Gillis v. Cambridge Gas Light Co.

88 N.E. 779, 202 Mass. 222, 1909 Mass. LEXIS 831

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: May 21, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

Braley, J.

In walking over a public way

* Mrs. Gillis observed a covered coal hole, but as the sidewalk appeared to be safe, she stepped on the cover, when it gave way, causing personal injuries, for which in the first action she seeks compensation, while in the second action her husband asks damages for loss of consortium.

It is settled that her knowledge of the existence of the covered hole and her failure to avoid it in passing would not as matter of law preclude recovery, as the question whether she used ordinary care would be for the jury. Wakefield v. Boston Coal Co. 197 Mass. 527.

But, if it could be found that her conduct was not careless, the important question for decision is whether there was any evidence that the injury was caused by the defendant’s negligence. It was the opinion of the expert witness, whose evidence was properly admitted, that, if the rabbet into which the cover fitted had been properly cleared of coal or coke, the cover when replaced would not tilt but. would remain firmly in position. Prendible v. Connecticut River Manuf. Co. 160 Mass. 131. Lang v., Terry, 163 Mass. 138. Tremblay v. Mapes-Reeve Construction Co. 169 Mass. 284. Leslie v. Gtranite Railroad, 172 Mass. 468. If, however, this was not done, the cover would partially come out or be thrown up upon pressure. The defendant admitted that, earlier in the day and within a few hours of the" accident, its teamster had used the coal hole in making delivery of a load of coke to a customer. If he failed properly to replace the cover, the defendant became responsible for his negligence. Trench v. Boston Coal Co. 195 Mass. 334. Wakefield v. Boston Coal Co., ubi supra. But it contends that from the length of time which elapsed,† with the opportunity thus afforded for others to have disturbed or displaced the cover, the evidence fails to show that its negligence was the efficient cause of the injury.

The burden of proof undoubtedly remained on the plaintiffs throughout the trial, but they were not required to exclude every other possible theory as to what might have caused the accident, where it could have been found directly attributable to the defendant’s fault. Carroll v. Boston Elevated Railway, 200 Mass. 527. Cahill v. New England Telephone & Telegraph Co. 193 Mass. 415, 418. In the absence of any satisfactory explanation offered by the defendant, the jury would have been warranted in finding that no other reasonable inference could be drawn from the circumstances except that from the time of its replacement to the moment of the plaintiff’s fall the cover had remained undisturbed. Woodall v. Boston Elevated Railway, 192 Mass. 308, 312. If no intervening cause appeared sufficient to explain the displacement, they also could have inferred that it gave way because particles of coke had become lodged in the rabbet, which the teamster neglected to remove. Power v. Beattie, 194 Mass. 170, 176. Silverman v. Carr, 200 Mass. 396.

Having established a prima facie case, the plaintiffs were entitled to go to the jury.

Exceptions sustained.

Temple Place in Boston.

In the defendant’s brief the time elapsed is stated to have been four hours and a half, from 8 a. m. until 12.30 p. m.