Case ID: ad_55/html/0092-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Jenks, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Johanna Brogan, as Administratrix, etc., of Michael Walsh, Deceased, Appellant, v. John H. Hanan and Others, Respondents.
    
      Negligence in not pi'oteeting the steps to a basement as required by ordinance — liability of the owner and of his tenants — effect of a release of the owner, and of a, covenant by the tenants to repair.
    
    Where a person sustains injuries by falling down the steps of an entrance to a basement under a store, in consequence of the failure to protect the entrance by gates or chains, or by a light over the steps as required by a city ordinance, and it appears that the safeguards in question have never been installed, that at the time of the accident the basement and store were leased to tenants, Who in turn"had sublet the-basement, the owner and the tenants are joint feasors.
    A general release executed to the owner by the injured person operates to discharge the tenants from liability, although the release in terms assumes to preserve such liability.
    A covenant by the tenants -to repair, contained in the lease, even if construed to extend to the defect in question, does not inure to the benefit of the injured person.
    Appeal by the plaintiff, Johanna Brogan, as administratrix, etc., of Michael Walsh, deceased, from a judgment of the- Supreme Court in favor of the defendants, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Kings on the 4th day of January, 1900, upon the dismissal of the complaint by direction of the court after a trial before the court and a jury at the Kings County Trial Term.
    
      Willis B. Dowd, for the appellant.
    
      Jesse W. Johnson, for the respondents.
   Jenks, J.:

This action is brought to recover damages for the death of plaintiff’s intestate, caused by the negligence of the defendants. It is alleged that in the night time the intestate fell to his death down the steps of an entrance to the basement of premises in the city of New York. At that time the premises were owned by Duncan, who had leased the store and basement to defendants, who in turn had leased the basement to Abramson. The plaintiff 'complained that the defendants negligently and unlawfully failed to protect the entrance by gates or by chains or by a burning light over the steps,” as required by an ordinance. The defendants pleaded, inter alia, that the plaintiff had released, under seal, Duncan from all' liability. The general release of Duncan was read in evidence. The plaintiff reserved therein all rights of action and claim for damages for negligently causing the death of plaintiff’s intestate, against the defendants and all other persons in control of the premises. I am of opinion that this release is a bar for the defendants, because they are joint' tort feasors with Duncan. (Mitchell v. Allen, 25 Hun, 543 ; Gross v. Pennsylvania, P. & B. R. R. Co., 65 id. 192; Lord v. Tiffany, 98 N. Y. 412; Woods v. Pangburn, 75 id. 498; Livingston v. Bishop, 1 Johns. 290; Breslin v. Peck, 38 Hun, 623; Barrett v. Third Ave. R, R. Co., 45 N. Y. 628, 635; Cooley Torts, 161; Hurley v. N. Y. & Brooklyn Brewing Co., 13 App. Div. 167.) The learned counsel for the appellant contends that Duncan and the defendants were not joint tort feasors. The injury was due to the neglect to provide a gate or chains or a light. There is evidence to justify the conclusion that these safeguards had never been set up. The liability of Duncan would be based upon the facts that he remained the owner, and was in the possession of a part of the building. (Trustees of Canandaigua v. Foster, 156 N. Y. 354.) The liability 'of the defendants would be based -upon the fact that the omission of safeguards when they came into occupancy continued in connection with their acts, and that such continuance was, so to speak, a ratification of such omission. (S. & R. Neg. § 712.) The covenant of the lessees to repair, even if construed to extend to this defect, did not inure to the benefit of the plaintiff. (Odell v. Solomon, 99 N. Y. 635.)

In the very case that the learned counsel for the appellant cites to sustain this action (Davenport v. Ruckman, 37 N. Y. 568) the court say of Ruckman (p. 574): “ He was the owner of the house, and had allowed the cellar way to become and to remain in a "dangerous condition. He had recently sublet the premises to one Lamb, who entered into possession a few days before the trial. It was in a dangerous condition when he put his tenant in possession. This did not operate to relieve the defendant from his liability. It simply added another party to the negligence.” In Gross v. Pennsylvania, P. & B. R. R. Co. (supra) an engineer of C. railroad company was injured by a collision with an engine of P. company, which had been allowed upon the tracks of 0. company. He recovered against P. company on account of the failure to flag his. engine, and also-sued C. company for negligence in permitting the engine of P. company to enter its tracks.at the time. Cullen, J., said : “ Though the negligence of the -two- companies consisted of wholly distinct, acts, still the injury and tort which constituted the plaintiff’s cause of action was single. He could not have recovered part of liis damages from one company and part from the other, because the whole injury proceeded from the combined negligence of "both, not part from the negligence of each. It" was, therefore, a clear case of a joint tort, and a satisfaction by one tort feasor discharged the plaintiff’s claim against the other.” Duncan and the' defendants are jointly interested,-in that the damages would not be divisible, for there can be but one verdict and for one amount. (Beal v. Finch, 11 N. Y. 129,135.)

. The reason of the ruléis the receipt of satisfaction or its equiva-len.t in the eye of the law, and it matters not what may be the form thereof so long as the fact is established. Therefore, the ride is the same, though the plaintiff voluntarily accepted satisfaction. (Cooley Torts, 140; Mitchell v. Allen, supra; Barrett v. Third Ave. R. R. Co., supra.) Nor is the principle shaken by the fact of the reservation in the release of the right of action against these defendants. (Mitchell v. Allen, supra; Baker v. Johns, 38 Hun, 625, and authorities cited; Cooley Torts, 140, and authorities cited.)

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

All concurred.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.