Court Opinion

ID: 8654863
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 21:14:53.967615+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:56:39.676601
License: Public Domain

MoCABTY, J.
(dissenting). — I am unable to-concur with my Brethren in the conclusions reached in the foregoing opinion. One of the grounds upon which plaintiff bases his right to recover in this action is the alleged negligence of the defendant company in failing “to provide for said place of work and for said premises proper and sufficient light, or for the-purpose of said work and for the safety of the plaintiff in the performance of his work; that by reason of such neglect to provide a reasonably safe place for plaintiff in which to perform his work, and by reason of the failure and neglect to sufficiently and properly light said place and premises, plaintiff, while in the performance of his duties, fell from said platform into said bin, and into one of the chutes thereof.” In support of this allegation plaintiff introduced testimony which tended to show that the bin in which' he was working, on the evening of the accident, “punching down ore,” was lighted by two stationary lamps only, one of which was attached to a *107post about nine feet east from the southeast comer of bin No. 4, and was elevated so that it stood about five or six feet higher than the top of said bin, apd that about nine or ten feet north from this light was the other lamp, the light of which was partially obstructed by a post which stood between it and the bin. Plaintiff himself testified in part as follows respecting the condition of the lights: “In the daytime a man could see, but this night the lights were not bright. They were dim and dark, and down in the bottom, where I had to put my rod this time, I couldn’t see the ore at all. There was no light at all down there.” The witness 'Wright testified that at the time of the accident he was, and for fourteen months prior thereto had been, at work for defendant company in its electrical department; that on the evening referred to he was directed to examine and repair the lamp in the vicinity of where plaintiff was at work; that he remembered seeing two lamps, and that the one about nine or ten feet from the southeast corner of the bin was out of repair; that the light it was producing was only about .one-half of its capacity; and that he applied to the foreman for material with which to repair it, but was told by him to let it go. His testimony with reference to the two lamps mentioned, and the extent and quantity of light they were furnishing at the time, is in part as follows: “ Q. Tou may state whether or not there was any light that would throw light upon the bottom of the bin that would come from the north lamp on that night. A. ' Not the one I just described. Q. Now you may state what, if any, light would come to the bottom or lower part of this bin on that night from this defective light on the south. A. Well, there would be some light to the bin, but not much. ’ ’ Thereupon the following question, the one referred to in the opinion of Mr. Justice BART OH, was asked the witness: “Would that be sufficient light to the bin to enable one punching ore down to see anything about what was in the bottom or 'middle of the bin1? A. It would not.”
*108The evidence introduced by defendant company tended to show that tbe room in which the ore bins were situated was lighted by “a series of five electrical lights arranged in a circuit, from ten to sixty feet apart;” that one of these lights was adjustable, and was mainly used for the purpose of furnishing additional light at the bins when the work of “punching down ore” was in progress, and was placed at the particular bin in which the work was being performed; and that, at the time of the accident, was hanging in the vicinity of bin No. 4, the one at which plaintiff was at work, and was so adjusted as to light up the entire bin. Defendant, at the time of the trial, did not claim that the two stationary lamps referred to by Wright in his testimony were so arranged as to produce sufficient light at the point where plaintiff was at work to enable him to see the ore in the bottom or middle of the bin, nor did it try the case on that theory. This is evident from the character of the questions asked, and the facts elicited from Wright by defendant’s counsel, on cross-examination, respecting the location and condition of the lamp described by Wright as being near the southeast corner of the bin. The following is a fair sample of the cross: examination referred to: “Q. Now, don’t you know that that light could not by any possibility reach the bottom of that bin; that it would strike the side of the bin here, and would be deflected, or would be prevented from reaching the bottom of the bin by this north side of that, even if it were burning full candle power? That is true, isn’t it? A. That is my judgment. Q. That light was never intended to light up the bottom of the bin, was it? (Objected to as not cross-examination.) Court: He may answer the question. Q. I say a light, -the light you have described, never was intended to light the bottom of the bin ? A. That is a question I can’t answer, because I don’t know. Q. It wouldn’t light it, would it? A. Don’t look as though it would. Q. Not if it were burning full candle power? A. No, sir. Q. If you had been undertaking to light the bot*109tom of that bin, yon wonld have suspended a lamp over it, wouldn’t you? How would you have lighted the bottom of the bin without suspending a lamp over it? A. I don’t see how you could light the bottom of the bin with this track over here. I should have put a light up here; somewhere over here. Q. At any rate, it is true, is it not, that with those various things, with the beam, and the railroad track, and the side of this ore bin presented to the light, that light never by any possibility could' light up the bottom of that bin. unless it was put in the place you have indicated? A. It might be put * . . somewhere else.”
In regard to the effect the light from the light described by Wright as being north from the one referred to in the foregoing cross-examination had upon the bin where the plaintiff was at work, it was shown by the testimony of defendant’s witnesses that because of certain obstructions between the bin and the lamp the light produced could not reach the bin. James Crellin, the foreman under whom plaintiff was working at the time he was injured, was called as a witness by defendant, and on cross-examination was asked the following question on this point: “Q. It is true that that light would be in such a position that this bank of ore would practically obscure it from No. 4 [referring to bin at which plaintiff was at work]? A. Yes, sir.” Joseph Alsop, another of defendant’s witnesses, testified respecting this same matter as follows: “Q. I will say, did this arrangement here that has been, I think, denominated a ‘lime rock bin,’ and the pile of ore that was on the outside of it, come within — between the bin 4 and this light here, between 10 and 11 [referring to bins Nos. 10 and 11] ? A. Yes, sir. Q. It interfered with it? A. Yes, sir. Q. And it didn’t light up bin 4 at all did it? A. That light didn’t light up bin 4.”
