Smiley v. St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Co.

Clifford J. Smiley, plaintiff-respondent, a switchman, recovered a judgment of $50,000 for personal injuries against his employer, St. Louis-San Francisco Railway Company, appellant. This appeal presents two main questions, (1) was there shown a violation of the automatic coupler statute (45 IJ. S. C. A. § 2) which proximately caused plaintiff’s injury, and (2) was this verdict excessive ?

Plaintiff was one of defendant’s switching crew operating in its yards in Springfield, Missouri, about' 10:45 A. M., bn September 21, 1946. The facts relied on and which the jury could and did reasonably…