east side of that street; that one of the defendant's employees who was at defendant's place of business asked him if he would haul from defendant's place of business some kindling wood to the employee's home and the witness said that he would; that thereupon the employee, whose name the chauffeur did not recall, loaded some boards into the truck and that he, the chauffeur, together with another one of defendant's employees named Dominick, started with the truck down Wabash Avenue to deliver the wood at the employee's home, which was located near Twenty-Third Street and Wentworth Avenue; that the truck was driven south in Wabash Avenue and when they reached Sixteenth Street the chauffeur and Dominick stopped and had something to eat at a restaurant. The chauffeur further testified that after they had eaten their dinner, he drove the truck, Dominick going with him to Twenty-Third Street and Wentworth Avenue and unloaded the wood in defendant's employee's yard, the employee not being home at that time; that after the wood was unloaded, they drove about one-half block north in Wentworth Avenue to Alexander Street an east and west street, which runs west only from Wentworth Avenue to Dominick's boarding house; that he and Dominick went into the boarding house and the landlady prepared something for them to eat; that they ate and that he drank a • couple of glasses of wine; that they were at this place about 1% hours; that he and Dominick then decided to go to a barber shop which was located on Twenty-Third Street between State and Wabash Avenue; that he drove the truck to that place, Dominick being with him; that when they came to the barber shop, they saw that it was occupied so that they could not be accommodated and then he decided to drive east to Wabash Avenue and go to another barber shop which was located somewhere near Twenty-Second Street and Wentworth Avenue; that he drove the truck east to Wabash Avenue, then turned north to Twenty-Second Street and as' he turned the corner west in Twenty-Second Street he struck plaintiff. The chauffeur further testified that prior to that time he had hauled kindling wood from defendant's place of business for other employees of the defendant. There is some dispute in the evidence whether he had on prior occasions received permission to do so. Witnesses for the defendant testified that in doing some repair ing and remodeling at the plant, there was some kindling wood that the defendant wanted to get rid of and had given permission to have it hauled in defendant's trucks to the employee's home who might make a request for it; that on each occasion it was necessary for the persons hauling the lumber to get permission to do so ; that Fotre, the chauffeur of the truck in question, did not get permission on the day in question and that they saw no wood in the truck when it left defendant's place of business.
Captain Charles L. Larkin of the police department testified that he saw the chauffeur of the truck on the day of the accident at the police station on South Clark Street, about 6:30 p. m., the chauffeur being locked up in the station; that at that time the chauffeur was intoxicated; that he talked with the chauffeur and asked him how the accident occurred and that the responses of the chauffeur were not altogether intelligent; that the chauffeur told him that he had hauled two loads of salt in the morning of that day, then went back to the defendant's plant and got some wood; that the chauffeur then described where he drove the truck and the wood, and the captain then testified that the chauffeur "did not seem to be able to tell where he did deliver the wood."
The defendant contends that the court should have directed a verdict in its favor as requested, for the reason that the evidence discloses that at and prior to the time of the accident, the chauffeur was acting outside of the scope of his employment; that he was not pursuing any purpose of the defendant. The plaintiff admits that if the evidence showed this fact to be as the defendant contends, no recovery could be had. But plaintiff contends that he having made out a prima facie case, under no state of facts would the court be warranted in instructing for the defendant. We think the contention of the plaintiff in this, respect is contrary to the law. Plaintiff made out a prima facie case by proving that he was in the exercise of ordinary care for his own safety and was struck and severely injured through the negligence of the driver of defendant's truck and by further invoking the presumption which the law raises from the facts of ownership of the truck and employment of the driver to the effect that the truck was being used pursuant to the defendant's business at the time in question. Plaintiff offered no direct evidence on the question whether the truck was being driven at the time in question by the chauffeur in the course of his employment; so that plaintiff's case rested on the presumption of this fact. If in this state of the record the defendant then put in evidence' of such a character that would lead all reasonable minds to conclude that the truck was not being driven on defendant's business, then a directed verdict would be proper. Foster v. Wadsworth-Howland Co., 168 Ill. 514. The presumption in such a case would be entirely destroyed by the evidence. But the plaintiff further contends that the evidence in the record is such that the question whether the chauffeur was driving the truck on a frolic of his own or in connection with the business of the defendant, was a question of fact for the jury. We think this contention is borne out' by the record.
Defendant's place of business is located about three miles from the garage, 2625 South Wabash Avenue. The evidence tends to show that the chauffeur left defendant's plant at about 12:15 to 12:25 in the afternoon and that the accident occurred almost three hours thereafter. Of course, it would not take nearly this length of time to drive from the plant to the garage. But the chauffeur stopped on the way and had dinner. He was delivering wood which we think the jury were warranted in finding was in part for the benefit of the defendant. The chauffeur testified that he took this wood to Twenty-Third Street and Wentworth Avenue, which is but a few blocks west of
Wabash Avenue. He testified that he did not know the name of the party that he delivered the wood to, but that he was employed by the defendant. And so far as the record discloses no effort was made to find this person. The captain of police testified that when he talked to the chauffeur, some time after the accident, the chauffeur was unable to tell him where he delivered the wood and that the chauffeur was intoxicated. The chauffeur testifies as to the various routes he took, but it is clear that the jury would be warranted in disbelieving his testimony, because three witnesses testified that when he turned into Wabash Avenue he came from the north, while he testified that he came from the south. And while the evidence tends to show that the wood had been unloaded at the time plaintiff was struck, yet this is not at all clear, because the bed of the truck was high and there were but a few boards in the bottom of it, and no one looked into the truck to see if it was empty at the time plaintiff was injured. We think that whether the chauffeur was driving the truck at the time of the accident in connection with defendant's business was a question for the jury. They might find that although he "was serving defendant badly, defendant was liable." Moore v. Rosenmond, 238 N. Y. 358. In that case it was decided that whether a chauffeur who struck and injured a person was serving his master, the defendant, at the time of the accident, was a question for the jury. We think that case is much stronger on the facts than, the case before us. There the defendant, who employed the chauffeur, lived at Eightieth Street and West End Avenue, New York City. His place of business was on Forty-Ninth Street. The chauffeur drove the defendant from his home to his place of business and was told by his employer to drive to Yonkers and Mount Vernon, which was some distance northeast of defendant's home. The chauffeur did so, and then turned back, but did not take Bosenmond's mother-in- law to his home as he was told. When he reached Eighty-Fifth Street, which was five blocks north of defendant's home, he picked up a friend and had some drinks. They then drove to Ninety-First Street, still farther north and had some more drinks and picked up another friend and then drove back down to Forty-Ninth Street, where they had some more drinks and where he was to have the car repaired but did not do so. He and his friends started toward defendant's garage, which was located near his home, and when they reached Fifty-Third Street they had some more drinks with another friend and then drove towards defendant's garage when the accident occurred.
