Court Opinion

ID: 5494934
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 02:50:55.103804+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:46.886095
License: Public Domain

Per Curiam.
The plaintiff was driving a sleigh through one of the streets of the city. In drawing up towards the sidewalk for the purpose of alighting, the sleigh ran over a pile of rubbish, and was upset. The plaintiff was thrown out and injured. This action is to recover damages for the injury. We have examined the evidence. The case was plainly one for the jury. It seems to have been fairly tried, and the verdict is not extensive. We cannot say that the jury were not justified by the evidence in finding the city negligent in leaving the pile of rubbish m the street. If there was a conflict of evidence in that respect, the question was for their decision. There was no error in excluding the question, on plaintiff’s cross-examination, whether his wife had commenced suit against the city. She had not then been a witness. When she was after-wards put on the stand the question was asked her, and was answered. There "was no error in excluding the question whether plaintiff, as soon as he got hurt, did not go to work to commence a lawsuit against defendant. What the plaintiff did about commencing an action might have been, and was, proved. It was proper to show that the plaintiff, when taken out in a carriage some weeks after the injury, complained of pain. Such evidence has been frequently admitted. Of course, it may be feigned. So may expressions of the face and the like. Yet they are admissible. Hagenlocher v. Railroad Co., 99 N. Y. 136. We do not see that any error was committed in receiving a city ordinance in evidence. These were followed up by the resolution passed subsequently to the new charter, which imposed the duties on a street superintendent. Nothing was said in the charge as to any duty on the part of the police. The charge was put on the grounds of the duty of the city to exercise reasonable diligence in looking after its streets and seeing that they are in safe condition. The judgment and order are affirmed, with costs.