Lancaster v. Gonzales

BISHOP, J. Defendant in error filed this suit in the district court to recover damages for the death of his son, proximately caused by the negligence of plaintiffs in error in operating ears on their railroad track at a street crossing in the city of Fort Worth, Tex. Controverted issues of fact as to.negligence on the part of plaintiffs in error and contributory negligence on the part of the son were submitted to the jury on special, issues, and, on the verdict finding plaintiffs in error guilty of negligence proximately causing the injury and death, as alleged, and the son guilty of contributory negligence, the court rendered judgment that the defendant in error take nothing by reason of his suit. This judgment was by the Court of Civil Appeals reversed, and the cause remanded to the district court for another trial. The son died from injuries received by being run over by cars at a crossing of the street and railroad tracks. These two issues of contributory negligence were submitted in the charge: First, (a) whether deceased, as he approached the tracks on which he was injured on the occasion of his injuries, stopped to ascertain if cars were approaching on the track on which he was injured; and, (b) if he did not stop, was his failure to do so contributory negligence on his part. Second, whether he was guilty of contributory negligence in standing between the rails of the track in the manner and under the circumstances as he did on the occasion of his injuries. These were both fact issues. Under the pleadings and evidence each presented a separate and complete defense to the cause of action asserted. The verdict was in favor of plaintiff in error on both. The Court of Civil Appeals held that the trial court, in presenting the issue whether deceased was guilty of contributory negligence in standing between the rails of the track at the time he was injured, assumed that he was standing’ between the rails of the track, whereas the evidence presented an issue of fact as to whether he was so standing, and that this assumption of a fact in issue was error. With this holding w.e agree. This error, however, did not adversely affect the finding that deceased was guilty of contributory negligence in not stopping as he approached the tracks to ascertain whether the cars were [1095] approaching, and, as this negligence on his part was a complete defense to the cause of action, it was error to reverse the judgment. We recommend that the judgment of the Court of Civil Appeals be reversed and that of the district court affirmed. CTJRETON, C. J. Judgment of the Court of Civil Appeals reversed, and judgment of the district court affirmed.