Laidlaw-Dunn-Gordon Co. v. Miller

21 Ohio C.C. Dec. 559

• Court: Ohio Circuit Courts
• Decided: April 17, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

SMITH, J.

The acts of negligence complained of in the amended petition are:

1. “That the defendant carelessly and negligently failed to enclose said cogwheels in a casing, box, or in any other manner to properly guard or protect him against danger while engaged in the operation of said lathe.”

2. “That the defendant further negligently and carelessly caused and permitted oil and grease to accumulate upon the floor on which the plaintiff was obliged to stand to operate said lathe, thereby causing the floor to become slippery, unsafe and likely to cause the plaintiff to fall while operating said lathe.”

It will be seen from the above that this action is brought under act 94 O. L. 42 (Lan. Rev. Stat. 7344; B. 4364-89c), relating to protection against injury by machinery.

The jury in addition to its general verdict in favor of defendant in error, also in answer to an interrogatory propounded by plaintiff in error, found that the approximate cause of the injury was, “in that the defendant knowingly allowed the cogwheels to be exposed in a manner that was dangerous to the man operating the machine.”

From the evidence in the record and the finding of the jury, we are satisfied that plaintiff in error was negligent in respect to a duty imposed upon it by this statute. This law has heretofore been before the courts and construed. Ziehr v. Paper Co. 28 O. C. C. 342 (7 N. S. 144); Bresewski v. Brush & Broom Co. 28 O. C. C. 752 (8 N. S. 457); Republic Iron & Steel Co. v. Yanuszka, 16 O. F. D. 000 [166 Fed. Rep. 684].

Under the statute and these decisions the doctrine of assumed risk has no application where the alleged risk assumed is in violation of a master’s statutory obligation to protect machinery and appliances.

We do not think there was error in the trial court refusing to admit the testimony of the witness Muller as to his judgment as an expert as to whether gearing on the lathe in question was an exposed gearing or whether the cogwheels were exposed or not. This was the issue of fact which the jury were called upon to determine. They had viewed the premises and had the evidence, and the judgment or opinion of a witness in this regard could not have availed them anything.

“A question to a witness which calls for his opinion on the precise issue of fact which the jury is sworn to determine from the evidence, is incompetent.” Fowler v. Delaplain, 79 Ohio St. 279 [87 N. E. Rep. 260; 21 L. R. A. (N. S.) 100].

We find no error in the court refusing the special charges asked by plaintiff in error. Some contain the question of assumption of risk on the part of the plaintiff by reason of' the exposed cogwheels, while •others relate to the oily condition of the floor.

In the view we take of the case, the assumption of risk on the part of the defendant in error not being in the case, and the jury having specifically found in answer to the interrogatory propounded that the accident was due to the cogwheels being exposed, the second act of negligence complained of is also out of the case.

We do not think the verdict ($3,000) is excessive. The statute act 97 O. L. 547 (Lan. Rev. Stat. 7350; B. 4238o-1), provides, that for injury not resulting in death, plaintiff may recover a “sum of $3,000' as it (jury) may find proportioned to the pecuniary damages resulting from said injuries.”

This, therefore, being strictly within the province of the jury to determine from all the evidence, such finding will not be disturbed. There being no errors in the record the judgment will be affirmed.

Giffen and Swing, JJ., concur.