Seaman Store Company v. Bonner

Baker, J. This is an appeal from the Crawford circuit court. Suit was filed there on or about May 19th or 20th, 1937, alleging injury caused by a falling freight elevator in the business house of the appellant. It is alleged in the complaint that certain parts of the elevator w;ere old, worn and defective, and particularly that a wedge key used to fasten a pinion wheel on a shaft had worked loose, and that this loosening of the wedge key permitted the wheel to slip or turn upon the shaft, and the loaded elevator to fall and strike young Bonner, who was aiding in the operation of the elevator in moving merchandise from the first floor to the second floor of the store building of the appellant. It was the contention of the appellee that the appellant knew, or, in the exercise of ordinary care, should have known of the loose wedge key; that a reasonable inspection would have disclosed the condition; that the appellant negligently failed to make inspections. The appellant contended, first, that the loose wedge key was not discoverable by inspection and', second, that the loosening of the wedge key and the descent or falling of the elevator were simultaneous and, third, that the slipping out of the wedge ■ key was an occurrence impossible of anticipation. This case has been presented upon briefs somewhat voluminous and in addition upon oral argument. There are several assignments of error presented by appellant. (1) The appellant was entitled to a directed verdict on the question of liability; (2) The appellant was entitled to a directed verdict on the issue of permanent impairment; (3) The appellant’s motion to reopen the case for further testimony should have been sustained; (4) That appellee’s counsel was guilty of improper and highly prejudicial argument; and (5) The verdict of the jury is excessive. We shall attempt to discuss and dispose of these several issues, devoting such attention to each as its real importance may seem to require, hut we shall not attempt to quote in detail testimony of witnesses upon each of the several propositions, but must content ourselves with the statement of what we conceive to be the facts as stated most favorably for the appellee. The elevator upon which the appellee was employed at the time of his injury was in the store or mercantile business house of the appellant company. It was about seven feet wide and ten feet long. It is what was known as a hand-power freight elevator operated to move freight and merchandise from the first floor to the second floor; the shaft upon which the drum was located, or to which it was connected by the operating machinery, was up at the top, or probably above the ceiling of the second floor,- that a cable or cables went from the elevator to the drum upon which they were rolled or unrolled in the raising or lowering of the elevator. There were counterbalancing heavy weights. At the time of the injury alleged, the elevator was in use moving freight, • a heavy load of merchandise, and two or three employees were engaged in this work. Power was applied by those operating the elevator by pulling or swinging upon a large rope; that perhaps only one would pull upon the rope at a time and he would step back and another would take his place until the elevator had reached the top, then a handbrake was applied by pulling upon another rope which held the elevator in the proper position until it was unloaded. The shaft, at or about the ceiling o'f the second floor, was horizontal and upon it was fastened to what is called a pinion wheel. This pinion wheel had to be securely fixed so that it would not turn upon this shaft, or axis, but in the operation of the elevator the wheel would turn with the shaft or axis upon which it was fastened. The fastening device was a wedge shaped piece of iron or steel, perhaps one-half inch thick, and maybe a little more than that in height at the larger end, and it tapered to a point at the other end, and this was driven into a slot cut into the shaft just wide enough to hold this wedge key set upon edge in the slot, and into a corresponding slot, or cut in the pinion wheel into which the wedge was engaged or driven, fastening' the wheel upon the shaft. This is said to be a very simple and a very common device used generally in fastening wheels or pulleys upon shafts in many kinds of machinery and ordinarily it is deemed very secure. This wedge key, immediately after the accident, was found to be loose and sufficiently withdrawn from, or out of the slot, to permit the wheel to turn upon the shaft; that it was burred and the smaller end twisted or bent. It was shown that it was repaired by filing off:' the burrs or roughened particles and straightened and was driven back into the slot. At the time of the accident young Bonner and another employee, working together, were hoisting a load qf freight on the elevator, and in doing so were standing-on the first floor pulling upon a rope used for that purpose. Bonner had been pulling at the rope and stepped aside to permit his companion to take his place. We do not know just how high the elevator had gone, but evidently somewhat above the heads of the employees, when it fell with a crash that was heard by people in nearby houses, some of whom visited the scene immediately after the accident. In falling, young 'Bonner was struck upon the head and carried down with the elevator. A cut or gash was made upon his head and his upper lip was split. The elevator was pulled up and he was taken from under it. He was unconscious for a short time. There was not found upon examination, however, at that time or thereafter, any broken bones or fractures, or any depressions upon the cranium. Within the next few days, after this accident occurred, young Bonner went two or three times for examination and treatment,, and did walk in and out of the clinic or hospital where he was. examined and treated. About ten days after