Zachary Hawkins v. Norfolk Southern Railway Company ( 2019 )

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to
revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
ZACHARY HAWKINS, UNPUBLISHED
September 17, 2019
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v No. 340338
Wayne Circuit Court
NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY LC No. 15-014421-CZ
COMPANY,
Defendant-Appellee.
Before: RONAYNE KRAUSE, P.J., and METER and STEPHENS, JJ.
PER CURIAM.
In this suit involving an alleged workplace injury, plaintiff, Zachary Hawkins, appeals by
right the jury’s verdict in favor of defendant, Norfolk Southern Railway Company. Hawkins was
employed by Norfolk Southern as a train conductor. Hawkins presented evidence to the jury that
he suffered injuries, including frostbite and neurological complications, from exposure to
extremely cold weather while working during the January 2014 “polar vortex.” He argued that
his injuries were caused in whole or in part by various acts or omissions committed by Norfolk
Southern, including the railroad’s admitted failure to provide a properly functional heater in
Hawkins’s locomotive, in violation of federal law. Norfolk Southern contended that any injuries
Hawkins sustained were caused by his own negligence, including his failure to comply with the
railroad’s safety rules. On appeal, Hawkins argues that the trial court improperly instructed the
jury on the applicable law and that the improper instructions warrant a new trial. Although the
trial court’s instructions might have been imperfect, we conclude that the instructions adequately
stated the law, and therefore we affirm.
I. BACKGROUND
On January 6, 2014, Hawkins reported to a Norfolk Southern railyard to prepare for the
departure of a train. There was no trainmaster at the railyard that night, which Hawkins believed
was unusual given that the temperature was an extraordinary fourteen degrees below zero
Fahrenheit. According to Hawkins, the trainmaster typically would discuss the weather
conditions and would ensure that the conductor would have help if needed. Norfolk Southern
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typically provided its employees with hand warmers if they were working on a cold night.
However, Hawkins could not find any hand warmers before departing that night, and he stated
that he had made a request to dispatch for hand warmers but received no response. Norfolk
Southern nevertheless contended that even if hand warmers had not been available immediately,
there were ample supplies of hand warmers conveniently available in several nearby locations,
and Hawkins could and should have availed himself of those other supplies.
It is undisputed that the main heater in the locomotive to which Hawkins was assigned
was not operational, and as a consequence, Norfolk Southern admits that it violated 49 CFR
229.119(d) by failing to maintain the locomotive cab with a functioning heater to maintain a
temperature of at least 60 degrees. An engineer had inspected the locomotive earlier that night
and discovered that the main heater was blowing out cold air while the train was stationary, but
he expected that it warm up as the train started running. The engineer testified that the second
set of heaters, the sidewall or radiant heaters located by the conductor’s feet, was working
properly. The engineer did not report this problem, and Hawkins believed that the heaters were
working when the locomotive was at the railyard.
The train departed at approximately 12:00 a.m. on January 7, 2014. Hawkins’s role as
conductor required him to be able to hold onto the “grab irons” of a car as the train moved, and
he needed to repeatedly get off the train to clear and align track switches. On that night,
Hawkins needed to clear 10 to 12 switches. Some of the switches were closer together, requiring
Hawkins to walk to the next switch and clear it before the train could move. Hawkins indicated
that the weather impeded his ability to clear and align the switches, and because his gloves were
bulky, he could not operate some of the switches without removing his gloves. Hawkins testified
that he requested and received assistance in clearing and aligning two of the switches, but he was
simply “told that maintenance is currently busy and to do the best that I can” in response to a
further request for help, so he proceeded to follow that instruction. Hawkins contended that the
“switch broom” provided to assist him was an inadequate tool for clearing and operating the
switches, whereas Norfolk Southern generally contended that the switch broom was the only
proper tool for the job.
Stephen Myrick, a terminal superintendent and Norfolk Southern’s representative at trial,
testified that train conductors are expected to be able to work independently and solve problems.
He also explained that train crew were expected to call “any number of people,” including the
yardmaster, trainmaster on duty, terminal superintendent, or dispatcher, if they had any safety
concerns, and that they should stand by and wait until help arrived. He stated that it was
“absolutely not” expected for conductors to use their hands to clear switches. Furthermore, crew
were supposed to refuse locomotives they believed to be unsafe, and it was “not a problem to
replace a locomotive,” either by fixing a problem immediately or assigning an alternative
locomotive. Train conductors and engineers were “equally responsible” for reporting anything
wrong with the locomotive, and they had “a duty to exercise care for their own safety.”
