Maynard v. Durham & Southern Ry. Co., 365 U.S. 160 (1961)
U.S. Supreme Court
Maynard v. Durham & Southern Ry. Co., 365 U.S. 160 (1961)
Maynard v. Durham & Southern Railway Co.
No. 183
Argued January 12, 1961
Decided February 20, 1961
365 U.S. 160
Syllabus
An employee sued a railroad in a state court to recover damages under the Federal Employers' Liability Act for an injury sustained in the course of his employment. As a defense, the railroad tendered a release signed by the employee, and the court granted a nonsuit after all the evidence was in. There was a conflict in the evidence as to what happened when the release was signed.
Held: the judgment is reversed. Pp. 365 U. S. 160-163.
(a) The rule of Dice v. Akron, C. & Y. R. Co., 342 U. S. 359, that the validity of a release under the Federal Employers' Liability Act is a federal question, applies where a release is challenged as not being supported by consideration as well as where the attack is made for fraud. P. 365 U. S. 161.
(b) On the record, there was a genuine issue of fact concerning the presence of consideration for the release, and that issue should have been submitted to a jury. Pp. 365 U. S. 161-163.
251 N.C. 783,112 S.E.2d 249, reversed.