Kerrigan v. Hart

47 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 389

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: May 15, 1886
• Status: Published

Opinion

Pratt, J. :

Tbe plaintiff was employed by tbe defendant as a laborer to shovel db't into carts which were backed up near to an embankment, tbe plaintiff being stationed between tbe tail of tbe cart and the bank which was being removed.

It seems that while a cart was being filled tbe horse threw bis bead around to bis side and a rein or some pai’t of tbe bridle caught upon tbe book attached to tbe saddle, which cramped bis bead to one side and caused him to back by which tbe cart was run against the plaintiff and squeezed him between tbe cart and the embankment. Tbe claim of tbe plaintiff is, that tbe book was improperly constructed and placed and that by reason thereof be was injured and that defendant was liable therefor.

It is to be observed that tbe structure of tbe book was not tbe primary cause of the injury. Tbe accident happened because tbe horse backed and at tbe same time tbe plaintiff was directly behind the cart, and immediately behind him was a solid perpendicular bank preventing bis escape.

Assuming tbe book was not properly made it is clear that tbe defect was not the proximate cause of the injury. Observing tbe hook no man could reasonably have inferred that such an accident would happen. It could not be said and a jury would not be permitted to say, after an accident has happened, that leaving a book in that way would be liable to produce such an injury. A person cannot be charged with negligence for an act against which human foresight could not guard. The basis of all actions for negligence is for the omission of some duty which would be likely to produce •-the injury. No human foresight could anticipate that a horse would throw his head around so far as to catch his bridle upon this hook and back straight back and squeeze a man against a bank. That such a thing is possible is proved by the happening of the accident in this case, but that such a thing was probable or likely to occur is absurd.

The principle of law applicable is that which holds that a man is responsible only for the probable and natural consequences of even a negligent act. (Scott v. Sheperd, 2 Smith Leading Cases, 800; Carter v. Towne, 103 Mass., 507.) But there was no sufficient proof to show that the hook was not entirely safe and proper for the use intended to be made thereof. An employer does not undertake absolutely with his employees for sufficiency or safety of the implements and facilities furnished for their work, but only for the exercise of reasonable care in that respect. (Fuller v. Jewett, 80 N. Y., 46; 36 Am. R., 575.)

En this case the defendant did not make the hook and there is no proof .that he had any notice of any defect, nor is there any proof that he omitted the exercise of proper care to discover any defect.

We are of opinion that the proof upon the trial utterly failed at every point to make out a case proper to be submitted to a jury. After an accident has happened a jury will not be permitted to speculate upon the question of defendant’s negligence unless there is some proof in the case from which such negligence may be inferred. In this case there is no pro3f of a failure to exercise reasonable care upon the part of the defendant.

We have examined the exceptions taken on the trial and find no error sufficient to warrant a granting of a new trial.

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

Present — Barnard, P. J., JDyemaN and Pratt, JJ.

Judgment affirmed, with costs. •