Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Arkansas Sheriff's Boys' Ranch

Robert H. Dudley, Justice.

Sixteen appellee landowners filed four separate complaints against appellant, Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, and 29 of its employees. The appellees alleged they were entitled to recover compensatory and punitive damages for losses suffered as a result of fires caused by the negligent maintenance of both the right-of-way and the rolling stock of the appellant railroad and by the deliberate and intentional acts of the employees in throwing fusees or flares into combustible materials. Over appellant’s objection, the four separate lawsuits were consolidated for trial.