Brandon Zidar, a trainmaster for Norfolk Southern, agreed that conductors had many
responsibilities, including knowing and following a number of safety rules. He stated that
Norfolk Southern’s first rule was “ ‘Safety is the first importance in the discharge of duty,’ ” and
he further observed that “[t]he railroad is a very unforgiving place as far as, you know, if a
mistake is made.” He confirmed that the railroad’s policy was for conductors to call for
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assistance if they were unable to operate a switch with the equipment available, and they were
not expected to engage in continued efforts thereafter. Zidar conducted an investigation into
Hawkins’s injury, and he testified that as far as he knew, Norfolk Southern had never charged
Hawkins with violating any of its rules. Nevertheless, he also noted that his report was “all
based upon what the employee gave me as his version of the injury.”
Hawkins first reported the problem with the heaters at 3:54 a.m. because he did not notice
a problem with the heater until that time. John Kelley, a mechanical supervisor for Norfolk
Southern, received Hawkins’s report at approximately 4:00 a.m. However, Kelley did not reach
Hawkins and Powers until approximately two hours later because he was sent to assist with a
derailed train first. Kelley verified that the main heater of the locomotive was not working, but
he could not fix it on-site. However, there was some evidence that Hawkins and the engineer
had cracked open the locomotive cab’s window while they smoked cigarettes throughout the
night; Kelley testified that the locomotive cab normally stayed warm in the winter from the
second set of heaters alone if the cab were to be kept “buttoned up.” Hawkins and Powers were
picked up from their location at 6:15 a.m. by a Norfolk Southern van and driven back to their
hotel. Hawkins estimated that he had been outside for perhaps as much as five and a half hours.
Hawkins alleged that Norfolk Southern’s negligence caused him to suffer frostbite that
resulted in nerve damage. Hawkins testified that he experienced shooting pain in his fingers and
toes and poor grip strength. Norfolk Southern disputed whether Hawkins suffered any injury and
contended that any injury Hawkins suffered was not caused by Norfolk Southern’s negligence.
II. STANDARDS OF REVIEW
This Court reviews de novo claims of instructional error, but it reviews a trial court’s
determination that a particular instruction applies to the facts of the case for an abuse of
discretion. See Lewis v LeGrow, 258 Mich. App. 175, 211; 670 NW2d 675 (2003). This Court
reviews de novo whether the trial court properly interpreted and applied the relevant statutes.
See Pransky v Falcon Group, Inc, 311 Mich. App. 164, 173; 874 NW2d 367 (2015). To the
extent that this issue involves a claim that the trial court erred when it refused to instruct the jury
on assumption of risk as a curative instruction, this Court reviews a trial court’s decision whether
to give a curative instruction for an abuse of discretion. See, e.g., Brenner v Kolk, 226 Mich. App.
149, 164; 573 NW2d 65 (1997). A trial court abuses its discretion when it selects an outcome
that is not within the range of principled outcomes. See Mitchell v Kalamazoo Anesthesiology,
PC, 321 Mich. App. 144, 153-154; 908 NW2d 319 (2017).
We do not review jury instructions piecemeal, but rather we review “instructions as a
whole to determine whether the instructions adequately informed the jury of the applicable law,
given the evidentiary claims of the case.” Holland v Leidel, 197 Mich. App. 60, 65; 494 NW2d
772 (1992). “Jury instructions should not omit material issues, defenses, or theories that are
supported by the evidence. Instructional error warrants reversal if it resulted in such unfair
prejudice to the complaining party that the failure to vacate the jury verdict would be
inconsistent with substantial justice.” Ward v Consol Rail Corp, 472 Mich. 77, 83-84; 693 NW2d
366 (2005) (quotation marks and citations omitted). An instructional error causes prejudice
when it significantly interferes with the jury’s ability to decide the case intelligently, fairly, and
impartially. Id. at 87.
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Hawkins’s claims against Norfolk Southern were premised upon violations of the Federal
Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), see 45 USC 51 et seq. This Court applies federal substantive
law—as determined by the United States Supreme Court—when reviewing a claim of error
involving FELA, but applies this state’s procedural rules. See Jaqua v Canadian Nat’l R, Inc,
274 Mich. App. 540, 545-546; 734 NW2d 228 (2007); see also Norfolk Southern R, Co v Sorrell,
549 U.S. 158, 165-166; 127 S. Ct. 799; 166 L. Ed. 2d 638 (2007). Although this Court may find
decisions of the federal circuit courts persuasive, it is not bound by them. Jaqua, 274 Mich. App.
at 546. A state trial court must, as a matter of substantive federal law, instruct the jury on the
standards properly applicable to a claim under FELA when requested. See CSX Transp, Inc v
Hensley, 556 U.S. 838, 842; 129 S. Ct. 2139; 173 L. Ed. 2d 1184 (2009); see also Norfolk Southern,
549 U.S. at 172 (stating that Missouri’s courts have the same flexibility as any other state in
instructing the jury on the applicable law so long as the courts instruct the jury on the correct
standard).