the accident he filed this suit in the Crawford circuit court, and since that time he says he has not been able to walk, at any time or on any occasion without having' someone support him. It is argued most seriously that we should hold, as a matter of law, that when this wedge key came loose the elevator could not be operated, that is to say, that the loosening of the key and the accident were simultaneous, and that no reasonable inspection would have disclosed the loosened condition of the key, if one had been made. We think this contention is open to a very serious doubt as to its accuracy. Those in control of the operation of the store building testified that they had been operating this elevator for a period of about ten years, and that no actual inspections had been made by them or anyone for the store building, except possibly an'inspection made about two and a half years before the accident. The extent or thoroughness of that inspection, or for what purpose, is in no wise shown by any witness. It is said to have been made by one who is still a resident of Fort Smith. Two or three witnesses used as experts, two of whom were employed by elevator companies, who had made inspections for such companies, testified in regard to inspections of elevators, and one who said he was a safety engineer for an insurance company and whose business it was to make inspections of elevators which his company insured. He said that ordinarily they made inspections at least once a year to determine,the safety of elevators in order that they might avoid accidents and losses caused thereby. Some of these witnesses indicated, however, that most of the inspections of elevators where wheels are fastened to axles with the wedge key device such device is ordinarily not very closely observed, if noticed at all. The manager of the store testified that the next morning' after this accident he and another man employed there made an inspection to determine, if possible the cause of the accident; that he sent a man with a flash light to examine this shaft upon which was fastened the pinion wheel with the' wedge key; that the wedge key was found to have been loosened to such an extent that the man making the examination removed it or pulled it out with his fingers and handed it to him. He also described the burred condition, the twisting or bending at the end of the wedge key as it was found when they removed it. From this testimony it is observed that the wedge key had not fallen or come out of the slot, but had only ¿receded or slipped out to such an extent that the wheel was permitted to turn. It is possible that it may have become loosened in a very short time,-but it is also possible that it may have been working loose over a long period of time. It is a certainty, however, that if it had-been loosening or backing out of this slot over a period of years, as it is possible that it could have done, it reached the point on the day of the accident, for. the first time, when the wheel was permitted to turn. The burred and twisted condition may have been caused by the pulling of heavy loads upon this loosened key. At any rate, it does not seem consistent with physical laws that the wedge key could have instantly slipped or backed out of the slot just far enough to permit the accident, and to have been safe and secure at all times prior thereto. .. There is no suggestion that the appellee was charged with any duty in regard to the maintenance of the elevator, nor was he employed or required in any particular to make any inspection, nor is there any evidence that the condition of this wedge key and pinion wheel could have been discovered by him or .any other employee, except as it was discovered the next morning after the accident by sending a man with a flash light into this darkened top part of the elevator to find what Avas Avrong. Since it is the duty of the master to exercise ordinary care to furnish a reasonably safe place and reasonably safe appliances wherein, and Avith which the servant may be employed, Ave cannot say, as a matter of law, that that duty was discharged by the master in the ■instant case. There is no pretense that it was. The defense is that inspection Avas unnecessary and would not have disclosed the dangerous condition. If the facts above stated do not present a typical case of negligence, they do at least present a question of fact properly to be submitted to a jury for its determination. Negligence is not synonymous with intentional or wilful action. It may consist of inattention and the results be just as hazardous by reason of inattention, or neglect as would follow from wrongful conduct. Appellant, in its most exhaustive research, has presented many authorities for our consideration. We have selected, as typical, two well considered cases. The first of these, which we consider, is that of Leonard v. Herrman, 195 Pa. 222, 45 Atl. 723. That case quotes from another Pennsylvania case, Titus v. Ry. Co., 136 Pa. St. 618, 20 Atl. 517, 20 Am. St. Bep. 944, as follows: “Absolute safety is unattainable, and employers are not insurers. They are liable for the consequences, not of danger, but of negligence; and the unbending test of negligence in methods, machinery, and appliances is the ordinary usage of the business. No man is held by law to a higher degree of skill than the fair average of his profession or trade, and the standard of due care is the conduct of the average prudent man. The test.of negligence in employers is the same, and, however strongly they may be convinced that there is a better or less dangerous way, no jury can be permitted to say that the usual and ordinary way, commonly adopted by those in the same business, is a negligent way, for which liability shall be imposed.” Substantially the same, if not the exact language, just quoted above, was used in the case of Spindler v. American Express Co., (Mo.) 232 S. W. 690, 693. The soundness of the foregoing