Case Name: Fred Roth, Respondent, v. The G. A. Feld Company, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1908-05
Citations: 59 Misc. 214
Docket Number: 
Parties: Fred Roth, Respondent, v. The G. A. Feld Company, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 59
Pages: 214–216

Head Matter:
Fred Roth, Respondent, v. The G. A. Feld Company, Appellant.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Term,
May, 1908.)
Negligence — Acts or omissions constituting negligence — Use of land, buildings and other structures — Licenses.
It is the duty of the owner of premises used for business purposes, who invites the public to come upon the premises, to maintain them in a reasonably safe condition.
Where the. owner of premises used, for the sale of plumber’s supplies invited the plaintiff, who came there to purchase goods, to use the stairs leading to an upper floor and, on going down, the plaintiff tripped upon a large spike projecting from the landing and was injured, a verdict in his favor against the owner of the premises should be upheld, where it appears there was no light at the place where the accident happened; that the stairs were dark and that the plaintiff did not -see any railing.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, rendered in the Municipal Court of the city of Mew York, twelfth district, borough of Manhattan.
Winter & Winter, for appellant.
Frank H. Smiley, for respondent.

Opinion:
Gildersleeve, J.
I agree to an affirmance of the judgment herein. The invitation from defendant to the plaintiff to use the stairs in question justified the plaintiff in assuming that they were not dangerous, since it was the duty of the defendant to maintain them in a reasonably safe condition. The proof introduced by plaintiff established a prima facie case of negligence on the part of the defendant; and, in the absence of any explanation by the defendant, the plaintiff was entitled to judgment. Schnizer v. Phillips, 108 App. Div. 17.
The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.
Greenbaum, J., concurs.