Smith v. Winnebago Realty Co.

The following opinion was filed March 11, 1913: Kerwin, J. Error is assigned because the court below changed the answers of the jury to questions 1 and 5 of the special verdict'. ' It is insisted on the part of the appellant that the answers to these questions are supported by the evidence, therefore the court committed reversible error in changing them. At the time of the injury the plaintiff was fifty years of age and had worked about machinery in mills for many years, but had never worked at a matcher machine until about two days before the injury. The matcher machine stood east and west in the mill, was about sixteen feet long, and used for dressing and surfacing boards. At the east end of this machine was a movable receiving table about sixteen feet long, on which the boards passed after going through the machine. The machine was operated by two men, one at the west end feeding the boards into the machine, and the other at the east end, called the helper, who took the boards away as they came out of the machine. At the east end of the machine was what is known as a patent lath attachment, which consisted of an arbor about thirty-three and one-half inches long, and held in place in an oblique position, north and south, the south or pulley end being twenty-two and the north end thirty-three inches from the floor. On this arbor saws were put as needed, being passed over the north end of the shaft and held in place by collars and a nut screwed on the [472] end of the shaft. The patent lath attachment was seldom used, and when not in use the saws were removed and the arbor disconnected from the power. To the south of the arbor was a blower pipe, the mouth of tire'pipe being somewhat south of the saws as located on the arbor. The blower pipe was operated by a fan and designed to suck up sawdust and other refuse made by the lath saws or matcher. When lath were being made it was the duty of plaintiff to stand at the east end of the receiving table and take away the boards that came through the matcher and lath attachment and to keep the blower pipe from clogging, and when necessary reach in and free the pipe from obstruction. Plaintiff had been working about the matcher only two days before the injury and at the lath machine only about half an hopr. Shortly after starting the machine a board slivered as it went from the matcher into the lath attachment and the machine was shut down to remove the slivers. The plaintiff, as helper, took out the slivers and then proceeded to examine the blower, which did not work. He stooped down under the lath attachment, and while brushing away the sawdust from the mouth of the blower pipe the feeder started the machine. The plaintiff was injured while getting out from under the lath attachment after the machine had started. The saws, two in number, were near the north end of the shaft and one and one-half inches apart. The shaft was one and one-fourth inches in diameter and about thirty-three inches in length. The saw nearer the burr on the north end of the shaft was six and the other eight inches in diameter. Between the burr end of the shaft and the smaller saw there were two collars, the one adjoining .the saw being four inches in diameter. The saws were three or four inches from the burr end of the shaft. 1. By the first question of the special verdict the jury found that the plaintiff’s arm was drawn into the saws in consequence of his clothing being caught by the jagged surface of the burr, and the court changed the answer. We think the [473] answer of tbe jury to this question is supported by tbe evidence, and tbe court erred in cbanging it. It is unnecessary to cite 'authority to tbe proposition so well settled in this court that if there be any credible evidence to support a finding of tbe jury it cannot be disturbed. There is credible evidence tending to show that at tbe time of tbe injury plaintiff was in tbe discharge of bis duty in examining tbe blower pipe and removing obstructions from tbe mouth thereof; that be got down on bis knees under tbe lath attachment and under tbe burr or north end of tbe shaft to perform such duty, reached toward tbe pipe with bis right am, being on both knees and resting bis left band on tbe sawdust, when tbe machine was started by tbe feeder; that when tbe machine started it startled him and be got up out of tbe way, shoved back and raised up, and as be raised up bis sleeve caught on tbe nut or burr on tbe north end of tbe shaft and was wound up so bis arm went into tbe saw and was cut off; that as be raised up bis arm came over to tbe end of tbe shaft; that be knew the nut caught him because it gave him a jerk and twist which be felt. Tbe evidence further shows that there were leaves of metal curled up on tbe burr or nut, caused by the use of a cold chisel in taking off and tightening tbe burr. These leaves were from one eighth to one fourth of an inch in height and were sharp and jagged, and when tbe machine was in operation tbe shaft revolved with great rapidity. It is insisted by respondent that tbe proof does not remove tbe case from tbe realms of conjecture, and that tbe evidence was not sufficient to warrant tbe jury in finding that tbe plaintiff was drawn onto tbe shaft in tbe manner found by tbe answer to tbe first question, and several cases are cited on this point. We do not think tbe cases cited are applicable here. There is direct and positive evidence that tbe plaintiff was caught upon tbe burr and drawn against the saw, which if believed by the jury is ample to support tbe finding. Nor [474] was this evidence inherently incredible as being physically impossible, as contended by counsel for respondent. Nicoud v. Wagner, 106 Wis. 67, 81 N. W. 999; Salchert v. Reinig, 135 Wis. 194, 115 N. W. 132. 2. Error is assigned on changing the answer of the jury to the fifth question of the special verdict. It is quite apparent from the decision of the trial judge that he changed the answer to the fifth question because of changing the answer to the first question. There being sufficient evidence to support the first finding, it is clear that the answer to the fifth question was right and should not have been disturbed. The failure of defendant to properly guard the shaft was the cause, or at least a concurring cause, of the injury. Under the circumstances of the case the injury would not have happened but for the failure to guard the shaft, and the fact that the negligence of a fellow-servant concurred will not defeat recovery. Sherman v. Menominee River L. Co. 72 Wis. 122, 39 N. W. 365; Schmolt v. H. W. Wright L. Co. 145 Wis. 577, 130 N. W. 499; Grant v. Keystone L. Co. 119 Wis. 229, 96 N. W. 535; McClure v. Sparta, 84 Wis. 269, 54 N. W. 337; Papworth v. Milwaukee, 64 Wis. 389, 25 N. W. 431; Atkinson v. Goodrich T. Co. 60 Wis. 141, 18 N. W. 764; Winchel v. Goodyear, 126 Wis. 271, 105 N. W. 824; Lower v. Whitney Bros. Co. 147 Wis. 41, 132 N. W. 588; Gorsegner v. Burnham, 142 Wis. 486, 125 N. W. 914; Sharon v. Winnebago F. M. Co. 141 Wis. 185, 124 N. W. 299. It follows that for the errors committed in changing the answers to the first and fifth questions of the special verdict and ordering judgment for the defendant there must be a reversal. The record shows that the defendant, in addition to the motion that the answers to questions 1 and 5 be changed and judgment rendered on the verdict as changed, also moved for a new trial in case the motion to change the answers in. the special verdict be denied, and, in the event of denial of the motion for a new trial, that the damages be reduced. [475] The court, having granted the defendant’s motion to change the verdict, awarded the defendant judgment upon the verdict as changed. The court therefore did not pass upon the motion for a new trial nor upon the question of reduction of damages. Since the judgment below must be reversed for the errors before mentioned, the cause should be remanded to the trial court with directions to consider and determine, in its discretion, whether there should be a new trial, and, in case a new trial be denied, determine whether the damages are excessive, and for further proceedings according to law. Stanley S. E. L. Cong. v. La Crosse S. R. & C. Co. 148 Wis. 261, 134 N. W. 351. By the Court. — The judgment of the court below is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings as indicated in this opinion. A motion for a rehearing was denied, with $20 costs, on May 14, 1913.