Legal Document

516 U.S. 400116 S.Ct. 890134 L.Ed.2d 34 NORFOLK AND WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY, Petitioner,v.William J. HILES. No. 95-6. Supreme Court of the United States Argued Jan. 8, 1996. Decided Feb. 27, Syllabus* Railroad cars are connected by couplers consisting knuckles—clamps that lock with their mates —joined to ends drawbars, which fastened housing mechanisms on cars. Cars automatically couple when they come together and one car's open knuckle engages ot her closed knuckle. The drawbar pivots in its housing, allowing knuckled end some lateral play prevent moving from derailing a curved track. As consequence this movement, drawbars may remain off-center uncoupled must be realigned manually ensure proper coupling. Respondent Hiles injured his back while attempting realign an car at petitioner Norfolk & Western Rail Company's yards. He sued Illinois state court, alleging had violated § 2 Safety Appliance Act (SAA or Act), requires equipped "couplers coupling impact, capable being uncoupled, without necessity individuals going between vehicles." trial court granted directed verdict liability, State Appellate affirmed. Held: Section does not makes railroad liable as matter law for injuries incurred employee trying straighten misaligned drawbar. Pp. __-__. (a) Congress passed SAA 1893 promote switchyard safety requiring use standardized automatic couplers. liability predicated failure equipment perform required Act, creates absolute duty only present, but also actually perform. See, e. g., Affolder v. New York, C. St. L.R. Co., 339 96, 98, 70 509, 510, 94 L.Ed. 683. (b) However, will cause violation if can show coupler has been properly set impact. Affolder, supra, 99, S.Ct., 510-511. Affolder's restriction failure-to-perform logically extends every step necessary prepare nondefective coupling, including ensuring drawbar's alignment. Thus, is breached becomes during ordinary course operations. Hiles' interpretation would require finding that, law, malfunctioning drawbar, when, fact, misalignment occurs part normal His reading mean nearly century SAA. Also contrary argument, command railroads develop mechanism realignment. legislated working safety, whatever means might deem appropriate. 268 Ill.App.3d 561, 205 Ill.Dec. 952, 644 N.E.2d 508, reversed. THOMAS, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. On Writ Certiorari Illinois, Fifth District. Carter G. Phillips, Washington, DC, petitioner. Lawrence M. Mann, Orleans, LA, respondent. Justice THOMAS 1 Before us case question whether (SAA), 49 U.S.C.A. 20302(a)(1)(A) (Supp.1995), We hold it and, accordingly, reverse judgment * train located both each car. A consists joined itself clamp interlocks mate, just two cupped hands—placed palms fingertips pointing opposite directions—interlock fingers curled.1 When together, other car, out designed pivot uncoupled. This misalignment, corrected, knuckles pass other. To employees manually. 3 William was member switching crew Railway Luther Yard Louis, Missouri. duties included uncoupling aligning drawbars. July 18, 1990, SAA, (Supp.1995). argued did result defective equipment. motion liability. 4 appellate 508 (1994). recognized deep split authority over determined reconsider "longstanding permitting plaintiff . recover under sustained align drawbar." Id., 565, Ill.Dec., 955, N.E.2d, 511. denied review, we certiorari, 515 ----, 116 40, 132 921 (1995), resolve conflict among lower courts.2 II 5 For most nineteenth century, link-and-pin standard used hook freight It consisted tubelike body received oblong link. During railworker stand came guide link into pocket. Once were joined, inserted pin hole few inches tube place. See White, American Freight Car 490 (1993) (hereinafter White). coupler, though widely used, ultimately proved unsatisfactory because (i) made loose connection too much give play; (ii) there no design crews often spent hours match pins links cars; (iii) frequently lost, resulting substantial replacement costs; (iv) members go sometimes killed. 490-497. 