Mahany v. Kansas City Railways Co. ( 1921 )

The petition alleges, among other things, that on April 24, 1917, plaintiff attended a funeral conducted by defendants Newcomer, and was one of the funeral party transported by said defendants, in conducting said funeral; that in consideration of the funeral bill paid to said defendants Newcomer, the plaintiff and other members of said funeral party, were to be transported in vehicles by them, to and from the cemetery; that after the burial, while plaintiff and the other members of said party were being transported by said defendants Newcomer, from the cemetery, as aforesaid, in a large funeral automobile, operated by said defendants Newcomer and their agents, the automobile was driven along the public highway to a certain point near the cemetery, and near the town of Mt. Washington, in Jackson County, Missouri, where said highway crosses the system and railway tracks of defendant, The Kansas City Railways Company; that then and there, a street car operated by said Railways Company, and said funeral automobile, in which plaintiff was so riding, approached said intersection about the same time; that by the several and joint negligence and carelessness of said Railways Company in operating, managing and controlling said street car, and the defendants Newcomer and their agents and servants in managing, operating and controlling said funeral automobile, the said street car and said funeral automobile at said time collided and ran together, violently and with great force, whereby plaintiff was forcibly hurled against various portions of said automobile, caused to come in contact with other objects and was thereby severely and permanently injured.

The petition describes in detail the injuries alleged to have been sustained by plaintiff, and charges that he has been damaged to the extent of $50,000, etc.

Each of the above-named defendants filed a general denial.

The trial was commenced on May 12, 1919, before Judge Bird and a jury.

It is undisputed that the Railways Company was operating a line of railway between Kansas City and Independence, Missouri, and that it was operating the street car which injured plaintiff on April 24, 1917. It is also uncontroverted that the defendants Newcomer were the undertakers conducting said funeral, and that for the consideration paid them plaintiff and the other pallbearers were to be transported to the Mt. Washington Cemetery and return, in the automobile of said defendants. It is also uncontroverted that after the funeral plaintiff and about four or five of the above pallbearers were riding in the Newcomer automobile when plaintiff was injured.

The evidence tends to show that "Mount Washington Cemetery" is located south of the railway track. At the east end of the cemetery there was a public highway extending north and south, which crossed the railroad track practically at right angles. A short distance west of where the street railroad track crossed said public road, there is a covered station on the north side of the railroad track, located about twenty-five feet west of a post mentioned in the evidence. The front vestibules of street cars going east are usually stopped about at this post, where passengers get on or off the car. It was about 106 feet from the entrance of the cemetery north to the railroad track. It is about a four or five per cent up-grade from the cemetery to the railroad track. The distance by actual measurement, from the post above mentioned, to the center of the crossing where plaintiff was injured, is 50 or 51 feet. About 90 feet west of said post is a sign, designated as "Mt. Washington." This is where pedestrians get off to go into the cemetery through a gate. The highway runs northeast as it leaves the cemetery, and then runs practically north across the railroad track. The automobile, by reason of said collision, was carried east down the street car track about twenty-six feet from the center of said highway. It was a Cadilac, seven-passenger automobile, and weighed about 4,000 pounds. The accident occurred about the middle of the day. The street car was traveling east, and the automobile going north, when the collision took place. The east end of the street car struck the automobile near its middle and carried it the above distance of twenty-six feet. Plaintiff was injured in the collision, and sued both defendants to recover the damages sustained by him, on account of the alleged negligence of defendants.

In order to avoid repetition, the remainder of the facts will be considered in the opinion.

The instructions given and refused, as well as the rulings of the court during the progress of the trial, will be considered, as far as necessary, in the opinion.

The jury returned a verdict for $30,000 against both defendants and judgment was rendered accordingly. Defendants filed separate motions for a new trial, and separate motions in arrest of judgment. All of said motions were overruled, and both defendants appealed to this court.

I. Both the Railways Company, and defendants Newcomer, are strenuously insisting that the trial court committed error in overruling their respective demurrers to the evidence at the conclusion of the case. As these contentions are not based upon the same evidence, and as the testimony of each tendsSeparate to shift the responsibility for plaintiff's injuriesDefenses. to the other defendant, it will be necessary to dispose of their respective contentions separately.

