Hodge v. New York Central & Hudson River Railroad

Headnote

Raitroad company — duty of, to erect and repair fences — it is not liable if it was not negligent and had neithe¡' actual nor constructive notice of defects therein — in an action fUr-negligmoe, the allowance of interesPis in the discretion of the jury.

Appeal from a judgment, entered upon the verdict of a jury in the County Court of Ontario county, in favor of the plaintiff; and from an order denying a motion for a new trial, made upon the minutes of the court.

The action was originally brought in a Justices’ Court. Judgment was rendered in favor of plaintiff, from which an appeal was taken to the County Court, in which court a new trial was had.

This action was brought to recover damages for the killing of four sheep, in the fall of 1871; of two cows in August, 1874, and

three sheep in June, 1877, through the negligence of the defendant, in not keeping in proper repair the fences along the line of defendant’s railroad, and the cattle-guards at the highway crossing.

The eourt at General Term said : “ The defendant’s counsel also1 requested the court to charge that, if the cattle or sheep got through the company’s fence or cattle-guard by reason of some defect therein, which defect was not brought home to the knowledge of the defendants or its agents, either directly or constructively, the plaintiff cannot recover. This the court refused to charge, and the defendant, excepted. We are of the opinion that the request was proper, and should have been charged. The statute requires that railroad companies must build and maintain fences along the sides of their road, and makes them .liable, for all stock escaping, and killed upon their tracks when such fences are not in good repair. The right to recover depends upon the negligence of the defendant. The inquiry is: Has the company discharged its duty under the statute ? Fences are liable to get out of repair; are liable to be blown down by sudden gusts of wind; to be let down by trespassers; to be destroyed by fire and other causes. It is the duty, however, of the railroad company, within a reasonable time, to cause them to be repaired. It is their duty to cause frequent examinations to he made to see if the fences are in repair, and if they neglect to do so they will be charged with negligence. Where they have actual notice that a fence is out of repair they are chargeable with negligence if they suffer if so to remain. Where fences are out of repair, and have been so for such a length of time that the company will be. presumed to have notice through its agents and servants, they are then chargeable with negligence, as having had constructive notice. Unless the company has actual or constructive notice of the defect in the fences, or ,are guilty of negligence in not making proper examination for the purpose of seeing whether the fences are in repair, there can be no recovery. (Wheeler v. The Erie Railway Go., 2 T. & 0., 634; Munch v. N. Y. G. R. R. Go., 29 Barb., 647 .)

“The court charged that if the jury found for the plaintiff they must allow interest on the value of the sheep and cattle killed, from the time they were killed to the present day. To this charge the defendant duly excepted. This was error. This action is to recover

damages claimed to have been sustained on account of the defendant’s negligence. In such actions interest is not allowable as matter of law. It can only be awarded as damages, and is in the discretion of the jury. {Black v. The Camden and Amboy R. R., 45 Barb., 40 ; The Rome Ins. Co. y. The Penn. R. R. Co., 11 Hun, 182 ,188.)

“ The authorities cited by the respondent upon this question were cases arising out of contracts, and are therefore not in point.”