Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Raymond v. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co.

Raymond v. Chi., Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry. Co., 243 U.S. 43 (1917)

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1917-03-06
Topic
general

Mr. Chief Justice White delivered the opinion of the court. Raymond, the plaintiff in error, sued the Railway Company, a foreign corporation doing business in Washington, to recover damages resulting from injuries sustained by him while in its employ. The petition alleged that the defendant operated an interstate commerce railroad between Chicago and Seattle and that for the purpose of shortening its main line and making more efficient and expeditious its freight and passenger service, was engaged in cutting a tunnel through the mountain between Horrick’s Spur and Rockdale in Washington. It was averred that plaintiff was employed by the defendant in the tunnel as a laborer and that while he was at work his pick struck a charge of dynamite which through the defendant’s negligence had not been removed and that from the explosion which followed he has sustained serious injuries.

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Cited by
83 opinions
RAYMONDv. CHI., MIL. ST. P. RY. CO.,243 U.S. 43(1917)
37 S.Ct. 268
RAYMONDv. CHICAGO, MILWAUKEE ST. PAUL RAILWAY COMPANY.
ERROR TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT.
No. 636.
Argued January 31, 1917.
Decided March 6, 1917.
Plaintiff, employed by the defendant, an interstate carrier, was injured while laboring in a tunnel which was then being constructed by the defendant in the State of Washington for the purpose of shortening its main line between Chicago and Seattle and thus improving its freight and passenger service. The tunnel was incomplete and had never been used in interstate commerce.Held, (1) That neither party was engaged in interstate commerce,quoadthe injury, and that no cause of action existed under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. (2) That plaintiff's cause of action, viewed as arising under the state law, was remediable only as provided by the Washington Workmen's Compensation Act, Laws 1911, c. 74.MountainTimber Co. v.Washington, post, 219;New York CentralR.R. Co. v.White, post, 188. 233 F. 239, affirmed.
THIS was an action for personal injuries begun in the District
Court of the United States for the Western District of
Washington, the petition averring that the plaintiff was a
citizen of that State and the defendant a foreign corporation.
The facts are stated in the opinion.
Mr. John T. Casey, with whomMr. Thomas J. Walshwas on the briefs, for plaintiff in error.Page 44Mr. Heman H. FieldandMr. George W. Kortefor defendant in error, submitted.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE WHITE delivered the opinion of the court.
Raymond, the plaintiff in error, sued the Railway Company, a foreign corporation doing business in Washington, to recover damages resulting from injuries sustained by him while in its employ. The petition alleged that the defendant operated an interstate commerce railroad between Chicago and Seattle and that for the purpose of shortening its main line and making more efficient and expeditious its freight and passenger service, was engaged in cutting a tunnel through the mountain between Horrick's Spur and Rockdale in Washington. It was averred that plaintiff was employed by the defendant in the tunnel as a laborer and that while he was at work his pick struck a charge of dynamite which through the defendant's negligence had not been removed and that from the explosion which followed he has sustained serious injuries.

The defendant's answer contained a general denial and alleged that at the time and place of the accident the railroad and Raymond were not engaged in interstate commerce, since the tunnel was only partially bored and hence not in use as an instrumentality of interstate commerce. It was further alleged that the court was without jurisdiction to hear the cause because of the provisions of the Washington Workmen's Compensation Act (Chapter 74, Laws of 1911) with whose requirements the defendant had fully complied. The reply of the plaintiff admitted the facts alleged in the answer but denied that they constituted defenses to the action.

The trial court entered a judgment for the defendant on the pleadings, and this writ of error is prosecuted to aPage 45judgment of the court below affirming such action. 233 F. 239.

Considering the suit as based upon the Federal Employers' Liability Act, it is certain under recent decisions of this court, whatever doubt may have existed in the minds of some at the time the judgment below was rendered, that under the facts as alleged Raymond and the Railway Company were not engaged in interstate commerce at the time the injuries were suffered, and consequently no cause of action was alleged under the act.Delaware, Lackawanna Western R.R. Co. v.Yurkonis,238 U.S. 439;Chicago, Burlington Quincy R.R. Co. v.Harrington,241 U.S. 177;Minneapolis St. Louis R.R. Co. v.Nash,242 U.S. 619.

It is also certain that if the petition be treated as alleging a cause of action under the common law, the court below was without authority to afford relief, as that result could only be attained under the local law in accordance with the provisions of the Washington Workmen's Compensation Act, which has this day been decided to be not repugnant to the Constitution of the United States.Mountain Timber Companyv.Washington, post, 219. And this result is controlling even although it be conceded that the railroad company was in a general sense engaged in interstate commerce, since it has been also this day decided that that fact does not prevent the operation of a state workmen's compensation act.New York Central R.R. Co. v.White, post, 188.Affirmed.Page 46