II. Before considering either demurrer to the evidence, it is important to determine whether the alleged negligence of the automobile driver was imputable to plaintiff. The latter was sitting on the rear seat of the automobile and on the west side of same, from which the oncoming car wasNegligence. approaching. It is undisputed that plaintiff wasImputed riding in a hired vehicle, then operated by defendants Newcomer in the course of their undertaking business, and that defendants Newcomer furnished this vehicle and carried plaintiff, with other pallbearers, on account of the consideration which they had received. The plaintiff had no control over the driver of the machine, was not in anyway directing his movements at the time and place of accident, and as the collision occurred in such a short time after the gripman and driver of the machine came in view of each other, we are of the opinion that the alleged negligence of the automobile driver should not be imputed to plaintiff as a matter of law. [Moon v. St. Louis Transit Co., 237 Mo. l.c. 434 and following; Neff v. City of Cameron, 213 Mo. l.c. 359 and following; Petersen v. Transit Co., 199 Mo. l.c. 341; Sluder v. Transit Co., 189 Mo. l.c. 139 and following; Becke v. Mo. Pac. Ry. Co., 102 Mo. 544; Davis v. City L. T. Co., 222 S.W. l.c. 885; Lawler v. Montgomery, 217 S.W. l.c. 857; Leapard v. K.C. Rys. Co., 214 S.W. 268-9; Burton v. Pryor, 198 S.W. l.c. 1120; Montague v. M.K. T. Ry. Co., 193 S.W. l.c. 936; Marsh v. Railroad, 104 Mo. App. l.c. 586; Profit v. C.G. Western Ry. Co., 91 Mo. App. l.c. 375; Munger v. City of Sedalia, 66 Mo. App. l.c. 631-2.]

III. The defendant Railways Company insists that it had the right to a clear track, and that twenty-five or thirty miles per hour was not an unreasonable rate of speed for its car at the time and place of accident. We have examined the cases cited by the Railways Company, but do not consider thatNegligence of they are applicable to the facts of this case. ItMotorman. may be true that in the country, and in places where the population is sparsely settled, a railroad company, in the operation of its train or cars, in theabsence of evidence to the contrary, may proceed upon the theory that its track is clear, and run its cars or trains over same at a rapid rate of speed, unless prohibited by law. The principle just announced, however, has no application to the facts of this case, because there was substantial evidence offered in behalf of plaintiff, tending to show that from the time the automobile left the cemetery, until struck by the street car, it was in plain view of the motorman. Plaintiff's evidence likewise tended to show, that the chauffeur, without indicating any intention tostop, proceeded on his journey, at the rate of five miles per hour, toward the crossing, until he occupied a position of peril; that instead of the motorman putting his car under control and slacking his speed so as to avoid a collision, he increased the speed to twenty-five or thirty miles per hour, and ran his car into the automobile containing plaintiff and other passengers.

The motorman, in justification of his conduct, said he received a signal from the chauffeur, which he understood to be an invitation to come on over the crossing. The chauffeur testified that he gave no signal whatever to the motorman, and he is corroborated as to this fact by at least one, if not more, of the passengers in the automobile. If the jurors believed the chauffeur, then they were justified in finding that the motorman was guilty of negligence in failing to have his car under control, and in increasing the speed of the car to twenty-five or thirty miles per hour, while the passengers of the automobile were in peril upon or near the crossing.

The demurrer of defendant Railways Company, was properly overruled.

IV. The defendants Newcomer likewise insist that their demurrer to plaintiff's evidence should have been sustained. The observations heretofore made, in respect to the negligence of the Railway Company, apply with equal force to the conduct of the chauffeur in charge of the automobile. The motormanChauffeur's testified, that he did not stop at "Mt. Washington,"Negligence. and his testimony is corroborated in that respect by the conductor in charge of the street car. The chauffeur testified, that when he drove on the railroad track, his car was in intermediate gear, was under perfect control, and could have been stopped instantly.

