Mullins v. Ritchie Grocer Company

Hart, C. J.,

(after stating the facts). The principal question involved upon the appeal is whether or not under proof of the facts stated, the court should have submitted the case to the jury. In case-notes to 17 A. L. R. 623, and 29 A. L. R. 470, the general rule is stated that, in order to hold an employer liable for injuries by an automobile while being driven by or for a salesman or collector, the relation of master and servant must exist, and the servant must, at the time, have been acting within the scope of his employment in performing an act for the master’s benefit. Among the cases from various courts of last resort, which are cited as sustaining the rule, is that of Terry Dairy Co. v. Parker, 144 Ark. 401, 223 S. W. 6. To the same effect, see Potts v. Pardee, 220 N. Y. 431, 116 N. E. 78, 8 A. L. R. 785; Rose v. Balfe, 223 N. Y. 481, 119 N. E. 842, Ann. Cas. 1918D, 238; and Guthrie v. Holmes, 272 Mo. 215, 198 S. W. 854, Ann. Cas. 1918D, 1123.

In a case-note to 42 A. L. R. at page 919, it is stated that proof that the automobile causing the damage belonged to the defendant, and was being operated at the time of the injury by an employee of the defendant, creates a reasonable presumption that the driver was acting within the scope of his employment or in the course of his master’s business. This presumption, however, is one of fact, and may be defeated or overcome by testimony tending to contradict it. Our own court adopted this rule in the case of Terry Dairy Co. v. Parker, 144 Ark. 401, 223 S. W. 6. In this connection, it may be stated that the phrase “in the course or scope of his employment or authority, ’ ’ when used relative to the duties of the servant or employee, in cases of this sort, means while engaged in the service of his master or while about his master’s business.

The doctrine is settled in this State that, if the automobile causing the accident belongs to the defendant and is being operated at the time of the accident by one of the regular employees of the defendant, there is a reasonable inference that at such time he was acting within the scope of his employment and in the furtherance of his master’s business. The inference or presumption of fact, however, may be rebutted or overcome by evidence adduced by the defendant during the trial. Where the evidence on this point is contradictory, the question is one for the jury. Where the facts are undisputed and uncontradicted, it becomes a question for the court. Healey v. Cockrill, 133 Ark. 327, 202 S. W. 229, L. R. A. 1918D, 115; Bizzell v. Hamiter, 168 Ark. 476, 270 S. W. 602; and Hunter v. First State Bank of Morrilton, 181 Ark. 907, 28 S. W. (2d) 712.

It is earnestly insisted that the doctrine established in the Hunter case warranted the court in directing a verdict for appellee; and that, in the application of it to the facts of the present case, the judgment must be upheld. We do not think so. We adhere to the rule laid down in the Hunter case, and in support of it cite Tinker v. Hirst, 162 La. 209, 110 So. 324, where it was held that the employer of a driver, operating a truck on week days, is not liable for the negligence of an employee while using the truck on Sunday for his own purposes, without the knowledge or consent of his employer. The reason is that the wrongful act must be the act of the defendant and the injury suffered by the plaintiff must be the natural and not merely a remote consequence of the defendant’s act. So, it is settled, at least in this State, that where it appears that the employee was not acting within the course of his employment, no liability attaches to the employer because there is no reasonable connection between the employer and the act of his employee which caused the damage.

The rule of the liability of the master for the wrongful act of his servant rests upon the doctrine of agency. Therefore, the universal test of the master’s liability is whether there was authority, express or implied, for doing the act. If it be done in the course of and within the scope of the employment, the master will be liable for the act, if negligent. It is equally well settled that a master is not liable for every wrong which the servant may commit during the continuance of the employment. The liability can only occur when that which is done is within the real or apparent scope of the master’s business. It does not arise when the servant steps outside of his employment to do an act for himself, not connected with his master’s business. The master is only responsible so long as the servant can be said to be doing the act, in the doing of which he is guilty of negligence, in the course of his employment. Marrier v. St. Paul, M. & M. Ry. Co., 3 Minn. 351, 17 N. W. 952, 47 Am. Rep. 793.

In the Hunter case, the undisputed evidence showed that the employee did not have general control over the automobile at all times, but was only allowed to keep it over night on special occasions. He not only was not allowed to use it on ¡Sunday, 'but the terms of his employment did not require him to do so. Here the facts are essentially different. Lewis, a salesman and collector for the Ritchie Grocer Company, was furnished an automobile by the company to use in the furtherance of his master’s business. He was in the general employ of the master and was allowed the exclusive use and control of the automobile. The accident happened on a week day; and, under the authorities above cited, this made a prima facie case in favor of appellant upon proof of negligence. The negligence of Lewis was proved and, in fact, was conceded by counsel for appellee. The prima facie case made by proof of the facts stated was not overcome merely by proof that Lewis, by the terms of his employment, was not required to work on Saturday. Such evidence was a circumstance only tending to show that he was not acting in the course of his employment at the time the accident occurred. Neither can it he said that the fact that the accident occurred at eleven o’clock, which was after usual business hours, overcomes or defeats the prima facie case made by appellant. It is a matter of common knowledge that servants in the discharge of their duties often are delayed or prevented from completing their work during usual business hours. In the present case, the fact that the order blanks of the company were in the car was a circumstance, however slight, it might be deemed by the jury, tending to show that Lewis was in the furtherance of the business of the company at the time the accident occurred. See Duckworth v. Stephens, 181 Ark. 161, 30 S. W. (2d) 840.

Opinion delivered March 16, 1931.

The excluded proof also tended to establish that fact. It will be remembered that appellant offered to show by witness that he helped John Lewis to repair his automobile between five and six o ’clock in the afternoon near Gregory City, and that, while doing so, Lewis told him he was trying to collect some accounts or bills for the Ritchie Grocer Company. It is true that it is well settled that the fact of agency cannot be established by the declarations of the agent, 'but this was not the purpose of the testimony. The fact of agency had already been established by evidence which was not attempted to be contradicted. The offered evidence was for the purpose of showing that Lewis was acting in the furtherance of his master’s business or in the course of his employment as traveling salesman in a place where his duty called him, and the evidence was competent for that purpose. Hence the court erred in excluding it and erred in taking the case from the jury by directing a verdict for appellee. For these errors, the judgment must be reversed, and the cause will be remanded for a new trial.