McSwyny v. Broadway & Seventh Avenue R. R. Co. — 27 N.Y. St. Rep. 363

Majority

p. 363

Catherine McSwyny, Resp’t, v. The Broadway & Seventh Avenue R. R. Co., App’lt.

(Supreme Court, General Term, First Department,

Filed November 7, 1889.)

Headnote

1. Street railroads—Negligence—Charge.

The court charged in an action for negligence that there was no evidence from which the plaintiff might be found guilty of negligence if the car did not entirely and ful.y stop, which it explained by saying that it was because the defendant was not guilty of negligence unless the car stopped and was started again, and further charged that if she attempted to board the car in the manner she did while the car was moving defendant was entitled to a verdict, because there was no evidence of its negligence; and that it was for the jury to determine whether the car was started before she had a chance to get on, and that whether it was started by the conductor or driver made no difference. Held, that the case was submitted as favorably to defendant as it Was entitled to have it done.

3. Same.

A street railroad is under the obligation of using the utmost care to carry passengers safely to their destination.

3. Negligence—Evidence.

A witness who saw the plaintiff four months after the injury may testify that she seemed to be suffering great pain.

4. Same.

It is competent for the plaintiff to prove by her own evidence that her power of motion is not what it previously had been.

5. Same—Damages.

In an action for injuries caused by negligence the plaintiff is entitled to recover, not only indemnity for the injury sustained to the time of trial, but for such as would probably afterward follow as a necessary consequence of the accident.

6. Same.

It is proper for plaintiff’s counsel to refuse to permit her to be subjected to examination by physicians.

Appeal from a judgment entered upon the verdict of a jury, and from an order denying a motion for a new trial.

Root & Clark, for app’lt; Christopher Fine, for resp’t.

The verdict was recovered for the sum of $10,000 for damages sustained by the plaintiff occasioned by a fall on Broadway, in the city of New York. As the testimony was given upon the trial, it tended to establish the fact that m the afternoon of the 30th of December, 1885, she endeavored to take

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passage upon a car proceeding upon the street railway in Broadway in a northerly direction. Her testimony was to the effect that the car had stopped and she had placed her right foot on the lower step and her hand on the last rail, and her left hand on the rail of the car at the dashboard, and was in the act of raising the other foot,when the car was started with a jerk, and she was thrown violently to the ground and received the injuries for which the verdict was rendered. Other testimony was given in the case tending to confirm the correctness of her statements, that the car had stopped at the time she endeavored to take passage upon it and that she was injured by being thrown down as the car was afterwards started. This evidence was controverted by that which was given by the conductor and other witnesses examined on the part of the defendant. But the conflict in this manner created presented no more than a question of fact for the jury, upon the determination of which their verdict must be accepted as conclusive. There was no such preponderance in either direction as would permit the court to interfere with their decision as to the effect of the evidence.

Further evidence was given on behalf of the plaintiff tending to establish the fact that a fracture of the upper part of the hip bone was caused by her fall; that she was disabled by the fracture, and for months confined to her bed; that she suffered great pain during the time, and continued to do so when the trial took place, and that it was probable that she would never recover from the consequences of the injury. As to this subject, there were differences between the witnesses, but like the other, they were of such a nature as to require them to be considered and decided by the jury. As the evidence presented the case, it was clearly one of fact to be decided by them.

At the close of the evidence it was submitted to the jury with a clear statement of the law applicable to the theories in this manner presented by the proof. And the jury were left without embarrassment to apply the legal rules applicable to the disposition of the case, in their investigation and decision. But requests were made in behalf of each of the parties for directions to the jury in the main included in the charge as it was first given. They were not wholly accepted or followed as they were presented by the plaintiff’s counsel, and exceptions were taken by him to the refusal of the court to accede fully to his propositions. Neither these requests nor the exceptions themselves should have been allowed to form any part of the case -upon the appeal, for the reason that the verdict and judgment were in the plaintiff’s favor. And needless additions of this description have no other effect than to confuse and obscure the points really to be presented for the decision of an appellate court. The same is true as to the rulings against the plaintiff upon objections taken to evidence. They should have formed no part of the case, and no injustice would now be done if the case should be sent back to be resettled for the purpose of having these objections excluded from it. And if this practice is to be adopted and followed, that will undoubtedly be the remedy for its correction.