III. ASSUMPTION OF RISK
Hawkins first argues that the trial court erred by refusing his request to instruct the jury
regarding the inapplicability of “assumption of risk” in this matter. In particular, Hawkins
contends that Norfolk Southern’s theory of the case was, in relevant part, that Hawkins’s injuries
were his own fault for choosing to work that day. Such an argument would be grossly improper,
especially considering the evidence Norfolk Southern introduced to the effect that Hawkins had
developed some work-attendance problems. Although Norfolk Southern did not articulate its
arguments as clearly as might be desired, we are unable to conclude that it actually advanced
such an impermissible theory to the jury.
Hawkins claimed that Norfolk Southern was liable under FELA for negligently causing
him bodily injury by allowing Hawkins to use a train without proper safety precautions. Under
FELA, a “common carrier by railroad” engaged in interstate commerce is liable to an employee
or the employee’s estate
for such injury or death resulting in whole or in part from the negligence of any of
the officers, agents, or employees of such carrier, or by reason of any defect or
insufficiency, due to its negligence, in its cars, engines, appliances, machinery,
track, roadbed, works, boats, wharves, or other equipment. [45 USC 51.]
Congress enacted FELA to “shif[t] part of the human overhead of doing business from
employees to their employers.” Norfolk & Western R Co v Ayers, 538 U.S. 135, 145; 123 S. Ct.
1210; 155 L. Ed. 2d 261 (2003) (quotation marks and citations omitted). It did so in part by
abolishing several common-law defenses that barred recovery by injured workers; it abolished
the fellow-servant rule, the defense of contributory negligence, and the defense of assumption of
risk. See id.; see also 45 USC 53 (abolishing contributory negligence as a bar to recovery); 45
USC 54 (abolishing assumption of risk as a bar to recovery). Notwithstanding these changes to
the common-law approach, the Supreme Court has held that Congress incorporated common-law
negligence with the enactment of FELA; and, for that reason, common-law principles are entitled
to great weight when analyzing the statute. See Consol Rail Corp v Gottshall, 512 U.S. 532, 543-
544; 114 S. Ct. 2396; 129 L. Ed. 2d 427 (1994).
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Federal courts distinguish the concepts of “assumption of risk” and “contributory
negligence.” Contributory negligence involves fault, whereas assumption of risk does not:
The distinction, although simple, is sometimes overlooked. Contributory
negligence involves the notion of some fault or breach of duty on the part of the
employee; and since it is ordinarily his duty to take some precaution for his own
safety when engaged in a hazardous occupation, contributory negligence is
sometimes defined as a failure to use such care for his safety as ordinarily prudent
employees in similar circumstances would use. On the other hand, the
assumption of risk, even though the risk be obvious, may be free from any
suggestion of fault or negligence on the part of the employee. The risks may be
present, notwithstanding the exercise of all reasonable care on his part. Some
employments are necessarily fraught with danger to the workman—danger that
must be and is confronted in the line of his duty. Such dangers as are normally
and necessarily incident to the occupation are presumably taken into the account
in fixing the rate of wages. And a workman of mature years is taken to assume
risks of this sort, whether he is actually aware of them or not. [Seaboard Air Line
R v Horton, 233 U.S. 492, 503-504; 34 S. Ct. 635; 58 L. Ed. 1062 (1914).]
Assumption of risk does not involve negligence by either the employer or employee; it is the “
‘voluntary, knowledgeable acceptance of a dangerous condition that is necessary’ for an
individual ‘to perform his duties,’ ” which cannot serve as a bar to a claim under FELA. Sloas v
CSX Transp, Inc, 616 F3d 380, 393 (CA 4, 2010) (quoting Taylor v Burlington Northern R Co,
787 F2d 1309, 1316 (CA 9, 1986)). By contrast, contributory negligence is a careless act or
omission by the plaintiff that tends to add danger to a preexisting condition. Id. In other words,
quite aside from the chutzpah that would be displayed by an employer brazenly contending that
its employee should have chosen not to do his or her job or to follow orders, such an argument
cannot serve as a defense to a claim under FELA.