declarations is expressed by the well chosen language used, and if less were said than we have set out, we could not quote the above statements with approval. Industry and business will not suffer when courts and juries realize that the fair test for determining liability of the master to the injured servant is the conduct of the average prudent man under the same or like conditions. When business and industry likewise take cognizance of and uniformly follow the same fair rule, conditions will be ideal. However sincere one may be in a belief that inspections and precautionary measures might not be available, he cannot neglect the employment of such precautionary conduct without the menace of such evil effects as naturally follow. Appellants cite the rule announced in 45 C. J. 867. This is a pointed statement of the law and the last part of the quoted provision is no less practicable than the first part thereof, that is “the owner has discharged his duty if he' has provided .the elevator with appliances which are in common use and has exercised reasonable care in inspecting, repairing* and management. Certainly appellant cannot be too insistent that no inspection made by it within a period of ten years and the only inspection made was two and a half years ago, and of which they now have no knowledge, is untainted with negligence.. This matter was submitted properly to the jury, men presumptively of experience in common or ordinary everyday affairs, and they have held against appellant’s contention in that respect, and we think it apparent that the evidence is not only substantial but ample to support their finding on the question of liability. There is no real insistence that appellee was guilty of contributory negligence, but that he had assumed the risk in the operation of the elevator and unnecessarily was standing too near the elevator frame when struck. There was no danger at that point except such as arose out of appellant’s negligence as found by the jury. (2) The next question is one that has given us a great deal of trouble. The appellant insists that except for the small scars on appellee’s head and lip that there is no substantial evidence of his injuries. The evidence in this case may not be as satisfactory as one would always like. Most of it is in a field or sphere with which laymen have little acquaintanceship and the facts are such that their truthfulness is not susceptible of actual demonstration. Two physicians made an examination of young Bonner, and they say that all the symptoms or conditions found by them were subjective in their nature; that they learned of the facts from the history of the case as given to them by the appellee, by his parents, or other members of his family. They made tests, as we understand, to determine the accuracy of these statements and these tests so made corresponded with, and verified to their satisfaction, such subjective symptoms, pains and aches, and convinced them, of the seriousness of appellee’s injuries. There were lay witnesses who testified that the plaintiff had been constantly in bed since a short time after the injury, that he complained of certain pains and aches. He described the location of these pains. He testified to his inability to work or to exercise properly his limbs since about the 9th or 10th day after his injury. The physicians say he is suffering from traumatic neurosis. They say that it is the history of this particular trouble now recognized by physicians who treat injuries peculiar to industry, that after the injury, though it may be slight, or, at least, apparently not very severe, there is often a period of incubation of a few days, or possibly a few weeks, after which there is a complete breakdown so far as actual activity is concerned. This, young man at the time that he testified said that for a time he could not hear very well, or at least his hearing in one ear ivas seriously impaired; that in that respect he has practically recovered; that his pains heretofore suffered are somewhat less regular and perhaps a little less severe; but he is still unable to work. Other physicians examined this young man and except for the scars, one on his head and one on his lip, they say they found no kind of condition to justify a belief or opinion that he at any time suffered any serious injury or that there is at this time any real impairment. One of these physicians testified that after learning the subjective symptoms, the locations of the pains, that young Bonner claimed to have, he traced out the nerves from the head and back to determine if they had been injured and says that he found a normal condition' ns to all these nerves at points or locations at which pain might have been induced, as claimed by Bonner. He found an absolutely normal condition of all the vital organs of the body, including the heart, lungs, kidneys and alimentary canal; that as to every test of the reflexes there was a normal response; that there is no condition prevailing at this time that indicates the impairment of any of the normal functions of the body. It is, therefore, argued most seriously that the jury’s verdict rendered in the face of this conflicting testimony must have been a matter of speculation. It is also argued that the two physicians who testified for the appellee, and who have given in their opinions a statement to the effect that he is totally and permanently injured and that he will perhaps never walk or work again is not the tes-: timony of those who are experienced in the particular field and that they have not the ability of other physicians who profess to have somewhat more experience and a better opportunity for training and who gave a different view. It is not urged that the testimony given by any of these physicians was improper; that it should not have been heard by the jury, nor is it contended that the jury should not have considered all that was said by any one of them. In this part of the