We then have before us substantial evidence tending to show the following facts: That the street car did not stop at the post, but increased its speed to twenty-five of thirty miles per hour before reaching the crossing; that the chauffeur, before approaching the danger zone, was in plain view of the street car and saw its every movement between the post and crossing; that he either knew, or ought to have known, that a collision was likely to occur; that he unnecessarily speculated as to results, at the expense of his passengers, and failed to exercise any degree of care for the safety of those dependent upon him. The trial court committed no error in submitting to the jury the issue as to the negligence of the defendants Newcomer, under the circumstances of the case.

It may be observed in passing that paragraph 9 of Section 12 of the Laws of 1911, page 330, was in force at the date of this accident, and that said act has been construed by the other Division of this court to mean that the chauffeur in this case, at the time of the accident, was required to exercise the highest degree of care that a very prudent person would use. [Jackson v. S.W. Bell Tel. Co., 281 Mo. 358; Monroe v. C. A. Railroad Co., 280 Mo. 483; Threadgill v. U. Rys. Co.,279 Mo. 66.] Even if tested by the rule of ordinary care, we would not feel justified in holding, as a matter of law, that the chauffeur aforesaid was not guilty of negligence at the time and place of said accident.

V. It is claimed by defendants Newcomer that plaintiff's Instruction A is erroneous. Said instruction is based upon the facts relating to the alleged negligence of the above-named defendants. It required the jury to find that theOrdinary chauffeur failed to exercise ordinary care whileCare. attempting to pass over the crossing in controversy, before a verdict could be returned for plaintiff. If the law as declared in the other Division be held to apply to this case, these defendants got off better than they had the right to expect, as they were entitled to a verdict under said instruction "A" if the chauffeur was in the exercise of ordinary care at the time of said collision. The above contention is without merit and overruled.

VI. The defendant Railways Company contends that Instruction B, given at the instance of plaintiff, is erroneous and should not have been given. It related to the charge of negligence against the street car company. In order to find for plaintiff, as against said Railways Company, the jurors wereRailway required to find that the latter was guilty ofCompany's negligence, in operating said street car at aNegligence. negligent, excessive and dangerous rate of speed, and was guilty of negligence in failing to have the street car under reasonable control, and that plaintiff, by reason of said negligence, or the joint negligence of both defendants, was injured thereby. Said instruction properly defined "ordinary care" and "negligence." It was in harmony with Instruction Two, given at the instance of said Railways Company, and the two instructions considered together properly stated the law.

VII. The defendant Railways Company complains of the action of the trial court in modifying its instruction numbered 4, and in giving the same as modified. Said instructions read as follows:

"4. The court instructs the jury that if you find and believe fro mthe evidence that the driver of the automobile in which plaintiff was riding signaled the motorman to come on with his car, then under such circumstances plaintiff is not entitled to recover from defendant, the Kansas City Railways Company, and your verdict must be for said defendant.

"4½. The court instructs the jury that if you find and believe from the evidence that the driver of the automobile in which plaintiff was riding signaled the motorman to come on with his car, and that said motorman saw such signal, and relied thereon, and acting as a prudent person had a right to rely on such signal, then under such circumstances plaintiff is not entitled to recover from defendant, The Kansas City Railways Company, and your verdict must be for said defendant."

The court below committed no error in modifying said instruction 4, and in giving the same as modified. The above complaint is devoid of merit and overruled.

VIII. Instructions 5, 6, 7 and 8, asked by defendand Railways Company, were properly refused in view of the evidence in the case. These instructions sought to charge plaintiffImputed with the imputed negligence of the chauffeur, andNegligence. have been fully considered under Proposition Two of this opinion.

IX. Both defendants charge that plaintiff was guilty of fraud and deceit at the trial of the case, in testifying as to the extent of his injuries. They urge this in support of their respective motions for a new trial, and also ask that the latter be sustained on the ground ofNewly newly discovered evidence. We have carefully readDiscovered each of the motions filed by defendants, as well asEvidence. all the affidavits filed relating to alleged newly discovered evidence. It is manifest, upon the most casual examination of said motions and affidavits, that appellants failed to use any diligence whatever in locating the residence of plaintiff, and learning, prior to the trial, from his neighbors, the same facts which they are now urging as newly discovered evidence. The defendants Newcomer were in charge of the funeral, and plaintiff, as a pallbearer, was riding as a passenger in their automobile. They must have been informed as to his residence, expecially after the accident. The petition advised both appellants that plaintiff was claiming to have been injured as follows:

