Harnois v. Cutting

54 N.E. 842, 174 Mass. 398, 1899 Mass. LEXIS 936

Opinion

Holmes, C. J.

This is an action for personal injuries alleged to have been caused by the defective condition of appliances which the defendants were bound to keep in repair. The plaintiff, with others in the defendants’ employ, was engaged in moving a building, and he was hurt by the breaking of a hook on a pulley which was part of the arrangement of ropes and blocks by which the moving was being done. The defendants excepted to a refusal to direct a verdict in their favor. In the opinion of a majority of the court the exceptions must be sustained.

It appears that the arrangement of ropes and blocks -was made by fellow servants of the plaintiff, and that the block on which was the defective hook was taken by them from a number which were at their disposal. It will be seen, also, that the use of the block and hook as they were used was a temporary incident of a particular job. Adasken v. Gilbert, 165 Mass. 443, 445. Brady v. Norcross, 172 Mass. 331.

Apart from the foregoing ground we see no sufficient evidence of negligence, supposing the defendants to have owed a duty as to the hook. The only evidence concerning the supposed defect is that upon close examination there appeared upon the inside of the hook, extending about a quarter of an inch from the surface, a black spot which indicated an old flaw. But there is nothing to show what was visible on the surface, and a jury are not at liberty to infer that a flaw could have been discovered from the mere fact that it existed. In the cases which have gone the farthest there has been some evidence that such inspection as reasonably might be required would have discovered the defect. Spicer v. South Boston Iron Co. 138 Mass. 426. Toy v. United States Cartridge Co. 159 Mass. 313. Exceptions sustained.