Jeffery v. Gordon

Jim Johnson, Associate Justice.

This action was brought by appellant, Elmer Jeffery and John W. Mc-Cracken, d/b/a J. W. McCracken, Contractor, against appellees Norman N. Graves and Warren L. Graves, d/b/a Graves Brothers, Contractors, and C. D. Gordon, Contractor, to recover damages to a highway overpass which appellant alleged was proximately caused by the negligence of appellees in parking a truck-load of baled hay beneath the steel and concrete span. A fire from unknown origin burned the hay and the heat thus generated, warped and damaged the overpass. Appellant was required to repair the damaged portion of the overpass before it could be accepted by the Arkansas Highway Department.

At the close of appellant’s evidence, appellees’ motion for a directed verdict was granted by the trial court. From that verdict comes this appeal.

By way of prelude, we find ourselves in agreement with Professor William Prosser who commented on the causation factor in his learned treatise on the law of tort: “There is perhaps nothing in the entire field of law which has called forth more disagreement, or upon which opinions are in such a welter of confusion. ’ ’ Prosser, Torts 218 (2d ed.). Our own reported cases are full of attempts to fix and define within certain limits a comprehensible meaning to the term ‘ ‘ proximate cause ’ ’, but in the final analysis the term is so elusive that we are compelled in each case which reaches us to consider it upon its own merits in the light of all the attending circumstances it presents. This case is no different.

The law is well settled in this state that before one can be held liable for an alleged negligent act, that act must be the proximate cause of the injury complained of, and also be of such a nature that the consequent injury should be one which, in the light of attending circumstances, a person of ordinary foresight and prudence would have anticipated. Arkansas Valley Trust Co. v. McIlroy, 97 Ark. 160, 133 S. W. 816, 31 L.R.A., N.S. 1020.

The first question we are asked to resolve is: did appellant offer evidence that the act of parking the truck of baled hay beneath a steel and concrete structure constituted negligence, and if so, was that act the proximate cause of appellant’s injury? The lav? is equally well settled that proximate cause must be shown. Meeks v. Graysonia, N. & A. R. Co., 168 Ark. 966, 272 S. W. 360. Assuming without deciding that the act of parking the hay was an act of negligence we must consider the second portion of the question. Did appellant offer proof of any nature that this act was the proximate cause of the injury? We think the answer is found in appellant’s entire offer of proof on causation, which we set out in full from the record:

“Direct Examination

Q. State your full name to the jury.

A. Bill Struebing.

Q. By whom are you employed?

A. Arkansas State Police. •

Q. What division are you in?

A. Fire Marshal Section.

Q. How long have you been in that section?

A. Since it was transferred to the State Police in 1955.

Q. You are head of that section?

A. Yes.

Q. Have you received any particular training in that field as fire marshal work?

A. I have attended schools in Oklahoma, A & M now Oklahoma University and I have attended Purdue University and University of Texas.

Q. During these courses of studies have you had occasion to study the sources of heat and fire potential of hay and straw?

A. Yes sir.

Q. During the five years you have been chief of the fire marshal section have you had occasion to make investigations and studies of fires and fire with relationship to burning of buildings?

A. Yes we have investigated fires in hay barns and structures of that type.

Q. Can you state from your studies and from your experience whether or not hay is said to be highly inflammable substance?

A. Yes it is classified as such.

Q. "Will you state whether or not straw is classified as such?

A. General classification would be vegetation such as hay and straw, broom corn, tobacco and crops of that nature.

Q. They all fall under the same general category?

A. Yes.

Q. Will you state whether or not under certain given conditions straw might be combustible?

A. You are talking about spontaneous ignition. If the moisture content is over thirty there is a possibility of fermentation which causes heat and if allowed to generate over a period of time it can generate enough heat to where fire will occur.

Q. This can happen under certain given situations as far as straw is concerned?

A. Hay and straw that classification with the moisture content.

Q. You can not make a determination on investigation unless you make an extensive study of the product at a given time?

A. Yes as to humidity and things of that nature.

Q. With reference to the discussion we had concerning this fire, you were not called in to investigate this matter?

A. No sir. That was not brought to our attention.

Cross Examination

Q. Will you explain what is hay?

A. Hay, in my opinion, would be a crop that could be fed to cattle.

Q. What is straw?

A. Straw is a byproduct of a grain crop after the grain has been removed.

Q. Is there any difference in your opinion whether hay or straw as to the combustibility?

A. After the heat is built up they both burn with rapid combustion.

Q. What do you mean by rapid combustion?

A. Well rapid, rapid oxygenation after a certain temperature is reached the fuel involved in this area will rapidly ignite and a rapid fire spread will be the result.

Q. Is there any difference in the combustibility of hay and straw?

A. Again the moisture content would have some bearing, that and humidity.

Q. As far as the two, when the moisture content is the same is there any difference in the combustibility?

A. It would take less heat to ignite this leaf than straw if the heat temperature were raised to that degree both would ignite possibly at the same rate.

Witness excused.”

From the foregoing testimony, which was the only offer by appellant as to causation, all the court and jury were told is that under certain circumstances and conditions hay is subject to spontaneous combustion, or, as the witness said, spontaneous ignition. The court and jury were not told that these same or similar circumstances existed at the place and time the hay became ignited from a cause appellant concedes is unknown and which appellant argues must be left to conjecture.

Causation is a fact as much as negligence is a fact. It must be proved. Meeks v. Graysonia N & A R Co., supra. We unhesitatingly reject any suggestion that conjecture and fact are on an equal plane. Biddle v. Jacobs, 116 Ark. 82, 172 S. W. 258. To avoid conjecture in the instant case, appellant should have offered some substantial evidence, however slight, that the same or similar circumstances and conditions within the hay itself (such factors as suggested by appellant’s expert witness, i.e., moisture content, humidity, etc.) constituted such a hazard that appellees could have or should have foreseen the consequences of the act of parking that load of hay at that place and at that time, or some other causation traceable to appellees.

It is within common knowledge of mankind that hay is combustible. But it is not within common knowledge of mankind what circumstances and conditions must exist to cause hay to burst into flame from heat it has generated. Appellant produced adequate evidence to show the necessary circumstances and conditions which could cause hay to ignite spontaneously. But after giving appellant’s evidence its strongest probative force and every legitimate inference that may be adduced from the testimony and exhibits, St. Louis S. R. Co. v. Britton, 107 Ark. 158, 154 S. W. 215; Cousins v. Cooper, 232 Ark. 605, 339 S. W. 2d 316, there is a total failure of evidence to show that these circumstances existed or that appellee knew or should have known that these existed at the time and place of the act for which appellant complains.

It therefore follows that failure by appellant to submit evidence to place the fact of causation into dispute created no question of fact for a jury to decide. The trial court properly ordered a directed verdict. To hold otherwise could make hay handlers insurers as a matter of law.

The second question, which involves the relationship of master and servant between the appellees, has now become moot.

Affirmed.

Robinson, J., dissents; Holt, J., not participating.