"His left arm was greatly bruised, wrenched, and injured; his right hand was broken and the thumb thereof dislocated; his right hip was dislocated; his left hip greatly wrenched, bruised and injured; he was ruptured and suffered a separation of his abdominal wall; his testicles, scrotum, and spermatic cord were bruised and lacerated and his entire privates injured and his sexual and procreative powers impaired and almost destroyed; his ribs and sides were greatly injured, bruised, and made sore; his chest and lungs were bruised, wrenched and congested; his respiratory organs and heart were jarred and injured; his legs were bruised and strained; his spine and back and the muscles thereof were wrenched and bruised; his kidneys and urinary organs were greatly bruised, deranged, and injured; his head and neck were greatly twisted and bruised, causing violent headaches and pains in his head and neck; his brain, spinal cord, nerves, and entire nervous system were greatly shocked, impaired, and injured, and the nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, and muscles of his whole body were greatly wrenched and injured."

It is clear that the failure of appellants to have before the court at the trial the facts stated in their said motions and the affidavits aforesaid, was by reason of their own negligence and lack of diligence. They are in no position here to ask this court to convict the trial court of an abuse of judicial discretion in overruling their motions for a new trial and in arrest of judgment, under the circumstances presented in this record. The conclusion just announced is sustained by a long line of decisions in this State, some of which are as follows: Miller v. Whitson, 40 Mo. l.c. 103; Cook v. Ry. Co., 56 Mo. 380; Fretwell v. Laffoon, 77 Mo. 26; Snyder v. Burnham, 77 Mo. 52; Maxwell v. Ry. Co., 85 Mo. 106; Shotwell v. McElhinney, 101 Mo. l.c. 682-3; Tittman v. Thornton, 107 Mo. 510-11; Thiele v. Citizens' Ry. Co., 140 Mo. l.c. 338-9; State v. Speritus,191 Mo. 24; State v. Whitsett, 232 Mo. 511; State v. Walker, 250 Mo. l.c. 321; Sang v. City of St. Louis, 262 Mo. l.c. 467, 171 S.W. 347; Claxton v. Pool, 197 S.W. 349; State v. Arnett, 210 S.W. l.c. 84; Formento v. Hines, 225 S.W. 104; MacCallum v. Wilson Printing Co., 221 S.W. 158-9; Eidson v. Met. St. Ry. Co., 209 S.W. l.c. 577-8; Owens v. Fanning, 205 S.W. l.c. 72; Knox v. M.K. T. Ry. Co., 199 Mo. App. 64, 203 S.W. 226; Stahlman v. Rys. Co., 183 Mo. App. l.c. 149, 166 S.W. 314; Grocery Co. v. Hotel Co.,183 Mo. App. 429; Aaron v. Met. St. Ry. Co., 159 Mo. App. l.c. 315, 144 S.W. 145.

The inexcusable negligence of defendants, in failing to ascertain from the neighbors and acquaintances of plaintiff the extent of his injuries prior to the date of trial, when he was claiming in his petition to be so badly injured as aforesaid, did not justify the trial court in granting them a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence. The foregoing contention of appellants is accordingly overruled.

X. It is contended by appellants that error was committed during the progress of the trial, to their prejudice, in respect to the admission and rejection of evidence. There are some remarkable features connected with the trial of this case. Plaintiff was injured on April 24, 1917. He was at the hospital in Independence, Missouri, about two weeks and two days, and was treated while there by Doctors Mather, Twyman and Nixon. They found bruises on him and some other injuries, but discovered no broken bones. He went from the hospital to his home in Kansas, and never had any other doctor examine him or prescribe for him up to the time of the trial, over two years thereafter. He had all three of the above doctors as witnesses at the trial, but did not call on either of them to examine him at that time, to determine his physical condition before they were put on the stand to testify. On the contrary, plaintiff took the stand in his own behalf, and covered a wide range in detailing his alleged injuries. The above doctors were then called upon to testify as experts and to express their opinion based upon plaintiff's testimony, in relation to the various matters submitted to them. We are not prepared to say, that the course pursued in respect to above matter is illegal, but in the orderly administration of justice the court should closely scrutinize such an unusual proceeding, and if any unfair advantage has been obtained thereby a new trial should be awarded.

