Case ID: ny-st-rep_38/html/0033-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Pratt, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John McDermott, App’lt, v. The New York Central & Hudson River Railroad Co., Resp’t.
    
      (Supreme Court, General Term, Second Department,
    
    
      Filed February 9, 1891.)
    
    Master and servant—Negligence—Instructions.
    Plaintiff, a machinist’s helper, in the employ of defendant, was directed hy the foreman to couple cars in motion, but was not instructed as to the danger nor as to the proper method of doing the work. Held, that it was a question for the jury whether he had such knowledge of the danger as not to require instruction, or whether the injury resulted from his ignorance resulting from lack of instructon, and that it was error to dismiss.
    Appeal from judgment, entered on order dismissing the complaint and setting aside verdict pursuant to a stipulation made at the trial.
    Action to recover for injuries caused by the alleged negligence of defendant. On the trial it was stipulated that the court might dismiss the complaint after verdict
    The jury rendered a verdict for $1,800.
    
      Morris & Whitehouse, for app’lt; Ashbel Green (Charles J. Patterson, of counsel), for resp’t.
   Pratt, J.

The plaintiff, who was a “ machinist’s helper,” was directed by defendant’s foreman to couple cars in motion. This-was a dangerous service, and was not in the course of the employment for which plaintiff had been engaged. He was not instructed as to the danger, nor as to the proper method of doing the work; and the jury have found that his injury resulted from his ignorance, resulting from the lack of instruction.

The rule is well settled that where, by authority of the master, an employe is taken from his ordinary occupation and put to a service with whose dangers he is unacquainted, proper instructions should be given him that he may not be exposed to needless peril.

It is contended for defendant here that the plaintiff had such a knowledge of the dangers he incurred that this rule cannot be invoked for his benefit. We think that was a question for the jury. The charge placed the whole question before them, and they were instructed that the point of the case was, whether plaintiff was hurt because he was not instructed how to do the work properly, and whether, if he had been instructed, he would have escaped.

We are not able to say that the verdict in plaintiff’s favor was-contrary to the evidence. We think the verdict should stand as decisive of the facts in the case. It follows that the order granting a new trial should be reversed, and plaintiff have judgment on the verdict, with costs of circuit and general term.

Barnard, P. J., and Dykman, J., concur.