Gillet v. Shaw

BbiscoK, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. This case presents an interesting legal question and one of more than ordinary importance. The precise question is now for the first time before this Court, and it is conceded, that the cases on. the subject, in other jurisdictions are exceedingly few. The material facts upon which it is raised are practically undisputed, and the legal question is this: Is a lunatic liable for the torts of an employee of his guardian or committee, committed out of his presence and without the authority of the lunatic. The defendant in the case was adjudicated a lunatic, on the Gth day of August, 1.90B, in the Probate Court of Mid-dlesex county, Massachusetts, and Francis Shaw, Sir, his father, was duly appointed his guardian or committee, and charged with the care and custody of his person, his real *510 .and .personal property. He was brought to Maryland m November, 1909, and placed! in charge of Dr.' Henry J. Berkeley, of Baltimore City, a specialist upon nervous diseases and mental troubles. Dr. Berkeley located the patient-on the Morrison Place, known as Grovemont, near Ilches-ter, Howard county, Md., and under the supervision of a trained nurse and three male attendants. Prior to coming to Maryland, he had been confined in an institution near the city of Boston and although improved by the treatment here at no time in the years 1910 or 1911 was he capable of regulating his own movements or his property, but had to have nurses and attendants to look after him. On the 31st of May, 1910, the plaintiff brought this suit in the Circuit Court for Howard County against the defendant, the lunatic, to recover damages for personal injuries received by her on the 27th of May, 1910, while driving a horse and buggy upon a public highway near Ilchester, in that county, by reason of .the negligence of an alleged servant or employee (in this case a chauffeur) of the defendant, in operating and running an automobile upon the same highway, in a direction opposite to that in which the plaintiff was •driving. At the trial of the case, in the Court below, upon the conclusion of the evidence upon the part of both plaintiff and defend,ant, rejected the plaintiff’s prayers and granted a prayer upon the part of the defendant, that upon the pleadings and evidence, there was no evidence legally sufficient to entitle the plaintiff to recover, and their verdict must be for the defendant. From a judgment upon the verdict so entered, the plaintiff has appealed. Ordinarily in negligence cases, like the one now before us, there are two prominent questions presented for the consideration of the Court, and they are, first, whether the negligence is such as to permit or entitle the plaintiff to recover at all, and, secondly, whether the negligence was such as to render the defendant legally liable to respond in damages in a judgment against him. *511 la the case at bar it will only be access ary lor us to consider the second proposition, namely, the legal liability oí the defendant, because we are of opinion, upon the special facts of this case, even assuming, the negligence of the chauffeur iu charge of the automobile at the time of the accident, it was not the negligence of the defendant, and this being so, he cannot be held personally liable, nor can his estate or property he made liable therefor. The undisputed facts of the case, upon which this decision must rest, are these: The defendant is an adjudicated lunatic and was so at the time of the accident, that he was unable to manage his property, regulate bis own movements or direct those of others. He was located on the Morrison Place, in Howard county, in charge of Dr. Berkeley and a home was established there for his benefit. The automobile was purchased by Dr. Berkeley and paid for by the guardian of the lunatic and was maintained for his benefit, as a part of the medical treatment recommended. • The chauffeur in charge of the automobile at the time of the accident was employed by the guardian and not by the lunatic and he testified, that on the morning, when he was running the automobile from Grovemont to Ellicott City, he was going about the business of the establishment and was engaged in the business of the place. Dr. Berkeley testified, that the automobile was purchased, the chauffeur was employed under the instructions and by the directions of Erancis Shaw, Sr., the guardian, and that he the guardian, paid all the bills contracted by him that were necessary to maintain the establishment for the benefit of the lunatic. It further appears, that neither the chauffeur, nor the automobile was at the time of the accident under the direction, control, authority or in view of the lunatic and that the alleged negligent act was not committed by the lunatic himself or under his immediate view or by his direction or by his express authority. *512 Tbe contention of the plaintiff, in answer to the defense of insanity, set np on behalf of the defendant, as stated in his brief, “is not that the defendant per se is liable for the injuries inflicted an.d damages incurred by the use of the automobile, but that his estate is responsible for whatever loss and damage the use of his estate has brought upon innocent third persons.” In other words, it is urged, that the estate of the defendant, even though he be