Because assumption of risk cannot serve as a bar to recovery under FELA, see 45 USC
54, federal courts have stated that there may be circumstances when it would be appropriate to
instruct the jury that the employee’s decision to knowingly take on a risk inherent in the work
environment does not amount to contributory negligence. See, e.g., Butynski v Springfield
Terminal R Co, 592 F3d 272, 280 (CA 1, 2010). Indeed, some federal courts have opined that
the better course of action in cases involving defense claims of contributory negligence is for the
trial court to describe the doctrine of assumption of risk and instruct the jury not to reduce the
plaintiff’s recovery on that basis. See Fashauer v New Jersey Transit R Operations, Inc, 57 F3d
1269, 1274 (CA 3, 1995) (collecting cases and discussing a split of authority on the proper
circumstances for giving such instructions).
However, other courts have stated that it is not appropriate to instruct the jury on
assumption of risk where the issue was not explicitly or impliedly before the jury. See Russell v
Nat’l R Passenger Corp, 189 F3d 590, 595 (CA 7, 1999); see also Heater v Chesapeake & Ohio
R Co, 497 F2d 1243, 1249 (CA 7, 1974) (stating that “the use of an assumption of risk
instruction in an FELA case has been condemned by this and other courts” and opining that such
“an instruction is a confusing, negative statement which refers to issues not involved in an FELA
case”). As the court in Fashauer stated, “[t]hese latter cases enunciate a salutary principle:
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Whenever possible, courts should spare juries intricate descriptions of opaque legal doctrines
inapplicable to the case.” Fashauer, 57 F3d at 1275. Nevertheless, the Fashauer court agreed
that such an instruction might be warranted under some circumstances:
But in the end, this salutary principle can only be a starting point. Because
assumption of risk and contributory negligence are similar doctrines, and because
only the latter is a defense under the FELA, we recognize that sometimes the
absence of an explanation of the differences between the doctrines will confuse
the jury as to the governing law. And, following that logic, we have held that
when the facts of the case present a danger of jury confusion on the issue, an
assumption of risk charge should be given. Thus, in Koshorek v Pennsylvania R
Co, the only evidence concerning the plaintiff’s negligence consisted of his
continuing to work in a dusty shop when he “either knew or should have known
that inhalation of excessive dust over an extended period of time might cause him
harm.” The district court refused to give an assumption of risk charge and the
jury returned a verdict for the railroad. We reversed because “[h]ad an adequate
distinction between conduct constituting contributory negligence and that which
would have constituted assumption of risk been pointed to the jurors in the
charge, the jury might well have reached a different verdict.”
Thus, the most we can say as a matter of law is that when the evidence
adduced at trial presents a danger that the jury might reduce a plaintiff’s recovery
based on the impermissible theory of assumption of risk, then the trial judge
should instruct the jury on how that doctrine differs from contributory negligence.
But when the evidence presents no such danger, then an adequate charge on
contributory and comparative negligence suffices. [Fashauer, 57 F3d at 1275
(citations omitted).]
We agree with the Fashauer court’s approach. Under that approach, an instruction on
assumption of risk is appropriate in FELA cases only when there is “a danger that the jury might
reduce [the] plaintiff’s recovery based on the impermissible theory” that the plaintiff assumed
the risk by working under the conditions at issue. Id. In such a case, the trial court should
instruct the jury that it “may not find contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff simply
because he acceded to the request or direction of the responsible representatives of his employer
that he work at a dangerous job, or in a dangerous place, or under unsafe conditions.” Id. at 1280
(quotation marks, citation, and alteration omitted). Where the evidence and arguments, however,
are that the plaintiff acted negligently by refusing reasonably safe alternatives, the standard
instructions are adequate. Id. at 1281.
In this case, the parties did not initially argue or present evidence that Hawkins
contributed to his own injury by simply acceding to his employer’s request to work during
dangerously cold weather. Hawkins emphasized in his opening statement that Norfolk Southern
had a duty to provide a safe working environment, which included taking steps to ensure that
Hawkins could work safely in the given weather conditions. He maintained that the railroad’s
failure to adhere to the standard of care caused Hawkins to be needlessly exposed to dangerous
conditions. Norfolk Southern conceded in its opening statement that it had violated a regulation,
and it discussed the variety of its acts and omissions that Hawkins alleged to be negligent.
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Norfolk Southern argued that the evidence would nevertheless show that it had not been
negligent, and that the evidence would show that Hawkins’s own acts and omissions caused any
injuries that he might have suffered. Norfolk Southern specifically disputed what it
characterized as an argument by Hawkins that the railroad had been negligent for having “even
had the temerity to call him into work.” However, it did not contend at that time that Hawkins
should have refused to come in to work.