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Bat without giving that direction on this occasion, as these defects were not noticed at the time of the argument, it will be as well to consider whether either of the exceptions taken in behalf of the defendant are well founded. An exception was taken on its part to the charge, “ That there is no evidence from which the plaintiff might be found guilty of neglicence if the car did not entirely and fully stop.” This was explained by the court by the statement, “That there is no evidence by which you could charge the plaintiff with contributory negligence, because the defendant is not guilty of negligence unless the car stopped and was started on again.” This direction restricted the right of the plaintiff to recover to the fact that the car had stopped at the time when she endeavored to go upon the platform. And if that were the truth, and all she did was to endeavor to pass up the steps upon the platform, and she was thrown off by the sudden starting of the car, there would be no reason for imputing negligence to her in what she did. But the court proceeded further upon the consideration of this subject, relieving the case from all possible criticism in this respect, for the further charge was given, that she would be guilty of negligence contributing to the injury if she attempted to board the car while it was in motion, by grasping the handle of the rear dash-board with her left hand and placing her right foot on the step, and then raising her left foot to the step. If these were found to be the facts, then the charge was, “ That the defendant is entitled to a verdict because there is no evidence that the defendant was negligent.”

Upon this subject the further directions were given that it was for the jury to determine, “Whether or not the car started before she had a chance to get on board, and whether started by the driver or conductor does not make any difference.” And these directions placed the case under the dominion of the jury as favorably as the defendant was entitled to have that done under the evidence given upon the trial. Nor it has been held by the court, and the rule appears now to be settled, that it is not as a matter of law always negligent even for a person to attempt to pass upon a street car while it is in motion. Where it is proceeding at a low rate of speed the act may safely be performed, subjecting the person performing it to no imputation whatever of carelessness or imprudence. Eppendorf v. Brooklyn City, etc., R. R. Co., 69 N. Y., 195 .

It was by no means a controlling circumstance whether the car was started up by the act of the conductor or the driver if it was done while the plaintiff was endeavoring to pass upon the platform. Bor by whomsoever it may have been put in motion, it was a negligent act to perform it in such a manner as to throw the plaintiff from the step, as that was described by herself and the witnesses sworn in her behalf. The defendant also excepted to the statement made by the court, that the defendant assumed the obligation to use the utmost care to carry passengers safely to their destination. But this has been so often sanctioned and repeated by the authorities as to become an elementary proposition in the law. And the plaintiff was entitled to this degree of pro

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tection in endeavoring to go upon the car of the defendant As the case was presented to the jury, the latter has no legal • ground for complaint.

Upon the cross-examination of the witness Joseph Creamer, who was a physician, he was asked whether an examination of the person of the plaintiff, to which he had testified, was in his opinion a full and fair examination. This was objected to. The objection was sustained, and the defendant excepted to the exclusion of the evidence The question was a fair and proper inquiry addressed to the witness and the defendant was entitled to have it answered. Curtis v. Gano, 26 N. Y., 426 ; Laros v. Commonwealth, 84 Pa., 200 , 208-209.

And if this ruling remained as it was in this manner made, the defendant would clearly be entitled to a reversal of the judgment. But it did not, for the witness Simon J. Walch, who was another physician present at the examination, was asked the question, “Was that as accurate a measurement as it was possible to make, in your judgment?” and he answered, “I think it was.” And this seems to have reference to the time concerning which the inquiry was made of the witness Creamer, for he states that Dr. Walch was there, and Dr. Kelley made the measurement. This evidence of the witness Walch was in no manner contradicted or controverted by any other testimony given upon the trial. And it consequently gave the defendant the benefit of the proof in such a manner as to render it the duty of the jury to accept and follow it. Lomer v. Meeker, 25 N. Y., 361 ; White v. Stillman, id., 541.