a lunatic, is liable for the injuries caused by the use of the property by the committee and the chauffeur. According to the established law in this State, the acts of lunatics and infants are treated as analogous, and the contract of a person adjudged to be insane can not be enforced against him. Chew v. Bank, 14 Md. 299; Flack v. Gottschalk Co., 88 Md. 369; Key v. Davis, 1 Md. 32. In Cross v. Kent, 32 Md. 581, in an action of trespass, for damages against an insane person who had not been adjudged a lunatic and had no guardian, for setting fire to and burning a barn, it was held that a lunatic or an insane person, though not punishable criminally, is liable to a civil action for any tort he may commit. *Tudo-ts Miluiír, in delivering the opinion of the Court, in that case said: “The distinction between the liability of a lunatic or insane person in civil actions for torts committed by him and in criminal prosecutions, is well defined and it has always been held and upon sound reason, that though not punishable criminally, he is liable to a civil action for any tort he may commit.” 1 Chittys Pl. 76; 3 Bacon Abr. 536; William v. Hayes, 143 N. Y. 422; 26 L. R. A. 154, and cases there cited. The general doctrine is stated in Sherman and. Bedfield on Negligence, sec. 57, to be that infants and persons of unsound mind are liable for injuries caused by their tortious negligence, and so far as their responsibility is concerned they are held to the same degree of care and diligence as persons of sound mind and full age. This is necessary because otherwise there would be no redress for injuries committed by such persons. *513 While the law as thus stated may be true as to torts corn-mil ted by the lunatic, himself, it can have no application to a <‘ase like this where the tort was not committed by the lunatic himself, or by his direction, and it is difficult to see, upon what principle of law or sound legal reason that either the lunatic or his property can be made liable for the negligence or wrongs of an employee or servant of his guardian. It is well settled that an adjudged lunatic lias no capacity to contract and can not appoint an agent, so long as his lunacy continues. Chew v. Bank, 14 Md. 299; Greenwood v. Greenwood, 28 M.d. 386; Flach v. Gottschalk Co., 88 Md. 369; Story on Agency, sec. 6, page 5; 31 Cyc. 1206; Mechem on Agency, sec. 47. In 22 Cyc. 620, the law is thus stated as supported by authority. “It has been laid down that in order to hold an infant liable for a tort, the tortious act must be committed by the infant himself or under his immediate view or by his discretion or authority. Eor as he can not create an agency or appoint a servant and therefore can not delegate powers to another, he can not guarantee or insure the fidelity, care oi“ skill of such other.” Story on Agency, sec. 6; 16 A. & E. Ency. of Law, 308. In 31 Cyc. 1206, it is said: “One who is non compos mentis is naturally incapable of appointing an agent; being unable to comprehend business, he is equally wanting in discretion to select an agent to do such business. Accordingly a lunatic is no more capable of constituting an agent than of binding himself by contract.” , . The doctrine asserted by these authorities is fully supported by a number of cases. Pearl v. McDowell, 26 Ky. 658; Birus v. Smith, 29 Ind. App. 181; Simpson v. Prudential Ins. Co. 184 Mass. 348. In Rooney v. People's Trust Company, 114 N. Y. Supp. 612, it was held that the estate of a lunatic could not be held liable for the torts of one who is not his agent, in the legal sense. And to the same effect are the cases of Ward v. Rogers, 100 N. Y. Supp. 1056; Reams v. Taylor, 31 Utah, 288; Robbins v. Mount, 33 Howard’s Practice Rep. 553. *514 Tbe eases relied upon by tbe appellant are unlike tbis and are mostly cases where tbe negligent act was committed by tbe lunatic himself, or where tbe cause of action arose before tbe lunacy of tbe defendant, and before tbe appointment oí tbe guardian or committee, and are not controlling here. In tbis case tbe tort was not committed by tbe lunatic or under bis immediate view or by bis direction or authority. Tbe chauffeur of tbe automobile was tbe servant and employee of tbe guardian and not tbe agent of tbe lunatic, at least not in tbe legal sense, so as t® bind tbe lunatic, either personally or to render bis property liable, for bis personal torts. We, therefore, bold upon both reason and tbe great weight of authority that tbe defendant can.not be held liable in this case; first, because tbe tort was not committed by him personally or in bis presence or by bis direction; secondly, because not being capable of appointing an agent, be is not personally liable for tbe acts of one claimed to be bis agent .and not being personally liable neither his property or 'estate can be held liable in damages therefor; third, because the tort in tbis case was not the tort of tbe lunatic, but the tort of tbe chauffeur, who was not bis agent, but the employee of tbe guardian; and fourthly, because tbe tort of a servant or employee of a guardian of a lunatic can not bind the lunatic either personally or render bis property liable, under tbe special facts of tbis case. For these reasons, tbe Court below committed no error, in withdrawing the case from tbe jury and tbe judgment will be affirmed. Judgment affirmed, with costs.