González v. Porto Rico Railway, Light & Power Co.

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico

González v. Porto Rico Railway, Light & Power Co.

34 P.R. 545

CourtSupreme Court of Puerto Rico

DecidedJuly 24, 1925

DocketNo. 3387

StatusPublished

This text of 34 P.R. 545 (González v. Porto Rico Railway, Light & Power Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

González v. Porto Rico Railway, Light & Power Co., 34 P.R. 545 (prsupreme 1925).

Pincite

Opinion

Mr. Justice Wole

delivered the opinion of the court.

The court had a right to believe from the evidence in this case that the defendant was the owner of a merry-go-ronnd; that an accident occurred there and that complainant was injured; that the accident happened after six p. m. when the merry-go-round had closed for the day and at the time of the accident it was surrounded by a fence five or six feet high, which ordinarily would prevent the entrance of children; that the only explanation of the presence of the children ivas that they climbed over the fence. There was no evidence tending to show that any other child ever climbed the fence or that the defendant in any way was put under notice that children would climb the fence. Under these circumstances the court was justified in acquitting the defendant.

The appellant, in a brief without assignment of errors, refers to the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. The doctrine, however, if applicable, only creates a presumption which the defendant is entitled to rebut. It did so by showing the height of the fence and the gates, the closing of the merry-[546]*546go-round, and moreover by tlie fact that the accident occurred by the active intervention of the children. In other words, the court below could know how the accident happened and that it-was not due to defendant’s negligence.

As to the application of the attractive-nuisance doctrine, similar considerations apply. The complaint generally should show that the complainant relied upon such doctrine. Thompson on Negligence, Supplement, sec. 7582. To build a fence so high that no child could climb over it, or to put extra guards around a merry-go-round, is a duty which the law does not ordinarily require. Complainant was not brought within any exception known to us. If it appears that a defendant provides guards, fences and barricades reasonably sufficient to exclude trespassing children, he is entitled to be exonerated from liability. 20 E.C.L. 88, sec. 78.

The judgment should be affirmed.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Mr. Justice Wole

delivered the opinion of the court.

The court had a right to believe from the evidence in this case that the defendant was the owner of a merry-go-ronnd; that an accident occurred there and that complainant was injured; that the accident happened after six p. m. when the merry-go-round had closed for the day and at the time of the accident it was surrounded by a fence five or six feet high, which ordinarily would prevent the entrance of children; that the only explanation of the presence of the children ivas that they climbed over the fence. There was no evidence tending to show that any other child ever climbed the fence or that the defendant in any way was put under notice that children would climb the fence. Under these circumstances the court was justified in acquitting the defendant.

The appellant, in a brief without assignment of errors, refers to the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. The doctrine, however, if applicable, only creates a presumption which the defendant is entitled to rebut. It did so by showing the height of the fence and the gates, the closing of the merry-[546]*546go-round, and moreover by tlie fact that the accident occurred by the active intervention of the children. In other words, the court below could know how the accident happened and that it-was not due to defendant’s negligence.

As to the application of the attractive-nuisance doctrine, similar considerations apply. The complaint generally should show that the complainant relied upon such doctrine. Thompson on Negligence, Supplement, sec. 7582. To build a fence so high that no child could climb over it, or to put extra guards around a merry-go-round, is a duty which the law does not ordinarily require. Complainant was not brought within any exception known to us. If it appears that a defendant provides guards, fences and barricades reasonably sufficient to exclude trespassing children, he is entitled to be exonerated from liability. 20 E.C.L. 88, sec. 78.

The judgment should be affirmed.

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)

34 P.R. 545, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gonzalez-v-porto-rico-railway-light-power-co-prsupreme-1925.