Case ID: ad_62/html/0472-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Adams, P. J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Laura H. Meeker, as Administratrix, etc., of William H. Meeker, Deceased, Respondent, v. C. R. Remington & Son Company, Appellant.
    (No. 1.)
    
      Negligence—injury to an employee hilled by the bursting of a tee in a steam pipe„
    In an action brought to recover damages resulting from the death of the plaintiff’s intestate, it appeared that the defendant in enlarging its mill put in a new engine; that the steam pipes leading to the new engine connected with the other steam pipes in the -mill, and that there was no valve by which " -the steam could be shut off from the new line of piping, and that no adequate facilities had been supplied for the purpose of draining the condensed steam from the new piping; that for two days before, as well as on the day of the accident, while steam was being generated in the' boilers and allowed to pass through the entire line of piping, it was discovered that water was leaking at the. tee in the steam pipe from which it was designed to take the steam over to the new engine; that, between nine and ten o’clock on the day of the accident, the defendant’s superintendent, having had his attention called to the leakage, opened a valve, whereupon a pounding, technically known as “water hammer,” followed, and in a very short time thereafter the tee burst, and the plaintiff’s intestate, who was in the defendant’s employ, was killed by the escaping steam. '
    
      Reid, that the evidence was sufficient to warrant the jury in finding that the defendant was guilty of negligence.
    Appeal by the defendant, C. R. Remington & Son Company, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the plaintiff, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Jefferson on the 13th day of October, 1900, upon the verdict of a jury for $5,650, and also from an order entered in said clerk’s office on the 17th day of October, 1900, denying the defendant’s motion for a new trial made upon the minutes.
    
      Watson M. Rogers, for the appellant.
    
      Henry Purcell, for the respondent.
   Adams, P. J.:

The defendant is a domestic corporation, and at the time hereinafter mentioned was engaged in the manufacture of paper and wood pulp at Glen Park, Jefferson county, in this State.

On the 7th day of December, 1898, William H. Meeker, the plaintiff’s intestate and husband, while in the service of the defendant, was killed by the bursting of a “ tee ” at the end of a steam pipe in the defendant’s mill, and this action, which was commenced on the 1st day of April, 1899, was brought to recover damages for his death, which, it is alleged, w:as caused by the negligence of the defendant.

This is the second time the case has been before this court upon appeal, and such facts as are material to the issues are fully set forth in the report thereof, which will be found in the 53 Appellate Division Reports at page 592. By reference thereto it will be discovered that for several years prior to the time of the accident the defendant had conducted its business at the place above mentioned and finding that its facilities were inadequate for its increasing business, had enlarged its mill so as to admit of the use of an additional twenty-five-ton paper machine; and that at the time the accident occurred a line of wrought iron pipe which led from the boiler room to the engine room, where it was intended that the piping should be connected with the new engine, had been constructed and placed in position.

On the morning of December fifth fires were started under the boilers and steam- was generated and allowed to pass into the entire system, that is through the entire piping of both the old mill and the addition thereto. It is contended that at this time the new system was not in proper condition to admit of steam being turned into it. Whether or not this was so Was the sole question submitted to the jury upon the last trial, and, as the jury were instructed by the learned trial justice, it was the only fact of which negligence, upon the part of the defendant could be predicated.

We are of the opinion that the evidence in the case not only amply justified the court in submitting this question to the jury, but that it was. sufficient to sustain a verdict in favor of the plaintiff.

It was made to appear most conclusively that when steam was generated by either boiler it would pass into the main piping system and flow to both of the mills, although as testified to by the defendant’s superintendent, the new mill was not then in readiness for its use. It was also made to appear by the same witness that there was no valve in the main line of piping by which the steam could be shut off from the engine room of the new part of the mill, although one might easily have been installed for that purpose. It further appeared that the steam which was thus admitted to the. pipes was allowed to condense, and that water remained therein to the knowledge of the defendant; that the defendant’s superintendent had designed a drip pipe which was to be used for the purpose of relieving the pipes of the condensed steam, but that at the time of the accident it had not been constructed, or at all events had not been placed in position so that it could be used for that purpose, in. consequence of which there was an utter absence of any drainage system whatever to the pipes, save such as might be obtained through a two-inch valve or shut-off which is designated as valve “ B.”

On the 5th and 6th days of December, 1898, as well as upon the morning of the day of the accident, it was discovered that water inconsiderable quantities was leaking at the “tee” from which it was designed to take the steam over to the engine, and between nine and ten o’clock on. the morning of the accident the defendant’s superintendent, having had his attention called to this leakage, opened the valve in the two-inch pipe, when pounding, or what is technically, known as “ water hammer ” followed, and in a very short time thereafter the “ tee ” burst, causing steam to escape in large quantities, whereby the plaintiff’s intestate, who happened to be in that immediate vicinity at the time, was so severely scalded that he died the following day.

We think these facts, which are practically. undisputed, clearly establish negligence upon the part of the "defendant, because the evidence tends to show that their existence was liable to produce just such a result as followed, and that that result could have been avoided if the defendant had taken reasonable care to prevent its occurrence. And if this be so, then it is obvious that the defendant omitted that degree of diligence which the law requires every master to exercise in order to furnish his servants with a reasonably safe place in which to perform the duties required of them. (Pantzar v. Tilly Foster I. M. Co., 99 N. Y. 368 ; Doing v. N. Y., O. & W. R. Co., 151 id. 579; Byrne v. Eastmans Co., 163 id. 461; Rice v. King Philip Mills, 144 Mass. 229.)

The case was carefully submitted to the jury by the learned trial justice, who was at great pains to explain clearly and precisely the rule of law applicable thereto, and to point out in detail what facts must necessarily be established in order to make the defendant legally responsible for the death of the plaintiff’s intestate.

There was little or no question of contributory negligence in the case, but such as there was was properly submitted to the jury, and we are unable to discover any exception which presents reversible error. We conclude, therefore, that the judgment and order appealed from should be affirmed.

Judgment and order affirmed, except as to an item of $150 additional allowance, which is involved in a separate appeal.

All concurred.

Judgment and order denying motion for new trial affirmed, with costs.