Court Opinion

ID: 9809735
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 21:23:36.627243+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:04:49.048286
License: Public Domain

COOK, J.,
dissenting.
I do not concur with the opinion of tbe Court. Plaintiff was instructed by the conductor to go back and couple tbe cars while be went to tbe office to1 get orders. Tbe caboose was standing upon tbe main track; tbe box cars to be coupled to tbe caboose were upon tbe sidetrack. Afterwards tbe box cars were put in motion by being “kicked,” and had rolled from tbe side-track upon tbe main track, and approaching the caboose to’ which' they were to be coupled. Tbe couplings upon these cars were “automatic.” Upon tbe caboose car tbe link wbicb connected the drawer pin to tbe lever bad been takren out, so that, if tbe lip1 were shut, it *509bad to be opened with, tbe band. Plaintiff, as well as defendant, knew that this link was out. As tbe bos cars approached tbe caboose, plaintiff saw that tbe lip was closed and knew that the coupling could not be made until tbe lip was opened, and to do this be would have to raise tbe drawer pin with one band, and them open tbe lip. “I (be) looked at tbe other cars (tbe ones approaching) and saw that tbe bumper on them (it) was not open, but was closed. * *' * I did not know these cars were coming so fast. I put my foot down there, and as tbe cars came up with such rapidity they caught my foot. * * * It was caught on tbe rebound.” It is-not contended that it was negligence in giving tbe plaintiff tbe order to couple tbe cars. At tbe time tbe order was given the cars bad not been “kicked” or put in motion. Tbe conductor did not know, nor did tbe plaintiff at that time, that .the lip was closed. So plaintiff was not ordered to do a dangerous act, or to assume tbe risk of any danger. When plaintiff discovered- that tbe coupling could not be made, because tbe lip was closed, tbe box cars were approaching very near to the caboose; it was not bis duty then to go in between the moving cars — it was against tbe rules. Upon a failure to make tbe coupling, the cars would have been stopped and then the couplers could have been properly adjusted and the coupling made with safety. Tbe conductor’s order to go back and couple tbe cars did not impose upon plaintiff an obligation to do so at a hazard, or to take any risk. Had the lip been open — its usual condition. — the coupling would have been made; but being closed, and discovered so to be just as the cars were coming together, plaintiff should have waited until the cars stopped and then adjusted the couplers. .But be chose to do tbe foolish rather than the prudent thing, which! could not have been anticipated or prevented by defendant. Therefore, I think the Court erred in not instructing the jury that upon the whole evidence they should answer the second *510issue, to-wit, “Hid the plaintiff, by bis own negligence, contribute thereto?” (to his injury) “Yes.” Had the conductor been present, and seeing the conditions that existed, and then ordered the plaintiff to make the coupling, then, and in that event, I would concur in the opinion; but such was not the case.
It was the duty of plaintiff to look and see the conditions' that existed, and, from his own testimony, it appears that he would not have taken the risk if he had looked and seen, for he says he “did not know these cars were coming so fast.” Then, can defendant be responsible for such negligence ?
MONTGOMERY, J., concurs in the dissenting opinion.