The evidence presented at trial concerning the acts or omissions of the parties focused on
whether Norfolk Southern, Hawkins, or both breached the applicable standards of care. The
undisputed evidence showed that it was dangerously cold on the night at issue. However, the
parties did not argue nor present evidence that tended to permit an inference that Hawkins
assumed the risk of any harms occasioned by the cold or that his acquiescence in his employer’s
call to work precluded him from recovery. Instead, the evidence and arguments all focused on
whether Norfolk Southern took reasonable steps to protect Hawkins’s safety in light of the
working conditions, and whether Hawkins took reasonable steps to protect his own safety in light
of the working conditions. Thus, this case did not involve evidence that Hawkins merely
accepted working under dangerous conditions. See Joyce v Atlantic Richfield Co, 651 F2d 676,
683 (CA 10, 1981). Rather, the arguments and evidence concerned Hawkins’s failure to take
reasonable steps to protect himself by obtaining the equipment or utilizing the services available
to him from Norfolk Southern, or by failing to take other reasonable precautions to protect
himself from the cold.
Given the evidence and arguments, there was no need to instruct the jury that Hawkins
did not assume the risk of working in cold temperatures. See Russell, 189 F3d at 595. The
instructions on contributory and comparative negligence sufficed to allow the jury to fairly
consider the issues before it. See Fashauer, 57 F3d at 1275. Accordingly, the trial court did not
err when it refused to instruct the jury on assumption of risk when defense counsel first proposed
submitting that instruction, because the evidence and arguments then before the jury did not
create a risk that the jury might reduce Hawkins’s recovery on the basis of his decision to work
that night. Id. at 1280. That may, however, have changed after defense counsel’s closing
remarks.
In his closing remarks, Hawkins again argued that Norfolk Southern breached its duty to
provide reasonable and safe working equipment and conditions in light of the weather on the
night at issue. By contrast, he maintained, the evidence showed that Hawkins acted reasonably
under the circumstances; he tried to get hand warmers and dressed appropriately. Similarly,
Norfolk Southern agreed that it had a duty to provide a reasonably safe place to work, but it
maintained that it did provide such a place. It noted that the evidence showed that Norfolk
Southern properly trained Hawkins, provided him with proper equipment for the job, and
provided him with the means to avoid hazards. It conceded that the railroad violated the
regulations by failing to ensure that the locomotive’s heater was working, but it maintained that
the evidence showed that that violation did not cause Hawkins any injury. It also asserted that
the evidence showed that Hawkins had not actually suffered an injury.
Norfolk Southern then discussed evidence it believed showed that Hawkins was
negligent. In particular, that Hawkins’s only complaint about the working conditions—the first
time he reported his injury—was that the locomotive’s heater was not working. It then suggested
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that Hawkins’s decision to work that night was negligent, stating: “So if Mr. Hawkins thought it
wasn’t safe to work on January 6 – 7, 2014, he should’ve said I’m not going to work, this is not
safe. He had that right, he had that duty.” Hawkins immediately objected, asserting that Norfolk
Southern was improperly injecting assumption of the risk. The trial court did not rule on the
objection immediately, whereupon Norfolk Southern continued by emphasizing that although
Hawkins had pointed out that the railroad was aware of the weather, Hawkins was likewise
aware of the weather, and both had duties to conduct themselves accordingly. It emphasized that
Hawkins had a duty as the conductor to refuse the locomotive if the heater was not working;
insist on obtaining hand warmers or obtain them from the numerous other sources available; and
comply with the railroad’s safety rules upon which he had been briefed and trained, which
included reporting a non-functional heater, refraining from smoking in the cab, and paying
attention to symptoms of impending frostbite.
When read in context, the statement by Norfolk Southern appears to have been an
inartfully worded discussion of the evidence that Hawkins should have taken advantage of safe
alternatives to proceeding as he did. Indeed, Norfolk Southern’s theory was, consistent with the
argument it proceeded to continue making, that Hawkins not only should have utilized several
readily available means to protect himself in carrying out his duties, failing to do so was actually
in violation of the railroad’s rules and policies. Such an argument is not improper. Nevertheless,
by improperly stating that Hawkins had a duty not to work if he thought it was unsafe, Norfolk
Southern impliedly invited the jury to find that Hawkins assumed the risk of working during
dangerously cold weather, notwithstanding any negligence by Norfolk Southern. Consequently,
the better practice for the trial court would have been to rule on Hawkins’s objection
immediately and provide a curative instruction to prevent the jury from being misled. See
Fashauer, 57 F3d at 1275.
