Case ID: misc_49/html/0651-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Scott, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Frederika Greenfield, Respondent, v. Otto Doepfner, Appellant.
    Negligence — Acts or omissions constituting negligence—Use of buildings— Insufficiently lighted hall and stairway.
    Appeal by the defendant from a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, rendered in the Municipal Court of the city of Yew York, Fourth District, borough of Manhattan, in an action for personal injuries, tried before the court without a jury.
    ArTmr F. Cosby, for appellant.
    Philip I. Schick, for respondent.
   Scott, J.

The evidence that the hall and stairways were insufficiently lighted and that this was the immediate cause of the accident is quite satisfactory. We may not say, as matter of law, that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence because she only steadied herself against the bannister, without actually grasping it (Brown v. Wittner, 43 App. Div. 135), nor should we, in my opinion, so find as matter of fact, in face of the opposite view taken by the trial justice. The damages were very moderate.

I favor affirmance, with costs.

Giegkebich and Gbeehbaum, JJ., concur.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.