Case Name: Laubach v. Coplay Cement Manufacturing Company, Appellant
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1907-04-01
Citations: 217 Pa. 361
Docket Number: Appeal, No. 195
Parties: Laubach v. Coplay Cement Manufacturing Company, Appellant.
Judges: Before Mitchell, C. J., Fell, Bbown, Mestbezat and Stewart, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 217
Pages: 361–362

Head Matter:
Laubach v. Coplay Cement Manufacturing Company, Appellant.
Negligence — Master and servant — Quarryman—Defective machinery— Case for fury.
In an action by a quarryman against his employer to recover damages for personal injuries, it appeared that plaintiff was struck and injured by a piece of timber forming one of the braces or crosspieces at the top of the derrick, which was knocked off by collision with a bucket of stone raised from the quarry by a steam hoist. The negligence relied on by plaintiff was, first, that the derrick was defective in regard to its strength for such heavy work as it was called upon to do; and, secondly, that the steam hoist was allowed to be operated on this occasion by a boy of eighteen who was only a learner, still under instruction in the management of the engine, and who by lack of proper experience and skill ran the bucket loaded with-stone, at such speed that it struck the crosspieces and caused the accident. There was testimony on both these points. Held, that the case was for the jury.
Argued Feb. 1, 1907.
Appeal, No. 195, Jan. T., 1906, by defendant, from judgment of C. P. Lehigh. Co., June T., 1905, No. 22, on verdibt for plaintiff in case of Eli Laubach v. The Coplay Cement Manufacturing Company.
Before Mitchell, C. J., Fell, Bbown, Mestbezat and Stewart, JJ.
Affirmed.
Trespass to recover damages for personal injuries. Before Trexler, P. J.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Supreme Court.
Yerdict and judgment for plaintiff for $2,375. Defendant appealed.
Error assigned was in refusing binding instructions for defendant.
Evan Holben, with him Arthwr L. Biery, for appellant.
Arthur G. JDewalt and George W. Geiser, for appellees, were not heard.
April 1, 1907:

Opinion:
Per Curiam,
Plaintiff was struck and injured by a piece of timber forming one of the braces or crosspieces at the top of a derrick, which, was knocked off by collision with.a' bucket of stone raised from the quarry by a steam hoist. The negligence relied on by plaintiff was, first, that the derrick was defective in regard to its strength for such heavy work as it was called upon to do; and, secondly, that the steam hoist was allowed to be operated on this occasion by a boy of eighteen who was only a learner still under instruction in the management of the engine, and who by lack of proper experience and skill ran the bucket loaded with stone, at such speed that it struck the crosspieces and caused the accident. As there was testimony on both these points the court could not have taken the case from the jury.
Judgment affirmed.