Goines v. Pennsylvania Railroad

208 Misc. 103, 143 N.Y.S.2d 576, 1955 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2876
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 1, 1955
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 208 Misc. 103 (Goines v. Pennsylvania Railroad) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Goines v. Pennsylvania Railroad, 208 Misc. 103, 143 N.Y.S.2d 576, 1955 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2876 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1955).

Opinion

Tilzer, J.

This action concerns an incident which is alleged to have occurred on the early morning of the 21st day of April, 1952, at the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in the borough of Manhattan, city of New York. The plaintiff was in the waiting room with her cousin, a young girl, eighteen years of age, named Miss Taylor. They were present for several hours during which time they became involved in an altercation with the individual defendants, two railroad policemen, employed by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. These officers caused the arrest of Miss Taylor for loitering at the railroad station in violation of section 1990-a of the Penal Law of the State of New York. While they were taking her into custody the plaintiff, Mary Goines, a married woman, separated, with three children, protested the arrest of her cousin. She then became embroiled in a quarrel with the individual defendants. She protested vehemently about the arrest of her cousin and, persisting in protesting the officers ’ conduct, the individual defendants caused the arrest of the plaintiff for disorderly conduct, charging that she was interfering with peace officers in the performance of their duty, to wit, the arrest of Miss Taylor. The evidence is clear that as a result of the argument and subsequent events that ensued she received serious and permanent injuries. The same day she and her cousin were booked at the police station, and several hours later appeared in the Magistrates ’ Court. Miss Taylor pleaded guilty to loitering and received a suspended sentence. The plaintiff was found guilty after a brief trial and received a suspended sentence. Therafter the plaintiff employed counsel, who made an application to set aside the conviction and for a new trial. This motion was granted, and upon a new trial defendant was found not guilty. Plaintiff then instituted this action, alleging three causes of action: first, assault; second, false arrest; third, malicious prosecution.

The case came on to be heard before a jury, and after summations, the court charged the jury. There were no exceptions to the charge to the jury either by the plaintiff or counsel for the [106]*106defendants. The case was submitted to the jury at 1:35 p.m. At 3:22 p.m. the jury returned with a request for additional instruction, which, with the consent of all counsel concerned, was given. The problems which arise on this application arise because of the proceedings which followed.

At 5:05 p.m. the jury returned to the jury box, and at that time the clerk attempted to get the verdict of the jury. They returned a unanimous verdict in favor of all defendants on the first cause of action, to wit, assault. On the second cause of action they returned a verdict of ten to two in favor of the plaintiff in the sum of $7,500, plus $500 medical expenses against the Pennsylvania Bailroad Company, making a total of $8,000. On the third cause of action, malicious prosecution, they returned a verdict for the plaintiff.

It should be noted that the verdict on the first cause of action was entirely proper. As to the second cause of action the verdict lacked clarity because of two reasons: First, that clearly was demonstrated by the award of $500 for medical expenses ” which was contrary to the instructions of the court and contrary to the law. The verdict for the defendants on the assault charge imports that the jury found as a question of fact that despite the severe and permanent injuries of the plaintiff, the defendants used only such force as was necessary to arrest the plaintiff. Had the plaintiff been successful under the first cause of action she would have been entitled to “ medical expenses ” and such damage for personal injuries as the evidence warranted. The jury, however, having indicated that the verdict was for the defendants, as a consequence, exonerated the defendants concerning the assault and the damages flowing therefrom, including medical expenses. Accordingly, the award of $500 was contrary to law and contrary to the charge of the court.

The other problem arose concerning the failure to indicate as against whom the verdict was, whether it was against the railroad company and the individual defendants. It is to be noted at this time that the liability of the corporate defendant was predicated upon the theory of respondeat superior. It is conceded by all the parties that the liability of the corporate defendant was derivative. It would be necessary to find a verdict against the individual defendants (the railroad company’s employees) before a verdict could also be binding against the railroad.

Accordingly, the court instructed the jury to go back for further consideration and to return a proper verdict. They were [107]*107instructed to return with a verdict which indicated against whom it was and the sum awarded. The jury again retired, and at 5:22 p.m. the record shows the following proceedings, which are hereinafter set forth.

Following some colloquy on the record, the jury was sent hack for further reconsideration for clarification and then returned at 6:25 p.m.

The record then shows that the jury sent a memorandum to the court. The writing contains a question directed to the court as follows: “ Is the attached an intelligible and legally adequate statement of the jury’s various decisions? ” Attached to this question was the report of their verdict. The court then concluded that this was their verdict and proceeded to have the same recorded by the clerk. The verdict was as follows: On the charge of assault the jury found for the defendant unanimously. On the charge of false arrest the jury found for the plaintiff ten to two, damages to be paid by the defendant Pennsylvania Railroad, damages $7,500, medical expenses $500, total $8,000; damages to be paid by the defendant Schwan $1; damages to be paid by the defendant Stewart $1. On the third cause of action, malicious prosecution, the jury found for the plaintiff ten to two, damages to be paid by the Pennsylvania Railroad, six cents; damages to be paid by the defendant Schwan, six cents; damages to be paid by the defendant Stewart, six cents.

Counsel for the railroad company then moved to set aside the verdict with respect to the second cause of action against the Pennsylvania Railroad Company as contrary to law, against the weight of evidence, and excessive and on the grounds specified in the New York Civil Practice Act.”

The attorney for the individual defendants, after consulting with the attorney for the railroad company, made no motions whatsoever.

The attorney for the plaintiff made a motion to set aside the verdict of the jury with respect to the first cause of action and also moved to set aside “ that portion of the second cause of action which limits the verdict to the Pennsylvania Railroad and requests that the verdict be against all of the defendants.”

Counsel for the railroad company seeks to avoid the consequences of the verdict by claiming that the second attempt hy the jury to return a verdict was in effect a verdict for the individual defendants, and that since this is a derivative action against the railroad the verdict against the railroad must he set aside. Counsel for the railroad company contends that what [108]*108occurred at 5:22 p.m. when the jury returned was equivalent to a verdict in favor of the individual defendants. The record shows that the following occurred at 5:22 p.m. : “Clerk: Madam Fore-lady, would you please rise? Forewoman: Yes. Clerk: Have you agreed upon a verdict? Forewoman: Yes.

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Bluebook (online)
208 Misc. 103, 143 N.Y.S.2d 576, 1955 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2876, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/goines-v-pennsylvania-railroad-nysupct-1955.