Court Opinion

ID: 9809801
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 21:28:02.593994+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:21:17.585973
License: Public Domain

BbowN, J.,
dissenting: I am of opinion that the motion to nonsuit was properly allowed. As I read the record, there is *326no just ground upon wbicb to bold tlie defendant liable for negligence in failing to protect tbe plaintiff in a sudden affray in wbicb be voluntarily took part without reason for doing so.
Tbe carrier is not an insurer of tbe lives of its passengers, -and is not required to foresee and guard th'em against all assaults, but only sucb as from tbe circumstances may reasonably be expected to occur. Penny v. R. R., 153 N. C., 296; Britton v. R. R., 88 N. C., 536.
Mr. Hutchison states tbe true rule as follows:
“Tbe negligence for wbicb tbe carrier is held liable is not tbe wrong of tbe fellow-passenger or tbe stranger, but is tbe negligent omission of tbe carrier’s servants to prevent tbe wrong from being committed. In order that sucb omission may constitute negligence, there is involved tbe essential element that tbe carrier or his servants bad knowledge, or with proper care could have bad knowledge, that tbe wrong was imminent, and that be bad sucb knowledge or tbe opportunity to acquire it sufficiently long in advance of tbe infliction of tbe wrong upon tbe passenger to have prevented it with tbe force at bis command.” Hutchison on Carriers, sec. 980, page 1124, and cases cited.
Tbe Supreme Court of Indiana bolds that “If a passenger is violently assaulted or ejected from tbe train by a fellow-passenger while tbe conductor is absent, or attending to bis duties in another part of tbe train, not knowing of the assault or that it was threatened, tbe carrier cannot be held liable therefor.” R. R. v. Arnold, 26 Ind. App., 190. In that case many authorities are cited.
I am unable to find any decided case or text-writer wbicb warrants bolding tbe defendant liable under tbe evidence in this case, and none is cited in tbe opinion of tbe Court.