Opinion ID: 154142
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Contributory Negligence Instruction Given

Text: BN's contributory negligence theory was that Sauer negligently failed to warn Snyder to get off the railing. Sauer contends the evidence established as a matter of law that he was not contributorily negligent in the second accident, and that it was erroneous to give a contributory negligence instruction. He argues the evidence established that a warning would have been futile because Snyder was headstrong, had ignored Inglebright's warning, and would not have listened to anyone. We disagree. Rivera v. Farrell Lines, 474 F.2d 255 (2d Cir.), cert. denied 414 U.S. 822 (1973), does not support Sauer's argument that he was not contributorily negligent as a matter of law. In Rivera, there was evidence that plaintiff's superiors had been warned repeatedly about the open and obvious hazard that caused plaintiff's injury, but did nothing about it. The court did not hold that as a matter of law, plaintiff was not contributorily negligent for failing to tell his superiors of the hazard. The court held only that on remand, the contributory negligence instruction should advise the jury that plaintiff had no duty to perform a futile act. Here, Sauer requested that the contributory negligence defense be stricken on the ground that a warning would have been futile. After the court denied that request, Sauer did not request a futile act instruction, but was free to argue and did argue that a warning would have been futile. The evidence did not establish as a matter of law that a warning would -9- have been futile. There was evidence that Snyder did not hear Inglebright's suggestion that he use a platform rather than stand on the rail, and that Snyder would have considered recommendations by Sauer. Whether a warning would have been futile was a question of fact for the jury. Sauer argues his actions did not constitute contributory negligence but assumption of the risk, which is not a defense under FELA. However, assumption of the risk and contributory negligence are not mutually exclusive; the evidence in a case may support either defense. See Fashauer, 57 F.3d at 1275-76; Restatement (Second) of Torts § 496A, comment d and § 496C, comment g (1965); Prosser and Keeton on the Law of Torts § 68, p. 481-82. That is why a jury instruction stating assumption of the risk is not a defense is given in FELA cases. E.g., Joyce, 651 F.2d at 682-83. The fact that Sauer's actions may have amounted to assumption of the risk does not preclude his actions from also being contributory negligence. In his reply brief, Sauer contends his failure to warn Snyder could not be contributory negligence because it did not add new dangers to conditions that the employer negligently created or permitted to exist. The quoted language appears in several FELA contributory negligence cases. See, e.g., Birchem v. Burlington Northern R. Co., 812 F.2d 1047, 1049 (8th Cir. 1987). However, contributory negligence includes failure to use ordinary care under existing circumstances for one's own safety, such as failure to report a hazard and failure to use due care when encountering a hazard. See Hose v. Chicago Northwestern Transp. Co., 70 F.3d 968, 978-79 (8th Cir. 1995); Fashauser, 57 F.3d at 1280-81. In Rivera, the contributory negligence theory was plaintiff's failure to warn his superiors of the hazard, and the court did not hold it could not constitute contributory negligence. The court held only -10- that it would not be contributory negligence if the warning would have been futile. 474 F.2d at 258. In Joyce, the district court instructed the jury that contributory negligence included failure to use ordinary care under existing circumstances, failure to keep a watch on surrounding conditions, and failure to notice reasonably observable danger. 651 F.2d at 683. Arguably, such omissions would not add new dangers. However, the only defect this court found in the instruction was omission of an admonition that assumption of risk was not a defense. Sauer's supplemental authority cites rescue doctrine cases under which a plaintiff who is injured trying to rescue a co-worker can be held contributorily negligent only for wanton or reckless conduct. He did not raise this issue in his opening brief and cannot raise it for the first time in a reply brief or later filing. See Codner v. United States, 17 F.3d 1331, 1332, n. 2 (10th Cir. 1994). In any case, the rescue doctrine does not apply here. BN's contributory negligence theory was not that Sauer acted negligently in trying to prevent Snyder's fall; rather, it was that he negligently failed to warn Snyder to get off the railing, which he could have done before he attempted to rescue Snyder by latching the gate. AFFIRMED. -11-