Bigelow v. Danielson

Bardeen, J. An inspection of the complaint shows that the issuable facts as to defendant’s neglect may be stated as-follows: That plaintiff was inexperienced as to his duties, and that defendant failed and neglected to instruct or inform him as to the dangers pertaining to his work; that defendant neglected to furnish sufficient help to operate his pulp473 mill; that defendant failed to furnish the plaintiff a safe place to work, but allowed the floor of the mill to become covered with ice, so that it was slippery and unsafe; and that the felt upon which the pulp was gathered was worn and unfit for use. These allegations of negligence were put in issue by the defendant’s answer, and covered the substantial, issuable facts concerning which proof was offered. When a special verdict was demanded, it became the duty of the court to submit these matters to the jury in such form that they might determine the facts so presented, and not the conclusions to be derived therefrom. “ A special verdict is that by which the jury find the facts only, leaving the judgment to the court.” Stats. 1898, secs. 2857, 2858; Andrews v. C., M. & St. P. R. Co. 96 Wis. 348. Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon this requirement. We are not concerned in the policy of the law which allows a special verdict. It is sufficient for our purpose that the law is so-written, and it becomes our duty to see that it is carried out by trial judges in accordance with its true spirit and purpose. This court, has had occasion, very recently, to criticise and condemn a verdict similar to the one submitted in this case. Lee v. C., St. P., M. & O. R. Co. 101 Wis. 352. It was there said that it amounted t© little more than submitting a general verdict in sections, a practice not at all in conformity to legal requirements. The true office of a special verdict is to single out the issuable facts of the case upon which the defendant’s obligation rests. The questions should be so framed as to-present, in as clear and sharp a way as possible, the real issues concerning which proof is offered, so that, when der termined by the jury, the court may apply the law and render-judgment accordingly. In this case, instead of directing the-jury’s attention, by proper questions, to the contested questions of negligence, the court submits an omnibus conclusion, the answer to which leaves the defendant unadvised as to the real fact of negligence upon which the jury’s conclu [474] sion is based. We do not desire” to be understood as holding that the submission of a question of this kind would be error if no other questions were requested, but, where proper questions are requested and refused, we hold such refusal to be error. Trial courts are not always to blame for the imperfections of special verdicts. The practice by attorneys of submitting a long list of questions calling for the determination of mere evidentiary matters is very common, ,and ought to be condemned. It is more confusing than helpful to the court, and not infrequently leads to confusion and error. In this case, counsel for defendant asked the court to submit twenty-one different questions, only a very few of which were applicable to the case or proper to be given. There are, however, several questions relating to defendant’s negligence, and bearing upon the controverted facts, which the court ought to have submitted. One related to the fact of whether plaintiff had been cautioned or warned not to attempt to straighten the felt just before it reached the press rollers. Another related to the defective character of the felt. Others were sufficient to suggest to the court the actual facts in controversy, and all of which the court refused to submit. The only question in the verdict bearing upon defendant’s negligence is? as follows: “Was the injury to plaintiff proximately caused by defendant’s negligence ? ” It requires but a glance to discover that it is susceptible to the criticism heretofore suggested. The form is not to be approved, and its harmful character was heightened by the court’s instruction. He tells the jury that “ proximate cause means the nearest cause; direct or immediate cause, in con-, tradistinction to the indirect or remote cause.” Applying this instruction to the question submitted, it requires no argument to demonstrate the faulty and harmful character of both questions and instruction. Deisenrieter v. Kraus-Merkel M. Co. 97 Wis. 279. The jury found, in answer to questions 2 and 3, that the [475] danger of operating the machine was not apparent to a person of the age, experience, and understanding of plaintiff, and that he ought not to have comprehended the danger incident to taking hold of the felt as he did. Can these findings be sustained ? The evidence shows that the plaintiff was a bright, intelligent boy; that he had worked at this identical machine several months continuously during the year previous to his injury; that he had been at work on the same machine from some time in November to the last day of January, the day he Avas hurt. He had watched others handle the machine, and had learned how to handle the guide roller and to operate the machine. He said he was anxious to learn how to operate the machine, and had had control of the guide roll for a month or more before the accident happened. The dangers of operating the machine were apparent at a glance. There is no pretense or claim that the precise danger to which plaintiff exposed himself was hidden, or that his attention was distracted, or that any cause intervened or contributed to the risk. The allegation in the complaint that the floor was icy, and that plaintiff slipped, causing his hand to be caught betAveen the roll, is not supported by a single fact testified-to in the case. It is true the plaintiff says that he was not warned of the danger of getting his hands in the rolls, and that he did not understand or know there was danger of his getting hurt. There was nothing complicated or hidden in the act he was about to perform. The machine was in plain sight before him. The moving felt was being fed between the rolls, in plain sight, and right before his eyes.- No warning‘that could have been given him could have made the danger of getting his fingers between the rolls more evident. The danger was so plain and obvious from the situation that affirmative proof of the fact was unnecessary. "With nothing to distract his attention, with the danger visible before him, for him to grasp the felt in such [476] proximity to the rolls as to permit them to catch his fingers was an act of carelessness that cannot be reconciled with ordinary care. A discussion of a very similar situation in the recent case of Roth v. S. E. Barrett Mfg. Co. 96 Wis. 615, covers the ground so fully that we need not proceed further. Upon the evidence produced, we are clearly of the opinion that the finding of the jury cannot be sustained. The sixth question in the special verdict, which reads, “ Was the want of ordinary care and prudence on the part of the plaintiff the proximate cause of his injury ? ” is' objectionable. The real inquiry is, Did such want of care and prudence contribute to produce the injury? The form of this question, taken in connection with the definition given the jury of proximate cause, must have left the jury in great confusion. By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial.