Document: 361 U.S. 15 80 S.Ct. 22 4 L.Ed.2d 1 Henry J. HARRIS, Petitioner,v.PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD CO. No. 81. Decided Oct. 19, 1959. Mr. Marshall I. Nurenberg, for petitioner. Edwin Knachel, respondent. PER CURIAM. The petition writ of certiorari is granted. judgment the Supreme Court Ohio reversed and case remanded proceedings in conformity with this opinion. We hold that proofs justified reason jury's conclusion, embodied answers to Interrogatories Jury numbers I II, employer negligence played a part producing petitioner's injury. Rogers v. Missouri Pacific R. Co., 352 500, 77 443, 493. See also Moore Terminal Railroad Ass'n, 358 31, 79 2, 3 25, cases cited therein. therefore find it unnecessary consider challenge procedure governing interrogatories jury. 2 For reasons set forth his opinion 524, 459, 493, Justice FRANKFURTER view improvidently Reversed directions. STEWART took no consideration or decision case. 5 (For dissenting HARLAN, joined by WHITTAKER, see 29.) 6 DOUGLAS, concurring. 7 suggestion related decisions mean we have eliminated 'all meaningful judicial supervision over jury verdicts' FELA, 45 U.S.C.A. § 51 et seq., prompts me file bring up date compilation which made Wilkerson McCarthy, 336 53, 68, 71—73, 69 413 ,420, 422—423, 93 L.Ed. 497. was decided January 1949. attached Appendix presents statistical summary1 our stewardship these FELA from October 8 Of 110 petitions filed during period more than 10 years, 73 were employees 37 employers. these, 33 granted, each at instance an employee who complained lower court's withholding overturning verdict favor. Thirty usurpation function; three sustained. 9 denied, 32 sought reversal withhold upset verdict. Eight wanted overturn verdicts rendered employers' employers, 35 asked reverse court upholding holding should been submitted Employers two other action setting aside granting new trial. 11 It apparent where refused review courts withheld (or where, having granted certiorari, sustained action) system still exists as types cases. 12 suggested has consumed too much its time reviewing An examination years covered reveals 16 summarily without oral argument full opinions. Only 17 argued decade and, disposed brief per curiam argued, briefed opinions Court. on average less year given plenary slightly year. Wastage false issue. 13 difference between majority minority treatment concerns degree vigilance exercise safeguarding trial—guaranteed Seventh Amendment parcel remedy under Federal Act when suit brought state courts. Bailey Central Vermont 319 350, 354, 63 1062, 1065, 87 1444; Dice Akron, C. & Y.R. 342 359, 363, 72 312, 315, 96 398. Whether right impaired particular often produces contrariety views. Yet practice allowing four out nine votes control docket well established long duration.2 Without it, vast discretion Congress allowed us denying might not be tolerable. Every member known instances he strongly protested bringing type here adjudication. He may then feel there are important pressing matters give attention. That is, however, price pay keeping promise Congress3 let vote Justices any certiorari. hearings secure whole court, proper call attention very thorough complete discretionary jurisdiction exercised. In refusing prayer petitioner gets court. application single justice. luminous informing statement Van Devanter tells story: 14 "While authority take spoken jurisdiction, does authorized merely will matter but rather denied according sound discretion. What actually done stated some particularity. party aggrieved circuit appeals seeking further required