Texas & Pacific Railway Co. v. Burns , 3 Tex. L. R. 88 ( 1884 )

OPINION.

It is claimed that the court erred in refusing to entertain appellant’s motion to suppress the depositions of appellee and her son, George Burns. These motions were filed after appellee had announced ready for trial. The depositions had been on file in the cause for more than six months at the time of the trial, and the court below refused to entertain the motions on the ground that they were made too late.

When deposition have been on file for more than one entire day before the trial commences, no objection to the form or manner of taking the same can be heard, unless in writing, and notice thereof given before the trial commences. (Rev. Stats. art. 2235.)

Notice of motion in a pending suit is given by filing the same with the papers of the cause and having the same entered upon the motion docket during the term. (Rev. Stats. art. 4541) It is also provided that where the motion relates to a pending suit, which does not go to the merits, that it may be disposed of at any time before the trial of the cause. (Rev. Stats. art. 1454.)

In the rules for the District Court it was provided that “when notice shall be given of objections to the form or manner of taking or returning depositions, either party may require it to be put on the motion docket, and tried as other motions ; provided, if not tried sooner, it shall be decided before either party shall be required to announce readiness for trial on the facts. (Rule 23, 47 Tex, 621.)

When the several provisions of the statute quoted above are considered in connection with rule 33, it appears with sufficient certainty, that when the depositions have been on file for more than one entire day before the trial, the motions to suppress the same must be filed and notice given before the ease is called for trial, and the motions disposed of before either party has announced ready for trial on the merits.

Before announcing upon the merits the party has a right to have such motions disposed of, so that, if sustained, and his evidence suppressed, he can act advisedly in making his announcement.

Appellee having announced ready upon the evidence, to which no objection had then been made, and without any notice that any such objections would be urged, could not thereafter be deprived of the benefit of that evidence on account of the former manner of taking-

It is claimed that the court erred in admitting evidence as to the pecuniary condition of appellee. Such'evidence ia not admissible for the purpose of increasing the damages, which, under the oircumstaces the party might be entitled to recover. But as the relationship of mother and son had been shown, and that he had been contributing to her support, evidence showing that she had no means of support, would be admissible as tending to show the probability that such contributions would have been continued, had the son lived. (Railway Co. vs. Kindred, 57 Texas 498.)

Appellant claims that the court erred in admitting evidence as to the improvement made at that point after the injury. From an examination of the whole evidence it appears that the appellant retained the switch, but soon after the accident placed just east of it what, in railroad parlance, is known as a “safety switch,” which is rarely used upon railroads. It is constructed and operated upon the same principle as the stub switch, and requires the continuous presence of a switch man to render it effective. The ends of the rails on the main track are adjustable, and may be so moved by the léver or draw as to disjoint and separate them, and the epds of such rails be thereby placed in conjunction with the end of those constituting the swith; so that cars in motion on the main track may thereby be run off on the switch. As to whether additional precautions and safeguards taken by the company, soon after an injury has occurred, constitute such acts of admission, as ought to be permitted to go to the jury as evidence of negligence, is a question upon which there is a conflict of authority.

So far as the number of adjudicated cases are concerned the weight of authority is that to a limited extent such evidence is admissible. In Pearce on Railroads, 284 note, the authorities are cited which show the conflict. The author, however, concludes that such evidence is not admissible.

Perhaps conditions might exist that would render such evidence admissible, but as a general rule, upon principle, as well as a matter of public policy, such evidence ought not to be admitted. It is a matter of common knowledge that railroad tracks and machinery as well as all other instrumentalities, used in operating trains, are continually undergoing repairs and being improved. Undoubtedly the public is greatly interested in the continuance of such improvements.

Where accidents have directed the attention of the company to a particular portion of the road-bed or other instrumentality that by additional safeguards would be rendered more safe, to hold as a general rule that if the desired improvement is made, that the company thereby admits that it had been negligent, would result in deterring the company from promptly making the improvement. Indeed, it would be a harsh rule, if every change for the better is to be considered as evidence showing former negligence.

In this case it appears that the improvement did not consist in the substitution of an approved and tested instrumentality, for one that was not in general use, and had not been tested and approved. The improvement consisted of the addition of a safety-switch, which seems to be but seldom used upon railroads. Under such circumstances we conclude that the court erred in admitting the evidence over the objections of the appellant.

Without undertaking to consider the remaining errors assigned, we will briefly consider the question of gross and ordinary negligence as presented by the record.

From the evidence it appears that the split-switch is in about as general use upon railroads as the stub-switch ; that there is a difference of opinion among those who are skilled in such matters, as to the relative safety and merits of each.

