Woolfe v. Ohio Oil Co.

DONAHUE, Circuit Judge (after stating the facts as above). The trial court sustained the motion of the defendant for a directed verdict upon the sole ground that the evidence disclosed the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. Evidence was introduced on the part of the defendant tending to prove that the plaintiff could have oiled this engine with safety to himself by stopping it during the oiling operation and starting it'again after the oil had been supplied; that the engine could have been stopped by giving a quarter turn to the lever of the gas valve to shut off the gas and almost as easily started again; that the plaintiff did not adopt this safe method of performing his work, but, on the contrary, undertook to oil the engine while it was in operation. The plaintiff introduced evidence tending to prove that the starting of this engine was dangerous for the reason that it was necessary for him in starting it to throw his full weight upon the large flywheel by “tramping” upon the spokes to force compression of the gas in the engine cylinder; that when the gas exploded in the cylinder it started the flywheel in the opposite direction; that unless the operator was exceedingly vigilant and active he would be thrown by the recoil of the flywheel into the machinery and unprotected gears or against the side of the engine house; that upon one occasion he had been so thrown* from the flywheel of the engine against the side of the building; that the starting of this engine presents a further danger in that immediately after it is started it is necessary for the operator to reach over the exposed projecting parts of the revolving machinery to adjust the screws [331] and gauge controlling the supply of gas; and that this is equally as dangerous as oiling the engine while in motion. Further evidence was introduced by the plaintiff tending to prove that during his experience of 18 months in this character of work he had been oiling gas engines, including this one, while in motion; that, when he was employed by the defendant, he was directed to go down and look over the lease and get accustomed to the gas lines and shut offs and such things; and that in obedience to these instructions he did go upon the premises, in company with Mr. Chapman, the defendant’s district superintendent, and while there observed the man then in charge oiling the engine. This man, Sheldon Morrow, had been in the employ of the defendant company for over 3% years prior to the time of plaintiff’s employment. He testified that he was running the engine on the day the plaintiff came there with Mr. Chapman, that the engine would not run all day without a second oiling, and that he never stopped the engine to oil it. The witness Ferguson, who succeeded the plaintiff in the operation of these pumping stations, also testified to the same effect in reference to the necessity of oiling this engine a second time each day, and that he does not stop the engine to oil it. Negligence is never presumed, and the burden of proving negligence, by a preponderance of the evidence, rests upon the party asserting it. The question of the existence of contributory negligence is a question of fact for the jury. Where there is a conflict of evidence or where there is any doubt as to the deductions that may be drawn therefrom, the question should be submitted to the jury. Southern Pacific Co. v. Pool, 160 U. S. 438, 16 Sup. Ct. 338, 40 L. Ed. 485; Patton v. Ry. Co., 179 U. S. 658, 21 Sup. Ct. 275, 45 L. Ed. 361; Western Union Tel. Co. v. Baker, 140 Fed. 315, 72 C. C. A. 87. In this case there is a substantial conflict in the evidence as to which is the safer method of oiling this engine. That question should have been submitted to the jury. There is practically no dispute in the evidence that the plaintiff at the time of his injury was oiling this engine in the usual and ordinary way in which it had been oiled for a number of years before and since the accident, and, even if the jury had found that it would have been a safe way or a safer way to stop the engine before attempting to oil it, the further question should have been submitted to it whether the plaintiff, in the exercise of his judgment as to the safer way, was guilty of contributory negligence in adopting the usual and ordinary method that had been employed in the performance of this service, upon this lease, for substantially four years prior to the accident and which he had observed that his predecessor had adopted when he went there in company with the defendant’s superintendent, Chapman, and at Chapman’s request, for the purpose of becoming acquainted with his duties. Ry. Co. v. Brown, 229 U. S. 317, 33 Sup. Ct. 840. 57 L. Ed. 1204; Jones v. Ry. Co., 128 U. S. 443, 9 Sup. Ct. 118, 32 L. Ed. 478; Cement Co. v. Lamandola, 227 Fed. 823, 142 C. C. A. 347. It is insisted, however, that regardless of the reasons given by the trial court, the defendant was entitled to a directed verdict for the reason that section 1027 of the General Code of Ohio is not applicable [332] to the case at bar. This section specifically enumerates certain require^ ments in shops and factories for the protection of the lives and safety of employees. The requirements therein specified are lawful requirements within the meaning of the Workmen’s Compensation Law of Ohio, which expressly provides that for injuries arising from the failure of an employer or any of such employers, officers, or agents to comply with any lawful requirements for the safety and lives of the employees, the injured workman shall have the right at his option to institute proceedings in the courts for damages on account of such injuries or claim compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. It appears from the language of section 1027 that its purpose is to require employers to make suitable provisions to prevent injuries to persons who use or come in contact with machinery. This section is part of chapter 12, div. II, of title III of the General Code of Ohio. Section 1002, G. C., is also a part of the same chapter, and reads as follows: “The term ‘shops and factories’ as used in this chapter shall include the following: Manufacturing, mechanical, electrical, mercantile, art and laundering establishments, printing, telegraph and telephone offices, railroad depots, hotels, memorial buildings, tenement and department houses.” This definition of “shops and factories” is comprehensive enough to include any building in which there are mechanical appliances or machinery of the kind contemplated by section 1027, G. C., and with which employees may come in contact. Thomas v. R. R. Co., 112 Minn. 360, 128 N. W. 297; Rabe v. Ice Co., 113 Fed. 905, 51 C. C. A. 535. It is also claimed on behalf of defendant in error that even if section 1027, G. C., applies, plaintiff elected to accept compensation under the Workmen’s Compensation Act of Ohio and received and