Document: 340 U.S. 573 71 S.Ct. 428 95 L.Ed. 547 MOOREv.CHESAPEAKE & O. RY. CO. No. 318. Argued Jan. 4, 1951. Reargued 10, Decided Feb. 26, Mr. George E. Allen, Richmond, Va., for petitioner. Messrs. Meade T. Spicer, Jr., and Strother Hynes, respondent. Justice MINTON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 This action, brought under Federal Employers' Liability Act1 in United States District Court Eastern Virginia on behalf a surviving widow children, charged negligence against respondent railroad death petitioner's decedent, who was acting course his employment as brakeman at time death. The case tried before jury. At conclusion all evidence, moved directed verdict ground, among others, that not shown to have been negligent. reserved decision, pursuant Rule 50 Rules Civil Procedure, 28 U.S.C.A. submitted jury, which returned Respondent then renewed its contention by motion judgment notwithstanding verdict, sustained, action dismissed merits. Appeals Fourth Circuit affirmed, 184 F.2d 176, we granted certiorari determine whether province jury had invaded 874, 123. 2 On September 25, 1948, decedent employed respondent's switching yards Virginia. day fair. about 3:50 p.m., crew with working undertook first car movement day. An engine tender were headed into Track 12 front end coupled onto 33 loaded freight cars be out initially upon straight track referred ladder track. switch junction properly aligned train pass Who does appear. 3 Decedent gave signal back cars. It westerly direction, rear moving train. standing footboard tender, tender; outer edge ten inches from foot above rail. engineer seat same side standing. turned leaning cab window, looking direction moving. Decedent's duty he rode give signals engineer, testified could times see arm shoulder decedent. To thus seen position signals, extend outward beyond supporting himself partly handrail, otherwise top eight feet seven footboard, would obstructed engineer's view him altogether. 4 approached Switch five miles an hour, having or twelve lengths, saw slump if knees given way, right himself, tumbel forward somersault toward outside made emergency stop unsuccessful effort avoid injuring ran length half it stopped point past died immediately injuries received. 5 recover Act incumbent petitioner prove caused fatal accident. Tennant v. Peoria P.U.R. Co., 321 29, 32, 64 409, 411, 88 520. she alleged sudden unexpected without warning, 'thereby causing thrown safety tender' path 6 is undisputed only one warning. witness accident called testify He fall attempt him. received no reason until fall. When attention point, never waivered testimony continuously up made. 7 Petitioner attempts effect this pointing statements allegedly contradict view. relies measurements expert witness, fact permitted support contradiction. As consequence, asserted, entitled disbelieve version accept petitioner's. 8 True, jury's function credit discredit part testimony. But disbelief supply want proof. Bunt Sierra Butte Gold Min. 138 483, 485, 11 464, 34 1031. Nor possibility alone might make submissible it. 9 burden fell after act charged. Her evidence showed stopped. can glean record her charge there around it, did know 'they' intended take time, cut off some them.2 From said reasonably infer decided threw tender. However, testimony, appearing very page transcript statement relied on, worked signals; do anything; event receive '(k)eep pulling back' signal, 'cleared switch' '(p)robably beyond.'3 We think isolated portion permits inference when placed setting uncontradicted unequivocal totally variance such inference. 10 Hence, shows If believe after—indeed, because of—the fall, fell. There still failure sustain petitioner, where purpose all, contrary good railroading practice, prior fell, speculation run riot. Speculation cannot place Galloway States, 319 372, 395, 63 1077, 1089, 87 1458. Since negligence, court sustained verdict. affirmed. 13 Affirmed. 14 FRANKFURTER dismiss writ improvidently granted, reasons set forth Carter Atlanta St. Andrews Bay R. 338 430, 437, 70 226, 230, 94 236. See Affolder N.Y., C. L.R. 339 96, 101, 509, 511, 683. 15 REED took consideration decision case. 16 BLACK, whom DOUGLAS concurs, dissenting. 17 complaint husband, while performing duties brakeman, killed result engineer. That these allegations, proved, supported finding denied. I doubt but following sufficient justify petitioner: 18 experienced railroad, served capacity years. accident, required ride being backwards suddenly reverse badly broken mutilated body found lying beside injuries. 19 Unless are require element proximate cause proved eyewitness reasonable certainly foregoing facts stopping Yet apparently ignores strong circumstantial relying 'somersault' Of course, believed both abruptly so did, concedes, compelled wholly reject version. balance, especially since noticeable inconsistencies, improbabilities self-interest story how occurred. rejected stopped, find basis previously out. 20 trchnique used today depriving frame issue terms 'When fall?' hold failed proof introduced eye-witness point.* Such myopic loses sight circumstances inferred. What theory decedent's resulted stoppoing engine, asserted due heart attack. Although showing afflicted trouble past, produce any indications disease. therefore quite lack Just reasonably, accepted proving allegations complaint. In my opinion, taking unwarranted substitution court's 21 reverse. 35 Stat. 65, amended, 45 U.S.C. § 51 et seq., seq. 'Q. Were you going those thirty-eight (sic) through A. i don't that. work signals. they put them off.' 30. Supra, n. 2; Had anything—cut cars? No, sir, not. didn't further either conductor Moore anybody else? Keep signal. And cleared switch, switch? Yes, sir. You keep—A. Probably beyond. keep going? Yes.' * also appears should suddenly. whatever purpose, husband's sudden, stop.

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