6 In 1873, Eli H. Janney patented knuckle-style become even today.3 Figure 1. bifurcated drawhead revolving hook, which, brought contact another interlock mate. 7 [NOTE: MATERIAL SET AT THIS POINT IS NOT DISPLAYABLE (GRAPHIC OR TABULAR MATERIAL)] 8 several advantages Not alleviate problem parts plagued coupler,4 allowed railworkers uncouple having pin.5 One commentator described operation follows: 9 "While apart, brakeman make sure waiting stood position lifted position. locked position, able safely way signal engineer move together. hit lever arm revolved around one, concurrently locking dropped Although up entire situation hand, actual cars." Clark 191. 10 Though market flooded literally thousands couplers,6 Janney's clearly best slowly achieved recognition industry. id., 193-201. 1888, Master Builders Association Executive Committee obtained limited waiver patent rights—placing public domain—and adopted standard. Conversion new proceeded slowly,7 partly sheer number competing designs market. lack caused problems,8 reformers pushed legislation 11 1893, satisfied could meet demands commercial operations same time, manipulated safely, see 206, Act. Its success promoting stunning. Between 1877 1887, approximately 38% all accidents involved 179. That percentage fell began replace descent accelerated SAA's 7-year grace period 1902, years after effective date, constituted 4% accidents. numbers, coupler-related 11,000 1892 2,000 steadily increased decade. 12 Employee Coupling Accidents, 1892-19029 Percentage Year Coupler Employees Accidents 821,415 30,821 10,697 34.71 873,602 34,456 11,710 33.99 1894 779,608 25,245 7,491 29.67 1895 785,034 27,507 8,428 30.64 1896 826,620 31,830 8,686 27.29 1897 823,476 29,360 6,497 22.13 1898 874,558 33,719 5,648 16.75 1899 928,924 37,133 5,477 14.75 1900 1,017,653 42,193 4,198 9.95 1901 1,071,169 43,817 2,966 6.77 1902 1,189,315 53,493 2,256 4.22 B 13 originally passed, provided: 14 "[I]t shall unlawful any common carrier haul permit hauled line interstate traffic uncoupled[,] men Mar. 2, 27 Stat. 531, 45 U.S.C. (1988 ed.), recodified, amended, 20302(a) (Supp.1995).10 15 text rail sufficiently compatible so Johnson Southern Pacific 196 1, 16-17, 25 158, 161, 363 (1904). employee's injury death I.M. S.R. Co. Taylor, 210 281, 295, 28 616, 621, 52 1061 (1908) ("If use[s] do comply standard, violates plain prohibitions arises compensation who it").11 16 Early cases occurred forced Johnson, 159 (hand crushed coupling); San Antonio Aransas Pass R. Wagner, 241 476, 478, 36 626, 60 1110 (1916) (foot couplers); Atlantic City Parker, 242 56, 58, 37 69, 70, 61 150 (arm caught coupling). Our later extended reach beyond occurring couple. 97, 509-510, 683 (1950) (railroad ran runaway lost leg he car); Atlanta Andrews Bay 338 430, 432-433, 226, 228-229, 236 (1949) (plaintiff successfully boarded failed couple, collided train); O'Donnell Elgin, E. Ry. 384, 385-386, 200, 202, 187 (railworker killed cars—the broken —collided whose adjusting). Liability these held 510; Carter, 433-434, 228-229. III 17 urges have outfit safe adjust cannot agree. correctly points actionable wrong dependent neither negligence nor proof defect,12 98-99, 510-511; O'Donnell, 390, 393, 204, referred numerous occasions 18 25th 26th more added, first rolling down slight incline. attempt board stop them, instead leg. At trial, attempted prove issue made. Following reaffirmed sufficient create 510-511 (quoting 204), noted set: 19 "Of [imposition liability] assumes placed operate 'the impact Pennsylvania opened,' good defense. " U.S., 511.13 20 similarly conditioned coupler's "properly set." 434, 229; 394, n. 7, 206 (declining consider "a where adequate improperly set"). 21 placing "in impact." implicitly certain preliminary steps, such open, performance constitute claimed knuckle, language sense, been. reasonably complain otherwise electrical appliance neglected plug power cord. Similarly, find think |supra, __ (describing process preparing coupling), alignment drawbar.14 22 contends distinction difference opening accomplished realigning cannot. particularly true, argues, given Congress' "central policy" enacting protect worker obviating Brief 12-13. decline adopt expansive prohibit slued persons cars, easily lend interpretation. Instead, apparently concedes, 19, particular kind attributes, Western's functional characteristics.15 23 Adopting itself, quite unwilling that. true our clear equipment, But agree is, Historically, inevitable byproduct ability traverse track like 24 understandably hesitant suggest almost service Transportation Union Lewis, 711 F.2d 233, 251, 39 (C.A.D.C.1983). hesitance augmented enforcement scheme enacted From beginning, provided penalty hundred dollars violation." 