present accompanying brief, nature case, what questions involved, how they appeals, why rest served party, presentation opposing brief. When copies printed record came briefs distributed among members Court, judge examines them prepares memorandum note indicating done. "In conference called, turn, states views extenso briefly thinks proper; all discussed taken. explain length because seems thought outside referred judges, as, instance, those coming justice assigned circuit, reports them, others accept report. impression wholly variance occurs. "We do grant deny vote. always many think sometimes way. proceed upon theory that, if number impressed one ought heard us, granted." H.R.Rep. 1075, 68th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 3. Opinion DOUGLAS. 18 Cases Which Certiorari Was Granted. 19 A. Where ordered trial reversed: 20 Hill Atlantic Coast Line 911, 507, 1075. 21 Urie Thompson, 337 163, 1018, 1282. Brown Western Alabama, 338 294, 70 105, 94 100. 23 Carter Atlanta St. Andrews Bay 430, 226, 236. 24 Stone New York, Chicago Louis 344 407, 358, 97 441. 25 Harsh Illinois 348 940, 75 362, 99 736. 26 Smalls 946, 439, 740. 27 O'Neill Baltimore 956, 447, L.ed. 747. 28 Neese Southern 350 77, 76 131, 100 60. 29 Anderson 807, 60, 725. 30 Strickland Seaboard Air 893, 157, 786. 31 Cahill N.H. H.R. 898, 351 183. Webb 512, 451, 503. 34 Arnold Panhandle Santa Fe 353 360, 840, 889. Futrelle 920, 682, 718. 36 Shaw Co. al., 680, Deen Gulf, Colorado 925, 715, 721. 38 Thomson Texas 926, 698, L.ed.2d 722. 39 McBride Toledo 354 517, 1398, 1534. 40 Ringhiser Chesapeake 901, 1093, 1268. 41 Gibson 355 18, 78 1. 42 Stinson 62, 136, 93. 43 Honeycutt Wabash 424, 393, 380. 44 Ferguson Louis-San Francisco 356 41, 671, 571. Sinkler 326, 758, 799. 46 Assn., 25. 47 Baker 359 227, 664, 765. 48 Conner Butler, 29, 21. 49 Harris Pennsylvania 15, 22. 50 B. sustained: Reynolds 207, 618. 52 340 573, 71 428, 95 547. 53 Herdman 518, 455, 508. 54 II. Denied. 55 overturned employer: 56 Scocozza Erie 907, 1048, 1719. 57 Killian 819, 63, 58 Lavender 822, 67, 499. 59 Roberts Alabama Great 829, 66, 609. 60 Emmick 831, 43, 611. 61 Missouri-Kansas-Texas 832, 54, 62 Gentry 853, 82, 625. Moleton Union 932, 495, 672. 64 Healy 935, 490, 674. 65 Ottley 948, 533, 683. 66 Craven 952, 571, 686. 67 Jaroszewski 839, 26, 653. 68 Creamer Ogden Depot 912, 333, 703. Frizzell 934, 505, Gill 346 816, 74 27, 98 343. Smith 838, 61, 360. Wetherbee Elgin, Joliet Eastern 867, 104, 378. Shellhammer Lehigh Valley 347 990, 852, 1124. Keiper Northwestern 323, 826. Click Jacksonville 994, 543, 859. Barnett Assn. Louis, 953, 850, 1476. Lupo Norfolk 891, 128, 86. Collins 942, 265, 238. Bennett 958, 865, 909. Kelly 892, 190. 81 Dessi 967, 1006, 1073. 82 Baum 881, 83 84 Jones 1101. 85 Conser Atchison, Topeka 828, 45, 86 Metrakos Cleveland Terminals 872, 107, Kane Chicago, Burlington Quincy Corp., 943, 365, 738. 88 Daulton 1005, 564, 549. 89 Burch Reading 965, 1049, 914. 90 Brinkley 94, 97. 91 Masterson York 84. 92 directed trial: Banning Detroit, Ironton 815, Dixon 830, 628. Thomas 921, 387, 709. Milom 537, 529. 841, 83. D. held employee's gone jury: Haselden, 825, 73, 501. Hill, 814, 42, 598. 101 Haven Hartford Korte, 868, 108, 652. 102 White, 343 915, 648, 1330. 103 Donnelly, 855, 93, 663. 104 Denver Rio Grande McGowan, 918, 346, 707. 105 Ass'n Barnett, 345 938, 1377. 106 Miller, 909, 239, 406. 107 Milwaukee, Paul Woodrow, 630, 1085. 108 Fort Worth Prine, 826, 651. 109 Bonnier, 655. North Margevich, 861, 84, 678. 111 Louisiana Arkansas Johnson, 875, 111, 688. 112 Chattanooga Station Massey, 896, 216, 704. 