Parsons v. Monteath & Hazard

By the Court, Welles, J. The first point made by the appellant, to wit, that the loss of the goods was the consequence of inevitable accident, or in other words, by the act of God, cannot be maintained; after the fire had commenced burning, I am satisfied that no human effort could have arrested it, and that no want of care is chargeable to the defendants, or their agents. But they sustained the relation of common carriers of the goods in question at the time the fire broke out, and when the goods — 357 — were consumed, and the rules of law incident to that relation applied to them. The act of God, as it is called, in order to excuse a common carrier, must be such an event as could not happen by the intervention of man, nor be prevented by human prudence. (Angelí on the Law of Carriers, § 156.) The case of Colt v. McMechen, (6 John. 160,) which is principally relied upon by the defendants’ counsel, is plainly distinguishable from the present. In that case the defendant’s vessel in which the plaintiff’s goods were lost, was beating up the Hudson river against a light and variable wind, and being near the shore, and while changing her tack, the wind suddenly failed, in consequence of which she ran aground and sunk. It was held to be the act of God, and the carrier was excused. Spencer, justice, in that case, in speaking of the case of Amies v. Stevens, (1 Str. 128,) where a sudden gust of wind, by which the hoy of the carrier was driven against a pier and sunk, and which was adjudged to be the act of God, or vis divina, observed that “ the sudden gust in the case of the hoyman, and the sudden and entire failure of the wind sufficient to enable the vessel to beat, are equally to be considered the act of God. He caused the gust to blow in the one case; and in the other, the wind was stayed by him.” The motion of the wind is entirely unconnected with and independent of any human agency. So in some cases with respect to fire, as in the case of lightning, or a volcano, &c. But that cannot be said of the fire in this case. It does not appear by whose or what means the fire originated, and in such case, the presumption is against the carrier, that the fire arose from some act of man, unless he shows that it could not have so arisen. Such presumption arises out of considerations of public policy in relation to this class of carriers. (Angell on Carriers, § 156, and authorities there cited.) Scarcely a case can be imagined of a loss of property not produced in whole or in part by natural causes, or the action of the elements. The distinction, I apprehend, in reference to the common carrier’s liability, is between cases, where the elements are set in motion by human agency, and where they are not. (Story on Bail. §§ 511, 532, and authorities there cited.) — 358 — But the most interesting and important question in the case, arises under the defendants’ second point, viz. whether a common carrier has a right by special contract, to circumscribe or limit his common law liability. Such was the contract between the parties in this case, and if effect is to be given to it, the defendants are not liable. Were it not for the late case of Gould v. Hill, (2 Hill, 623,) I should have no hesitation in holding the contract between the parties as valid and binding, and one to which we were bound to give effect. To do so would be in accordance with a long and unbroken course of decision in England and in many of our sister states, and in all of them,j I believe, where the question has arisen, excepting Ohio; and would be in harmony with the views of all the elementary writers on the subject. (Story on Bail. § 549, and authorities in ref. 4. Chitty on Cont. 152, Boston ed. of 1827, and authorities cited. 2 Kent’s Com. 606. Angell on Carriers, §§ 59, 220, 221, and authorities cited.) It is unnecessary to go into a particular examination of the authorities here cited. I content myself with the remark, that the doctrine is fully asserted by Story, Chitty, Kent and Angelí, and most abundantly sustained by the authorities to which they refer. But in the case of Gould v. Hill, (supra,) Justice Cowen held a contrary doctrine; that it was not competent for a common carrier to restrict, by special contract, his common law liability; and that where the defendant, being a common carrier, on receiving the plaintiff’s goods for transportation, gave him a memorandum by which he promised to forward the goods to their place of destination, danger of fire, &c. excepted, the defendant was liable for a loss by fire although not resulting from negligence. The learned justice puts his decision wholly on the ground of public policy; and refers to his reasoning in the case of Cole v. Goodwin, (19 Wend. 251,) the substance of which is, (p. 281) that a common carrier’s business is of a public nature; that he is a public servant and hound to perform the duties of his office, and that he should no more be permitted to limit or vary his obligations -or liabilities by contract than a sheriff, or jailer, or any other officer appointed by law. — 359 — The only question with me is how far we are hound by the case of Gould v. Hill, and whether the maxim stare decisis, in consequence of it, is to govern the present case. It is the only reported case where this precise