Case Name: Frederick Schollhamer, Appellant, v. Barnett Hamburger, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1909-05
Citations: 63 Misc. 309
Docket Number: 
Parties: Frederick Schollhamer, Appellant, v. Barnett Hamburger, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 63
Pages: 309–310

Head Matter:
Frederick Schollhamer, Appellant, v. Barnett Hamburger, Respondent.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Term,
May, 1909.)
Negligence—Acts or omissions constituting negligence — Use of land, buildings and other structures: Licensees; Persons liable.
Where, in an action for personal injuries, it appears that the defendant, the owner of a building in course of erection, prevented the use of an alleyway or light shaft extending from the rear of an adjoining building of which plaintiff was the janitor to the street and necessary to be used by the plaintiff in the performance of his duties as janitor, but told him to go through defendant’s building when he had occasion to go into the alleyway, and plaintiff, in the performance of his duties, while walking across a plank provided by defendant in his building was precipitated and severely injured, a dismissal of the complaint upon the ground that plaintiff was a mere licensee was error.
Appeal' by the plaintiff from a judgment of the City Court of the city of New York, dismissing the complaint, with costs.
Maurice Sichel, for appellant.
Nadal, Carrere & Jones (Harold S. Recknagel, of counsel), for respondent.

Opinion:
Par Curiam.
This is an appeal from a judgment of the City Court dismissing plaintiff's complaint at the close of plaintiff's case, in an action for damages caused by defendant's alleged negligence. Plaintiff was janitor of a building adjoining which defendant was erecting three buildings. An alleyway or light shaft extended from the rear of the premises where plaintiff was employed to the street. The use of this alleyway or light shaft was necessary in the performance of plaintiff's duties. Defendant's building operations prevented that use. Plaintiff so informed defendant, who said, " go through his (defendant's) building when I had occasion to go into that alleyway." Accordingly, in the performance of his duties, plaintiff, while walking across a plank provided by defendant in his building, was precipitated and injured quite severely. The learned trial judge dismissed the complaint on the ground that plaintiff was a mere licensee, upon the authority of Sterger v. Van Sieklen, 132 N. Y. 499. In that case plaintiff went upon defendant's premises without invitation, or on a matter of common interest, in other words, as a stranger. On the record here plaintiff was entitled to go to the jury, and the dismissal of the complaint was, therefore, error.
Present: Gildbrsleeve, Dayton and Goff, JJ.
Judgment reversed and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event.'