Hilsenhoff v. Fass

KebwiN, J. The errors assigned are (a) in instructing the jury; (b) in refusing to direct judgment on the verdict for the plaintiff; (c) in refusing to set aside the verdict and grant a new trial; (d) in ordering the complaint dismissed. As we have seen, the jury found that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. Notwithstanding this [630] finding it is insisted on tbe part of tbe appellant tbat judgment should have been directed for the plaintiff upon the verdict. This contention is based upon the theory that under the law as it stood at the time of the injury the defendants were absolutely liable in case of failure to properly guard machinery. It is argued that ch. 396, Laws of 1911, takes away the defense of contributory negligence and assumption of risk, and that the answer of the jury to the fifth question in the special verdict merely amounts to a finding of assumption of risk. It is true that the defense of assumption of risk has been abolished by the existing statutes. But contributory negligence was a defense at the time of the injury in question. It is very obvious that the amendment referred to and passed shortly after the decisions of this court in West v. Bayfield M. Co. 144 Wis. 106, 128 N. W. 992, and Willette v. Rhinelander P. Co. 145 Wis. 537, 130 N. W. 853, was intended to change the rule with respect to guarding machinery from that of ordinary care to absolute duty, but did not abolish the defense of contributory negligence. Nor can the contention of counsel that the finding of the jury was merely a finding of assumption of risk be sustained. The jury found explicitly that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. The question was fairly submitted to the jury and there is ample evidence to support it. It follows, therefore, that no judgment could be rendered in favor of the plaintiff upon the verdict, but on the contrary the defendants were entitled to judgment on the ground of contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff. It is further insisted by counsel for appellant that the court erred in giving the following instruction: “If you find that the plaintiff’s hand was injured on the portion of the knives which was not covered by the piece of wood which he was passing oyer the knives, and you further find that the machine was so set that about eleven inches of the knives were exposed between the front of the machine [631] and tbe guide at tbe back of tbe machine, then also your answer will be ‘Yes.’ ” Tbe evidence shows - that' tbe plaintiff before tbe injury removed a guard from the machine wbicb bad been provided by defendants, and that tbe exposure of a large portion of tbe knives was caused by tbe manner of operation of the machine by the plaintiff. Moreover, tbe portion of tbe instructions excepted to, when read in connection with that preceding and that following, clearly could not have misled tbe jury. Immediately preceding the portion excepted to is tbe following: “In answering this fifth question you will consider tbe evidence as to tbe guard furnished by tbe defendants and tbe knowledge of its use possessed by the plaintiff, together with all tbe other facts established by tbe testimony bearing upon this question. “It was tbe duty of tbe plaintiff to use this guard whenever its use would have lessened the danger of accident. If you find that if tbe plaintiff had used tbe guard at tbe time be was injured and covered the uncovered or open portion of tbe knives tbe accident would not have happened — if that be your finding, your answer to this question must be ‘Yes.’ ” Following tbe portion of tbe charge excepted to is: “If the defendants have satisfied you by a preponderance of tbe evidence that want of ordinary care on tbe part of the plaintiff pxoximately contributed to cause tbe injury wbicb be sustained, your answer will be ‘Yes,’ otherwise your answer will be ‘No.’ ” It will be seen from tbe foregoing instructions that tbe court made plain to tbe jury that they could find plaintiff guilty of contributory negligence only in case they found that he was so negligently operating tbe machine as to contribute to bis injury. We find no reversible error in tbe record. By the Court. — Tbe judgment of tbe court below is affirmed.