Opinion
10669
June 30, 1921.
Before PRINCE, J., Greenville, ____, 1921. Affirmed.
Action by Mrs. Margaret Thompson and A.R. Thompson against Greenville Traction Co. From order of nonsuit plaintiffs appeal.
Messrs. Martin Henry, for appellant, cite: Defendant violated city ordinance which was negligence per se: 105 S.C. 129; 100 S.C. 114; 83 S.C. 354; 84 S.C. 536. Non-suit improper where there is any evidence tending to prove cause of action: 42 S.C. 466; 98 S.C. 129; 86 S.C. 231; 74 S.C. 89; 73 S.C. 522; 91 S.C. 541; 72 S.C. 256; 73 S.C. 430. Defendant had adopted street at this point for its station and is liable for its condition when used as such: 4 R.C.L. 1229; 48 L.R.A. (N.S.) 976; 132 N.W. 598 (Wis.;) 210 Mass. 66, 87 N.E. 192. Defendant liable for having banana peel on station platform: 161 Ill. Ap. 296; 140 S.W. 483; 208 Mass. 273, 94 N.E. 386. Plaintiff a passenger and due the highest degree of care: 105 S.C. 485-6; 4 R.C.L. 1088; 36 L.R.A. (N.S.) 213; 64 So. 343 (Ala.); 83 S.W. 1001 (Mo.); 10 C.J. 625; 77 S.C. 435; 55 S.C. 393; 71 S.C. 543; 74 S.C. 332. Presumption of negligence arises from injury to passenger: 77 S.C. 436; 88 S.C. 97; 100 S.C. 40.
Messrs. Haynesworth Haynesworth, for respondent, cite: No presumption of negligence unless testimony shows injury to passenger was caused by some agency or instrumentality of carrier: 77 S.C. 434; 83 S.C. 53; 85 S.C. 216; 78 S.C. 552; 84 S.C. 19; 88 S.C. 19; 5 A. E. Enc. L. 624. Notice of impending danger must be brought home to carrier to make it liable for injury from outside causes: 74 S.C. 332; 47 L.R.A. 120. Public street is not passenger station for which carrier is liable: 78 N.E. 854 (Mass.); 10 C.J. 913; 116 N.W. 373; 51 L.R.A. 885; 71 N.E. 780, 104 Am. St. Rep. 580; 38 A. 110 (Me.). Defendant not responsible for banana peel on platform: 60 N.E. 486 (Mass.); 65 N.Y. Supp. 271; 97 N.E. 624 (Mass.); 39 L.R.A. (N.S.) 419; 79 N.E. 1094; 103 N.Y. Supp. 721; 127 N.E. 66 (Ill.,) 10 A.L.R. 254; Note 10 A.L.R. 259 to 271. As to acts, instrumentalities and places not within exclusive control of carrier it owes passenger only ordinary care: 269 Fed. 231; 154 S.W. 16 (Ky.;) Ann. Cas. 1915B, 267; 106 N.Y. 678, 13 N.E. 455; 50 So. 62 (Ala.,) 135 Am. St. Rep. 153, 18 Ann. Cas. 772; 96 N.Y. Supp. 903; 168 P. 337 (Utah;) 18 N.E. 859 (N.Y.,) 2 L.R.A. 252; 82 A. 246 (Pa.;) Ann. Cas. 1913 B, 811; 184 Fed. 302, 106 C.C.A. 445, 33 L.R.A. (N.S.) 532; 202 S.W. 632, 3 A.L.R. 637; 110 N.E. 962 (Mass.) Ann. Cas. 1918C, 371; 127 N.E. 66, 10 A.L.R. 254; 74 S.C. 332, 339; 84 S.C. 15, 19.
June 30, 1921. The opinion of the Court was delivered by
The plaintiff, Mrs. Thompson, a passenger upon the defendant's street car, slipped upon a banana peel and fell, sustaining personal injury, as she was alighting from the car at the Southern Railway Station in the city of Greenville, the terminus of the line. The Circuit Judge ordered a non-suit upon the ground that there was no evidence tending to show negligence on the part of the defendant. His ruling is sustained upon the grounds stated by him. A public street in a city is not to be regarded as a passenger station, for the safety of which a street railway company may be responsible, when used by passengers as a place to alight.
The judgment of this Court is that the judgment of the Circuit Court be affirmed.