Self v. White , 169 Mo. App. 709 ( 1913 )

ELLISON, P. J.

Defendants are owners of lumber and yards in which it is piled. Plaintiff was in their employ. He was injured by a pile of lumber falling upon him. He obtained a verdict for $10,000. Tbe trial court required a remittitur of $2500 and rendered judgment for $7500. Defendant appealed.

Parts of the yards were on ground of quite uneven surface, wbicb made it necessary to make a level platform, upon wbicb to pile lumber, higher from tbe ground on one side than tbe other. That was tbe condition of tbe platform involved in this controversy. This building up was called tbe foundation. Two men were engaged in piling lumber on 'this platform, one on top tbe pile and tbe other banding up to him. Plaintiff was at work at something else about fifty feet away. The foreman was present and bad been around tbe platform and beard the foundation make a noise, or, as he expressed it, “give a crack,” wbicb made him know something was wrong with it, and be directed tbe man on tbe pile to come down. Plaintiff beard him tell, tbe man it was not safe and to get down, but not having beard the crack tbe foreman beard, be came over to tbe pile to see what tbe trouble was. Tbe foreman said to him, “I don’t believe this pile is going to bold tbe lumber; what do you think about it?” Plaintiff asked what was tbe matter and tbe foreman said be believed tbe front of the pile was “creeling a little,” and suggested bracing it; but he did not tell him be bad beard tbe crack as though giving way. He told him to get a brace, go under tbe pile and measure tbe proper length to cut it and then brace the pile in tbe center, by placing the foot of tbe brace against a fence post.- Plaintiff suggested that it would be safer to first put braces at either corner, which it seems would have avoided going under tbe pile-as directed by tbe foreman. Tbe foreman ordered him to do as directed. Plaintiff then went under, and while there on his hands and knees tbe lumber fell upon him, inflicting serious injury.

As much of-tbe defense is based upon tbe idea that plaintiff knew’and could see as much of tbe danger as the foreman, and that the danger was glaring and imminent, it is important to keep in mind that the foreman concealed from plaintiff the fact that he heard the cracking of the foundation, and that that was what alarmed him so that he called the man off of the pile. We think it too plain for discussion that the parties had not an equal knowledge of conditions. And when to this is added the foreman’s rejecting plaintiff’s suggestion, which, if adopted, would have saved the risk of crawling under the lumber, and then ordering him to go under, it is difficult to see how the jury could have come to any other conclusion than that at which they arrived. [Jewell v. K. C. Bolt & Nut Co., 231 Mo. 176, and cases therein discussed; Adolff v. Columbia Co., 100 Mo. App. 199.] Where the evidence is conflicting we must, since the verdict, accept that for plaintiff as the facts of the case. In this view the authorities cited for defendants are not applicable.

The scene of the injury was in the State of Kansas and the action is based on the common law, which it is alleged in the petition is in force there by reason of a statute of that State. It seems that plaintiff, in view of defendants’ answer or for some other reason, neglected to make proof of the statute, as, ordinarily, he should have done. [Gibson v. Railroad, 225 Mo. 473; Mathieson v. Railroad, 219 Mo. 542.]

But we have concluded, in the circumstances here, it was not necessary. The answer, while making a general denial, which would put the existence of the statute in issue, went further and set up one or more common law defenses, thus in effect admitting or conceding that the common law was in force in that State. For, as the action was founded on the common law, so also would the defense, in cases of the nature of this, be. based on that law. Defendants went further than this and asked of the court several instructions of defense under that law and at no time during the trial was the failure to make proof of the Kansas statute mentioned. Indeed the face of the proceeding at the trial was a concession that the common law was in force in Kansas. Defendants cannot acquiesce in and take part in one theory in the trial and then tread back upon his opponent in an appellate court by a different one; a general demurrer to the evidence will not obviate the necessity for specific objections. [Chinn v. Naylor, 182 Mo. l. c. 594; Keller v. Ins. Co., 198 Mo. l. c. 455; Mirrielees v. Railway Co., 163 Mo. l. c. 485.]

Defendants pleaded a release by plaintiff from the action. Plaintiff’s reply admitted signing a paper, but proceeded to set forth matters which, if proved to be facts, would avoid it as a release. These were that the paper was misreprsented to him and that he, being old, could not see as he did not have his spectacles, and was compelled to rely upon the statement made to him. The misrepresentation consisted in telling him that the purpose of the paper was to enable defendants to collect from an insurance company the money thay had paid for the doctor who had attended him. They moved to strike out this reply ánd the court overruled the motion. They then withdrew the plea of release, and now complain they were forced to do . so.

The cause of such action, which they characterize as involuntary, is stated to be that if the statement about the insurance company remained, it would authorize plaintiff’s counsel to refer to it in his statement to the jury and also during the course of the trial and thus the jury would come to know that defendants were insured and that an insurance company was to indemnify them for whatever verdict might be rendered against them.

It is doubtless true that a defendant’s case may be prejudiced by getting information to a jury that an indemnifying insurance company is, in some sense, the real defendant; and judgments are some times held for naught because this information has been improperly brought into the case for wrongful purposes. [Gore v. Brockman, 138 Mo. App. 231; Trent v. Printing Co., 141 Mo. App. 437.]

But for the purpose of present consideration we must accept the allegation of the reply as true, or at least that it was made in good faith. If true, whatever result followed it would be the result of defendants’ wrong in deceiving the plaintiff. If defendants had not withdrawn the issue thus presented, and it had turned out that the allegation had been designedly made so as to bring about a discussion which would improperly affect the jury, then perhaps plaintiff would have suffered at the hands of the court. [Gore v. Brockman, supra; Trent v. Printing Co., supra.] As the matter is presented, we cannot allow it to affect the judgment.

The remaining point concerns the charge that the verdict, even as reduced, is excessive. Considering the nature of the injury, its painful and permanent consequences and the fact that the trial court passed upon the question and determined upon what was thought to be a proper reduction, we conclude not to interfere further.

The judgment is affirmed.

All concur.