However, it is not clear that the trial court abused its discretion when it refused to instruct
the jury on assumption of risk—as opposed to some other curative instruction—at that very
moment. See Brenner, 226 Mich. App. at 164. The trial court may reasonably have concluded
that the risk of the jury improperly considering assumption of risk on the basis of this statement
alone was low and could be cured by instructing the jury on contributory negligence. Indeed, the
trial court instructed the jury about the duty imposed on Norfolk Southern shortly after the
arguably improper statement. Those instructions made it clear that Norfolk Southern had a duty
to provide a reasonably safe work environment even under the circumstances presented by the
dangerously cold weather. Furthermore, Norfolk Southern’s improper comment was isolated,
and as noted, it occurred in the context of an argument that was otherwise entirely proper.
The trial court instructed the jury that Norfolk Southern could be liable if Hawkins
suffered an injury “in whole or in part” that resulted from negligence by Norfolk Southern. The
court then instructed the jury on Hawkins’s theory of negligence and informed them that Norfolk
Southern denied that it was negligent in those ways. The court then explained the elements: it
instructed the jury that Hawkins had the burden to establish that Norfolk Southern was negligent
and that its negligence “caused or contributed in whole or in part to some injury.” It further
informed the jury that Norfolk Southern had a duty to use “ordinary care under the
circumstances” to furnish Hawkins with a reasonably safe place in which to work. It informed
the jury that Norfolk Southern had a continuing duty to maintain and keep the work place in a
reasonably safe condition. It also explained that Norfolk Southern’s duty was “measured by
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what a reasonable prudent person would anticipate or foresee resulting from particular
circumstances.” The court told the jury that it should find Norfolk Southern “negligent” if it
found by a preponderance of the evidence that Norfolk Southern failed to take reasonable
precautions that a reasonably prudent person would have taken under the circumstances. The
court also properly informed the jury that it had to return a verdict in Hawkins’s favor if it found
that Norfolk Southern’s negligence caused Hawkins’s injury, even if it also found that Hawkins
was negligent.
After the jury left to deliberate, Hawkins renewed his objection and requested that the
trial court should instruct the jury on assumption of risk. Norfolk Southern disagreed that it had
interjected assumption of risk during closing arguments. Rather, it opined that its closing
argument had merely stated that “if [Hawkins] came to work and he thought there was some
reason he shouldn’t proceed, he should’ve said something to somebody and not done it.” The
trial court acknowledged the objection and, with no analysis whatsoever, simply stated that it “is
declining any further action” on the objection or requested instruction.
We think the trial court did not follow the best possible practice in responding to or
addressing Norfolk Southern’s improper comment. However, it does not appear that the concept
of assumption of risk was sufficiently before the jury to require an instruction. See Fashauer, 57
F3d at 1275. For the same reason, to the extent that Hawkins asked for the assumption of risk
instruction as a curative instruction, the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it refused to
give the instruction. See Brenner, 226 Mich. App. at 164. The doctrine of assumption of risk can
be confusing, and the trial court could reasonably conclude that the instruction would be more of
a hindrance than a clarification under the totality of the circumstances. See Heater, 497 F2d at
1249. The jury had already been properly instructed on the applicable duty and had begun
deliberations. The trial court could reasonably conclude that the jury was not confused or misled
by Norfolk Southern’s improper remark and that the jury would follow the court’s instructions
on the applicable duties and the concept of contributory and comparative negligence. See
Lenawee Co v Wagley, 301 Mich. App. 134, 159; 836 NW2d 193 (2013) (stating that juries are
presumed to understand and follow their instructions). Therefore, its decision to take no further
action after the misstatement was within the range of principled outcomes. See Mitchell, 321
Mich. App. at 153-154.
Even if we were to conclude that the trial court should have instructed the jury that
assumption of risk was not a defense, that error would not warrant relief. See MCR 2.613(A);
see also Johnson v Corbet, 423 Mich. 304, 327; 377 NW2d 713 (1985) (stating that an error is
harmless under MCR 2.613(A) unless it caused such unfair prejudice to the complaining party
that allowing the verdict to stand would be inconsistent with substantial justice). An instruction
on assumption of risk does not address the duty owed by the employer; rather, it implicates the
employee’s responsibilities and creates a potential that the jury might reduce the plaintiff’s
award on the ground that the plaintiff voluntarily assumed the risk of harm associated with the
work conditions. In this case, the jury never reached whether Hawkins was negligent because it
found that Norfolk Southern was not negligent. When a jury finds that the railroad was not at all
negligent, a trial court’s failure to give an instruction on assumption of risk is harmless. See
Osteguin v Southern Pacific Transp Co, 144 F3d 1293, 1296 (CA 10, 1998).