Those witnesses who speak as to the condition of the track, yard, switches, etc., all seem to be experienced railroad men, and they generally concur in this, that each of these switches possess advantages and disadvantages; that the use of the split-switch at that point was only more dangerous than the stub-switch, because of the uneveness of the ground ; and if the employes in charge of the yard had discharged their duty by setting the brakes or blocking the wheels of ears placed upon the siding, that the use of the split-switch would have been reasonably safe.

It appears from the evidence, that while the split-switch at that point was in some respecte more unsafe ihan would have been the stub-switch ; that in other respects the use of the latter would be more dangerous.

For instance, cars on the sidings which were not properly stayed by brakes or blocks were liable to run through the split-switch and on to the main track and thence down the grade east for three or four miles, thereby endangering incoming trains from that direction. While by the use of the stub-switch such cars would be de-railed at the terminus of the siding, which would obviate the danger to such incoming trains, but would greatly enhance the danger to such employes as might be in such cars. Another disadvantage attending the use of the stub-switch, as appears from the evidence, and which ■does not attend the use of the split-switch, is this : At the point of junction between the rails on .the main track and those of the siding there is necessarily a loose joint, by which passing trains are liable to be de-railed. At this point that danger is enhanced to east bound trains, as it is upon a down grade.

If therefore a train passing east upon the main track should be wrecked at that point, by reason of the use of a stub switch and an injury result therefrom, or if in loading or unloading cars upon the siding, the employe is injured by reason of that switch, in either case it might be claimed with some show of reason, that due care upon the part of the company would have required the use of the split switch.

Then reversing the position, should the injury occur upon the main line by reason of cars escaping from the yard, then with an equal show of reason it might be claimed that the stub switch should have been used.

. The company is under obligations to its employes to exercise reasonable care in providing and maintaining a safe road-bed, and suitable engines, cars and other instrumentalities, and is consequently liable to them for injuries resulting from defects which it knew, or could have known and prevented by the exercise of reasonable care. And the same degree of care must be exercised in keeping these instrumentalities in good condition. While the employe assumes the risks incident to the employment, he does not assume those which may be superadded by the wrongful or negligent acts of the company. When the company has exercised reasonable care, in making provisions for the safety of its employes, this is all that is required, for it does not insure the road-bed, or the machinery. Nor is the company liable, when due care has been used, for a mistake of judgment in the choice of instrumentalities, or the mode of constructing the road, (Pierce on Railroads, 370, etseq. and authorities cited.)

In the nature of things, the points along the line, at which stations and yards are to be established, must be left to the judgment and discretion of the company, and the fact that a safer yard could have been selected either east or west of Baird, is no evidence of negligence upon the part of the company. But having established the yard upon a grade ; if the company, in view ' of all the attending facts and circumstances, failed to exercise reasonable care in providing for the safety of its employes, then it would be liable for injuries resulting from such failure. By reasonable care is meant such as would have been taken under like circumstances by an ordinary prudent person.

Both in the constitution and statute the term “gross negligence” is used. The most approved definition of the term is that given by Judge Story in his work on Bailments, (sec. 17,) and which has been generally adopted by text writers and jurists, as follows : “Gross negligence is the want of slight care and diligence.” That is, gross negligence is distinguished from all other degrees of neligence, by the entire absence of care and diligence.

Many authorities might be cited, as sustaining the proposition, that to authorize a recovery for exemplary damages in this class of cases, the negligence must be so gross and palpable, as to amount, in contemplation of law, to a willful injury. Here the company used a switch which it seems had been tested and approved for general use, and also provided servants to take charge of trains, whose duty it was to place the cars upon the siding and there to secure them by brakes or blocks. In this respect it is obvious, therefore, that the company had used some care and exercised some diligence in protecting its employes against injury, and is not chargeable with gross negligence.

Upon the evidence as disclosed by the record, the court erred in submitting the question of exemplary damages to the jury. The correct rule for measuring the damages in this class of cases, is the probable amount that the deceased would have contributed to the appellee had he not lost his life by reason of the accident. In determining the amount, the age and probable length of time the mother would live as well as that of the son had he not been killed in the wreck, and the probability of his continuing to make such contributions had he lived, should be taken into consideration.

In respect to the rule for the measure of damages, the charge of the court is such as probably misled the jury. Our conclusion is that the judgment ought to be reversed and the cause remanded.

Report of Commissioners of Appeals examined, their opinion adopted, the judgment reversed and the cause remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

Watts, Commissioner,

adopted.