Summary
In Indiana Service Corporation v. Johnston (1945), 109 Ind. App. 204, 34 N.E.2d 157, it was held that the essential element of proximate cause is the requirement that the result must be such as might reasonably have been anticipated in the ordinary experience of men.
Summary of this case from Schroer v. Funk & Sons, Inc.Opinion
No. 16,462.
Filed May 26, 1941.
1. NEGLIGENCE — Proximate Cause — Consequences Reasonably Anticipated. — An essential element of proximate cause is the requirement that the result must be such as might reasonably have been anticipated in the ordinary experience of men. p. 206.
2. NEGLIGENCE — Proximate Cause — Intervening and Efficient Cause — Reasonable Anticipation. — Where the alleged negligence merely created a condition by which the injury was made possible and a subsequent independent act of an intervening agency caused the injury, logic requires not only that the type of injury should have been reasonably anticipated, but that the intervention of the independent agency should have been anticipated. p. 206.
3. ELECTRICITY — Injuries — Negligence — Automobile Striking Electric Light Pole — Condition of Pole Not Proximate Cause. — In an action for damages against an electric service company, the alleged negligence, in permitting an electric light pole to become old, rotten, and decayed and in failing to strengthen it with brace wires, was not the proximate cause of an injury to a person who was struck when the pole fell after another pole, a distance away, which was connected thereto by wire, was hit by an automobile, since such company was not required to maintain its poles in such a condition as to resist the weight and force of any cars, tractors, or trucks which might be negligently driven off the highway and into them. p. 207.
From the Noble Circuit Court; Fred L. Bodenhafer, Judge.
Action by John M. Johnston against the Indiana Service Corporation and Lawrence Hogle to recover damages for injuries allegedly caused when Lawrence Hogle negligently drove an automobile into an electric light pole maintained by the Indiana Service Corporation, thereby causing another pole also maintained by such corporation to fall on plaintiff. From a judgment for plaintiff, the Indiana Service Corporation appealed.
Reversed. By the court in banc.
Barrett, Barrett McNagny, Leigh L. Hunt, Mentor Kraus, and J.A. Bruggeman, all of Fort Wayne, for appellant.
Ray McAdams, C.A. Lincoln, and James P. Murphy, all of Fort Wayne, for appellee.
This is an action brought by appellee John M. Johnston against appellant Indiana Service Corporation and appellee Lawrence Hogle to recover damages on account of injuries alleged to have been caused when appellee Hogle negligently drove an automobile into an electric light pole maintained by appellant, thereby causing another electric light pole also maintained by appellant to fall upon appellee Johnston.
Appellant's demurrer to the complaint was overruled. The cause was submitted to a jury which returned a verdict for appellee Johnston against appellant upon which the court entered judgment. Appellant filed its motion for a new trial which was overruled.
Appellant assigns as errors (1) the overruling of appellant's demurrer to the complaint; (2) the overruling of appellant's motion for a directed verdict; and (3) the overruling of appellant's motion for a new trial.
The complaint alleges in substance that appellant maintained an electric light pole at the corner of St. Mary's avenue and Herman street in the city of Fort Wayne, and another pole about 150 feet east of said intersection on Herman street, which poles were connected by wires; that it negligently permitted its pole at the intersection to become old, rotten, and decayed and unsupported, or strengthened by any wires or brace wires; that appellee Hogle negligently ran his automobile against the pole located on Herman street thereby causing the rotted pole at the intersection to fall upon appellee Johnston injuring him.
One of the reasons assigned in support of appellant's demurrer to the complaint was that the complaint shows on its face that any alleged negligence on the part of appellant was not the proximate cause of the injuries complained of.
An essential element of proximate cause is the requirement that the result must be such as might reasonably have been anticipated in the ordinary experience of men. In applying this rule 1, 2. to a case like the instant one, wherein the alleged negligence merely created a condition by which the injury was made possible and the subsequent independent act of an intervening agency caused the injury, logic requires not only that the type of injury should have been reasonably anticipated, but that the intervention of the independent agency should have been anticipated.
The rule has been so applied frequently in this state. See Wilcox v. Urschel (1936), 101 Ind. App. 627, 200 N.E. 465; City of Gary v. Struble, Admx. (1939), 106 Ind. App. 518, 18 N.E.2d 465; Engle, Admr. v. Director General of Railroads (1922), 78 Ind. App. 547, 133 N.E. 138; Evansville, etc., R. Co. v. Welch (1900), 25 Ind. App. 308, 58 N.E. 88; Sarber v. City of Indianapolis (1919), 72 Ind. App. 594, 126 N.E. 330; Claypool v. Wigmore (1904), 34 Ind. App. 35, 71 N.E. 509; Alexander v. Town of New Castle (1888), 115 Ind. 51, 17 N.E. 200; Blanchard v. Reynolds (1921), 236 Mass. 596, 129 N.E. 303; Cleveland, etc., R. Co. v. Clark (1912), 51 Ind. App. 392, 97 N.E. 822; Pennsylvania Railroad Co. v. Huss (1933), 96 Ind. App. 71, 180 N.E. 919.
Our inquiry in the instant case may well be directed then to the question as to whether appellant should have anticipated that the driver of an automobile would 3. negligently drive his car off the traveled portion of the highway over the curb and into one of its poles with sufficient force to affect a connecting pole 150 feet away. The inquiry is self-answering. In this day, when the streets and highways are being constantly used by automobiles, tractors and trucks of great weight and power, it would be unreasonable indeed to hold that companies maintaining poles adjoining the streets and highways must maintain their poles, not only in such condition as to be safe in regard to ordinary hazards, but also in such condition as to resist the weight and force of any cars, tractors, or trucks which might be negligently driven off the highway and into them. They are neither bound by duty to so maintain their property, nor are such acts on the part of the drivers of vehicles reasonably to be anticipated.
It follows that the alleged negligence of appellant was not the proximate cause of the injuries complained of and its demurrer should have been sustained.
In view of the above conclusion, it is not necessary to consider the other questions presented by this appeal.
Judgment reversed.
Stevenson, J., dissenting.
NOTE. — Reported in 34 N.E.2d 157.