The trial court did not err when it refused to instruct the jury on assumption of risk.
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IV. NEGLIGENCE PER SE
Hawkins next argues that the trial court erred when it instructed the jury on his claim of
negligence per se for the violation of a safety regulation. Specifically, Hawkins alleged that
Norfolk Southern violated, in relevant part, 49 CFR 229.119(d) of the Locomotive Inspection
Act (LIA), 49 USC 20701 et seq. The instruction of which Hawkins complains might have been
better phrased or better left unstated, but we disagree that it was erroneous.
LIA generally provides that a railroad must maintain its locomotives in a proper
condition and safe to operate without unnecessary danger of personal injury. 49 USC 20701(1).
The United States Supreme Court determined that the predecessor to LIA did not create a right of
action but did make violations of that act unlawful. See Urie v Thompson, 337 U.S. 163, 188; 69
S. Ct. 1018; 93 L. Ed. 1282 (1949). The Court in Urie noted that Congress created a cause of
action for negligence under § 1 of FELA, see 45 USC 51, and abolished the defenses of
contributory negligence and assumption of risk in §§ 3 and 4, see 45 USC 53; 45 USC 54, when
the railroad’s violation of a safety statute caused the employee’s injuries. The Court read these
provisions together and held that a violation of LIA amounts to negligence per se under FELA.
See Urie, 337 U.S. at 188-189. Therefore, an employee injured as a result of a violation of LIA
can bring suit under FELA to recover for his or her injuries caused by the violation. See Lilly v
Grand Trunk Western R Co, 317 U.S. 481, 485-486; 63 S. Ct. 347; 87 L. Ed. 411 (1943); see also
Straub v BNSF R Co, 909 F3d 1280, 1282-1284 (CA 10, 2018) (discussing the development and
historical treatment claims under FELA premised on a violation of LIA). A railroad’s failure to
comply with a regulation issued by the Federal Railroad Administration is a violation of LIA.
Straub, 909 F3d at 1284.
Because Norfolk Southern conceded that it violated 49 CFR 229.119(d), it would be
liable under FELA if its violation caused Hawkins’s injury “in whole or in part.” See 45 USC
51. Moreover, because the regulations promulgated under LIA are treated as safety statutes, see
45 USC 54a, Hawkins’s recovery would not be diminished in proportion to his contributory
negligence, see 45 USC 53. Stated another way, Norfolk Southern would be strictly liable for
Hawkins’s complete injury if the jury found that it violated 49 CFR 229.119(d) and that the
violation caused Hawkins’s injury in whole or in part. See Straub, 909 F3d at 1284.
Regarding this claim, the trial court instructed the jury:
Plaintiff has brought a claim alleging that Defendant violated a Federal
Locomotive Safety Regulation 49 CFR 229.119(D) which provides as follows.
Any occupied locomotive cab shall be provided with a heating
arrangement that maintains a temperature of at least 60 degrees Farenheit [sic], 6
inches above the center of each seat in the cab compartment. Defendant admits
that it violated this regulation.
In order for you to find that [sic] Plaintiff Hawkins under the 49 CFR
229.119(D) that I just read for you he must show by a preponderance of the
evidence not only that there was a violation of the statute or regulation, but also
that said violation caused Plaintiff’s claimed injury or damage in whole or in part.
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If the injury resulted from some other cause or as a result solely of
Plaintiff’s own conduct you must find for the Defendant.
It is the duty of any person who has been injured to use reasonable
diligence and reasonable means under the circumstances in order to prevent the
aggravation of such injuries into effect [sic] or recovery from such injuries.
If you should find the Plaintiff failed to seek out or take advantage of a
[illegible] or employment opportunity or medical treatment that was reasonably
available to Plaintiff under all the circumstances shown by the evidence, then you
should reduce the amount of Plaintiff’s damages by the amount Plaintiff could
have reasonably realized that Plaintiff could take advantage of such opportunity.
Hawkins argues that the fourth paragraph of the above instruction was vague and improperly
invited the jury to consider Hawkins’s contributory negligence, which might be viewed as some
“other cause.” Hawkins argues that it could have caused the jury to find in favor of Norfolk
Southern even if its violation caused Hawkins’s injury in part, which would be contrary to the
strict liability imposed for violations of regulations. He further argues that the use of the word
“conduct” instead of the word “negligence” was additionally confusing, because FELA
specifically provides that conduct that does not amount to negligence cannot be used to offset
liability.