It is manifest from reading plaintiff's testimony, in connection with the history of the case, that some of the grievances complained of, and graphically described before the jury, may have resulted from causes other than those which could have been attributed to said collision. Some of them may have been attributable to natural causes which sustained no relation to the negligent acts complained of by respondent. As an illustration, plaintiff testified in chief, as follows:

"Q. Now, I notice that you have a limp. Have you had that limp since this injury? A. Yes, sir.

"Q. Just show the jury in what way you walk on that leg. Just walk as you ordinarily do. (Witness walking in front of the jury.)

"Q. Why do you have that heavy limp, Mr. Mahany? A. Well, from this hip. . . .

"Q. Are you able to get along on your legs at all without that heavy limp that you evidence here? A. No, sir."

There was no proof offered tending to show that said limp resulted from the collision, or that it had not been assumed for the purposes of the case. The three doctors who examined and treated him during the two weeks following the accident discovered no injury which could account for this heavy limp.

Dr. Nixon testified for plaintiff as follows:

"I got him in condition to move first, and after we took him to the sanitarium, we got him stripped off and looked over his body for injuries. He was just bruised in various places over the body, hips and shoulders and sides, just a bruised condition."

This witness further testified in chief:

"Q. What seemed to be the trouble with the right hip, Doctor? A. Well, there was a bruised condition there. We X-rayed the hip, but the plate did not show any bony injury.

"Q. Did not show that the bones were broken? A. Did not show that the bones were broken; no, sir."

Now, this was all the doctors found, in respect to this matter, two years before the trial. Neither doctor examined him at the date of the trial, or at any other time than during the first two weeks of his injury. It is not even claimed that there were any bruises on his heavy limping leg, at the date of trial, nor does it appear from the evidence that anything was wrong with the leg at that time, except the limp which had been developed after the accident. On the above showing, the doctors were examined as experts, to show that this heavy limp was permanent.

Proceeding along this line, the following hypothetical question was propounded to Dr. Nixon:

"Well, now, Doctor, it appears that he was injured April 24, 1917, and assume, . . . that since this injury he has developed a heavy limp and limps in walking; . . . I ask you, Doctor, to tell the jury whether or not in your opinion the conditions I have described might, could or would in your opinion, have been caused by the collision and injuries mentioned?" This question was objected to on the ground that it invaded the province of the jury, was conjectural, speculative, etc. The objection thus made was overruled, and witness answered:

"It is possible that such a condition might follow that injury."

The plaintiff, over a proper objection, followed the above inquiry by asking Dr. Nixon if, in his opinion, this heavy limp was permanent. Witness answered: "It is possible that it might be permanent."

Dr. Mather, over a proper objection, was permitted to testify, that in his opinion, this limp will probably be permanent. Again, counsel, in describing plaintiff's alleged ailments, asked Dr. Mather: "What in your opinion does that indicate in reference to his nerves or nervous system, Doctor?"

A proper objection was made to this question, which was overruled, and the witness permitted to answer: "It is due tothe strain from the accident, nerve strain, undoubtedly.

"MR. SADLER: I ask that the answer be stricken out for the same reason.

"THE COURT: Motion to strike out will be denied. He says thatis what caused it." (Italics ours.)

After this illegal evidence had carried its poison to the jury, counsel for respondent asked to have the above italicised portion stricken out, and the court said, "All right."

The following question was propounded to Dr. Twyman, over the objection of defendants:

"Q. And if since this injury he has had trouble with that right hip and at this time has the heavy limp that you observe when he walks, and it has been more than two years since this injury, what is your opinion as to the permanency of that condition? . ..

"A. Assuming that that is due to anatomical changes I, of course — I would say, just assuming in good faith that the party is not putting the limp on, if he has to do that, that he probably will always have to do that."

