Baldwin, Trustees Mo. Pac. R.R. v. Hunnicutt ( 1936 )

McHaney, J.

Appellee was, at the time of receiving the injuries hereinafter mentioned, an employee of the Missouri Pacific Bailroad Company as a carpenter in the B. & B. gang. On February 24, 1934, while engaged in repairing the coal chute and tracks connected therewith, he received a severe and painful injury which resulted in the loss of his left eye. At the time of the injury he was working under the immediate direction of his foreman and was assisting in the removal of a 6x8 timber on the incline track, leading up to the coal chute, which is called a guard rail. These guard rails are notched down over the ends of the ties on both sides of the steel rails and about 11% inches therefrom. They are also held in place by what are called lag screws %x9 which are inserted through holes bored through the guard rail and a short distance into the tie, and are driven or screwed into the tie about three inches. The lag screws have square heads and are screwed down with a wrench or driven down to fit tight on a metal washer through which the screws pass. Every second tie is so fastened with a lag screw. In order to remove the guard rails it became necessary to detach the lag screws from the ties. Appellee says the proper and customary way to do this is to unscrew them with a wrench, but that they had no wrenches that would fit the screw head. He also says another proper way to remove them is to cut around the head with an adz, insert a claw bar, and prize them loose. On this occasion, however, they did neither, but the assistant foreman put a jack under the guard rail, elevated it sufficiently to put a strain on the ties to be detached, and his foreman handed him a twelve-pound maul and directed him to strike the ties and drive them free from the lag screws. After striking the tie next to the jack two or three blows, something flew up, struck him on the lip, cutting it and slightly injuring his nose and struck his left eye with such force as to destroy the eye-ball which necessitated its removal.

He brought this action to recover damages for his injuries under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, and alleged negligence as follows: “When plaintiff struck said tie with said maul, as directed by his foreman, a large metal spike that had been negligently and carelessly left on said track by the agents, servants and employees of the defendants, and near said tie which plaintiff struck, was caused to be knocked upward and thrown violently against the plaintiff,” etc. Trial resulted in a verdict and judgment against appellants in the sum of $10,000.

For a reversal of the judgment, appellants argue a number of assignments of error. In view of the disposition wo make of the case, we think it unnecessary to discuss them all in detail. It is very earnestly insisted that the evidence is insufficient to establish negligence, or to take the question of negligence to the .jury. While no witness testified that “a large metal spike had been negligently and carelessly left on said track — and near said tie which plaintiff struck,” something did fly up and hit him causing the injuries complained of. No witness testified as to what it was that flew up and hit him, whether a loose spike lying on the tie or the guard rail or the track, whether the rail spike holding the steel rail on the tie being struck or whether the lag screw from which the tie was being driven broke loose therefrom, and flew up and hit him. As stated above, appellee testified there were two safe and customary ways to remove the lag screAvs, either with a wrench or Avith an adz and a crow bar, but that he had never pounded them loose with a maul. Witnesses for appellants testified that, in addition to these two ways to remove them, the method employed at the time of this injury was also used, and that all three methods were considered safe and proper. The majority are of the opinion that the evidence was sufficient to go to the jury on the question of negligence since appellee Avas acting under the immediate directions of his foreman in the manner of doing the work, and that the injury received or some injury might reasonably have been foreseen by the exercise of ordinary care as to the manner of doing the work by the foreman. Mr. Justice Butler, Mr. Justice Baker and the Avriter do not agree that any negligence lias been established, but on the contrary a directed verdict should have been given appellants.

Another assignment of error relates to the impaneling of the jury to try the case. Twelve of the regular panel were out on another case. The court directed the sheriff to call twelve bystanders whose names were placed in the box with the remaining members of the regular panel. The clerk by direction of the court drew eighteen names from the box. The court examined them on their voir dire, and all appeared qualified. Counsel for appellee was then asked if he desired to ask any further questions, and answered in the negative. Counsel for appellants was then asked the same question by the court, when the following occurred: “Mr. Ryan: I want-to ask a question or two, but I would like to know the jurors, I don’t know them by name; will you permit me to ask who No. 1 juror is? I don’t know them. The Court: That is where you are unfortunate in not living in Saline County. Mr. Ryan: Note my exception to the ruling of the court. I certainly would like to live down here, if I could make a living down here. ’ ’

In this we think the court fell into error calling for a reversal of the judgment. We think counsel had the right to interrogate the jurors to determine their names, residence, business, and such other information as would enable him to exercise his right of challenge for cause or peremptory challenge without cause. In Clark v. State, 154 Ark. 592, 243 S. W. 868, we held that a party is entitled to the same latitude in examining-a juror to determine whether to exercise a peremptory challenge as when seeking information relative to challenge for cause, subject to the sound discretion of the court. The court not only denied counsel this right, but in doing so — facetiously, no doubt — hurtful, nevertheless — stated that counsel was unfortunate in not knowing the jurors by name, because ho did not live in Saline County. The error, however, is- the denial- of a litigant the right to try to determine, in good faith, by examination on voir dire, who and what the jurors are who are to try his case.

The question is also argued as to whether appellee was engaged in interstate commerce within the meaning of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. We think the evidence sufficient to take that question to the jury. Other questions are argued which may not arise on another trial, and we do not discuss them.

For the error indicated the judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded for a new trial.