McDonald v. Metropolitan St. Ry. Co.

The plaintiff seeks in this action to recover damages for negligence of the defendant in causing the death of plaintiff’s intestate. It is not essential that we call attention to the facts of the case, for the reason that they are in all substantial respects the same as when the case was before this court upon a former appeal. In the first trial a verdict was directed by the court in favor of the defendant, and upon appeal this court affirmed the judgment entered thereon. 46 App. Div. 143 , 61 N. Y. Supp. 817 . It was therein held that the verdict was against the weight of evidence, and, as a verdict would not have been sustained in favor of the plaintiff, the court was authorized to direct it. Upon appeal to the court of appeals ( 167 N. Y. 66 , 60 N. E. 282 ), that court held that the trial court could not, in any case where the right of trial by jury exists, direct a verdict, if the evidence in the case presented an actual issue of fact; that the only power possessed by the court, if dissatisfied with the verdict of the jury, was to set it aside and grant a new trial before another jury. We do not now feel called upon to carefully scrutinize this testimony, in order to determine whether or not it be against the weight of evidence. We reach the conclusion that a new trial must be granted for error committed in the charge to the jury. The court charged:

“It was the duty of this hoy to exercise such care and prudence to avoid an accident as a hoy of his age and of good intelligence would exercise under the circumstances, and deem adequate thereto.”

As we construe this charge, it was left for the jury to determine whether the degree of care which the deceased exercised was such as he deemed adequate, and, if so, it answered the requirements of the law. Such is not the rule. The degree of care imposed upon the deceased was such as a reasonably prudent person of the same age would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances. The charge as made, however, substitutes for such care a mental process on the part of the deceased in reaching such conclusion as to what he deemed to be adequate care. Clearly, such is not the rule. If it were, every act of the party would be sustained, as such action would necessarily involve the degree of care deemed by him to be adequate in committing the act.

It is said, however, that no exception points out this error. We think the contrary clearly appears. Counsel first excepted to that portion of the charge after the definition of “legal negligence.” This part of the charge followed that to which we have called attention. Counsel then excepted “to the language of the court with respect to the degree of care imposed upon the boy.” This was a specific exception to the language in which the degree of care to be exercised by this boy was charged, and it finds precise application to that portion of the charge which we deem to be error. This error was not cured by anything subsequently contained in the charge. The court did define what constituted reasonable care, and said that it required a vigilant use of the senses, and that if there was an omission of this care or duty on the part of the deceased, and it contributed to the accident, the jury should find for the defendant. But this did not modify or exclude from consideration by the jury that the vigilant use of his

It follows, therefore, that the court committed reversible error, to which an exception was properly taken. In consequence of which the judgment and order should be reversed, and new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event. All concur.