Meeder v. Seaboard Air Line Railway Co. ( 1917 )

Did the defendant maliciously or willfully, wantonly, and rudely mistreat and humiliate plaintiff while a passenger on its train? Answer: "Yes."

What, if any, damage, is the plaintiff entitled to recover? Answer: "$200."

From the judgment rendered, defendant appealed. The plaintiff sues to recover damages as a passenger because he was wrongfully carried by Ridgeway to Norlina, and for punitive damages because of insulting and humiliating conduct towards plaintiff by the conductor of the train.

His Honor charged the jury: "Plaintiff having been given (58) actual notice that the train on which he was riding would not stop at Ridgeway, the court charges you that the conductor would have been within his rights to have put him off at Henderson, and that plaintiff wasn't entitled to insist upon riding upon that train and stop at Ridgeway; and under that rule you will not consider any damages and not any inconveniences which the plaintiff suffered by reason of being put off at Norlina, and by reason of going home in the train, or any sickness he may have contracted in consequence of such.

"Our Court has held (140 N.C. p. 126, Hutchinson v. Railroad) that a railroad has a right to make regulations that certain trains shall not stop at all stations, provided there are enough to serve local travel, and it does not appear that there was not; and plaintiff having knowledge of that fact, it was his duty to obey the instructions of the conductor and have gotten off No. 4 and taken No. 20.

("There is only one question for you to consider, whether the conduct of the conductor towards the plaintiff was such as to humiliate him on the train, or to bring him into ridicule in the presence of passengers on that train. Understanding that fact, the court charges you that though the train did not stop at Ridgeway, yet he was entitled to courteous treatment; if the defendant discussed his rights on that train and humiliated and mistreated him, the defendant would be liable for such conduct, and punitive damages may be allowed therefor.")

To the foregoing charge in parentheses defendant excepts.

The Court correctly charged that the plaintiff was not entitled to recover actual damages because he was carried by Ridgeway to Norlina. We think, however, the court erred in submitting the question of punitive damages to the jury, but should have granted the defendant's motion.

The plaintiff testified: "The conductor took my ticket and said: ``This train does not stop at Ridgeway and you will have to get off at Henderson.' He said it in a rash and unbecoming manner. I told him that train did stop at Ridgeway. . . . The conductor gave me my ticket back and said: ``You will have to get off at Henderson.' I told him my ticket carried me to Ridgeway. He told me if I did not get off he would have me put off at Henderson. Coach was crowded that day; those in front and behind me heard what he said. After we got to Raleigh he said: ``Your stop is at Henderson.' After we left Raleigh he came through the car again and said my stop was at Henderson. I said: ``If you want me to get off — if you do not want to carry me to Ridgeway — then you can put me off.' I told him my ticket called for Ridgeway and I did not want to get off anywhere else. I refused to pay my fare to Norlina. He then said: ``If you are that kind of a man, I will give you 10 cents (59) to pay your fare to Norlina.' I got off at Norlina when the train stopped."

On cross-examination plaintiff testified: "I told the conductor my ticket was for Ridgeway and I was determined to get off there. Don't know that I said that I was not going to get off anywhere else. I said that my ticket did not call for Henderson. Conductor did not say anything about a local train. I knew there was a local that came about 7 o'clock; No. 4 was a through train. Don't know the names of any conductors except Gibson. I asked him his name. I wanted to know the name of the man that carried me by. I told him that I was going to make a test case of it; I told him he was going to hear from me again. I thought about bringing a suit. Don't know whether I told Gibson or not that I was going to bring a suit."

On redirect examination he testified: "A local train passed Henderson about 7 o'clock; that was the first train I could have gotten home on. Decided to sue the railroad company because I thought the conductor treated me with ridicule and humiliated me."

In Rose v. R. R., 106 N.C. 168, the conductor discovered soon after taking charge of the train that the plaintiff and his wife did not have proper tickets, and he said, "in a brusque, decided manner" (addressing the husband): "This is Halifax, if you are going to get off." The husband replied: "I have no intention of getting off unless you order me to get off." The conductor then said, very decidedly, rudely, and quickly: "Then, I order you off." The husband and wife got off, but came immediately back and paid their fare. The Court held that the right of the plaintiffs to recover punitive damages was erroneously submitted to the jury. The Court said: "A railway company cannot be held liable to answer in damages because its servant, who is required to collect fares and protect it against imposition by expelling those who have not paid in the time that elapses between stations that are often but a short distance apart, informs a husband in a brusque manner, in the presence of his wife, whose head is resting on a pillow, that they must pay or get off, and, after waiting until the train reaches the next station, says in a decided or rude tone that they must get off. The language was certainly such as it was the right — if not the duty of the conductor to use, and the defendant cannot be held responsible for his failure, in the hurry of the moment, to modulate his voice so as to make it soft or gentle, especially when he was giving a command in the line of his duty, which the plaintiffs had shown themselves loath to obey. Conductors ought to be, and we hope generally are, gentlemen, and can, therefore, discharge a disagreeable duty in a considerate manner where it affects female passengers."

In Ammons v. R. R., 140 N.C. 196, this Court held that "To entitle a passenger to such damages, his wrongful expulsion from the train must be attended by such circumstances as tend to show (60) rudeness, insult, aggravating circumstances calculated to humiliate the passenger," citing Holmes v. R. R., 94 N.C. 318; Rose v. R. R.,106 N.C. 170; Knowles v. R. R., 102 N.C. 59.

The same rule applies where the conductor acts rightfully, but in a rude and insulting manner. The evidence of plaintiff does not come up to the standard. In the case of Tomlinson v. R. R., 107 N.C. 327, the facts are very similar to this, and punitive damages were denied. Smith v. R. R.,130 N.C. 304, is very pertinent authority sustaining defendant's contention in this case.

We are of opinion that the motion to nonsuit should have been allowed.

Reversed.

Cited: Tripp v. Tobacco Co., 193 N.C. 616.