Valley v. Boston & Maine Railroad , 103 Me. 106 ( 1907 )

Emery, C. J.

This was an action to recover damages for personal injuries sustained by the plaintiff from the negligence of the defendant. The verdict was for the plaintiff. On this motion for a new trial the only question is whether the evidence justified the necessary finding that a written release of the cause of action given by the plaintiff to the defendant for the consideration of fifteen dollars was obtained by such misrepresentation as amounts to legal fraud.

The plaintiff had charge of some cars loaded with potatoes shipped from Fort Fairfield. While the train was at rest in the freight yard of the defendant company in Charlestown, Mass, and the plaintiff was lawfully in the caboose car in a standing position, a moving locomotive struck the rear of the train with such force that the plaintiff was thrown violently against a table and then to the floor of the car to his injury. Getting up, he left the caboose and went along the train to one of his potato cars into which he was helped and remained from about half past three till daylight of a February morning. He then went at the suggestion of one of the train men to a physician, Dr. Sawin, not in the employ of the defendant company. He walked the distance being some five or seven minutes walk. The physician advised him that a rib was broken on the side and another parted from the back bone, and after putting- on the usual bandages advised him to see the claim agent of the company, which he did, going over to his office at the Northern Station in Boston. There is sharp conflict of testimony as to the conversation in the claim agent’s office, which conversation, however, resulted in the plaintiff accepting from the claim agent fifteen dollars and a giving in return therefor a written release of all causes of action, against the company. This written release was prepared by the claim agent upon a printed blank form and the plaintiff not only signed it but wrote upon it with his own hand close under the words of release and next before the attestation clause, the words “I have read the above.” He then delivered the writing and took his money and went away. This was February 9, 1904, and he brought no suit for a year and half afterward viz, August 10, 1905.

At the trial he testified to what he claims were two misrepresentations which he says induced him to give the release. The first was that the claim agent, on ascertaining that he was not a regular paying passenger but was on a freight train in charge of potato cars and only with the usual papers authorizing him to be there for that purpose, stated to him that he had no valid claim for damages under the circumstances but as he was a poor man he .(the claim agent) would give him fifteen dollars as a present to sign the release. This misrepresentation, if there was such, was not a representation of any matter of fact but simply a statement of an opinion on a question of law. There was nothing in the situation to justify the plaintiff in relying on that opinion or that made it invalidating fraud in the claim agent to assert it. The plaintiff was about thirty-eight years old and, so far as the evidence discloses, was of average intelligence and firmness of mind. The claim agent did not seek him. He sought the claim agent. He opened the negotiation and made his claim. He knew the claim agent represented and acted for the other and adverse party. The case on this point is fairly and fully within the principles of Thompson v. Phoenix Insurance Co., 75 Maine, 55. In that case the plaintiff, having sustained a large loss from the destruction of his unoccupied house by fire, accepted one fourth of his claim because of his reliance upon the assurance of the company’s agent that the non-occupancy of the building at the time of the fire ipso facto wholly avoided the policy. It was held by the court that whether the agent’s statements were regarded as of law or fact they did not invalidate the settlement. "In either case” said the court "they were expressions of opinion from the agent of a corporation whose interests were known to be directly hostile to the plaintiff and as a prudent man he ought not to have relied upon them.” See also Mutual Life-Insurance Co. v. Phinney, 178 U. S. 327.

As to the other alleged misrepresentation the plaintiff’s testimony was that he signed the written release without reading it or knowing its contents, and was induced to do so by the statement of the claim agent that it was merely an acknowledgment of the receipt of a present of fifteen dollars. This testimony is flatly and emphatically contradicted by that of the claim agent, is absolutely uncorroborated by any circumstance or by any other witnesses, and seems to us most improbable. The paper was a regular printed one page blank release of letter paper size with the heading of "Boston and Maine Railroad” in large prominent type of capital letters. In the printed part containing the words of release the words "Boston and Maine Railroad” appear twice in capital letters. There were only ten lines to express the purpose of the paper. After the words of release there was written in the clause, "said Railroad agreeing to pay Dr. Sawin.” Under all this the plaintiff wrote with his own hand "I have read the above.” At the bottom of the paper below the signature were three blank certificates of audit. The plaintiff admits he was in the office of the-claim agent half an hour or so talking the matter, over. Granting he was suffering considerable pain, he does not claim he did not know what he was about nor what he was there for, or that he was at all hurried. His signature was formally attested in his presence by two witnesses and there were also a number of other persons present in the office at the time.

We think it incredible that the claim agent of so large a corporation, holding an office of such importance and requiring capacity and carefulness and a reputation for integrity, would venture in the presence of so many witnesses to pass such a paper to the plaintiff (who was in no hurry) to sign and to certify in his own handwriting that he had read it, and state to him that it was merely a receipt for a present of fifteen dollars. Granting that he might he dishonest enough to do so, less than common prudence would have prevented. The real contents of the paper were too conspicuous. The merest glance at it would have exposed the falsehood.

Nor do we think it credible that the plaintiff, unhurried as he was, having under his eyes a paper so brief and with its contents so conspicuous, would have signed it and written upon its face with his own hand that he had read it, without noting its purport. That he was asked to write upon it in his own hand a statement that he had read it must have directed his attention to its contents. For him, then, not to read it or note its purport would be incomprehensible. His handwriting and testimony show him to be a man of full average intelligence and quickness of mind. Granting his bodily pains, there is no evidence that his mind was clouded. He was able to walk, climb stairs, talk, negotiate and write understandingly. His long delay of a year and a half in bringing suit, though advised to do so by different lawyers, tends to show he was conscious of some obstacle.

True, we must assume that the jury found the plaintiff’s testimony on this point to be true and did so after seeing him and hearing him testify, but the personal presence of the plaintiff, the oral reciting of his sufferings and losses, and the small amount for which he settled, not unlikely excited so much sympathy that the jury failed to realize the improbability, the unreasonableness of his story. Studying the evidence apart from such influences we are satisfied the verdict is wrong and must be set aside.

While fraud, when proved, vitiates any contract or settlement, it is not to be lightly assumed to exist but must be proved by trustworthy evidence consistent with undisputed circumstances. Settlements are favored by the law, but if they are to be set aside upon the uncorroborated testimony of the claimant though made in writing and signed by him, there will be little use in making settlements.

Motion sustained.

Verdict set aside.