Court Opinion

ID: 6972526
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 02:05:08.338437+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:08:51.235703
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Wilkin delivered the opinion of the court: Complaint is made of appellee’s first instruction, which is to the effect that the rule of law that the defendant, as a carrier of passengers, was required to exercise the highest degree of care for their safety consistent with the practical operation of its railroad, does not in any degree excuse passengers from the duty of exercising ordinary care for their own safety, etc. Objection is made to the use of the words “in any degree.” It is insisted that the instruction as given would incline a jury to the belief that the plaintiff was held to the highest degree of care, whereas, under the law, he was only held to ordinary care. As we understand the contention of appellant, if the words in question were omitted the instruction would state a correct proposition of law. We do not think the words complained of are capable of the interpretation put upon them by counsel for appellant. They are equivalent to the words “in any way” or “in any manner.” If either of these expressions had been used, it could not be successfully claimed that the jury mere misled to the detriment of appellant. Especially is this true when that instruc-' tion is read in connection with the fifth given on behalf of the appellant, which instructed the jury that although they might believe that the plaintiff was slightly negligent in stepping from the moving train, if, under all the facts and circumstances proven in the case, an ordinarily prudent person under similar circumstances would have acted the same as the plaintiff, then he was not guilty of such contributory negligence as would prevent him from recovering in the case. This instruction laid down the rule of law in broad terms and corrected any mere inaccuracy of language in the defendant’s first instruction. At the instance of the defendant the court instructed the jury that if the evidence was equally balanced upon any point ^material to plaintiff’s case, or if the evidence preponderated in favor of the defendant upon any point material to plaintiff’s case, their verdict must be for the defendant; also, that the plaintiff was required to prove the truth of the material allegations of his declaration, or some count thereof, by a preponderance of the evidence, and if he failed to do so the jury should find the defendant not guilty. It is contended that both of these instructions were erroneous for the reason that they required the jury to ascertain, as a question of law, what were the material allegations of the declaration. It ■ seems to be conceded that if the court had instructed the jury as to what the material allegations of the declaration were, or had permitted the declaration to be taken by the jury to the jury room, the instruction would not have been erroneous. If the jury were ignorant and were not informed as to the material allegations of the declaration they could not have been misled by these instructions to the injury of the plaintiff. If they had been improperly instructed as to the material allegations of the declaration then there would have been cause for complaint, but in the absence of any such instruction we are unable to see how the appellant was damaged. The seventh instruction given on behalf, of appellee was to the effect that if the jury believed, from the evidence, that without any fault or negligence of the defendant the plaintiff accidentally fell from the steps of the car, even though such accident occurred without any negligence on the part of the plaintiff, then they should find the defendant not guilty. It is insisted that this instruction is not based upon any testimony in the case, and therefore should not have been given. Florence Sholtey and Andrew Lesley, witnesses for the defendant, testified that they saw appellant fall from the train. While it is not material to determine whether his falling was the result of a mere accident or was caused by the jerking of the train, yet their evidence was sufficient upon which to base the instruction, and it then became a question of fact for the determination of the jury. After the instructions had been read to the jury and the court was about to send them to their room, defendant’s counsel asked the court to give its eighth instruction. The court first marked the instruction “Refused; not presented in time,” but afterwards marked it “given” and read it to the jury. It is insisted that this emphasized the instruction to the detriment of appellant. Under the rules the court might have refused or given the instruction if it saw fit. It was a matter wholly within the judge’s discretion, and the mere fact that it was given after the others had been read would not constitute reversible error in the absence of proof that the discretion was abused. The instruction told the jury that if they believed, from the evidence, that the station platform, in all its parts, was not lighted, but that such lack of light did not cause the injury to the plaintiff, or that there was sufficient light where the plaintiff alighted, then it was immaterial whether other portions of the platform were sufficiently lighted or not. It is claimed that it singled out one of the causes of the alleged negligence of defendant, whereas the accident was caused by a combination of circumstances; also, that it was faulty in telling the jury that if the conductor and brakeman had lanterns that was all that was necessary to relieve the company from its duty to have its platform well and sufficiently lighted. We do not think the instruction is capable of either of- the interpretations thus placed upon it. It certainly cannot be contended that if there was sufficient light at the place where the accident occurred it would malee any difference that the station platform in all of its parts, was not lighted, provided such lack of light at other parts did not cause or contribute to the injury of the plaintiff. On behalf of the defendant a witness named Kauffman testified that some time after the injury, and before the beginning of the suit, he had a talk with the plaintiff, in which plaintiff told him that he did not know about bringing suit, for the reason that he himself was partly to blame for the injury. In rebuttal, the plaintiff was asked by his counsel whether or not he had such a conversation with Kauffman, and replied that he did not remember any such conversation. He was then asked whether or not, if he had such a conversation, it was before the time he had taken advice of counsel and knew what the rights of a passenger were in alighting from a train. This question the court refused to allow the witness to answer, and that ruling is assigned as error. The advice of counsel could in no way affect or modify the force of the statement made to Kauffman. Kauffman testified that the appellant said that he (appellant) was partly to blame for the accident. Whether or not he was partly to blame was a question of fact, and he made the statement to the witness knowing all of the existing facts. It could make no difference that he was afterwards informed by counsel that under those facts he could recover. If there.was any mistake it was a mistake of law rather than a mistake of fact material to the consideration of the case. In determining the question as to whether or not there is reversible error either in the instructions or in the admission of evidence, there is one very strong element to be taken into consideration. After the consideration of all of the evidence the Appellate Court, in its finding of facts, found that the clear preponderance of the evidence showed that appellant was expressly warned by the conductor not to alight until the train came to a stop, and that the light afforded by the lanterns carried by the brakeman and conductor was sufficient to enable him to see the platform and assure himself that the train had come to a stop if he had been in the exercise of ordinary care for his own safety. This finding is based upon evidence about which no question has been raised, and if the appellant was not in the exercise of ordinary care for his own safety and was expressly warned by the conductor not to alight until the train had stopped at the platform he could not recover. These facts are conclusively settled by the judgment of the Appellate Court and are binding upon us in determining the points raised upon the appeal. Accepting these facts as conclusively settled against appellant, the appellee company did all that it was required to do to prevent the accident. We find no reversible error, and the judgment will be alfil med. Judgment affirmed.