Muelder
Muelder v. Western Greyhound Lines
Opinion
Opinion
Tamura, J.
Plaintiff sued to recover damages for the loss of a briefcase and its contents which defendant had undertaken to transport from Indio to San Bernardino. Following a nonjury trial the court found that the loss occurred through defendant’s gross negligence, assessed damages in the sum of $7,637.70 for the actual value of the briefcase and its contents, and entered judgment for plaintiff accordingly. Defendant appeals from the judgment.
Defendant’s sole contention is that under the applicable tariff schedule and sections 2200 and 2205 of the Civil Code, plaintiff’s recovery should have been limited to $50. The findings of gross negligence and the value of the lost items are unchallenged.
Plaintiff, a professor of education, attended a meeting at the Coachella Unified School District in his capacity as special consultant to the district. Upon his departure, he inadvertently left in the school district superintendent’s office a briefcase containing technical studies and reports, diaries, and miscellaneous correspondence. Plaintiff made arrangements with the superintendent to ship the briefcase to San Bernardino by defendant Greyhound Lines. The superintendent packaged the…