Sink v. Sikes Co.

U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania

Sink v. Sikes Co.

134 F. 144, 1905 U.S. App. LEXIS 5048

CourtU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania

DecidedJanuary 14, 1905

DocketNo. 30

StatusPublished

This text of 134 F. 144 (Sink v. Sikes Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Sink v. Sikes Co., 134 F. 144, 1905 U.S. App. LEXIS 5048 (circtedpa 1905).

Pincite

Opinion

HOLLAND, District Judge.

In this case there was evidence tending to show that the circular saw upon which the plaintiff was assigned to work was out of repair, as a result of which it was rendered considerably more dangerous to operate than machinery of this class usually is when kept in proper working condition. There is nothing to show that this boy was aware of the unusual danger resulting from this construction of the saw, and of course was not required to take other risks than those incident to the operation of machinery of that kind when in good repair. Other employes, of mature age and experience, had shortly prior worked upon this saw, and discovered this defective condition and reported it to the foreman.

It appears that the frame upon which it was mounted had been j'arred loose from the floor, and instead of bolting it down it was tied with a rope. As a result of this and other reasons unexplained the saw wabbled laterally at times, and it was as a result of one of these jerks or lateral wabbles that the plaintiff received the injury. When this defective condition was reported to the foreman he simply said the saw was “all right,” and directed the employé to proceed with his work. This could not be a structural defect with which the employer was not acquainted and for which he was not responsible. As a matter of fact it was a defect resulting from the lack of repair, and it was reported to him, and instead of repairing it the evidence shows he simply asserted that there was nothing wrong with the machine; and subsequent to the fact of this having been called to his attention the plaintiff, inexperienced in that sort of work, was placed at work on this machine in the defective condition, and as a result the injury occurred.

We are of the opinion that the court was clearly wrong in entering a nonsuit, in view of the evidence as it stood at the time the motion [145]*145was made. The rule that an employer is only required to furnish the best-known machinery of the class in question was inapplicable to the facts upon which the nonsuit was entered.

Motion for a new trial sustained.

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HOLLAND, District Judge.

In this case there was evidence tending to show that the circular saw upon which the plaintiff was assigned to work was out of repair, as a result of which it was rendered considerably more dangerous to operate than machinery of this class usually is when kept in proper working condition. There is nothing to show that this boy was aware of the unusual danger resulting from this construction of the saw, and of course was not required to take other risks than those incident to the operation of machinery of that kind when in good repair. Other employes, of mature age and experience, had shortly prior worked upon this saw, and discovered this defective condition and reported it to the foreman.

It appears that the frame upon which it was mounted had been j'arred loose from the floor, and instead of bolting it down it was tied with a rope. As a result of this and other reasons unexplained the saw wabbled laterally at times, and it was as a result of one of these jerks or lateral wabbles that the plaintiff received the injury. When this defective condition was reported to the foreman he simply said the saw was “all right,” and directed the employé to proceed with his work. This could not be a structural defect with which the employer was not acquainted and for which he was not responsible. As a matter of fact it was a defect resulting from the lack of repair, and it was reported to him, and instead of repairing it the evidence shows he simply asserted that there was nothing wrong with the machine; and subsequent to the fact of this having been called to his attention the plaintiff, inexperienced in that sort of work, was placed at work on this machine in the defective condition, and as a result the injury occurred.

We are of the opinion that the court was clearly wrong in entering a nonsuit, in view of the evidence as it stood at the time the motion [145]*145was made. The rule that an employer is only required to furnish the best-known machinery of the class in question was inapplicable to the facts upon which the nonsuit was entered.

Motion for a new trial sustained.

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Bluebook (online)

134 F. 144, 1905 U.S. App. LEXIS 5048, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sink-v-sikes-co-circtedpa-1905.