Court Opinion

ID: 6997187
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 03:35:28.817096+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:09:48.747161
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Wall delivered toe opinion oe the Court. This was an action on the case. The declaration alleged in substance that the plaintiff was employed by the defendant to attend upon a cértain blast furnace used for the purpose of melting iron; that plaintiff wTas unaware of the dangers of such work, and that the defendant negligently failed to provide plaintiff with a reasonably safe place wherein to perform his work, .in that the room where plaintiff necessarily worked, was not properly or sufficiently ventilated, whereby plaintiff, being so ignorant of the dangers, inhaled such a quantity of gas and fumes emitted by the said furnace, that he was overcome and rendered unconscious, and, in consequence, sustained permanent injury. The plea of not guilty was interposed, and upon a trial by jury, the plaintiff recovered a verdict for $2,500, upon which, after refusing a new trial, the court rendered judgment, from Avhich the defendant has prosecuted an appeal. It appears that the plaintiff had been at Avork some five days only, Avken he received the injury complained of. His duty in part, was to charge the cupola by putting in the proper quantity of coke and iron after the fire had been started and the blast put on. In this he was assisted by another man, who had been there some time before, and Avho gave him such instruction as he had about the method of doing the work. He had been annoyed some by smoke and vapor emitted when the door was opened to put in or renew a charge, and it had made him cough some, but he Avas not seriously affected by it until the day in question, when he was overcome and had to be carried from the' place. He was unconscious for some minutes and claims to be still suffering from the effects of the gas inhaled on that occasion. His theory is, that the room had not sufficient means of ventilation, especially when the Avind was from the Avest, and that this caused the suffocation complained of. It seems that he was very seriously affected, and that there is reason to believe his injury is permanent. There is no doubt that more or less gas escapes Avhen the door is opened Avhile the cupola is in blast, and Avhile it is a source of discomfort, in a greater or less degree, to all who ■may be in the room, yet it appears no serious consequences had occurred to any one else during the time the Avorks have been in operation, some eight or nine years. On the occasion in question, he was shoveling coke into the cupola, and Boberts, Avho Avas working with him, was weighing iron which was to be put in. also, when he called to Roberts to help him. Roberts took his place with the shovel and he sat down by the door. After Roberts had been so engaged for some fifteen or twenty minutes, plaintiff said in effect that he could not stand it, and just then another employe came, and observing that plaintiff was sick, they took him away. It would seem, from the statement of Roberts, that there was considerable smoke in the room, but that he suffered no serious inconvenience from taking plaintiff’s place, though after he had so assisted in taking the plaintiff away, he did not go back, another employe being sent to finish the charge. No doubt it was a very hot place, and that there was a good deal of smoke and gas, but, according to the defendant’s theory, the plaintiff’s injury was due to the fact that his lungs were over-sensitive from an attack of grippe or pneumonia only a few months before, and that he was not therefore fit to work in such a place, though it was not dangerous or very uncomfortable to aman of sound lungs. It was also shown by the testimony of Roberts and another witness that plaintiff was a very quick and rapid worker, from which the inference is drawn, by defendant, that this may to some extent account for what occurred. Some six witnesses, including Roberts, were called by plaintiff to give their experience and observation as to the amount of gas and smoke thrown out when the cupola was being charged, and while they all say it was quite considerable, yet their testimony creates the impression that it was no more than an ordinary man could endure without risk.' More than twice that number, called by the defendant, gave their experience to the effect, that though frequently about, and some of them doing the work plaintiff had done, they were not unpleasantly affected, though they would notice some smoke and gas at times. The proof offered by defendant was that the cupola and the room, including the means of ventilation, were constructed in the same manner in all respects as in other works of that general character, and that those who were familiar with such furnaces saw no reason to condemn this in any particular. The case is, in substance, that the defendant’s blast furnace was properly constructed and equipped, judging by the methods of construction and equipment generally in vogue; that during the time it had been in operation, some nine years, no trouble had been experienced of the nature here involved; that there had been no serious inconvenience suffered by those previously employed in the capacity named; that even on the occasion when the plaintiff suffered as he alleges, the man who came to his relief, and finished in part what he began, was not much affected, and thinks he could have tolerated the smoke and gas without risk. In what respect has negligence been established as against the defendant? "We are unable to see how the finding can be sustained, in view of the whole proof. There is really no particular conflict in the evidence, but it is rathér a question as to what is the fair and just conclusion to be drawn from it. The work plaintiff undertook was hard and disagreeable, especially while the cupola was in blast and charges were being made and renewed, a period of some two hours each day, but the unpleasant features of it were apparent. It is not shown that the defendant knew or had reason to suppose that the plaintiff was not sufficiently strong to endure it without risk, nor perhaps was the plaintiff so aware or mindful that he was unusually sensitive to the influence of gas and smoke as probably he was. Yet there was no mystery about the work—no hidden danger that the employers should have called to the attention of the employe. Any one could see what was there. When the plaintiff undertook the service he assumed the ordinary peril and hazard apparently incident thereto; the evidence fails to show that he suffered from any other, or that in any substantial degree the defendant neglected its duty in that behalf. With reference to the matter of instructions, it is proper to say that too many were given on each side. The entire series covers some ten or more pages of the abstract. There is much repetition, and much that is unnecessary and somewhat argumentative, as well as some want of clearness. In the eleventh for plaintiff there is an unfair suggestion that the testimony of the employes of defendant may have been warped and perverted because of such relationship. There is nothing in the proof that would seem to warrant the suggestion. In their zeal counsel should not go to undue lengths, as is too often done in denouncing witnesses testifying for the other side, and when that course is resorted to, the court should not further it or approve it by instructions. ' It is proper in a general way to advise the jury of the considerations to be regarded in weighing testimony, among which are the interest or bias or feeling of witnesses from whatever cause, but care should be taken not to single out or especially refer to any particular witness or sét of witnesses, when by so doing the court will merely supplement an appeal of counsel that has passed the limit of fairness. Phœnix Ins. Co. v. LaPointe, 118 Ill. 384. The court should not hesitate to take the matter of instructions in its own hands, pruning and rejecting those presented, so far as necessary to give the jury a plain and concise view of the issues and the legal principles involved without argument and without repetition. We are of opinion that the motion for new trial should have been granted. The judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.