The Discharged Driver's Damages
A livery driver sues a patron for $1,000, claiming the customer's false complaints caused his wrongful termination.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
William T. Bottoms, a livery driver, has brought suit against C. P. Masterson for $1,000 damages, alleging the defendant was the cause of the plaintiff losing his job. Bottoms alleges that he drove Mr. Masterson from the North End to the Tacoma hotel and charged him $1.50, and that Mr. Masterson reported to the livery company that he charged him $5. The transfer company claims Bottoms was not dismissed because of any complaint by Mr. Masterson, but some of Bottoms' friends say he was paid a $5 gold piece from Mr. Masterson instead of a silver dollar.
“Bottoms alleges that he drove Mr. Masterson from the North End to the Tacoma hotel and charged him $1.50, and that Mr. Masterson reported to the livery company that he charged him $5.”
Employment disputes regarding tips and false claims by customers remain common in today’s gig and service economy. The $1,000 claim, quite significant for 1893, underscores how small-scale disputes over workplace conduct were handled through civil litigation in the growing city of Tacoma.
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