Sams v. Arthur , 135 S.C. 123 ( 1926 )

May 19, 1926. The opinion of the Court was delivered by This is an action by the plaintiff against the defendants W.D. Arthur and Gulf Refining Company for damages on account of a collision between an oil truck and a milk wagon, in which the wagon and horse were injured. The truck belonged to the defendant, Arthur, and the Gulf Refining Company was sought to be held liable along with Arthur, upon the ground that Arthur was acting as the agent of the company at the time of the collision. The trial resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff against both of the defendants for $300, and from the judgment entered upon the verdict the defendant, Gulf Refining Company, alone has appealed. The appeal will be considered only upon the question of alleged error in refusing a motion by the defendant-appellant for a directed verdict upon the ground discussed in what follows:

The relation between the Gulf Refining Company and W.D. Arthur was fixed by the written contract between them which was in evidence, the duty of construction of which was upon the presiding Judge. From the terms of that contract, which will be incorporated in the report of the case, it appears beyond controversy that the relation was that of principal and factor, the latter of which is thus defined in 25 C.J., 340:

"A factor is an agent who, in pursuance of his usual trade or business, and for a compensation commonly called factorage or commission, sells goods or merchandise consigned or intrusted to his possession for that purpose by or for the owner."

It appears from the evidence that the business of Arthur was handled by him according to his own methods, except as modified by the contract. The truck belonged to him, and the driver was employed and directed solely by him. The company had absolutely nothing to do with either. The liability of a principal or master for the torts of his agent or servant committed while acting within the actual scope of his agency or employment is based upon the principle of respondeat superior. This principle is a declaration by the Courts of the public policy of the State.

An individual is charged with the consequences of an act done directly by himself or indirectly by another at his command. Qui facit per alium facit per se; and it is none the less his own act that it has been done by his agent thereunto specially authorized. If the agent should do an act not at the direction of the principal or master, but within the line, scope, or course of his employment, the principal or master is held liable, not because it is his act, for, as a matter of fact, it is not, but upon grounds of public policy under the principal of respondeat superior. A corporation can act only through agents, and where an act is done by one of them, specially directed thereunto by the corporation, it is the act of the corporation. Where the act done is not by the direction of the corporation, but within the line, scope, or course of the employment, the corporation is held liable, ordinarily, not because the act is that of the corporation, for it is not, but upon grounds of public policy under the principle of respondeat superior. The principle qui facit must not be confounded with that of respondeat superior. It is a common misconception to attribute the liability of a master for the delicts of his servant in every case to the principle of respondeat superior. The servant may cause injury in doing the very thing that the master directs him to do. In that case the master is held liable because the law holds that the act is that of the master, although done through the servant, under the principle qui facit per aliumfacit per se. He is, therefore, held responsible for his own act. But, on the other hand, the servant may cause an injury, while engaged within the line or scope of his employment, in doing an act which the master has not directed him to do or has specifically directed him not to do. It is the act of the servant, not the master, and the latter is held responsible upon grounds of public policy; the liability in such case being expressed by the phrase respondeat superior. The principle is entirely distinct from that of quifacit, and owes its origin to an entirely different source; the one to public policy and the other to the fixed principles of law and justice.

In Hearns v. Hospital, 66 Conn., 98; 33 A., 595; 31 L.R.A., 224, it is said:

"The law which makes one responsible for his own act, although it may be done through another, and which is expressed by the primary meaning of the maxim, qui facit peralium facit per se, is based on a principle of universal justice. The law which makes one responsible for an act not his own, because the actual wrong doer is his servant, is based as a rule of public policy. The liability of a charitable corporation for the defaults of its servants must depend upon the reasons of that rule of policy, and their application to such a corporation."

In Railroad Co. v. Dixon, 179 U.S. 136; 21 S.Ct., 69;45 L.Ed., 121, the Court says:

"The liability of the master for the negligence of his servants in his absence, and without his concurrence or express direction, arises solely from the policy of the law which requires that he shall be held responsible for the acts of those he employs."

In Helms v. Railroad Co. (C.C.A.), 120 F., 392, the Court says:

"The master is not held liable because he is negligent, but solely upon considerations of public policy. * * * The master is responsible, but he is not negligent."

Now, then, if the injurious act has been committed by the corporation, that is, by an agent thereunto specially authorized, it necessarily is the act of the corporation. The principles of law and justice absolutely fix liability upon the corporation for the consequences of that act, and no Court is authorized to legislatively relieve the corporation therefrom.

But it is different where the injurious act is not the act of the principal, but it is the act of a servant of the agent, in a matter over which the principal has no manner of control. There a condition is presented for the application or not of the principle of respondeat superior, the application of which in every case is based upon public policy, not upon a fixed principle of universal justice and law. The Court having the right to declare what public policy may be in a given case, and to apply the principle ofrespondeat superior, it has with equal propriety the right to declare what it may be in another case and deny its application.Lindler v. Hospital, 98 S.C. 25; 81 S.E., 512.

The reason which has supported the principle of respondeatsuperior, based upon the judicial interpretation and declaration of public policy, is that the principal, selecting his agent and directing the manner in which he shall execute the agency, should, in justice to third persons with whom the agent may deal, and who are not responsible either for his selection or conduct, be held liable for his torts.

Where the agents employs his own servants, and directs their movements, without the slightest interference by the principal, it is manifest that the reason for holding the principal responsible for the delicts of the agent no longer exists, and the principal cannot be held liable for the delicts of a servant of the agent, under the circumstances.

It is not conceivable that, if a merchant should ship cotton to a factor for sale and accounting of the proceeds, and a person should be injured by reason of the negligence of a drayman of the factor hauling the cotton from the railroad to the warehouse of the factor, the merchant shipper would be held liable to the person so injured.

The cases of Phipps v. Gulf Refining Company,25 Ga. App., 384; 103 S.E., 472, and Gulf RefiningCompany v. Harris, 30 Ga. App., 240;117 S.E., 274, are precisely in point. See, also, 26 Cyc., 1546, where the principle upon which the principal is held liable for the tort of his agent is specifically limited to cases where the power of selecting, directing, and discharging is lodged with the principal. For these reasons the motion of the defendant, the sole appellant here, for a directed verdict in its favor should have been granted.

The judgment of this Court is that the judgment of the Circuit Court be reversed, and that the case be remanded to that Court for the entry of judgment in favor of the appellant under Rule 27.

MESSRS. JUSTICES WATTS and MARION, and MR. ACTING ASSOCIATE JUSTICE R.O. PURDY concur.

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE GARY did not participate.