Chaffee v. Rutland Railroad

Taft, C. J. This action is brought to recover damages for the destruction of the plaintiffs’ property by fire communicated by the defendant’s engine. It is alleged in the declaration that the defendant so carelessly, negligently and imprudently managed its engine, that the plaintiffs’ property was destroyed by fire communicated therefrom. There is no allegation that the defendant’s engine was not properly equipped with suitable spark arresters and ash-pans, nor that the defendant permitted dry grass, weeds etc. to accumulate on its road-bed. The defendant objected to the proof of such facts, that is, that the engine was not equipped with suitable spark arresters and ash-pans and the accumulation of dry grass and weeds on its road-bed, and also to the charge, that if such facts were established, the plaintiffs had a right to recover. The members of the court are not agreed in respect 1 o the case as shown by the record but concur in holding that if the declaration had contained the allegations of negligence in the construction or condition of the engine in the respects named, and in the accumulation of dry grass and weeds, there was no error in the admission of the testimony nor in [386] the charge of the court. The question arises whether this court will permit such an amendment to be now made after judgment. The cause was fully tried as though such allegations were in the declaration. It is expressly stated in the exceptions that both parties gave testimony pro and con upon the questions of the defective spark arrester and ash-pan, and the accumulation of dry grass and weeds. Such testimony was admissible upon the question of whether the fire was communicated to the plaintiffs’ property by the defendant’s engine. It is apparent from the exceptions that the questions were fully litigated. The course of the trial was the same as if the allegations had not been omitted and an amendment of the declaration will present no new issue nor require any different proof. V. S. 1148 authorizes a court at any time to permit either of the parties to amend a defect in the pleadings upon such conditions as the court prescribes. In Bates v. Cilley, 47 Vt. 1, an amendment was permitted after verdict and before judgment and also in Kimball v. Ladd, 42 Vt. 747, and see many cases therein cited. At common law the court had power to allow an amendment of the pleadings in any case until final judgment and after motion in arrest of judgment. Amendments after trial are allowed in order to conform the pleading to the facts proved. None of our cases go to the extent of permitting an amendment after judgment but the court under the statute V. S. 1148, clearly have that power. All amendments are in the discretion of the court and are allowed or refused as the court may deem most conducive, to the furtherance of justice. An amendment is not allowed if it introduces a new cause of action. An amendment in the case before us is only permitted in order that the pleadings may conform to the proof and for the purpose of sustaining the judgment, not reversing it. 1 Ency. Pl. and Prac. 582. For as said by Redfield, C. J., in Bank v. Downer, 29 Vt. 332, “an amendment will cure error but cannot create it.” [387] The plaintiffs may amend tbeir declaration by filing an amendment alleging the defendant’s negligence in the construction or condition of the spark arrester and ash-pan of its engine, and in permitting an accumulation upon its road-bed, of dry grass, weeds, bushes, etc., and when such amendment is made, the Judgment may be affirmed, but without costs tn this court.