Galle v. Dunn

Plaintiff gave evidence tending to show that, while plaintiff’s fellow workman was pounding a chisel held by plaintiff, the head of the hammer flew off and broke his arm. Defendant’s claim is that the fellow workman missed his aim and struck plaintiff’s arm, instead of the chisel. Plaintiff claims that the hammer was the only one accessible adapted to that particular work. Defendant claims that there were several from which plaintiff or his fellow 'workman selected the one used. The evidence also conflicts as to whether the foreman was the alter ego of defendant, who was not present. These questions were presented to the jury by a charge free from exception, and we do not consider it within our sphere to substitute our views for those expressed by the jury.

When plaintiff started to work, about 1 o’clock, his fellow workman, Pallagrina, called the attention of the foreman to the fact that the handle did not fit firmly into the eye of the hammer. It was temporarily repaired by driving the handle more firmly into the head. During the afternoon the temporary repairs were repeated and the work proceeded. About half past 4 the head of the hammer flew off and caused the injury. On these facts the jury has found that the defendant was negligent, and that plaintiff was not guilty of contributory negligence, and the learned trial judge has held that the verdict should not be set aside as contrary to law or against the weight of the evidence.

Defendant argues that the rule that an employer is liable for injuries caused by defective machinery does not apply here, for the reason that a simple tool, like a sledgehammer does not fall within the definition of machinery, nor within the mischief contemplated by the rule. It does seem reasonable to suppose that a workman of full age and moderate intelligence should know as much about the danger of using a defective tool of that description as the employer; and in this case, after the handle had been twice tightened in plaintiff’s presence, we are of opin