This was substantially a correction of the error "made upon the trial, and the exception to the preceding ruling was thereby deprived of its force and effect.

Another witness sworn on behalf of the plaintiff testified that she saw her about four months after the injury; that she was then lying on her back, and seemed to be suffering great pain. This was objected to by the counsel for the defendant, but the court held it to be competent, and the defendant excepted. No ground was assigned for the support of this objection. And for that reason the defendant cannot now for the first time sustain it by affirming it to be the opinion only of the witness. But evidence of this description is ordinarily more than a mere opinion, for the reason that emotions caused either by distress or pleasure usually exhibit themselves through the countenance. And the indications of their existence are as well defined and accepted by experience as when that may be expressed in the language of the person affected by them. It is not possible for a witness to describe either of these emotions by the employment of language in such a manner as to give the evidence of their existence to a jury. And when that is the fact, there the conclusion of the witness from the appearance of the person has been allowed to be stated. This was done in Adams v. People. 63 N. Y., 621 , as to the condition of a person’s eye-sight. And so it was in People v. Eastwood, 4 Kern., 562, as to the existence of the fact of intoxication. And this was followed in McCarty v. Wells, 4 N. Y. Supplt, 672;

Concurrence

p. 367

20 N. Y. State Rep., 630. And where the appearance of an individual may be such as to.indicate the suffering of great pain, no good reason exists which would justify the exclusion of a statement of the fact by a witness to whose observation the person may have been subjected.

The evidence was sufficient to present the inquiry to the jury whether the injury sustained by the plaintiff was or was not permanent in its effect. The legal rule upon this subject was considered in Johnson v. Manhattan Railway Co., 52 Hun, 111 , 113; 23 N. Y. State Rep., 388. And the evidence upon the trial of this action was sufficient to place that inquiry within the deliberation of the jury. For if the plaintiff was entitled to recover she was not only entitled to indemnity for the injury she had sustained up to the time of the trial, but for such as would probably after-wards follow as a necessary consequence of the accident. Filer v. N. Y. Central, etc., 49 N. Y., 42 .

The refusal of the plaintiff’s counsel to permit her to be subjected to the examination of physicians, as that was proposed at the trial by the defendant, is sustained by Roberts v. Ogdensburgh, etc., R. R. Co., 29 Hun, 154 . And it was entirely competent for the plaintiff to prove by her own evidence that her power of motion was not what it previously had been. And no error arose out of the rulings excluding the answers to the questions^ as to whether the plaintiff complained of the conduct of the driver or conductor. What she did complain of was very clearly evinced by her evidence, leaving no ground for any misunderstanding upon this subject. And whether she had anything to do with employing any particular counsel was a fact of not the slightest importance upon the trial. What should be the amount of the verdict was an inquiry committed to the good sense and experience of the jury. And in the amount awarded by them they did not transcend the rule sanctioned by any of the authorities. Ho sufficient reason appears for interfering either with the judgment or the order, and both the judgment and the order denying a new trial should be affirmed.

I concur in the result, and also in Mr. Justice Daniels’ opinion, with a single exception. I do not think that the exclusion of the question put to Dr. Creamer was error. The examination as to which he was being interrogated was by the defendant’s physicians.

Dr. Creamer had already testified that he had not given a thought to the question of the fairness of this examination, that he only saw part of the measurements which were made, and that he was very indifferent to what took place. Manifestly then there was no foundation for an accurate opinion upon the subject; and upon this ground, the exclusion of the question might fairly be justified. But further the doctor’s opinion was thus asked,- not as to the result of his own or of another physician’s examination, but whether an examination not then in evidence, and which might never be in evidence, was full and fair. In other-words, the cross-examining counsel desired in this manner to herald his

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forthcoming testimony with a certificate of its value from the plaintiff’s witness. Still further, even i£ the ruling in question was erroneous, I cannot agree that after so thorough and exhaustive an examination as was given to Dr. Creamer, covering minutely every feature of the injury and of the treatment, a new trial should be awarded for an error which could not possibly have prejudiced the defendants.

Van Brunt, P. J., concurs.