Opinion ID: 2105341
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: submission of contributory negligence

Text: Gustafson's next assignment of error centers on the distinction between an employee's contributory negligence and his assumption of the risks of employment. FELA utilizes a mandatory rule of comparative negligence, which reduces the employee's recovery by that part of the injury which is attributable to the employee's own negligence. 45 U.S.C. § 53. However, FELA eliminates an injured employee's assumption of risk as a defense to a claim. 45 U.S.C. § 54. Although a defendant is entitled to a contributory negligence instruction if there is any evidence to support the theory, to receive such the defendant must produce evidence of the plaintiff's lack of due care. Birchem v. Burlington Northern R. Co., 812 F.2d 1047 (8th Cir.1987). Gustafson focuses on one statement by the Eighth Circuit in Van Boening v. Chicago & North Western Transp. Co., 882 F.2d 1380, 1382 (8th Cir.1989), in which the court stated that [t]he issue of contributory negligence is submissible to the jury only if a defendant offers some evidence independent of the plaintiff's testimony from which a jury could reasonably find a lack of due care by the plaintiff. (Emphasis supplied.) (Citing Wilson v. Burlington Northern, Inc., 670 F.2d 780 (8th Cir.1982), cert. denied 457 U.S. 1120, 102 S.Ct. 2934, 73 L.Ed.2d 1333.) We initially observe that the emphasized statement appears nowhere in Wilson. Moreover, in Van Boening, contributory negligence was not an issue. The issue on appeal concerned the plaintiff's claim that an instruction stating `evidence concerning the manner and way in which Van Boening used the equipment is proper for your consideration,' Van Boening v. Chicago & North Western Transp. Co., 882 F.2d at 1382, improperly introduced the issue of contributory negligence. The federal appeals court rejected the argument, noting that concerning the proper issues of the defendant's negligence and causation, it would be impossible to preclude the jury from considering the manner and way in which the accident occurred.... Id. Nor is Gustafson's contention consistent with the law of other federal courts. See, Gish v. CSX Transp., Inc., 890 F.2d 989 (7th Cir.1989); Hurley v. Patapsco & Back Rivers R. Co., 888 F.2d 327 (4th Cir.1989); Jones v. Consolidated Rail Corp., 800 F.2d 590 (6th Cir.1986). These cases consistently hold that contributory negligence may not be supported by simply attacking the plaintiff's credibility. However, we determine that the plaintiff's testimony may constitute evidence of the plaintiff's own negligence. Whether Gustafson's testimony actually presents evidence of contributory negligence depends upon the content of the testimony. We therefore consider whether there was sufficient evidence to submit the issue of contributory negligence regarding each incident.