Court Opinion

ID: 5726549
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-12 16:17:40.227088+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:40:48.653022
License: Public Domain

Judgment unanimously modified, on the law and on the facts, to the extent of granting a new trial as to the defendant, Service Sign Erectors Co., Inc., with costs to appellant to abide the event and as so modified, affirmed, with costs to respondent, Globe Neon Sign Co. The proof presented questions of fact as to the negligence of the defendant, Service Sign Erectors Co., and the contributory negligence of the plaintiff. The trial court erred in directing a verdict in favor of that defendant. The court, however, correctly held that the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur was inapplicable. It has been said that “ there is no need to invoke that doctrine in a case in which the evidence is sufficient to make out a prima facie case under the ordinary principles of circumstantial evidence.” (Markel v. Spencer, 5 A D 2d 400, 409, affd. 5 N V 2d 958.) In applying such principles “A plaintiff is not * * * required to point out the particular act or omission which caused the accident. It is enough if he shows facts and conditions from which negligence of a defendant and the causation of the accident by the negligence may be reasonably and legitimately inferred.” (While v. Lehigh Val. R. R. Co., 220 N. Y. 131, 136.) We are not required to pass upon the question presented by appellant that the negligence of the defendant, Globe Neon Sign Co., might be established by proof of a violation of rules adopted pursuant to subdivision 6 of section 241 of the Labor Law. _ This clearly is an afterthought on the part of appellant. Such a contention was not presented either before or during the trial and may not be raised for the first time on appeal. (Cf. Jewtraw v. Davis, 277 App. Div. 918, 919.) Concur—Stevens, Eager and Bastow, JJ.; McNally and Steuer, JJ., concur in result in the following memorandum by McNally, J.: I concur in the result. On the retrial, if the plaintiff chooses to rely on neutral circumstances Relative to control on the part "of Servicé Sign Erectors Co., then the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur may be available to him. (Plumb v. Richmond Light & R. R. Co., 233 N. Y. 285, 288.)