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73 FEDERAL REPORTER.
them, such as the defendants confess themselves to be. Smelting Co. v. Kemp, 104 U. S. 636; Steel v. Refining Co., 106 U. S. 447, 1 Sup. Ct. 389; Bardenv. Railroad Co., 154 U. S. 328, 14 Sup. Ct. 1030; Buena Vista Petroleum Co. v. Tulare Oil & Min. Co., 67 Fed. 226; U. S. v. WiIiona & St. P. R. Co., 15 C. C. A.. 96, 67 Fed. 948. Judgment affirmed. SMITH v. NAPHTALY et al. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. No. 262. PUBLIC LANDS.
February 3, 1896.)
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of California. This was a bill in equity by Joseph Naphtaly and others against Josiah S. Smith to recover certain lands. A demurrer to the bill was sustained by the circuit court, and a decree entered accordingly. Defendant appealed. H. F. Crane and Philip Teare, for appellant. A. L. Rhodes, for appellees. Before GILBERT and ROSS, Circuit Judges, and MORROW, District Judge. ROSS, Circuit Judge. From the action of the court below in sustaining a demurrer to the bill in this case, the complainant appealed. The merits of the case are covered by the decision in the case of Beley v. Naphtaly (just filed) 73 Fed. 120. It is not necessary to do more than to refer to the reasons there given in support of our judgment affirming that of the court below. Judgment affirmed.
DUDLEY v. FRONT STREET CABLE RY. CO. et al. (Circuit Court, D. Washington, N. D. March 24, 1896.) NEGLIGENCE-STARTING STREET CAR.
Plaintiff attempted to board a car on defendant's cable railway while it was standing near a street corner, waiting to take on passengers. The car was crOWded, and persons were standing on the platform, and one on the step of the car. Just as plaintiff took hold of the railing of the platform and placed his foot on the step, the conductor (who was inside the car, and did not see plaintiff) gave the signal to go ahead. The car started, and, as it went round a curve at high speed, plaintiff's hold on the railing was broken before he had been able to secure a firm footing on the car, and he was thrown off and injured. Held, that the conductor was negligent in failing to ascertain that all passengers were on board before starting the cal', and that defendant was liable.
At Law. Action by Christopher B. Dudley against the Front Street Cable-Railway Company, a corporation, to recover damages for personal injury caused by negligence. Findings and judgment for plaintiff. · Tohn Arthur and J. Lindley Green, for plaintiff. E. C. Hughes, for defendant. HANPORD, District Judge. I find from the evidence in this caRe that on the night of November 3, 1894, the,plaintiff, while attempt-
DUDLEY V. FRONT STREET CABLE RY. CO.
129
ing to get on a car operated by the defendant company, lost his foot· ing as the car started forward, and in consequence the tibia of his right leg was fractured near thE: ankle joint. The defendant's line of railway curves from Front street into Pike, and runs the length of one block in Pike street, and then curves into Second street. The car was fairly loaded before reaching Pike street, and a stop was made a distance of about 30 feet from the beginning of the Second street curve, to take on other passengers. When the car stopped the plaintiff was some distance away, and in front of the car. He hastened to take the car, and, on reaching it, found the front end fully occupied, al'd then went briskly to the rear platform, which was somewhat crowded, the inside of the car being full,-so much so that a lady who stepped on the platform just ahead of the plain. tiff, was obliged to remain standing on the platform, and one other passenger, unable tc get on the platform, was standing on the step, holding on by the hand railing. The conductor was inside of the car, and gave a signal to start, and the car did start quickly, just as the plaintiff took hold of the hand rail and placed one foot on the step. In reaching to seize the hand rail on the forward side of the step, his hand struck the other passenger standing on the step, and he was disconcerted by missing his hold. As the car came upon the curve, its velocity was too great for the plaintiff's streng1:h, he having failed to obtain a secure footing, and the injury resulted as above stated. It was the duty of the conductor, before giving the signal to the gI'ipman, to look around, and to have seen that all passengers to take passage at that place were safely on board; and failure in the performance of this duty cannot be excused by the fact that the conductor did not actually see the plaintiff. The negligence of the conductor in this regard is clearly established by all the evidence in the case, including his own testimony. The plaintiff was diligent in attempting to get on the car while it was stationary. He may have been lacking in dexterity, but that is not such a fault as to preclude him from recovering damages. The evidence shows that the plaintiff has expended for surgical treatment and medicines $120, and has suffered loss of wages by being incapacitated for a considerable time from pursuing his avocation as a laborer, besides suffering physical and mental pain. For these expenditures &nd loss he is entitled to recover reasonable compensation. He claims, in addition, prospective damages, as compensation for futurE: loss by reason of diminished capacity to earn money. To entitle the plaintiff to recover prospective damages, it is necessary for him to prove with reasonable certainty that his injury is permanent. In this case there is a lack of such proof. The plaintiff himself has testified that since his injury he has not been able, by reason of the weakness of his limb, to perform a day's work, and he believes that he will not become sufficiently strong to perform hard labor. He has been discouraged by reason of his injury, and it is but natural for him to entertain such belief, although it appears from other evidence in the case to be erroneous. The most imv.73.F.no.1-9
130
73' FEDERAL REPORTER.