The court of appeals of New York held that whether the chauffeur was serving his master at the time was for the jury. Judge Pound in delivering the opinion of the court after stating the above facts said: (p. 359)
"This evidence was not sufficient in law to destroy the presumption of control, although it might have been in fact. The jury might have found that Dollar (the chauffeur) had started, down to Forty-Ninth street on defendant's business, got drunk, got to Forty-Ninth street, but neglected the business, and started back to defendant's garage without having the windows fixed. Although Dollar was serving defendant badly, defendant was liable. Bloodgood v. Whitney, 235 N. Y. 110, 114. They might, on the other hand, if they drew from the testimony the inferences most favorable to defendant, have found that Dollar had abandoned his employer's business when he picked up Corbin at the Eighty-Fifth street garage, and that the time was then devoted to a personal spree, until a belated sense of duty inspired them to start back to the garage. It was, however, for the jury to draw the inferences." The judgment for plaintiff was reversed on account of the erroneous admission of evidence. The court said that "in a doubtful case, where proofs are pitted against a pre sumption, where the doctrine of respondeat superior is invoked to impose liability on defendant without direct fault on his part, it is but fair that the rules of evidence should be properly applied."
The rule of law that fixes liability on the master for the acts of his servant is clear and well established — the master is not liable unless the servant was acting within the scope of his employment. But the difficult question to determine is whether the particular act for which liability is sought to be imposed was committed by the agent within the scope of his employment. This obviously can be determined by no fixed rule, but must be ascertained from the facts in each particular case. Orr v. Thompson Coal Co., 219 Ill. App. 116. Upon a careful consideration of all the evidence in the record, we are of the opinion that the question involved was a proper one for the jury. And we are further of the opinion that we would not be warranted in saying that the finding of the jury in favor of plaintiff is against the manifest weight of the evidence. As Judge Pound said in the Moore case, the inferences to be drawn from the evidence were for the jury.
The defendant further contends that the judgment is excessive and should be reversed for that reason. The record discloses that plaintiff was a carpenter by trade, 45 years of age and was earning about $65 per week at the time he was injured. He was knocked down by the truck and when the truck stopped defendant's arm was caught in the drive chain so that he could not be extricated. The police who arrived almost immediately after the accident endeavored to cut the chain, but were unable to do so. The fire department was then called and with the use of an acetylene torch they melted a link in the chain and plaintiff's arm was then released. He was taken to the hospital and it was found upon examination that plaintiff had suffered a compound fracture of the fourth meta carpal bone of the left hand, a compound fracture of both bones of the left forearm and a compound fracture of both bones of the left leg. The surgeon testified that when plaintiff was brought into the hospital the fractured ends of the leg were protruding through the flesh; that the leg was bent at a right angle and it was a question whether the leg would have to be amputated. The leg was then placed in a fracture box for a long time and dressed. The arm was operated on in about a week or ten days. It was necessary to use a steel plate to hold it in place. The injured leg could not be dressed for some time afterwards on account of dirt being ground into the flesh. After the fracture of the leg was reduced, pieces of bone came out from time to time. The defendant was confined to the hospital for about a year and he was able to return to work about 18 months after the accident. The surgeon testified on the trial that in his opinion if plaintiff worked at his trade as a carpenter and was required to climb ladders, the leg would be disabled at least 50 per cent.
It is obvious that plaintiff suffered very greatly; that his injuries are permanent and he testified that he still felt the effects of his wounds. In Posch v. Chicago Rys. Co., 221 Ill. App. 241; and Lagatutte v. Chicago Daily News, 239 Ill. App. 675, we said that we could not be unmindful of the fact that the money value of life and health is appreciating and the purchasing power of money depreciating during recent years. In the latteu case we affirmed a judgment of $35,000, where a boy was so injured as to require his leg to be amputated below the knee. In view of all the evidence in the record, we are of the opinion that the judgment is not of such an amount that would warrant interference on our part.
The defendant further contends that it was error to permit the jury to take X-ray photographs or skiographs, to the jury room over defendant's objection, for the reason that they were unintelligible. The photographs were introduced in evidence without objection and upon an examination of them, we think the jury would have no difficulty in understanding them. Our Supreme Court has held it is not error to allow the jury to take such exhibits with them to the jury room. Chicago & J. Electric R. Co. v. Spence, 213 Ill. 220.
The judgment of the superior court of Cook county is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Taylor, J., concurs.