Minihan v. Boston Elevated Railway Co.

157 N.E. 582, 260 Mass. 490, 1927 Mass. LEXIS 1428

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: July 1, 1927
• Status: Published

Opinion

Wait, J.

This action is before us upon exceptions claimed by the defendant to the refusal by the trial judge to direct a verdict for the defendant. The plaintiff’s intestate was struck by a car of the defendant, and died from the injury received. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant upon a count which alleged conscious suffering, and for the plaintiff upon a count for causing the death.

No good purpose for discussing the details of the contradictory evidence appears. The defendant conceded that, if there was sufficient evidence that the intestate was injured at a paved crossing of the reservation in which the car was moving, he was not a trespasser or a licensee; and that he died from injuries sustained in the accident. It is sufficient to say that the testimony permitted the jury to find that.the motorman was negligent in failing properly to control the speed of his car after he knew the intestate was busied, properly, upon the tracks in front of him; that the accident took place at the crossing; and that the intestate was not negligent in passing in front of the car.

We cannot say that the intestate was negligently unaware of the approaching car, or careless in assuming that he had time to pass in front of it; especially when the evidence is uncontradicted that, when struck, he was almost beyond the line of danger. McGrath v. Boston Elevated Railway, 257 Mass. 541, 543.

In Hayes v. Boston Elevated Railway, 224 Mass. 303, Fitzpatrick v. Boston Elevated Railway, 249 Mass. 140, and, apparently, in Bradley v. Bay State Street Railway, 231 Mass; 572, cited by the defendant as controlling authorities, there was evidence from the injured person which established his lack of due care. All are distinguishable.

Exceptions overruled.