Stolze v. Ann Arbor Railroad

Vinje, J. Tbe defendant seeks to escape liability on two grounds: first, because it was not tbe last carrier; and second, even if it were, since tbe goods were skipped in bond it bad no opportunity to inspect, and therefore tbe presumption that they were received by it in good order should not attach. In tbe case of Laughlin v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 28 Wis. 204, this court held that where several connecting carriers transport goods, and tbe proof shows they were delivered to tbe first carrier in good condition, but damaged when received by tbe consignee, a presumption obtains that they reached tbe last carrier in good condition, and it will be held liable unless it can show that tbe damage did not occur while tbe goods were in .its possession. This presumption tbe law invokes from tbe necessity of tbe situation, for when plaintiff has shown tbe goods were shipped in good condition be has made proof of all facts usually within bis power to prove, and has proven facts from which a legitimate inference springs that tbe defendant received them in tbe same condition, and tbe burden shifts upon it to rebut such inference by proof to tbe contrary. Lamb v. C., M. & St. P. R. Co. 101 Wis. 138, 76 N. W. 1123. Tbe probative force of tbe inference that tbe last carrier received them in tbe same condition they were in when shipped may not always, or often, be great, and it is perhaps better to rest tbe rule upon a policy of necessity, as stated in tbe Laughlin Case, than upon tbe strict legitimacy or value of tbe in-Terence. But tbe presumption obtains -and prevails unless overcome by evidence to tbe contrary, or unless tbe facts and [208] circumstances of the particular case conclusively show that it cannot attach. The rule is promotive of justice, and has been adhered to by this court so long that the question of departing from it cannot be considered. It is, moreover, the general rule in this country. Moore v. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. Co. 173 Mass. 335, 53 N. E. 816, and cases cited; Van Zile, Bailm. & Carr. (2d ed.) § 536. It is not, however, a conclusive presumption and it casts no absolute liability upon the last carrier, but simply imposes upon it the burden of exonerating itself in order to escape liability. Lamb v. C., M. & St. P. R. Co. 101 Wis. 138, 76 N. W. 1123; Moore v. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. Co., supra; Beede v. Wis. Cent. R. Co. 90 Minn. 36, 95 N. W. 454; Susong v. F. C. & P. R. Co. 115 Ga. 361, 41 S. E. 566; St. Louis, I. M. & S. R. Co. v. Coolidge, 73 Ark. 112, 83 S. W. 333; Gulf, C. & S. F. R. Co. v. Edloff, 89 Tex. 454, 34 S. W. 414, 35 S. W. 144; Burwell v. R. & C. R. Co. 94 N. C. 451; Morganton Mfg. Co. v. O. R. & C. R. Co. 121 N. C. 514, 28 S. E. 474; 3 Hutchinson, Carr. (3d ed.) sec. 1348, and cases cited. In view of the rebuttable nature of the presumption that the damage has been occasioned by the last carrier, it becomes unnecessary to decide whether the defendant or the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company was such. Conceding that the latter was the last carrier, the admitted facts conclusively establish that the damage to the goods did not occur while in its possession. The contents of the boxes could not have become wet and mildewed while the car containing them was being switched a mile on a day of no rain. This is so self-evident that the mere statement of the proposition is the best argument in support thereof. It is an admitted fact, however, that the defendant was the next preceding carrier to the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, and that it transported the goods over Lake Michigan in a car ferry, and also on land, and that it had them in its possession at least six [209] days. Under snob circumstances tbe damage may have been done while it bad tbe goods, and, since it offered no evidence to relieve itself from tbe presumption that tbe damage occurred while they were in its possession, a prima facie case of liability on its part was established. For tbe presumption that is applicable to tbe last connecting carrier is equally applicable to any intermediate carrier who is shown to bave delivered them to a succeeding carrier in a damaged condition. 3 Hutchinson, Carr. (3d ed.) sec. 1348, and cases cited. It is claimed tbe presumption should not attach to tbe defendant because tbe goods were shipped in bond from Philadelphia to Manitowoc and it bad no opportunity to examine them when they came into its possession because it could not break tbe customs seal of tbe United States government. An examination of authorities will show that some courts rest tbe presumption of liability, at least in part, upon tbe fact of opportunity to inspect when tbe goods are delivered to it, but we think tbe safer ground to rest it upon is that arising from tbe necessities of tbe situation. As was said in tbe Laughlin Case (28 Wis. 204): “The defendant was bound to receive and transport tbe boxes when tendered. It was bound to receive them in tbe condition in which they were. It bad no means of investigation or inquiry into their contents. It bad no right to open tbe boxes or examine what they contained, and if it bad, could not bave detected tbe loss by such examination, and so bave refused to receive and carry. It must take tbe boxes as they were, with no external signs or appearances of breaking or injury, and nothing to give warning that tbe cloths bad been previously abstracted or removed, and carry them forward to their place of destination.” It appears from this that tbe very case which established tbe rule applying tbe presumption of liability to tbe last carrier was one in which there was no opportunity to inspect. So it [210] cannot be urged that our court based the rule in tbe first instance, either in whole or in part, upon the ground of opportunity to inspect. It declared the rule in spite of a total lack of such opportunity, and, as we believe, upon the persuasive grounds of promoting justice when it would otherwise fail. By the Gourt. — Judgment affirmed.