21302(a) amount varied years,16 threat not. Yet single instance fined Government simply enforce provisions 100 years.17 better explanation than aspect since inception: 2.18 Finally, relying railroads' experimental attempts devices, argues intent "develop realignment 27. Or, words amicus, "[t]he Legislative wisdom flexible technology." Amicus Curiae 17. reject 2. plainly instructed install time basic technology existence decades widespread testing feasible superior what then primary use. contrast, concedes exist 26-27, according Western, never shown effective. matters not, method 26 Reversed. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber 200 321, 337, 282, 287, 50 499. Reinhardt, Workin' 274 (1970) (the style "use[s] principle hooked human hand"). Compare, e.g., Kavorkian CSX Transportation, Inc., 33 F.3d 570 (C.A.6 1994), Lisek 30 823 (C.A.7 cert. denied, 513 115 904, 130 787 Goedel 807 (C.A.4 Reed Philadelphia, Bethlehem England 939 128 (C.A.3 1991), Maldonado Missouri 798 764 (C.A.5 1986), Coleman Burlington Northern, 681 542 (C.A.8 1982), Metcalfe Atchison, Topeka Santa Fe 491 892 (C.A.10 1974). dry goods clerk former Confederate Army officer Alexandria, Virginia, lunch whittle wood alternative coupler. F. Wilner, Safety: "A great investment," Age, 1993, p. 53 Wilner). Automatic possible air brakes, excessive slack Hearings S. 811 et al. before Senate Interstate Commerce, 52d Cong., 1st Sess. (1892), reprinted in, S.Rep. 1049, Sess., (1892) Sen. Hearings). Ezra Miller generally credited creating semiautomatic device passenger cars—known Hook—but Clark, Development Semiautomatic Freight-Car Coupler, 1863-1893, Technology Culture 170, 180-182 (1972) Clark); White 505-506. 1875, 900 patents. 498. By patents topped 4,000, ibid., 8,000 issued. Company, instance, policy putting went shop repairs. Hearings, 1890, 10% brakes. Wilner 54. 16% equipped. Ibid. Witnesses testifying figure 12% 20%. (12% fitted Janney-style 42 (20% mutually interchangeable couplers). modifications permitted them couplers, easily. 192 ("[T]he notched order allow opposing ent er point practical difficult effect"); Rep. ("These representative men, speaking associates, say desire uniformity, danger calling rather diminished introduction different types couplers"). 207. 18-19, 161-162, (1904), clarified statute should read comma word "uncoupled," "without cars" applies uncoupling. recodified 1994, behind "uncoupled." Federal Employers' (FELA), U.S .C. 51 seq., 391, 204-205, (1949), although early cases, preceded FELA's enactment 1908. assert claim FELA. pleaded acted negligently defective. Jackson, dissenting grounds, agreed: "Before establishes found If adjusted be, device." 101, 512, (1950). holding suggests least case, absence consequence. record, entitled attempt. reads legislative history singular congressional keep workers construction rests prior interpretations language. event, erroneous. selectively quotes statements W.E. Rodgers hearings wanted force altogether. 14. full clear, how ever, Mr. believed adoption design, existed, fully satisfy requirements reliance H.S. Haines, vice-president Association, misplaced. 15. Haines evidently thought 500 existing proposed bill. 41; Couplers Power Brakes House Foreign (1892). purpose equip uniformly H.R.Rep. 1678, ("It committee locomotives cars"); supra ("What employes need secure greater uniformity. They want alike perfectly interchangeable"). fairly intended practice matching pocket or, worse, unfamiliar cavity. Cf. ("He goes know conditions there. tell Hinson, Dowling, Drexel, drawbar"). Contrary assertion, contains suggestion set, __, aligned. currently Secretary impose "at $500 $10,000." 21302 (a)(2) Chicago, B. Q.R. States, 220 559, 31 612, 55 582 (1911) (§ brake violations); Alabama Great 233 520 1956) violation); Louis-San Francisco 271 F.Supp. 212 (W.D.Mo.1967) Gulf, O.R. 76 289 (E.D.La.1948) violation). view conflicts regulations promulgated Administration (FRA) provide "prepare coupling," CFR 218.22(c)(5) (1994), "adjust device," 218.39(a). rulemaking 218.39, FRA explained rule place themselves hoses "adjusting drawbars." 48 Fed.Reg. 45272, 45273 (1983).

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