retained money paid to him as compensation by his employer under the provisions of that act. It is admitted that the defendant, complied with the provisions of this act and elected and was authorized directly to compensate its injured employees or their dependents. Evidence was offered tending to prove that subsequent to March 30, 1919, the date upon which plaintiff received the injuries, the defendant forwarded to plaintiff, semimonthly, its usual pay roll check for the months of April, May, and June. These checks or vouchers recited upon their face that they were for balance in full for sendees rendered to the company to the date therein named as per terms of the engagement. These checks were received and cashed by the plaintiff and the proceeds thereof retained by him. These payments were reported by defendant to the Industrial Commission of Ohio as payments made for compensation to the injured workman under the provisions of the Ohio Workmen’s Compensation Act, but the plaintiff had no knowledge that such reports were being made to the Industrial Commission. It further appears from the evidence that the payments so made were largely in excess of the compensation that plaintiff was entitled to receive under the Workmen’s Compensation Act; but, on the contrary, they were for the exact amount of the wages he had been receiving and that he would have received if the defendant elected to keep him on its pay rolls while [333] temporarily disabled from performing service by injuries he sustained in its employment. Plaintiff made no application for compensation under the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Act either to the Industrial Commission or to the defendant. His letter of May 7th, directed to the Industrial Commission of Ohio, tends to prove, that he did not at that time understand that these salary checks were being sent to him as compensation. The substance of that letter is as follows: “I am writing you in regard to my accident, .which I lost my right hand and had my leg broken and body badly bruised. This has been almost six weeks. Ton was notified by the Ohio Oil Company from Steubenville, the company which I worked for, X have not heard from you. Will you send me papers and pamphlets to me at 54 West Seventh street, Salem, Ohio.” On May 16, 1919, the director of claims of the Industrial Commission of Ohio replied to this letter, in part, as follows: “The Ohio Oil Company has filed with us a report saying that you have received compensation on a temporary total basis to April 30, 1919. Furthermore, that you have been paid a full wage during that period.” It is insisted upon the part of the defendant that if the plaintiff had no knowledge prior to the receipt of this letter that these salary checks were sent him as compensation under the provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Act, this letter fully advised him of that fact, and his acceptance of salary checks thereafter was an election by him to accept compensation under the provisions of that act. This conclusion does not necessarily follow for the reason that the letter states, not merely that the plaintiff had received compensation to April 30th, but also that he had been paid his full wages during that period. The plaintiff testified that he supposed the company was continuing to pay him wages as it had done once before when he was sick and unable to work. This letter is subject to no construction other than that defendant had reported to the Industrial Commission that it was paying plaintiff both wages and compensation. That the plaintiff so construed it is evidenced by his letter to the Industrial Commission dated June 13th, which reads as follows: “X received your letter of May 16tb, but I do not understand the same. X have been paid nothing since I have been injured except the Ohio Oil Company has been paying me my salary every two weeks. Thir manager told me they would take care of me and I never asked for compensation from you.” In addition to this, the plaintiff testified that when he received and accepted these checks he did not understand that they were intended for compensation, but believed they were paid to him as salary. The evidence of plaintiff in reference to this proposition is materially strengthened by the fact that immediately upon receipt of the check dated July 28, 1919, for $40, and'purporting on its face to be on account compensation under section 1465 — 80, General Code of Ohio, he very promptly returned it with the following letter: “I am returning your check dated July 28th for $40 payable to me. Thp check is marked ‘‘Compensation under the General Code of Ohio.’ I do not understand this, but Mr. Chapman told me the company would take care of me on account of my lost arm and my other bad injuries and I expect the company to do as Chapman says.” [334] The sending of this check was the first open, frank, and positive declaration on the part of the defendant that it was intended as compensation and not as salary and the response was prompt and just as clear and positive. The plaintiff further offered in evidence two letters signed by F. H. Chapman, district superintendent of the Southwestern division of the Ohio Oil Company. One of these letters refers to the fact that the writer, Mr. Chapman, had sent the plaintiff a check for the first half of May and asked the plaintiff to meet him, so that he could arrange to pay the hospital and doctor bills. The other letter called attention to the fact that the Ohio: Oil Company had been nice to the plaintiff since his injuries and had paid his Salary just the same as if he were working. The court sustained an- objection to the introduction of these letters upon the theory that there was no testimony offered tending to prove that Mr, Chapman ,had authority to conclude the company by any notions of his own. These letters were not offered in evidence for the purpose of binding the company, but solely for the purpose of showing the good faith and understanding of the plaintiff in reference to the purposes for which these pay roll checks were sent and accepted. Certainly this plaintiff in forming his judgment upon that proposition might reasonably take into consideration statements made by the superintendent of the company who was authorized by the company to employ him, assign him his duties, and control him in the performance thereof. Even without these letters, there is enough evidence in this record upon which the jury -might properly have found that each, and all of these checks were accepted by the plaintiff in good faith and in the honest belief that the company was continuing to pay him his salary while suffering from these injuries as it had done for two weeks on a former occasion when he was sick and unable to work. For the reasons above stated, the judgment of the District Court is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings and trial in accordance with this opinion.