St. Louis Southwestern Ry. Co. of Texas v. McMichael ( 1916 )

This appeal is from a judgment in favor of the appellee for $5,000 as damages for personal injuries received while walking along appellant's platform at Naples, Tex. The appellee was there for the purpose of taking passage on appellant's north-bound train, and at the time of the injury was going to the train. In walking from the waiting room to the train he was compelled to pass by a baggage truck standing, as testified to by some of the witnesses, obliquely across the platform. According to some of the evidence, the platform at that point was 18 feet wide, and the truck was 10 feet long and 4 feet high. The appelle testified that as the train came up to the station he and other passengers went out for the purpose of going aboard; that the platform was not lighted, and the only illumination they had was from the headlight of the engine; that the truck was standing between him and the point where the passenger coach was to be stopped; that as he passed around between this truck was standing between him and the point where the passenger coach was to be stopped; that as he passed around between this truck and track on which the engine was approaching, some one, whom he could not identify, pushed or moved the truck against him, causing him to fall over against the engine and receive the injuries for which he sued. He seemed to be positive that his fall was due to some one moving the truck; where that person was an employé of the railway company, or some passenger passing by the truck, he was unable to say. He is supported in his testimony by one other witness. This version, however, was disputed by other witnesses, who testified for the appellant, and who say that the truck was not moved, but that the appellee apparently walked too close to the engine, which was still moving, and fell over against it. The evidence appears to be undisputed that the platform was not lighted, and that the truck was in the position referred to in the appellee's testimony, except that witnesses differ as to whether it was across the platform or parallel with it. The evidence further shows that there was a space between the truck and the wall of the depot building, through which many of the passengers passed in going to the train. Some of the witnesses say that all of the passengers took that route except the appellee. In his petition the appellee alleged, in substance, that the appellant was guilty of negligence in failing to have proper lights provided and in failing to have its platform in a reasonably safe condition for passengers desiring to use it upon that occasion. The charge of the court was lengthy and submitted all the issues, made by the pleadings.

The first group of assigned errors complain of several paragraphs of the charge, in which the principal issues of fact submitted, as being unintelligible and confusing, and further upon the ground that it submitted uncontroverted issues to the jury, as well as other issues which there was no evidence to support. It would serve no useful purpose to here quote the portions of the charge criticized. We think it sufficient to say that we have fully considered the objections, but are unable to find any good reason for sustaining them. It is true that issues were submitted about which there appeared to be no dispute in the evidence, but the error, if any, in that particular could not harmfully affect the appellant; for any finding upon them against the undisputed evidence would have operated to the injury of the appellee alone.

It is also contended that the court should not have submitted to the jury the failure of the appellant to have the platform properly lighted, because, according to the appellee's own testimony, this failure did not contribute to his injury. While the appellee does testify that his injury was the result of the truck being shoved against him, it does not necessarily follow that his situation was wholly unaffected by the absence of sufficient light. It cannot therefore be said as a matter of law that the darkness did not materially add unfavorable conditions to his surroundings, which may have affected the results.

The following special charge was requested and refused:

"You are instructed that unless you find from a preponderance of the evidence that the truck was moved or shoved against the plaintiff, and that he was caused thereby to be struck by the engine, your verdict should be for the defendant."

At the request of the appellant's counsel the court gave the following special charge, which bears upon that issue:

"You are instructed that if from the testimony you believe that the position of the truck could and would have been observed by a person using ordinary care and prudence when using the platform, and that such truck was stationary and was not pushed or moved against plaintiff, then your verdict should be for the defendant."

Appellant was thus given whatever benefit there was in confining the appellee's recovery to an injury sustained from a pushing or shoving of the truck, and there was no material error in refusing the charge first quoted.

Appellant also requested the following special charge, which was refused:

"You are instructed that if from the testimony you believe that the plaintiff walked from the waiting room around the east end of the truck and between the truck and the track, and that a person of ordinary care and prudence under similar circumstances would have walked between the truck and the depot, then your verdict should be for the defendant."

As previously stated, the testimony showed that there were two routes which the passengers going from the waiting room to the train could travel in passing the truck — one between the truck and the depot building, and the other between the truck and the track. It was also shown that there was more space between the truck and the building than at the other end. There was evidence tending to show that passengers took both routes; while some of the witnesses testified that the appellee was the only passenger who went between the truck and the track. If the appellant desired to have the jury pass upon the prudence of the appellee in taking the route he did, a proper charge presenting that issue should have been requested. The fact that a reasonably prudent person would have taken the route between the truck and the depot building does not necessarily signify that it was imprudent to take the other route; yet such was the assumption embraced in the requested charge. Moreover, it cannot be said that the evidence was such as to justify a jury in finding that the route taken by the appellee was a dangerous one. The only thing which could have rendered it so was the insufficiency of the space for safe passage between the truck and the track; and the evidence is not such as to warrant a conclusion that this was insufficient.

There are other assignments of error, presenting different questions, all of which have been carefully considered by us and are overruled.

It is finally contended that the verdict was excessive. The facts do not warrant us in so holding. Considering the injuries received by the appellee, we think the verdict a moderate one.

The judgment of the district court is therefore affirmed.

On Motion for Rehearing. In its motion for a rehearing the appellant calls attention to a finding of fact to the effect that the evidence was undisputed that the platform of the railway company was not lighted on the occasion of the injury complained of. Upon further investigation we find that the testimony upon that issue was conflicting. The fact, however, cannot materially affect the disposition of the case.

It is also contended that we are in error in holding that the special charge given at the request of the appellant justified the refusal of one made the basis of another assignment of error. It is contended that in the charge given the court required the jury to believe that the conditions were such that a person of ordinary care and prudence when using the platform could and would have observed the truck, before they could find for defendant if the truck was not moved. The appellee testified unequivocally that he did see the truck, and that his injury was the result of the truck being moved. With such evidence the issue regarding the discovery of the truck was practically eliminated, and the only controverted issue embraced in the charge given was that concerning the movement of the truck. We adhere to our former conclusion that the charge refused was a practical reiteration of the issue already submitted.

The motion is overruled.