New York Court of Appeals
Charles Eaton, by His Guardian v. the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, Appellant
May 5, 187457 N.Y. 382
Summary
The Court reversed the lower court, holding that the plaintiff was not a passenger and no carrier‑passenger relationship existed, so the railroad owed no duty of care. The decision rests on agency principles limiting the conductor's authority on a freight train.