Stinson v. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company/Opinion of the Court

United States Supreme Court

355 U.S. 62

Stinson  v.  Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company

 Argued: Nov. 18, 1957. --- Decided: Jan 6, 1958

The petition for writ of certiorari is granted. The Supreme Court of Alabama held that 'there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find that there was negligence on the part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company.' 264 Ala. 522, 527, 88 So.2d 189, 193. We agree. We now hold that the evidence also presented a jury question whether the employee's death resulted in whole or in part from such negligence. 35 Stat. 65, 45 U.S.C. § 51, 45 U.S.C.A. § 51; Rogers v. Missouri Pacific R. Co., 352 U.S. 500, 77 S.Ct. 443, 1 L.Ed.2d 493; Schulz v. Pennsylvania R. Co., 350 U.S. 523, 76 S.Ct. 608, 100 L.Ed. 668. The judgment of the Supreme Court of Alabama is therefore reversed and the cause is remanded for consideration of any grounds not disposed of on the first appeal; and, if none has merit, with instructions to reinstate the judgment entered on the jury verdict of June 12, 1953, awarding the petitioner damages of $46,600. Urie v. Thompson, 337 U.S. 163, 69 S.Ct. 1018, 93 L.Ed. 1282. For the reasons set forth in his opinion in Rogers v. Missouri Pacific R. Co., 352 U.S. 500, 524, 77 S.Ct. 443, 459, 1 L.Ed.2d 493, 520, Mr. Justice Frankfurter is of the view that the writ of certiorari is improvidently granted. Mr. Justice Burton dissents. Mr. Justice Harlan, while believing that certiorari should be denied, considers that Rogers v. Missouri Pacific R. Co., supra, requires him to concur in the result.

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