Court Opinion

ID: 5204075
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-06 15:58:04.815807+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:27:15.294341
License: Public Domain

Gaynor, J.:
■ .The defendant was repairing Btishwick avenue under a contract with the city. The old pavement and the curb stones had been torn up, and' this w^s the condition at the corner of, Coopeb street where the plaintiff claims to have been hurt. The street was littered with . material.' The plaintiff testified in answer to her counsel: I knew that the ¡hace was pulled up pall the,stones and everything was pulled up; all the stones and the curbs'were strewn up on. the sidewalk.” She came through the litter across Bushwick-avenue to get back toiler home in Cooper street. Ap she went to step up from the street to the sidewalk she stepped into the trench or line where the curb had,set.before it was taken up, and hurt herself.-' It Was about si^c inches' wide and a foot deep. Although she knew the curb had been taken up, and saw it, lying along the sidewalk, she did not take the necessary, care to keep' out of. the place where it had set. Being asked by her counsel If she took notice of where she was going and how she- was stepping she answered, “ Ho, I just walked careful, for' I knew the place was torn -up, you know. I didn’t mind anything. Q. .You said you walked carefully? A. A little carefully, yes.” This is all there is oh that head. It falls far short of showing that she exercised the care required by law. Knowing that the street. was pulled up and littered,-she had to prove that she exercised extra ' examination and care. The rule that she might presume there were-no holes or. defects did not apply. The. law required her literally to pick her steps. It was night, but the street was lighted with electricity. A verdict should have-been directed for the defendant. ■
The judgment should be reversed,
Woodward, Jems, Hooker and Rich, JJr, concurred.
Judgment and order reversed and new trial granted*-costs to abide the event..