McSwyny v. Broadway & Seventh-Avenue Railroad

7 N.Y.S. 456, 4 Silv. Sup. 495, 27 N.Y. St. Rep. 363, 1889 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1113
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 7, 1889
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 7 N.Y.S. 456 (McSwyny v. Broadway & Seventh-Avenue 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
McSwyny v. Broadway & Seventh-Avenue Railroad, 7 N.Y.S. 456, 4 Silv. Sup. 495, 27 N.Y. St. Rep. 363, 1889 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1113 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1889).

Opinions

Daniels, J.

The verdict was recovered for the sum of $10,000 for damages sustained by the plaintiff occasioned by a fall on Broadway, in the city of New York. As the testimony was given upon the trial, it tended to establish the fact that in the afternoon of the 30th of December, 1885, she endeavored to take passage upon a car, proceeding upon the street railway in Broadway, in a northerly direction. Her testimony was to the effect that the car bad stopped, and she had placed her right foot on the lower step, and her hand on the last rail, and her left hand on the rail of the car at the dash-board, and was in the act of raising the other foot, when the car was started with a jerk, and she was thrown violently to the ground, and received the injuries for which the verdict was rendered. Other°testimony was given in the case tending to confirm the correctness of her statements that the car had stopped at the time she endeavored to take passage upon it, and that she was injured by being thrown down as the car was afterwards started. This evidence was controverted by that which was given by the conductor, and other witnesses examined on the part of the defendant. But the conflict, in this manner created, presented no more than a question of fact for the jury, upon the determination of which their verdict must be accepted as conclusive. There was no such preponderance in either direction as would permit the court to interfere with their decision as to the effect of the evidence.

Further evidence was given on behalf of the plaintiff tending to establish the fact that a fracture of the upper part of the hip bone was caused by her fall; that she was disabled by the fracture, and for months confined to her bed; that she suffered great pain during the time, and continued to do so when the trial took place; and that it was probable that she would never recover from the consequences of the injury. As to this subject, there were differences between the witnesses; but, like the other, they were of such a nature as to require them to be considered and decided by the jury. As the evidence presented the case, it was clearly one of fact, to be decided by them.

At the close of the evidence, it was submitted to the jury, with a clear statement of the law applicable to the theories in this manner presented by the proof. And the jury were left without embarrassment to apply the legal rules applicable to the disposition of the case, in their investigation and decision. But requests were made on behalf of each of the parties for directions to the jury, in the main included in the charge as it was first given. They were not wholly accepted or followed as they were presented by the plaintiff’s counsel, and exceptions were taken by him to the refusal of the court to accede fully to his propositions. Neither these requests, nor the exceptions themselves, should have been allowed to form any part of the case upon the appeal, for the reason that the verdict and judgment were in the plaintiff’s favor; and needless additions of this description have no other effect than to confuse and obscure the points really to be presented for the decision of an appellate court. The same is true as to the rulings against the plaintiff upon objections taken by evidence. They should have formed no part of the case, and no injustice would now be done if the ease should be sent back to be resettled for the purpose of having these objections excluded from it; and, if this practice is to be adopted and followed, that will undoubtedly be the remedy for its correction. But without giving that direction on this occasion, as these defects were not noticed at the time of the argument, it will be as well to consider whether either of the exceptions taken in behalf of the defendant is well founded. An exception was taken on its part to the charge “that there is no evidence from which the plaintiff might be found guilty of negligence, if the car did not entirely and fully stop.” [458]*458This was explained by the court by the statement “that there is no evidence-by which you could charge the plaintiff with contributory negligence, because the defendant is not guilty of negligence, unless the car stopped, and was started on again.” This direction restricted the right of the plaintiff to recover to the fact that the car had stopped at the time when she endeavored to go upon the platform; and if that were the truth, and all she did was-to endeavor to pass up the steps upon the platform, and she was thrown off' by the sudden starting of the car, there would be no reason for imputing negligence to her in what she did. But the court proceeded further, upon the consideration of this subject, relieving the case from all possible criticism in this respect; for the further charge was given that she would be-guilty of negligence contributing to the injury if she attempted to board the-car, while it was in motion, by grasping the handle of the rear dash-board with her left hand, and placing her right foot on the step, and then raising her left foot to the step. If these were found to be the facts, then the charge-was “that the defendant is entitled to a verdict, because there is no evidence-that the defendant was negligent.” Upon this subject, the further directions were given that it was for the jury to determine whether or not the car started before she had a chance to get on board; and whether started by the driver or conductor does not make any difference. And these directions placed the case under the dominion of the jury as favorably as the defendant was entitled to have that done, under the evidence given upon the trial. For it-has been held by the court, and the rule appears now to be settled, that it is not, as a matter of law, always negligence, even for a person to attempt to pass upon a street-ear while it is in motion. When it is proceeding at a low rate of speed, the act may safely be performed; subjecting the person performing it to no imputation whatever of carelessness or imprudence. Eppendorf v. Railroad Co., 69 N. Y. 195. It was by no means a controlling circumstance whether the car was started up by the act of the conductor or the-driver, if it was done, while the plaintiff was endeavoring to pass upon the platform. -For, by whomsoever it may have been put in motion, it was a negligent act to perform it in such a manner as to throw the plaintiff from the step, as that was described by herself and the witnesses sworn in her behalf. The defendant also excepted to the statement made by the court that the defendant assumed the obligation to use the utmost care to carry passengers safely to their destination. But this has been so often sanctioned and repeated by the authorities as to become an elementary proposition in the law; and the plaintiff was entitled to this degree of protection in endeavoring to-go upon the car of the defendant. As the case was presented to the jury, the latter was no legal ground for complaint.

Upon the cross-examination of the witness Joseph Creamer, who was a physician, he was asked whether an examination of the person of the plaintiff, to which he had testified, was in his opinion a full and fair examination. This was objected to. The objection was sustained, and the defendant excepted to-the exclusion of the evidence. The question was a fair and proper inquiry addressed to the witness, and the defendant was entitled to have it answered. Curtis v. Gano, 26 N. Y. 426; Laros v. Com., 84 Pa. St. 200-209. And, if this ruling remained as it was in this manner made, the defendant would clearly be entitled to a reversal of the judgment. But it did not, for the witness Simon J.

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

Related

Miller v. Mass Transit Administration
306 A.2d 261 (Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, 1973)
Winner v. Lathrop
22 N.Y.S. 516 (New York Supreme Court, 1893)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
7 N.Y.S. 456, 4 Silv. Sup. 495, 27 N.Y. St. Rep. 363, 1889 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 1113, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcswyny-v-broadway-seventh-avenue-railroad-nysupct-1889.