record, and we think there is no error about that part of it, it appears beyond dispute that this whole controversy in regard to the injuries and extent thereof were jury questions, properly' submitted and correctly determined. At any rate, we cannot arrogate to ourselves that bit of superior knowledge which would qualify us to decide which theory was correct and which not. In that plane of physical and mental, or psychic phenomena, we must all depend upon those who profess to know for such information as we may receive. We are privileged in such controversies as the one under consideration to accept or reject as we choose. It may be that young Bonner, instead of being a helpless victim on account of injuries suffered by reason of negligence of his employer, is now malingering or may-hap he is the subject of self-induced hypnosis -without apparent physical impairment. On the other hand there is a possibility, so far as we know a great probability, his body has undergone some organic change not susceptible to actual or demonstrable discovery. We have been cited upon this phase of the case to “A Text-Book of Clinical Neurology,” published by Dr. Israel S. Wech-sler, professor of clinical neurology of Columbia University. “Following some trifling or more serious accident, which may or may not have been accompanied by tern- ■ porary unconsciousness, many individuals develop a train of symptoms which are characteristic of the general neuroses. These symptoms usually set in after a so-called incubation period of a few days or weeks, and more seldom months, in which the individual is seemingly well and shows no signs of organic involvement of the nervous system. These syndromes generally follow industrial accidents; they have been observed during’ the war; they may occur in individuals who have merely been ‘shocked’ in railroad accidents or explosions without having received any demonstrable injury. Most commonly they follow blows to the head. “The two main complaints are headache ' and dizziness.” The foregoing quotation, at least, demonstrates the fact that scholarly experts free from any contact or interest give serious consideration to such conditions, as, at least, two of the physicians found and determined to be present, in their examination of young Bonner. Certainly, insofar as this question may be justiciable; it is one for the jury. It assuredly cannot be said to be a matter of law. The foregoing comment made in relation to conflict in theories advanced by experts was intended to demonstrate the untenable position of appellant. The jury determines the credit due to be given to even expert witnesses and will not necessarily be bound by such testimony. At. this juncture, it is proper to consider the third alleged error for which appellant contends there should be a reversal. In the cross-examination of one of these experts a rather wide range was allowed, no doubt properly so, and he was questioned in regard to opinions expressed by him in one or two other cases of an almost exactly similar nature. He was asked if he did not make certain statements which were read to him from certified copies of his former testimony. This was in accordance with the rules of evidence permissible. Section 5197, Pope’s Digest. This part of the examination of the witness was upon matters purely collateral, but it was upon cross-examination and may have tested the credibility of the witness. Finally it is urged that he was asked in regard to a certain former plaintiff in a suit by the name of Minton, if he had not expressed in the former trial that Minton had no real affliction or injury, and it was urged that Minton had been “planted” before the jury, somewhat old and apparently seriously crippled. An argument ensued between counsel and the witness, and immediately following the testimony so given by the witness, one of the experts, appellant’s counsel called other witnesses who were examined and gave testimony in support of the statements made by the expert on the cross-examination. This proceeding was erroneous, but counsel for the appellee made no objection and counsel for appellant were permitted to pursue this course. Finally, Tom Minton, the crippled man about whom the witnesses were called upon to testify and whose condition or injury had not even a remote connection with the case upon trial, was called to the stand and permitted to testify in contradiction of the statements made by the expert in regard to his former condition and accident. Let it be remembered that this examination was in regard to collateral matters and, of course, the appel-lee was bound by the answers given by the witness; but after appellant had sought to bolster the testimony of the expert, then Minton was called and permitted to deny the statements made by the expert in his case, and this was done without objection and, however erroneous it might otherwise have been as it proceeded to that point, there was no objection and no prejudice, unless it was invited prejudice. All occurred on Friday or Saturday afternoon. When each party had developed the case in regard to this particular new issue as much as was desired up to that time, both parties rested, and there was an adjournment of the court until the following Tuesday. At that time the appellant filed a motion asking permission to' reopen the case in order that additional testimony might he presented to contradict the statements made by Minton in regard to this collateral matter. Ap-pellee expressed a willingness to reopen the case, provided time was given to procure other witnesses who would testify in support of their theory. Until this state of the proceeding was reached, it must be conceded that there was no error that either party could urge for the reason that neither had interposed any objection or saved any exception. It appears that the court would have granted permission to reopen the case and would have permitted a resumption of the trial of