The instruction as a whole could potentially have been better phrased. Additionally, the
fourth paragraph was likely unnecessary to a proper understanding of the claim involving
negligence per se. However, when read in context, we disagree with Hawkins that the jury was
likely to be misled or confused. When the instructions are read as a whole and together with the
verdict form, they adequately and fairly presented the applicable theories and law. See Holland,
197 Mich. App. at 65; Lewis, 258 Mich. App. at 211. Importantly, the complained-of sentence
occurred immediately following the trial court’s instruction that the jury should find in favor of
Hawkins if he established that Norfolk Southern’s admitted violation caused his injury in whole
or in part. It was then immediately followed by an instruction that the jury should reduce any
award of damages by an amount to which Hawkins contributed to his own injuries, in clear
contrast to whether the railroad was liable in the first place.1
Furthermore, the trial court had already informed the jury that it was Hawkins’s theory
that the failure to provide an adequately heated cab caused his injuries, and that it was the
position of Norfolk Southern that its violation of the regulation did not cause any injury to
Hawkins. Finally, the verdict form asked the jury to decide whether the violation of the
regulation was “a cause in whole or in part of any injury to plaintiff?” Taken together, the jury
was aware that it was obligated to find Norfolk Southern liable if it found that Norfolk
Southern’s failure to have a heating arrangement caused any injury to Hawkins in whole or in
1
It appears that the trial court’s instruction regarding reduction of any award of damages was in
reference to another argument by Norfolk Southern contending that Hawkins failed to mitigate
his damages.
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part. The reference to “some other cause” must be understood in context. In that context, the
reference to “some other cause” conveyed to the jury only that it had to find for Norfolk
Southern if it found that Hawkins’s injury arose from some cause other than a violation of the
regulation that caused the injury in whole or in part. The word “solely” could be construed as
only modifying the word “result,” but when considered in light of the instructions and case as a
whole, it clearly also modifies “other cause.” Thus, the challenged sentence, although
awkwardly phrased, correctly informed the jury that it must find in favor of Norfolk Southern if
Hawkins’s injury was caused entirely by something other than Norfolk Southern’s violation.
Hawkins argues that the term “conduct” might include conduct that was not negligent; he
claims that, because only negligent conduct can be used to diminish an award, the reference to
“conduct” without any qualification inaccurately stated the law. See 45 USC 53. However,
although the trial court did discuss diminution shortly thereafter, it is clear that the sentence
addressed causation. If the jury found that the violation of the regulation by Norfolk Southern
did not cause Hawkins’s injury in whole or in part—which would necessarily be the case if it
found that the injury was the result of Hawkins’s sole conduct—the jury would be required to
find entirely in favor of Norfolk Southern. Consequently, the use of the term “conduct” was not
by itself improper.
Hawkins also argues that it is improper to instruct the jury on sole cause of the injury
when there is no evidence that the employee might have negligently caused his or her own injury
or where it was undisputed that the railroad’s violation caused in part the employee’s injury.
See, e.g., Hardlannert v Illinois Central R Co, 401 Ill App 3d 405, 411-412; 928 NE2d 172
(2010) (stating that the record evidence foreclosed a defense argument that the employee was
completely responsible for his own injury). However, there was ample evidence that Hawkins
engaged in acts or omissions that might have been the sole cause of any injuries that he might
have suffered. There was evidence that Hawkins could have secured hand warmers from a
number of locations to warm his hands and feet during the events at issue. There was also
evidence that the maintenance of way department was ready, willing, and able to assist him with
clearing switches, but he did not fully avail himself of their services. Additionally, there was
evidence that Hawkins chose not to take appropriate breaks, did not utilize his opportunities to
take breaks from the weather in the locomotive or other transportation, and might have
unnecessarily exposed himself to the elements in order to smoke or allow his coworker to smoke.
Taken together, a reasonable jury could have found that Hawkins’s negligent acts or omissions
were the sole cause of his injuries. Given the evidentiary dispute, the instruction was not
improper.
The sentence of which Hawkins complains might have been better omitted. See Page v
St Louis Southwestern R Co, 349 F2d 820, 826-827 (CA 5, 1965) (stating that sole cause
instructions are unnecessary and better left unstated because the standard instruction covers the
matter). It also might have been better phrased. However, the trial court’s instructions to the
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jury, as a whole, adequately stated the law and issues; any shortcomings in the wording do not
warrant a new trial. See MCR 2.613(A); Johnson, 423 Mich. at 327.
Affirmed. As the prevailing party, Norfolk Southern may tax its costs. See MCR
7.219(A).
/s/ Amy Ronayne Krause
/s/ Patrick M. Meter
/s/ Cynthia Diane Stephens
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