Court Opinion

ID: 9310000
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-12-02 17:38:14.190355+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:14:06.207017
License: Public Domain

JONES, J.
We find no error in the proceedings below prejudicial to plaintiff in error.
The question as to whether decedent, White, and the switch-tender were fellow servants was properly left to the jury and the jury correctly decided they were not fellow servants. It is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary that the *124switch was thrown in pursuance to orders from someone in authority and someone who was superior to the engineer and whose orders those in charge of the train were bound to obey.
In this view it is not material what the relation was between decedent and the switch-tender as the latter was the instrument only through which the orders of the dispatcher were carried into execution. To hold otherwise would mean that 'those in charge of the southbound train in this case, or any train, could not move the train unless orders to that effect were received by actual and direct communication with the dispatcher. This is the position the argument of plaintiff in error leads to and needs only to be stated to show its fallacy.
This point disposed of we feel that there is nothing more in the case. White was free from negligence and the company is liable in damages. Under proper instructions from the court the jury fixed the damage at an amount which to it seemed just and which we can not say is excessive.
Judgment affirmed.
Smith and Swing, JJ., concur.