Williams v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co., 398 F. Supp. 683 (S.D. Ohio 1975)

Otto F. Putnick, Cincinnati, Ohio, for plaintiff Allen Williams, Jr.

Gerald J. Rapien, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Penn Central Transportation Co.

Thomas S. Calder, and Lawrence R. Elleman, Cincinnati, Ohio, for Louisville & Nashville R.R. Co.

Otto F. Putnick, Cincinnati, Ohio, for plaintiff Gayle W. Clary.

DAVID S. PORTER, District Judge:

These two actions were brought under the Federal Employers' Liability Act, 45 U.S.C. § 51 et seq., and involved personal injury claims arising out of an accident which occurred on June 2, 1969. Just prior to trial of the Williams case, the two defendants reached an agreement whereby it became possible to settle plaintiffs' respective claims without litigation. It was agreed that L & N would pay certain negotiated settlements to plaintiffs Williams and Clary, and that the issue of whose employees plaintiffs were at the time of the accident (for FELA purposes) would be tried to the Court. It was further agreed that if this Court were to find that the plaintiffs were either Penn Central employees or dual employees at the time of the accident, Penn Central would reimburse L & N for the settlements advanced to plaintiffs.

The employment issue was argued rigorously and very thoroughly by both defendants. They presented their evidence to the Court on May 6, 7, and 8, 1975. Prior to that, the issue had been briefed extensively on both defendants' motions for summary judgment (docs. 13, 16 and 19); and after the trial both defendants filed post-trial briefs (docs. 39, 40) and replies (docs. 41, 42). In addition, the defendants filed a Stipulation *684 of facts (doc. 38), a part of which incorporates by reference paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of the affidavit of F. H. Boulton, Jr. (doc. 16).

The facts are essentially undisputed. We accept the statements in the stipulation (including the relevant portions of Mr. Boulton's affidavit) and incorporate them herein as our findings of fact. Additionally, we reassert the factual statements set out in our memorandum of decision (doc. 20) of December 6, 1973, wherein we denied the summary judgment motions of both defendants. Upon careful consideration of these facts and all the evidence, we find and/or conclude that under the "borrowed servant" doctrine, there was a master-servant relationship between the plaintiffs and Penn Central at the time of the accident, and that plaintiffs were the employees of Penn Central at that time for FELA purposes (45 U.S.C. § 51). See Kelley v. Southern Pacific Co., 419 U.S. 318, 95 S. Ct. 472, 42 L. Ed. 2d 498 (1974); Linstead v. Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co., 276 U.S. 28, 48 S. Ct. 241, 72 L. Ed. 453 (1928); Standard Oil v. Anderson, 212 U.S. 215, 29 S. Ct. 252, 53 L. Ed. 480 (1909). See generally, 1 ALR2d 302.

While we think it unnecessary to elaborate in detail, we shall address ourselves briefly to certain arguments urged by Penn Central. First, it is our opinion that plaintiffs were engaged in Penn Central's work at the time of the accident. Cf., Linstead, supra, 276 U.S. at 34, 48 S. Ct. 241. We think it insignificant that plaintiffs were on the return trip at the time of the accident and that they were returning "light" (without freight). The return trip was clearly a necessary incident to the work done for Penn Central and was, therefore, part of Penn Central's work. Second, it is our opinion that the plaintiffs were subject to Penn Central's control or right to control at the time and place of the accident. Cf., Kelley, supra, 419 U.S. at 325, 95 S. Ct. 472. We base our opinion upon a number of factors, including: the fact that the plaintiffs' crew was subject to the exclusive control of Penn Central supervisory personnel while on Penn Central tracks; that Penn Central had exclusive control over the movement and location of cars at the time and place of the accident (indeed, the accident occurred at the precise place where plaintiffs had been directed to go by Penn Central supervisory personnel); that the decision of whether plaintiffs' crew should return "light" or loaded (with or without freight) was Penn Central's; that plaintiffs were subject to Penn Central's Operating Rules and Safety Rules at the time and place of the accident; and that Penn Central had a right to discipline L & N general employees engaged in transfer operations of the sort at issue here and could prevent them from engaging in further such transfer operations on Penn Central tracks. Considering all factors, we think that Penn Central had immediate supervision and control over plaintiffs at the time and place of the accident and that Penn Central exercised "authoritative direction and control" over plaintiffs at such time and place. Standard Oil Co., supra; Shenker v. Baltimore & Ohio R. Co., 374 U.S. 1, 83 S. Ct. 1667, 10 L. Ed. 2d 709 (1963).

For the foregoing reasons, we find and/or conclude that the plaintiffs, although concededly general employees of L & N, were in the special employ of Penn Central at the time and place of the accident and were therefore injured while employed by the Penn Central. And, since the issue of negligence is not contested, Penn Central is liable in damages to the plaintiffs herein in accordance with 45 U.S.C. § 51.

The prevailing party should submit an entry finding in favor of the plaintiffs in the agreed amount against the defendant Penn Central and submit the same for inspection by counsel for Penn Central and the plaintiffs.