113 Rock Island Kifer, 917, 299, 719. 114 crowley, 927, 340, 727. 115 Wright, 349 905, 581, 1241. 116 Chancey, 916, 606, 1250. 117 Northern Hallada, 874, 119, 773. 118 Ruddy, 884, 137, 779. 119 Cereste, 951, 848, 1475. 120 Moore, 849, 121 Buckles, 984, 1052, 1498. 122 Kansas City Justis, 833, 49, 53. 123 Scovel, 835, 54. 124 Masiglowa, 1003, 562, 548. 125 Bowman, 837, 49. 126 Gibson, 897, 270, 193. 127 Martin Tindell, 959, 545, 534. 128 Thomas, 995, 1066. 129 Bush, 827, 67. 130 Wehrli, 321, 304. 131 Butler Watts, 609, 132 Byrne, 960, 798, 766. 133 Andre, 820, 65. 134 E. erroneous instructions 135 Byler, 643. 136 Delaware, Lackawanna Siegrist, 360 1435, 1533. 137 whom WHITTAKER joins, dissenting. 138 opening Term confronts usual volume exacting business impels reiterate involving only factual issues general importance legitimate demands energies, already taxed utmost. 559, 478, 493 (dissenting opinions). extreme character adjudication deserves something noting my dissent merits, even philosophy Rogers. 139 Petitioner injured while engaged, 'wreck train crew,' retracking derailed boxcars line another railroad early morning 'sleety, wet sloppy' day. operation involved use car derrick outriggers. Each outrigger supported beneath wooden blocks. first successfully retracked. equipment had moved similar second car. process wrenched back attempting remove blocks become embedded mud. Being unable brace foot narrow surface ground block cross-ties, placed tie itself. answer found respondent negligent 'the track (petitioner) walk elevated substantial distance above level grease oil, thereby affording unstable footing.' A sum $25,000 returned 140 reach question applicability rule specification excluded appellate asserted can hardly believe quarrels ruling law 'position crosstie, roadbed' could support finding such affairs common notorious one. Hence justification must shows presence crosstie respondent's culpability alleged condition. 141 Unless liability predicated mere conjecture, manifestly deficient. evidence cross-examination sole shoe foot, testimony section foreman used railroad's switches, customarily lubricated least twice week. mentioned direct examination, pre-trial deposition, written account accident shortly after occurred, encountered stage operation, did claim seen anywhere vicinity, rested. With respect foreman's testimony, before position switches relation question—whether adjacent far removed. 142 But considered justifying conclusion was, words whatever 'placed there, knew about or, ordinary care, it.' Evidence greasy condition existed lacking. day And testified nothing untoward area inspected next morning. How circumstances 'with reason' said failed duty inspection beyond me. 143 cannot understand 'scintilla' progeny, 332, 763, 799, justify judgment. fear confirms growing suspicion real unarticulated meaning anything says goes, consequence put end. separate 3, If so, come frankly say so. not, expression standards guided Continuance unsatisfactory lead waste motion defense lawyers. 144 would affirm. yet merits included nor causation Act. Moreover, judgments trials usually treat being 'final' judgments. U.S.C. 1257, 1257; Bruce Tobin, 245 7, 123. February 13, 1925 (43 Stat. 936), broadened Congress, Devanter, speaking explicit 'rule four' governs Subcommittee Senate Judiciary Committee follows: '* * five against favor instances, propriety taking This uniform way writs considered.' Hearings S. 2060, Feb. 1924, 1st 29. 8206, Dec. 8. increase warranted. House Report stated: 'Lest impair administration partial

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