Singer Manufacturing Co. v. Rahn, 132 U.S. 518 (1889)
U.S. Supreme Court
Singer Manufacturing Co. v. Rahn, 132 U.S. 518 (1889)Singer Manufacturing Company v. Rahn
No. 122
Submitted November 20, 1889
Decided December 23, 1889
132 U.S. 518
Syllabus
A person employed by a corporation under a written contract to sell sewing machines, and to be paid for his services by commissions on sales and collections; the company furnishing a wagon, and he furnishing a horse and harness, to be used exclusively in canvassing for such sales and in the general prosecution of the business, and he agreeing to give his whole time and best energies to the business, and to employ himself under the direction of the company and under such rules and instructions as it or its manager shall prescribe; is a servant of the company, and the company is responsible to third persons injured by his negligence in the course of his employment.
The original action was brought by Katie Rahn, a citizen of Minnesota, against the Singer Manufacturing Company, a corporation of New Jersey, for personal injuries done to the plaintiff by carelessly driving a horse and wagon against her, when crossing a street in Minneapolis. The complaint alleged
that the driver of the wagon was the defendant's servant and engaged in its business. The answer denied this, and alleged that the driver, one Corbett, was engaged in selling sewing machines on commission, and not otherwise, for the defendant. The replication denied the allegations of the answer.
At the trial before a jury, after the plaintiff had introduced evidence to maintain the issues on her part, the defendant put in evidence the contract between itself and Corbett, headed "Canvasser's Salary and Commission Contract," the material provisions of which were as follows:
"1st. The party of the first part agrees to pay unto the party of the second part, for his services in selling and leasing the Singer sewing machines, five dollars for each and every acceptable sale of a new machine sold by him, and in addition to said five dollars a further sum of ten percent of the gross price realized for said sales so made shall be paid to said second party, which, in addition to the five dollars on each acceptable sale, shall be deemed a selling commission."
"2d. The party of the first part shall pay unto the second party, for his further services, a collecting commission of ten her cent on the amounts or balances due from customers having purchased machines from him, payable as the cash shall be collected and paid over to the said first party or its authorized representatives at Minneapolis, and the said percentum so paid shall be in full for the services of said second party in collecting or other service rendered to date thereof."
"7th. The said first party agrees to furnish a wagon, and any damage to said wagon through negligence shall be at the cost and expense of said second party, and the said second party agrees to furnish a horse and harness, to be used exclusively in canvassing for the sale of said machines and the general prosecution of said business, and said second party agrees to give his exclusive time and best energies to said business, and- pay all expenses attending same."
"8th. The said second party agrees to employ himself under the direction of the said Singer Manufacturing Company and under such rules and instructions as it or its manager at Minneapolis shall prescribe, and in all respects to comport
himself to the best interests of the business of the said first party, and to neither sign nor to make use of the name of the said company in any manner whereby the public or any individual may be led to believe that the said company is responsible for his actions, said party's power being simply to make sales and turn over the proceeds to the said first party. If any special acts are required of said second party, the power to perform the same will be specially delegated."
"10th. It is further agreed that if said second party sells any other than the machines furnished to him by said first party, it shall work a forfeiture of any commissions that accrue under this agreement if violated prior to the termination of the same."
"12th. This agreement may be terminated by the first party at any time, and by said second party by giving first party ten days' notice in writing."
The defendant requested the court to instruct the jury
"that the contract under which Corbett, the driver of the horse causing the accident, was operating made hire an independent contractor, and the defendant could not be liable for any damage done through his negligence, if he was negligent."
The court declined to give the instruction requested, and instructed the jury that the contract established the relation of servant and master between Corbett and the defendant and that the defendant was answerable for Corbett's negligence while engaged in its service.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $10,000, upon which judgment was rendered, and the defendant tendered a bill of exceptions, and sued out this writ of error.
