Johnson v. Town of Iron River

Timliü, J. There was a verdict and judgment for the respondent in this action against the appellant for injuries occasioned by a defect in a highway. The highway became such by user. At a point where the highway curved to the right going south and began to descend, there was a stump within a few inches of the nearest traveled wheel track having a root projecting into that wheel track. The evidence tended to show that while respondent was riding in a light vehicle drawn by two horses on said highway on March 17, 1910, one of the horses slipped on the icy road, causing the team to swing toward the right and bring the wheels of the vehicle in contact with this stump, throwing the respondent out and injuring her. The appellant contends that a verdict should have been directed in its favor. We think the proximity of the stump to the wheel track and its situation with reference to the curve and descent in the [141] highway was such that the jury was amply justified in. finding it constituted a defect. It seems to have occupied this position from time immemorial. Hence the jury was justified in finding that the defendant, in the exercise of ordinary care, ought to have known of this defect and removed it. Assuming that the respondent is chargeable with the contributory negligence, if any, of the driver of the vehicle, there is evidence to support the negation of such contributory negligence. The driver was not at the time intently watching his team. A sudden slip or stumble of one of the horses swung the wheel over against the stump. There is no proof of an excessive rate of speed or of any great or long continued inattention to his team on the part of the driver, and the negligence of the latter seems to have been fairly a question for the jury.' It seems that in opening his ease to the jury respondent’s counsel stated that appellant’s counsel had “said last night that he had a witness who would testify that the persons in the vehicle in question were intoxicated.” The record does not show whether appellant’s counsel said this or not. Exception was taken to this statement of respondent’s counsel and the court declined to rule on it because he was not paying any special attention to the argument of counsel at the time. Appellant’s counsel assures us that he did not make the remark attributed to him in the presence of the jury and argues that therefore respondent’s counsel had no right to use the same in his opening statement to the jury. Perhaps not. But it is entirely too trivial a circumstance on which to base a reversal. Respondent’s counsel asked some questions which were objected to and the objection was sustained. The court asked him what he wished to prove, and in answer he said he wished to prove that the respondent, at or soon after the time of her injury, said to her son-in-law, in substance, that she wished to go home because she thought she was going to die. The ■court instructed the jury to disregard this statement. The [142] evidence was not given. Tbis assignment of error is also unimportant. A more serious question arises upon tbe ruling of tbe court permitting tbe respondent to testify that ber attending physician told ber sbe bad ribs broken by tbe accident. Tbis ruling was erroneous. But tbe attending physician was a witness and described tbe injuries in detail, not including any fractured ribs, and in answer to tbe question whether any of tbe ribs were broken said in substance that be did not know. There were other quite serious injuries. Tbe verdict was for $950 damages, which are not excessive, and therefore we cannot say that tbe appellant was prejudiced by tbis erroneous ruling. There was no error in admitting evidence of tbe fact that, there was ice in tbe highway at tbe point in question, that being a mere collateral circumstance to explain tbe slipping of tbe horse. Exception is taken to tbe following alleged errors 'in tbe instructions: (1) Tbe court charged tbe jury: “It is tbe duty of tbe town authorities to keep tbe highways in their town, used for public travel, in a safe condition for persons, whether they go upon foot or in wagons.” Tbe rule of law often stated by tbis court is that tbe duty in question is to keep such highways in a reasonably safe condition for travel. Tbe charge-' in tbis respect was erroneous. Strong v. Stevens Point, 62 Wis. 255, 266, 22 N. W. 425. We are next to inquire-whether tbis error was prejudicial. Tbe statute, sec. 3072m (ch. 192, Laws of 1909), provides that no judgment shall be reversed or set aside ... on tbe ground of misdirection of tbe jury or tbe improper admission of evidence . . . unless-in tbe opinion of tbe court to which tbe application (to reverse) is made, after an examination of tbe entire action or-proceeding, it shall appear that tbe error complained of has affected tbe substantial rights of tbe party seeking to reverse- or set aside tbe judgment. Tbis statute requires more than143 mere error to appear in order to effect a reversal. It must affirmatively appear to ns from the whole record that this error bas affected some substantial right of the appellant. We are first confronted with the evidence relating to the defect. That, as stated, is ample. It is not probable that any jury would find there was no defect or insufficiency on this evidence. That the defect was of long standing is uncontro-verted. The error relates solely to the duty of the defendant, hence could not have affected the verdict in any other particular essential to a recovery. Therefore it does not appear to us that this error has affected any substantial right of the appellant. The court further instructed the jury that if they found from the evidence that the defendant through its officers, in the exercise of ordinary diligence, might and ought to have known that the stump in question was situated so near the traveled track as to render the highway dangerously defective at the place in question for the use of travelers in the exercise of ordinary care, and the team attached to the wagon in which the plaintiff was riding was driven with ordinary care and the wagon slewed (meaning slid) against the stump and the plaintiff was injured by being thrown from the wagon, and she was in the exercise of ordinary care also at the time, they might find a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. It is said this is erroneous because there is no evidence that the wagon slid. If so, such an error could not prejudice the appellant although it might prejudice the respondent. To state affirmatively that the plaintiff can recover in an action if the evidence shows something which confessedly the evidence does not show cannot prejudice the defendant. By the Gourt. — Judgment affirmed.