this collateral matter, except for the fact that it would have caused undue delay to have permitted the appellee to bring from another county several witnesses desired. Appellant’s motion was, therefore, overruled; and this order of the court overruling the motion is one of the assignments of error brought forward on appeal. ' Appellant’s motion was accompanied by affidavits of several witnesses who were present ready to testify. We intend to say nothing at this time that will impair in the least the right of any party to cross-examine any expert witness, nor is there anything that we would suggest that would impair the right to contradict any witness whether expert or not, and we do not'think that the conclusions that we have reached in regard to this controversy will have that effect. We appreciate fully how far-reaching was the probable effect of this testimony, but the matter of reopening this case for the further development of a matter'purely collateral was one of discretion. It was not proper for the court to permit an effort to bolster the testimony of the witness, or support it under such circumstances, and no doubt would have sustained proper objections, but if the parties themselves were willing to enter into that controversy and did do it without objection, we know of no authority, and certainly none has been cited, that would require the court to permit a continuation of trial of issues collateral, and more particularly is this true after 'both sides had announced they had finished their evidence. It was urged that this testimony that they wanted to offer was newly discovered, but, even if it had been so considered, the court might properly have ended this roving investigation at any time and most certainly upon investigation. There is a question in regard to the fact of whether the evidence was newly discovered, or was already known at the time of the adjournment after each party had closed his case. Some evidence was offered in regard to that fact and heard by the court before he made his ruling upon the motion and even that issue must be decided most favorably to support appellee’s position. Certainly in the exercise of judicial discretion the court may have properly ruled as he did and prevented a further presentation of collateral matters. If all that was collateral must be disposed of in the trial of issues, trials like this might perhaps continue indefinitely. There are many authorities correctly announcing the principle of law in regard to impeachments, but we will content ourselves with citing Taylor v. McClintock, 87 Ark. 243, 112 S. W. 405, and McArthur v. State, 59 Ark. 431, 27 S. W. 628. We think it must appear that in an investigation of collateral matters, if permitted, the investigation must end at sometime with one side perhaps having the advantage. It is better that they be left alone. On this point we see no error. Fourth, we have made a careful examination of the alleged errors arising from argument of appellee’s counsel. We do not think prejudicial error is shown, though perhaps some immoderate speech was employed and may be some incorrect deductions drawn and forcibly expressed. The court properly admonished the jury on two or three occasions when objections were urged. We see no benefit to be had' from any extended discussion of this matter. No part of the attorney’s remarks come within the inhibitions announced in the authorities. Our latest cases are Hogan v. State, 191 Ark. 437, 86 S. W. 2d 931; Missouri P. Rd. Co. v. Foreman, 194 Ark. 490, 107 S. W. 2d 546. Some remarks complained of were invited. Fifth, it is urged finally that the judgment is excessive; that it is a result of passion or prejudice on the ■part of the jury. It can serve no useful purpose to make a repetition of all the testimony. It will suffice to say that the appellee was a young man about twenty years of age \vith an expectancy of about or approximately forty years. He was a graduate of high school, expecting and attempting to earn money to go to the State University. At the time of the accident, though he had worked for this company for several months, he was earning only $9.50 a week. There is no evidence that he was in any line for promotion, or that there was any prospective increase in his earnings. ■ ' A computation of the amounts he might have earned at $10 a week, a little more than his actual earnings at the time of his injury, would have been less than $21,000 during the term of his expectancy. The present cash value of thatlimount would have been considerably less. The testimony shows that if the appellee suffered any broken bone that fact does not appear. It is not even urged that he did, though he testified his jaw was broken. There is no impairment so far as was discoverable by any of the physiciahs'.df any of the bodily organs-, even the pain of which he complained had become less frequent and less severe. We think, therefore, that the verdict is excessive in that there is no substantial evidence to support .it for the full amount given. After due consideration of all these matters, we think that 'compensation for all pain and suffering, for impaired earning ability, if any, for all loss occasioned by injuries, the sum of $30,000 will be ample, and the error may be cured by a remittitur. ; There are several cases in our reports sustaining judgments for this amount and some for larger -sums, but in all those cases there was objective evidence of impairment' of bodily functions present. There was evidence of the destruction of earning power much greater than appellee’s. It is unnecessary to cite cases. Since we have determined that the verdict is excessive by at least $10,000, the error may be cured by a remittitur of that amount. If the appellee will enter a remittitur within fifteen days reducing the judgment to $30,000 it will be affirmed. Otherwise it will be' reversed and remanded. GtbippiN Smith, C. J., Smith and McIIaNey, JJ., dissent.