Court Opinion

ID: 9864532
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 13:49:33.779346+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:17:25.463763
License: Public Domain

THE COURT.
Appellant again contends that there was no testimony showing the date of the construction of the pole involved in this action, and therefore that General Order 64-A of the Railroad Commission did not apply, and that the trial court and this court were both in error in assuming that it did.
A consideration of the pleadings which was given in the first instance, and are now referred to, shows that the appellant’s contention is untenable, as only one question in relation to the pole was tendered, to wit: Whether the steps on the pole were lower than 7 feet, and were down to within 3 feet of the ground. The allegations of the complaint in paragraph IY are as follows: “That said defendant caused steps to be maintained on said poles from the top to within 3 feet of the ground, the first step being less than 3 feet, contrary to General Order 64-A of the Railroad Commission and contrary to all rules of safety and carefulness; that General Order 64-A, effective March 1, 1929, issued by the Railroad Commission, provides that for any overhead line constructed conducting electricity, the lowest step on any step-pole shall not be less than 7 feet 6 inches from the • ground, and a space between steps on the same side of the pole shall not exceed 36 inches, which said General Order or rule was well known to the defendant herein.” The appellant’s answer reads as follows: “Answering the allegations contained in "Paragraph IY of the plaintiff’s first cause of action, said defendant denies that it caused steps to be maintained on any part of said pole from the top to within 3 feet of the ground, and in this connection defendant alleges that the lowest step on each of said poles was placed and maintained at least 7 feet above the ground and in substantial com*361plianee with the said General Order 64-A of the Railroad Commission referred to in said complaint.”
It will thus be seen that no issue was tendered by the denials of the appellant as to the application of General Order 64-A of the Railroad Commission, and the only testimony required on the part of the plaintiff was to show that the steps on the pole came down below the prohibited distance from the ground, and within 3 feet thereof, as alleged.
The petition for rehearing is denied.
A petition by appellant to have the cause heard in the Supreme Court, after judgment in the District Court of Appeal, was denied by the Supreme Court on January 14, 1932.