Case Name: Coppola v. Schaum & Uhlinger, Inc., Appellant
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1919-02-24
Citations: 264 Pa. 38
Docket Number: Appeal, No. 90
Parties: Coppola v. Schaum & XJMinger, Inc., Appellant.
Judges: Before Brown, C. J., Moschzisker, Frazer, Walling and Kephart, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 264
Pages: 38–40

Head Matter:
Coppola v. Schaum & XJMinger, Inc., Appellant.
Negligence — Master and servant — Safe place to worlc — Case for jury.
Where, in a negligence ease, it appears that the plaintiff was a molder’s assistant, and that he was injured by a ladle containing molten metal carried by a fellow workman colliding with him, the ease is for the jury, where the negligence charged, was the narrowness of an alleyway in which the men wore working, and the proof was, that in the view of its narrowness, the alleyway was not a reasonably safe place in which the men were compelled to perform their duties.
Argued Jan. 16, 1919.
Appeal, No. 90, Jan. T., 1919, by defendant, from judgment of C. P. No. 1, Philadelphia Co., March T., 1914, No. 4224, on verdict for plaintiff in case of Anthony Coppola v. Schaum & TJhlinger, Inc.
Before Brown, C. J., Moschzisker, Frazer, Walling and Kephart, JJ.
Affirmed.
Trespass to recover damages for personal injuries. Before Shoemaker, J.
Verdict and judgment for plaintiff for $4,500. Defendant appealed.
Error assigned was in refusing to enter judgment for defendant n. o. v.
Henry Spalding, of Fell & Spalding, for appellant,
cited: Miller v. Republic Chemical Co., 251 Pa. 593; Baldwin v. Urner, 206 Pa. 459; Iams v. Hazel Atlas Glass Co., 251 Pa. 439; Demby v. Atkins, 61 Pa. Superior Ct. 538; McCarthy v. Shoneman, 198 Pa. 568; Eddleman v. Penna. Co., 223 Pa. 318; Byers v. Youghiogheny Coal Co., 230 Pa. 10; Larsen v. Bailey, 249 Pa. 247.
Henry J. Scott, with him Albert T. Hanby, for appellee,
cited: Chabot v. Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., 259 Pa. 504; Solomon v. Cudahy Packing Co., 256 Pa. 19.
February 24, 1919:

Opinion:
Per Curiam,
On September 5, 1913, the day the injuries were sustained for which this action was brought, the appellant was a corporation engaged in the manufacture of machinery. The appellee was employed by it as a helper to one of its moulders, and, in the course of his employment, a ladle, containing molten metal, carried by a fellow workman, collided with him, causing its contents to severely burn his foot. The negligence charged is the narrowness of the "alleyway" in which the men were working, and there was testimony that, in view of its narrowness, it was not a reasonably safe place in which they were compelled to perform their duties. This was really the only issue in the case, and it was submitted to the jury under the following correct instruction: "You have to find whether the defendant in this case was guilty of negligence in not providing a reasonably safe place for the plaintiff to work in. If you find that the defendant did provide such a place, as people in the same line of business provide, an ordinary passageway, or surroundings there, then your verdict ought to be for the defendant. If, however, you find that it did not, and also find that the plaintiff did not by his negligence contribute to the accident, then your verdict ought to be for the plaintiff. If the plaintiff in any degree contributed to the accident by his negligence, that would prevent him from recovering, notwithstanding the fact that you find the defendant was negligent." As the case was clearly for the jury, the single complaint of the appellant, that a verdict was not directed in its favor, is dismissed, and •the judgment is affirmed.