Case ID: ad_3/html/0219-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Cullen, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Philip Zimmerman, as Administrator, etc., of Lawrence Zimmerman, Deceased, Appellant, v. The Union Railway Company of New York City, Respondent.
    
      Negligence — crossing a, trolley cm' track at a walk — the car has no paramount right over a wagon— the question of contributoi’y negligence is for the jury.
    
    Where a party desires to review a question of law only, no certificate that the case contains all the evidence is necessary.
    Qííúsre, whether a certificate that a case contains all the “ testimony ” is equivalent to a statement that the case contains all the “evidence.”
    In an action brought to recover damages resulting from the death of the plaintiff’s intestate, caused by the alleged negligence of the defendant, it appeared that the deceased was riding in a wagon, driven by a companion, with three other men, on a boulevard which crossed an avenue upon which the defendant was operating a trolley car, which, as the wagon approached, was about 150 yards away. The driver brought his horse to a walk and proceeded to cross the track, but before the wagon had crossed, the trolley car struck the hind wheel and overturned the wagon, and the deceased was killed.
    
      Held, that it was erroneous to dismiss the complaint;
    That the defendant’s car had no paramount right of way at the crossing;
    That the wagon was prior in time at the crossing, and, therefore, prior in right; That its driver was not bound to get out ói the way of the car, nor was he guilty of negligence because he proceeded to cross the track at a walk;
    That the question of contributory negligence should have been submitted to the . jury.
    Appeal by the plaintiff, Philip Zimmerman, as administrator, etc., of Lawrence Zimmerman, deceased, from a .judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of- the defendant, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Westchester on the 19th day of October, 1895, upon the dismissal' of the complaint directed by the court after a trial before the court and a jury at the Westchester Circuit.
    
      Fal/ph Hiclcox, for the appellant.
    
      William, N. Cohen and F. H. GerrodeUe, for the respondent.
   Cullen, J.:

• A preliminary objection is made that we cannot review the decision of the trial court granting a nonsuit, because the record before us does not show that the case contains all the evidence. The statement in the record is, that the case contains all the testimony taken on the trial. Assuming that the term “ testimony ” is not the equivalent of “ evidence,” as has been held in the first department, which, however, we are not prepared to concede, it does not affect the question before us. As the plaintiff seeks review of a question of law only, no certificate that the case contains all the evidence is necessary. (Halpin v. Phenix Ins. Co., 118 N. Y. 165; Brown v. James, 2 App. Div. 105.)

The evidence on the trial tended to show that the plaintiff’s intestate was riding in a wagon with three other men, on the Southern boulevard, across Boston avenue, upon which latter street the defendant operated a trolley railroad. The wagon was driven by one Madden, and the deceased was riding in it as Madden’s guest. When the wagon reached the railroad the trolley car- was approaching the crossing, being then at a distance of some 150 yards from it. Madden slowed his horse to a walk and proceeded across the tracks. Before he had cleared the tracks the trollby car struck the hind wheeel of the wagon and overturned it. The deceased was thrown out and killed.

We think that these facts presented a'proper case tobe submitted to the jury to pass upon. The wagon was being driven across the railroad, not within its tracks.0 The defendant’s car had no paramount right of way at the crossing. (O’Neil v. Dry Dock, etc., R. R. Co., 129 N. Y. 125.) The distance from the car to the crossing, at the time Madden sought to cross, was such as to enable the wagon to pass safely if the defendant’s car had been properly managed, and this Madden and the deceased had a right to expect. The wagon was prior in time at the crossing, and, therefore, prior in-right. The driver was not bound to get out of the way of’ the car, nor can it be said to be negligence on his'part that he proceeded to cross at a walk. There are doubtless some improbabilities in the testimony given by plaintiff’s witnesses. These were for the consideration of the jury; they were not such or so gross that the court could say, as a matter of law, that the truth of the narrative was impossible. On the facts testified to, the case falls within that of Buhrens v. Dry Dock, etc., R. R. Co. (53 Hun, 511) and the question of contributory negligence was for the jury.

The judgment appealed from should be reversed and a new- trial ordered, costs to abide the event.

All concurred.

Judgment reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide event.