Crosby v. Lehigh Valley R. Co.

128 F. 193, 1903 U.S. App. LEXIS 5245

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Western New York
• Decided: December 30, 1903
• Docket: No. 54
• Status: Published

Opinion

HAZEL, District Judge.

The defendant has demurred to the complaint upon the ground that a cause of action under chapter 6oo, p. 1748, Laws 1902, entitled “An act to extend and regulate the liability of employers to make compensation for personal injuries suffered' by 'employes,” has been improperly united with a cause of action under the provisions ‘ of another statute, to wit, section 1902 of the New York Code of Civil Procedure, which gives a right of recovery for causing death by negligence. This is a civil action at law, and the remedy is founded upon the statutes of the state of New York. The action was brought to establish a statutory right to recover on account' of the negligence of the defendant, as a result of which plaintiff’s intestate, while in defendant’s employ, sustained injuries from which he died. The first cause of action, conforming in all respects to the employers’ liability act (chapter 600, p. 1748, Laws 1902), sets forth the service' of a notice upon defendant of the time and place of the injury to the decedent, as required by section 2 of the act. The second cause of action, as alleged, does not show conformity, to that requirement, but is pleaded as an ordinary negligence action, vesting in decedent’s administrator under section 1902 of the Code of Civil Procedure. It nevertheless alleges that plaintiff’s intestate was in the employ of the defendant when the injuries complained of were sustained, and the facts bring the cause of action within the purview of the statute of 1902. I am of the opinion that the cause of action under the Code of Civil Procedure, in view of the later statute, is insufficient in law, and therefore must be stricken out on the ground-that the plaintiff has failed to allege service of the notice required by the statute as a condition precedent to the enforcement of the remedy. The decisions of the Appellate Division, First Department, Supreme Court of the state of New York, in the following cases: Gmaehle v. Rosenberg, 80 App. Div. 541, 80 N. Y. Supp. 705, same case (reargument) 83 App. Div. 339, 82 N. Y. Supp. 366; Johnson v. Roach, 83 App. Div. 351, 82 N. Y. Supp. 203 — construing Laws 1902, c. 600, p. 1748 — are decisive, and must be followed by this court. These cases hold that the failure to give the statutory notice, within 120 days, of the time, place, and cause of the injury, is a bar to recovery. It is further held that the provisions of the employers’ liability law are.general and exclusive in their scope, and apply to all actions. where the complaint is based upon the negligence of the employer, as a result of which injuiy was sustained by an employe under the circumstances -set forth in the statute; that no remedy re^ mains except that provided by the statute itself. This enunciated principle of construction, which has been three times exhaustively considered by the sanie tribunal, has not been qualified or disturbed, and is generally sanctioned and acquiesced in by the courts of record of this state. The effect of these decisions is that the plaintiff would have no cause of action upon the facts stated in his complaint except that provided-by the" employers’ liability act. This being his sole remedy, the complaint must allege conformity with its provisions in order to state a cause of. action. The courts of the United States within this state are governed and controlled by the course of procedure of civil causes adopted by the courts of the state unless such procedure is in conflict with the statutes of the United States. Section 912; Rev. St. [U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 683]. Furthermore,-it is well-settled law that the construction given a state statute, not affected by any provision of the Constitution or laws of the United States, is binding upon United States courts which may be called upon to interpret it. Ex parte Fisk, 113 U. S. 719, 5 Sup. Ct. 724, 28 L. Ed. 1117; Kowalski v. Chicago G. W. Ry. Co. (C. C.) 84 Fed. 587. Upon the argument it was contended by the defendant -that, if the complaint states facts sufficient to constitute both causes of action, such causes of action are improperly united, and accordingly the demurrer should be sustained; or, in the alternative, if the second cause of action is insufficient upon its face, it should be stricken out, with leave to the defendant to answer to the first cause of action. As the first cause of action is well pleaded, the • suggested method of procedure is sanctioned by authority. Sullivan v. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co. (C. C.) 11 Fed. 848. Following the procedure of that case, the demurrer is overruled. The second cause of action being deemed insufficient for the reasons stated, it may be stricken from the complaint, with leave to the defendant to answer the first within 20 days, without costs to either party.