Floettl v. Jonson Engineering & Foundry Co.

Majority

p. 136

John Floettl, Respondent, v. Jonson Engineering and Foundry Company, Appellant.

Headnote

An involuntary movement of a workman, who is under the bed of a cable road, caused by the cable striking his head, is not contributory negligence.

In an action to recover for injuries sustained by the plaintiff, an employee of the defendant, while in a trench under the tracks of a cable railroad, through which the cable ran, a request to the court to charge the jury, in effect, that it was the duty of ¡the plaintiff absolutely to remain 'quiet, and that if in consequence of his not doing-so he was injured, that was sufficient to exonerate the defendant from liability, is too broad,, in view of the fact that the movement of the plaintiff was not voluntary, as it was- caused by the cable striking his head.

Appeal by the defendant, the Jonson Engineering and Foundry Company, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the plaintiff,' entered in the office of the clerk of the county of New York on the 19th day of February, 1897, upon the verdict of a jury, and also from an order entered in said clerk’s office on the 17th day of February, 1897, denying the defendant’s motion for a new trial made upon the minutes.

The facts in this case are set forth on the previous appeal, reported in 10 Appellate División, 308.

p. 137

John Notman and William Allen Butler, for the appellant.

Leopold Leo, for the respondent.

When this case was before us on a former appeal (Floettl v. Third Avenue E. E. Co., 10 App. Div. 308 ), it was held that it should have been submitted to the jury on the testimony appearing in the record, to the effect that the plaintiff had received an assurance from the foreman in charge of the work that the cable cars would not run over the trench in which he was directed to work, until five o’clock on the morning of the day on which the accident occurred. A second trial having been had, a verdict was rendered in favor of the plaintiff, from the judgment entered upon which, and from an order denying a motion for a new trial, this appeal is taken.

The contest at the Trial Term related chiefly to the question of ■the assurance referred to, having been given. Floettl, the plaintiff, testified positively that it was given. His testimony is not distinctly-corroborated by that of any other witness. On the first trial Wein ■testified upon that matter as Floettl did.- On the second trial no reference to that particular subject is made by Wein either in his direct or cross-examination. There is also in the record testimony of witnesses who declare that they heard no such statement as that sworn to by the plaintiff. It is earnestly urged by counsel for the appellant that the great preponderance of evidence is against the truthfulness or accuracy of the plaintiff’s testimony in that regard. The- learned judge in his charge to the jury submitted that question to them with clearness and directness. He instructed them that it was an important question whether the foreman said that the cable cars would not run until five o’clock, and, whether, if he did so, the plaintiff relied upon it. The plaintiff had testified to the statement having been made by Messenger, who was the foreman of the defendant in charge of the work. Messenger denied having made the statement, but in his denial is contained the admission that he did say something to Floettl with reference to the hour of five o’clock and the running of cars at that hour. The plaintiff’s testimony is that Messenger said, “ The car stops up to five o’clock.”

p. 138

Messenger swears that he only said, “We have to get out of hére by five o’clock, because then the fast cars come in and run faster.” Messenger, therefore, admits that he spoke of. the running of cars over the trench, and of the hour of five o’clock in connection with that running. ' It was for the jury to say, upon the conflicting evidence with reference to this subject, which version was correct. Upon the whole case we cannot say that the jury was palpably. wrong in adopting the testimony of the plaintiff..

It is further urged on behalf of the appellant that Floettl’s testimony should be disregarded because he has testified falsely to material matters of fact in issue on the trial. It is said, for instance, that he testified that at the time he sustained the injury he and Wein only were in the trench, whereas it appears that the other two men were there also. All that can be said upon this subject is that there is a conflict of testimony as- to who were in the trench at the precise time the accident occurred. Some of' the witnesses say four men were there, Floettl, Wein, Toohey and McGurty. Messenger says three men were there when Floettl was hurt, that is, two others besides Floettl. Three witnesses swear that only Floettl and Wein were, in the trench when the accident happened, corroborating Floettl. Upon other questions of fact there seems to be the same conflict of testimony, and upon that the. verdict of the jury is conclusive.

•The only exception requiring consideration is that taken to the refusal of the court to charge that “ irrespective of whether the conversation claimed by the plaintiff with the foreman occurred, if the jury believes, from the 'evidence that the plaintiff, and others in the hole were warned of the car’s approach and did not keep quiet, as one or more of his fellow-servants down in the hole did, and was in consequence of not keeping quiet, and of his own movements, injured, that they must find for the defendant.” This request was, properly declined. The court was asked, in effect, to charge the jury that it was the duty of the plaintiff absolutely to-remain quiet, and that if in consequence of his not doing so he was, injured,, that was sufficient to exonerate the defendant from liability. The request was entirely too broad, in view of the fact that the movement of the plaintiff was not voluntary; had it been .so, a serious 'question would arise. The movement of the plaintiff was

p. 139

caused by the cable wire striking him on the head, and it cannot be said under such circumstances that bis involuntary movement, as matter of law, constitutes contributory negligence, which is substantially what the request means.

Under all the circumstances of the case, we cannot say that the verdict is excessive. The judgment and order must be affirmed, with costs.

Rumsey, O’Brien, Ingraham and Parker, JJ., concurred.

Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.