Case ID: ny-st-rep_71/html/0470-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "HATCH, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Augustino Cristiano, by Guardian, etc., App’lt, v. Annie E. Millers et al., Resp’ts.
    
      (Buffalo Superior Court, General Term,
    
    
      Filed December 23, 1895.)
    
    Negligence—Dangerous premises.
    There can he no recovery for injuries caused by defective premises, where the injured person is merely a licensee.
    Motion for a new trial upon a case and exceptions, ordered to be heard at the general term in the first instance.
    Charles Oishei, for pl’ff;
    Tracy C. Becker, for def’ts.
   HATCH, J.

The record does not disclose what disposition was made of defendants’ motion for a nonsuit, and it is not clear that any exception was taken to any ruling. Brief of defendants’ counsel states that the court granted a nonsuit, and the parties have appeared in court, and argued the motion upon that supposition, without objection. We conclude, therefore, to entertain the motion. The record discloses that plaintiff, an infant between eight and nine years of age, in company with his sister, visited defendants’ brewery for the purpose of obtaining a load of “brewery slops.” The usual place of securing the load was at a box situated in the brewery yard adjoining the structure. Near the box was a passageway or tunnel under the brewery building, which was used by the defendants and their servants in prosecuting the business. It was not necessary, in order to obtain the load, to enter the tunnel, and it had never been used in connection therewith. Within the tunnel, situated about twenty-five feet from the enterance, was a hole connected with a subterranean passage, through which was discharged hot water used in the brewery. This hole was covered with an iron grating. On the day in question the sister drove first to the office of the brewery, made inquiry for slops, and was informed that there were none that day.. Notwithstanding this information, she drove to the rear of the brewery, where the slop box was situated, made inquiry there, and was again informed that there were none. At this time plaintiff alighted from the wagon, to answer a call of nature, and entered the tunnel, passed along to the grating, and stepped upon, it. It tipped and let him in; and his lower limbs were severely scalded. We are unable to find, upon these facts, any ground upon which to charge defendants with liability. No permission was given by defendants to use the passageway. It was not necessary for plaintiff to use it for any of the purposes connected with his visit to the brewery, or in getting slops. There was no closet or urinal there, and it was not used for such purposes. If he had an implied right to enter, sufficient to exclude the entry from being trespass, his right was no higher than that of ■a mere license; and he accepted the passage in the condition it then was, and took upon himself whatever of risk there was in its use. This rule is recognized in the cases cited by plaintiff upon this motion: Nicholson v. Railway Co., 41 N. Y. 525; Larmore v. Iron Co., 101 id. 391; Barry v. Railroad Co., 92 id. 289; Beck v. Carter, 68 id. 283,—and is reiterated in Cusick v. Adams, 115 N. Y. 55; 23 St. Rep. 548; Sterger v. Van Sicklen, 132 N. Y. 505; 44 St. Rep. 863. Where there is an invitation to enter, either express or implied, or the person is enticed, induced, or allured to enter upon the premises, the rule is different (an illustration is found in Walsh v. Railroad Co., 22 N. Y. Supp. 441, and cases cited), or where an affirmative act increases the danger, and inflicts injury. Corrigan v. Refining Co., 98 Mass. 577. These latter eases are without application, for here existed none of these conditions. Liability, can only be predicated upon the violation of some legal duty which defendants owed to plaintiff, within the authority of the cases just cited; and, upon present facts, defendants owe plaintinff no duty, in consequence of which no liability can attach.

The exceptions should be overruled, and the motion denied.