question has been decided in that way in this state. Ho case, that I am aware of, has followed it, affirming the doctrine. Helson, then chief justice of this court, dissented from the decision. I am disposed therefore to think, in view of the great importance of the question and its connection with so large a branch of the commerce of the country, that we ought to take the responsibility of overruling it, providing f we think it not in accordance with the settled law of the land, It is a question in relation to which, almost above all others, the law should be uniform throughout the commercial world, especially among the different states of the Union. It relates to transactions which in their nature expand themselves over and through extensive districts of country, and to places widely separated from each other. Ho one can fail to perceive the great inconvenience that must result from having different and hostile rules on the subject, prevailing between the different Atlantic cities, or between them' and the western states. If it / be true, as I think is undeniable, that by the law as entirely 1 Settled in England, and in most of the United States, and as held by the most eminent jurists of the country, a common carrier may, by special contract with his employer, limit his liability, and relax the rigor of the common law rule applicable to his position, I think we ought not to hesitate in giving the law, so declared, effect -in the case at bar, notwithstanding the isolated authority in this court, which stands opposed to it.-^JU^ think the rule as laid down by Justice Cowen, should be regarded as a deviation from the true one, from which the court should return at the earliest opportunity, and that too, notwithstanding we might, were the question entirely open, prefer a different one. But it seems to me there is no good reason why such a contract between the carrier and the owner of goods should not be enforced. The only one I have ever seen or heard is the one of public policy, founded upon the interests of commerce and — 360 — the protection of the consignors and consignees of property. This I apprehend is entirely too imaginative. Men of business generally know what they are doing and what is for their interest. If common carriers are to be insurers against accidents and events which it is out of their power to prevent, and which their employers do not insist they shall incur, they will as a - matter of course charge higher freight. If the owner of the goods wishes, or is willing for any reason to incur the risk, it is impossible for me to perceive why he should not be permitted to do so. It is enough that the law settles the rule of liability where the parties to" the affreightment have neglected to do it "by contract. If I have goods to transport, and the -common carrier tells me he will carry them for a particular price without incurring the risk of loss or damage by inevitable accident, but that if he takes such risks, he must add a per centage to the price of transportation, I really cannot see what the public have to do with our negotiations, nor "Why we should not be permitted to make a valid contract, with such conditions and stimulations as we choose. A contract which should excuse the carrier from liability for damage or loss arising from his own fraud or gross negligence, would not be enforced. It would be contra bonos mores, and void. So of contracts for the violation of any law, common or statute. If it be said, as has been said, that to give effect to the stipulation in the contract restricting the carrier’s liability to accidents which diligence and good faith on Ms part. can prevent, (which is all I contend for,) would be to hold" out to packet masters a premium for indifference or carelessness, or want of vigilance in protecting shipments confided to their care, I reply that the argument is a non sequitur. In all such cases, the carrier would be bound to satisfy a jury that he had exercised, diligence and faithfulness in the performance of his contract. The burthen of proof would rest upon him, and not upon the owner of the goods, who would in the first place only be bound to prove their shipment and the loss or damage. I think it should be open to parties by special agreement, to waive rules of law, and liabilities introduced and enforced for their own benefit. Although, for the purpose of protecting the — 361 — public from deceit and. pretended losses, the common law responsibility of a carrier is. peculiarly extensive, still, if the party / intrusting goods to his care, agree to_ restrain such liability, f * there can be no legal or equitable reason, in my opinion, for 1 holding that the carrier is bound beyond the terms agreed upon, I in the absence of fraud or gross and actual negligence on his ' part. [Monroe General Term, June 3, 1851. Welles, Taylor and Johnson, Justices.] In every light that I have been able to view the question, am forced to the conclusion that the rule in Gould v. Mill is not, and ought net to be, the law. That it is opposed to reason as well as to authority, and ought not to be followed. As my brethren concur with me, it follows that the judgment at special term should be reversed, the report of the referee set aside, and a new trial before the same referee granted, with costs to abide the event.