The admission of the foregoing testimony, as well as several other matters contained in the record of a similar character, was not only prejudicial to the rights of defendants, but in all probability was largely responsible for the excessive verdict in this case. It is well-established law in this State that expert testimony is admissible within reasonable bounds, but the testimony of the expert should not invade the province of the jury, nor substitute his opinion for that of the jury upon the ultimate facts to be decided in the case. [Deiner v. Sutermeister, 266 Mo. l.c. 521 and following; De Maet v. Storage Co., 231 Mo. 615; Smart v. Kansas City, 208 Mo. l.c. 199-203; Roscoe v. Met. St. Ry. Co., 202 Mo. l.c. 577; Glasgow v. Railroad, 191 Mo. l.c. 364; Taylor v. Railroad, 185 Mo. l.c. 256.] The expert witnesses aforesaid were not only permitted to express their opinions as to conjectural and speculative matters testified to by plaintiff, but were likewise permitted, in violation of the law as announced in the above cases, to invade the province of the jury as to the ultimate facts to be determined in the case.

(a) While an expert may express his opinion as to whether or not an injury is permanent, his answer, in order to stand the test of judicial criticism, must show that the result which he has indicated, will follow to a reasonable degree of certainty. In other words, his opinion is incompetent, if based upon a mere possibility as to what may occur in the future. [Campbell v. Ry. Co., 175 Mo. l.c. 177-8; McGee v. Railroad, 214 Mo. l.c. 543; McCreery v. United Rys. Co., 221 Mo. l.c. 27-8; Blythe v. United Rys. Co., 211 S.W. l.c. 696; Battles v. Rys. Co., 178 Mo. App. l.c. 619; 11 Ruling Case Law, sec. 13, p. 582; 5 Encyc. Evidence, pp. 665-6; Strohm v. Ry. Co., 96 N.Y. 305; McClain v. Ry. Co., 116 N.Y. l.c. 467-8; Briggs v. Ry. Co., 177 N.Y. 62; Selleck v. City of Janesville, 104 Wis. l.c. 574.]

The main opinions given by Doctor Nixon in answer to the hypothetical questions propounded to him by plaintiff, are based on mere possibility, as heretofore shown. This evidence went to the jury, over the objections of defendants, under the sanction of the court, as proper evidence to be considered in fixing the amount of compensation to be recovered. The admission of same was prejudicial to defendants and should have been excluded.

XI. Appellants strenuously insist that the damages assessed by the jury are grossly excessive and that a new trialExcessive should be granted on account of same. The verdict inVerdict: this case was for $30,000. It was obtained under theUnfair circumstances heretofore stated.Trial.

It is not alleged in the petition that any operation was performed upon plaintiff on account of his injuries and, yet, throughout the trial, the plaintiff, his counsel and one of his doctors, over the repeated protest of the defendants, improperly got before the jury the fact that one of plaintiff's testicles was removed by an operation, and evidently created the impression upon the minds of the jurors that he ought to be compensated therefor. The plaintiff in chief testified:

"Q. Why do you have that heavy limp, Mr. Mahany? A. Well, from this hip. These leaders through here (indicating) on this side where I was operated on" etc.

On objection being made as to an operation, plaintiff's counsel kindly consented that it might be excluded. In his hypothetical question to Dr. Nixon, heretofore mentioned, counsel for plaintiff told the doctor to assume "that the one testicle which he (plaintiff) now has is enlarged," etc., thereby again calling the attention of the jury to the fact that one of plaintiff's testicles had been removed by said operation. Counsel for plaintiff, in framing a hypothetical question submitted to Dr. Mather, said:

"Doctor, it appears from the evidence here that the one testicle which this man now has is enlarged" etc. Dr. Mather was asked by plaintiff's counsel for an opinion as to respondent's nervous system and answered as follows:

"His nervous condition, of course, was shattered and injured following the accident, possibly due to the removal of the testicle." This was also objected to, and the jury directed not to consider same.

It is manifest, from the foregoing, that plaintiff's operation, and the loss of one of his testicles, was deliberately injected into the case for the illegal purpose of augmenting the damages herein. It was well calculated to have that effect, and we have no doubt from the size of the verdict aforesaid must have succeeded admirably.

Under ordinary circumstances where the verdict is excessive, the court may require a remitittur and affirm it as to the balance, but, in this case, we have reached the conclusion that defendants have not been awarded a fair and impartial trial under the Constitution and laws of our State.

Without extending this discussion further, we hereby reverse and remand the cause for a new trial. White, C., concurs;Mozley, C., not sitting.