Case Name: Martin Ryan, Respondent, v. Braender Building and Construction Company, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1915-01
Citations: 166 A.D. 930
Docket Number: 
Parties: Martin Ryan, Respondent, v. Braender Building and Construction Company, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 166
Pages: 930–930

Head Matter:
Martin Ryan, Respondent, v. Braender Building and Construction Company, Appellant.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Supreme Court, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Westchester on the 14th day of November, 1913, on the verdict of a jury in favor of the plaintiff, and from an order entered in said clerk’s office on the 1st day of May, 1914, denying its motion for a new trial.

Opinion:
Per Curiam:
This verdict is against the weight of evidence. The proofs on the first trial showed that in greasing machinery over elevator shafts they waited till the elevator came to the upper floors, where the operator holds his ear until the dangerous places are lubricated. Hence, the plaintiff was blamed for consciously departing from this safe and simple system, and greasing the machinery with the car down at the first floor. (154 App. Div. 278.) On the second trial, plaintiff would make out a different practice; that while greasing this top machinery the elevator car is kept down at the foot of the shaft, and this in a twenty-story building. Such a course would be impracticable' and dangerous, where, as here, the shaft was more than 250 feet in depth, with only the cars in the side shafts to carry the necessary communication to stop and start hoisting. This testimony was inconsistent with plaintiff's first account, and was against that of all other employes engaged on these elevators. It cannot save plaintiff from the application of our former decision. The judgment and order should be reversed, and a new trial granted, costs to abide the event. Jenks, P. J., Thomas, Stapleton, Rich and Putnam, JJ., concurred. Judgment and order reversed, and new trial granted, costs to abide the event.