portant and satisfaetory evidence on this point is that given by Dr. R. W .. Schoenle, the surgeon who treated the fracture and had charge of the case, which is as follows: "Q. There was nothing unusual about this case, for that kind of a fracture'! A. No; except, perhaps, there was a small piece of bone which had splintered off, about the size of my finger, ready to burst through the muscles and tendons, just underneath the skin,-ready to go through. That is the only unusual part of the case. Q. 'l'hat is not unusual, either,-a splintered fracture: A. No; excepting that, if this fracture was moved at all, it would have been compound, which would have made it far more serious than it was. Q. If it had been moved. But, as it was not, it was a simple fracture: A. Yes; it was a sim· pIe fracture. Q. And the result of the treatment of yourself and Dr. Eames was that you obtained a complete reunion of the limb'! A. Yes, sir. Q. Of the bone, I mean. And the operation and its results are .amollg t!]? that you have obtained in those cases, are they not? A. Considering ilis age, and having a great deal of laceration of the soft parts, we consider the reHult very good. Q. The cartilaginous growth which you speak of is only a part of the substance that nature throws in to cause the juncture of the bone, and to heal and restore the parts: A. Yes, sir, Q. 'l"he additional growth will finally be fully absorbed, so that the bony matter will be like it was originally, practical. ly, in all respects: A. 'Veil, there will always remain a small lump there. Q. A very little enlargement, so that it will be perceptible, but only so'! A. Yes, sir. Q. There is no pain there: A. No; not that I could tell. Q. And the smaller size of that leg is due to the fact that it is not used, and has not been used, as much as the other: A. I suppose so. Q. '1'he exercise of the limo will bring back its normal size, will it not: A. 'Veil, probably so."
It is my opinion that the sum of $1,000 will be a reasonable com· pensation for the injury as proved. Let there be findings and judgment accordingly.
SULLIVAN v. McCONKELI,. (Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. February 4, lS9G.) No. 395. ESTOPPEl, TN PATS.
In a suit brought by the S. Company against S. individuaIlJ', olle ot the causes of action was that S. had used the time and labor of the derks employed and paid by tile corporation in the transaction of his private busi· ness. In support of the allegations of the complaint, one M. made an aHidavit that he knew the allegations on this subject were true, because he was one of the employes of the company, and was required by S. to act as his individual bookkeeper and general clerk, "although said company paid affiant's entire salary." After the filing of the bill a compromise was made settling all the matters in controversy, each party releasing all claims against the other. M. took part in these negotiations as a representative of the company, insisting on the truth of the allegations as to the use of the clerks, etc., without intimating to S. that he claimed compensation from him individually for the services rendered. Held, that M. was estopped from thereafter maintaining a suit against S. for such compensation.
In Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Plorida. This was an action of assumpsit by R. F. McConnell against Martin H. Sullivan to recover money claimed as compensation for services rendered. In the circuit court verdict and judgment were given for plaintiff, and defendant brought error.