Haack v. Brooklyn Labor Lyceum Ass'n

The buildings on the defendant’s property were destroyed by fire. The plaintiff and some other boys came upon the premises and were picking up some sort of tickets out of the ruins when one of the walls left standing by the fire fell and hurt the plaintiff. I do not see how there is any liability in the defendant. The plaintiff was a bare licensee, at best, and the defendant was under no relation or obligation to him whatever, beyond what we are all under not to do any affirmative wrong or injury to one another. This is a principle

It is claimed, however, that the defendant maintained a liquor saloon in the rear of the premises, .that it was open to public use, that there was an alley or route to it across the premises from a gateway, and that the plaintiff was in this route when hurt. But as he was not going to the saloon I do not see how this helps his case. The defendant in that case was still under no relation or obligation to him other than that already stated. Pollock on Torts (6th Ed.) p. 505; Converse v. Walker, 30 Hun, 596 . This case has been tried before and upon appeal ( 93 App. Div. 491 , 87 N. Y. Supp. 814 ), but the facts are now fuller.

I submitted thé case to the jury on the single question whether such a saloon was there and open, in which case the public were invited by the defendant to come through thereto. If that theory of law helps the plaintiff’s case, it is clear to me that the verdict is against the weight of evidence. The evidence that a saloon was open was very loose, whereas there was positive and precise evidence that the saloon building and the bar-room and bar were destroyed by the fire, and not rebuilt and reopened until some time after the áccident to the plaintiff. •

The motion is granted.