Suess v. J. S. Stearns Lumber Co.

KeewiN, J. 1. It is insisted on tbe part of tbe appellant that its motions for nonsuit and directed verdict should bave been granted, on tbe ground that tbe evidence does not show [612] that the appellant was guilty of any want of ordinary care which was the proximate cause of the respondent’s injury. This argument is based mainly upon the contention that the evidence conclusively shows that there was a sand hole in the cylinder of the steam feed, which constituted a latent defect, and that the appellant had no knowledge or means of knowledge that the cylinder was defective or unsuitable for the purpose for which it was used, and was not chargeable with any knowledge that the cylinder had not been properly inspected. The injury resulted from the bursting of this steam cylinder near which the injured boy, the plaintiff here, was working. A section of the broken cylinder was introduced in evidence and is brought here with the record. It was a cast-iron cylinder and ha.d been rebored at least twice after its construction and had been in use twenty years. The reboring made the shell much lighter and weaker, it being in some places only five sixteenths of an inch, whereas there is evidence that it should have been three fourths of an inch in order to be safe, and the evidence tends to show that it burst because it was too light and not because of a sand hole. One witness testified that it was hard to say whether the sand hole had anything to do with the break. The jury would have been justified in finding upon the evidence that the shell of the cylinder was not thick enough to withstand the pressure, or that the tests made by the appellant were not sufficient or proper to determine the defects. These tests were simply inspections by looking at the cylinder and making what is called the hammer test. It is not claimed by the appellant that any test was ever made to ascertain how much pressure the steam feed would stand. Nor does it appear that the thickness of the shell was ever measured by the appellant. It is very clear to our minds that there was sufficient evidence to warrant the jury in finding that the cylinder burst because the shell was too thin and not on account of a sand hole or any latent defect. This conclusion renders inapplicable to the situation here the [613] principal authorities cited by counsel for appellant. Nor does it appear from the evidence that appellant ever delegated to any person the duty of ascertaining bow tbin tbe shell was, or to make proper inspection. Without further reviewing the evidence it is sufficient to say that there was ample evidence to establish the negligence of the appellant and that such negligence was the proximate cause of the injury. . ■ 2. It is also insisted by the appellant that the court erred in refusing to submit the questions proposed by it as part of the special verdict. We are,unable to discover any error in this regard. We think the verdict submitted covered the issuable facts in the case, and that no prejudicial error was committed in refusing to submit the questions requested by ■the appellant. The principal complaint of counsel on the special verdict is that the questions whether or not the steam feed was weakened and burst in consequence of sand holes, and whether the defendant ought to have known of such defect, should have been specifically covered by the special ver.■dict. The court told the jury that if the bursting of the steam feed was caused by the sand holes, then question No. 1 must be answered ‘'No.” No request was made to charge by -counsel for appellant, therefore he cannot complain that other instructions should have been-given, even if necessary. The thinness of the shell of the cylinder existed from 'the time it was rebored, therefore constituted a defect in the appliance furnished, and amounted to a failure on the part of the appellant to furnish respondent with a safe working place. What has already been said is sufficient to dispose of appellant’s argument on motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. 3. It is also insisted by counsel for appellant that there should have been a new trial ordered because of errors committed on the trial. It is said that the court erred in admitting the testimony of the witnesses Laacky and Oook, in which they gave their opinion as to the cause of the break. [614] We tbink there was no error in tbe admission of this evidence* Each of these witnesses qualified under the rule and was competent to give opinion evidence on the subject. They were men of practical experience and well informed upon the subject on which the opinion evidence was given. 4. The following portions of the charge were excepted to r “You are not to find any proposition set out in any question to be a fact unless the party upon whom the burden of proof rests has satisfied you by a preponderance of the evidence of' the truth of the proposition set out in such question. If the evidence of the party on whom the burden of proof does not rest weighs as much as, and of course if it outweighs, that of the party on whom the burden of proof does rest, you must answer such question against the party on whom the burden of proof does rest.” . . . “If you find and believe from the evidence that the plaintiff’s injuries are of a permanent character, you will bring in such damages for both mental and physical suffering as you are satisfied and believe from the evidence and are reasonably certain that the plaintiff will be obliged to undergo in the future, which resulted from his said injuries, and those several amounts added together will be the amount of damages which you will insert after the word ‘answer’ and before the word ‘dollar’ in your verdict.” These portions of the charge excepted to doubtless could have been more clearly and concisely stated, but we do not think the jury was misled by them, and we think no prejudicial error was committed in that regard. Sec. 3012m., Stats. (Laws of 1909, ch. 192). It is also contended that the damages are excessive. The court below reduced the verdict from $3,500 to $2,800, and we cannot say that the verdict as so reduced is excessive. We find no reversible error in the record. By the Court. — The judgment of the court below is affirmed.