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.