Central of Georgia Ry. Co. v. Nolan Land & Live Stock Co.

GARDNER, J. This is a suit by the shipper against a common carrier for the latter’s failure to promptly furnish a car for the transportation of live stock from Alexander City to Birmingham, Ala., and damages consequent upon the delay in transportation. The evidence for the plaintiff tends to show due notice to the railroad company for the car and the purpose of shipment by a certain time as well as a breach of duty on the part of the railroad company in failing to furnish the car at the appointed time. The stock was to be shipped for an auction sale in Birmingham on April 1st, and, upon failure to reach that destination by that time, a delay of two weeks would be occasioned — the next auction sale being on April 15th. Of these facts the agent of the railroad was duly notified. As a predicate for the measure of damages to be recovered the plaintiff proved the cost of caring for and feeding the stock during a period of two weeks, and also offered evidence tending to show the decline in the market price of stock at Birmingham from April 1st to the 15th. The plaintiff proceeded upon the theory that it was entitled to, as damages, the difference between the market value of the stock when they should have arrived at the point of destination and their value at the time of the actual delivery, together with such other incidental damages, such as the expense of feeding and caring for the stock, as naturally and proximately follow from the delay in shipment. 3 Hutchinson on Carriers, § 366; 10 C. J. 311. To this end the plaintiff should have established by its proof the market value of the stock in Birmingham on April 1st, and the value on April 15th, and that the stock was shipped to the place of destination; this the plaintiff has failed to do. Indeed, it does not appear to what point or over what route the stock was subsequently shipped, and only evidence is offered tending to show in a general way depreciation in the market value from April 1st to the 15th. If the stock were in fact not shipped to Birmingham, but were shipped and sold elsewhere, the difference in the market value at that point from April 1st to 15th would not be material. If plaintiff (shipper) elected to treat the defendant’s obligation to furnish cars at an end, tlien it would be entitled to recover thé difference between the market value at the destination to which the goods were to be carried at the time they would have arrived if the carrier had furnished ears, and their value at the same time from the place from which they were to be shipped, less the freight. 10 Corpus Juris, 77; Southern Kansas Ry. v. O’Loughlin, etc., Co., 60 Tex. Civ. App. 91, 127 S. W. 568; Richey v. North. Pac. R., 110 Minn. 347, 125 N. W. 897; Hutchinson on Carriers, supra, § 1370. It therefore appears the proof is insufficient for determination as to the correct measure of damages applicable to the plaintiff’s case. Appropriate assignments of error present these questions, and it therefore results that the judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded. Reversed and remanded. ANDERSON, C. J., and SAYRE and MILLER, JJ., concur.