Now the testimony of Wright to which objection is made referred only to the extent and effect of the light furnished by the two last-mentioned lamps, and the record shows that these lamps were so situated with refer*110ence to the location of the bin that they did not and conld not light the interior of it. Upon this point there is absolutely no conflict in the evidence, and the cross-examination of Wright shows on its face that its object was not for the purpose of discrediting his testimony, wherein he stated that these two lamps did not of themselves furnish “sufficient light to the bin to enable one punching down ore to see anything about what was in the bottom or middle of the bin,” but was for the purpose of emphasizing and affirming what he had stated on this point. That such was the intent is apparent from the fact that defendant’s counsel, in the cross-examination referred to, intentionally drew out much additional matter, for the purpose, as shown by the form and phraseology of the questions asked, of showing that the physical conditions around about the bin were such that there was no possibility of Wright being mistaken as to the effect the light referred to in his testimony had upon the bottom of the bin. The. defendant, having thus in effect admitted the truth of the testimony upon which error is predicated, ought not to be heard to complain of its admission on the ground that it was “a question for the jury to determine, ’ ’ especially so in view of the fact that defendant did not. claim during the trial of the case, and does not contend here, that the two lamps describéd by Wright were so located as to light up the bin in which plaintiff was at work. As hereinbefore stated, the theory of defendant, as shown by the record, was that there were five lighted lamps in the room (including the two mentioned in Wright’s testimony), one of which was adjustable, and at the time of the accident was hanging immediately over bin No. 4, and that this lamp, in connection with the others, furnished an abundance of light on the night in question.
’ Even though it be conceded that the testimony under consideration was upon one of the controverted questions in the case, yet under the great weight of authority it was admissible. Wright was sent there to examine, and if need be repair, the lamps. He “walked over the *111surface of the bin,” and had every opportunity of understanding the situation. His attention was necessarily directed to the condition of the lamps and amount of light furnished by them, because he was sent there expressly for that purpose. He testified that the lamp which furnished the greater amount of light to the bin was out of repair, and that the quantity or power of the light was not more than one-half of the capacity of the lamp, and that because of this “there would he some light to the bin, hut not much. ” It is plain that the witness could not, by a mere recital of the conditions as he observed them, explain to the jury just how much light the lamps mentioned in his testimony produced at the bin, or how light or how dark it was in the interior thereof. Therefore, under the well-settled rule that a witness may state the result of his observations when the subject-matter about which he is testifying is of such a character that it can not he accurately communicated by words to others, the testimony was admissible.
In the case of Commonwealth v. Sturtivant, 117 Mass. 122, 19 Am. Rep. 401, the rule which is elaborately discussed in the body of the opinion is tersely stated and summed up in the syllabus as follows: “Common observers, having special opportunities for observation, may testify to their opinions or1 conclusions of fact, although they are not experts, if the subject-matter to' which the testimony related cannot he reproduced or described to the jury precisely as it appeared to the witness at the time, and the facts upon which the witness is called to express his opinion are such as men in general are capable of comprehending.” In Abbot’s Trial Ev. (2 Ed.), p. 729, the author says: “Facts discernible by judgment or estimate, but not requiring special knowledge or skill, are not regarded as matters of opinion within these rules. Hence any person of ordinary knowledge or experience may testify to his judgment of' the speed of a train or vehicle, or whether a person looked sick or well, and the like. ’ ’ Gillet on Indirect and Collateral Ev., sec. 213; Case v. Perew, 46 Hun 57. In *1122 Jones on Evidence, p. 362, the author says: “It often happens that it is impossible for a witness to detail all the pertinent facts in snch a manner as to enable the jury to form a conclusion without the opinion of the witness. Indeed, the witness may not be able to separate the facts and indications from which he has formed a conclusion from the conclusion itself. From many of the illustrations given below it will appear that, from necessity of the case, the opinions of ordinary witnesses must often be received. For example, the opinion of those not experts may be received as to the disposition and temper of animals, as to matters of color, weight, quantity, light, darkness, the state of the weather, and similar facts.”
James Crellin, one of defendant’s witnesses, having testified on his direct examination respecting the number and efficiency of the lights in the vicinity of bin No. 4, one of which lights he testified was adjustable, and which “we [referring to himself and plaintiff] took where they were going to do work,” and that “the extension light was extended right over bin No. 4,” was’ «cross-examined in part by plaintiff as follows: “Q. "What was that light [referring to the extension light] brought to No. 4 bin for? A. Just to have more light to work there by. Q. Now, Mr. Crellin, "again, you recognized at that time that the light was necessary for this bin, did you? A. Not perfectly necessary. No, sir. I took it over there because two lights are better than one, and you know that. Q. Didn’t take it over because you recognized it was necessary? A. We needed it if we had to go into the bin, and certainly it is necessary — two lights are better than one. ... Q. Do you say a light over bin No. 4 was necessary for the safety of the men or a man working there? A. It would not be perfectly necessary, but it would be more safe to have two lights than it would be to have one. ” This last question, was objected to on the ground that it called for the conclusion of the witness, and was one of the questions for the jury to determine. Defendant introduced evidence *113•which showed that the work in question was attended with some danger. James Nelson, one of the defendant’s witnesses, who was also foreman in ’defendant’s-sampling mill, whereplaintiff was at work wheninjured, testified in part as follows: “Of course, a fellow wouldn ’t do to have his eyes shut around there. It was more dangerous than it was walking around on the hare floor, walking over those beams. ’ ’
Crellin was the foreman and representative of defendant company, and as such had the control and management of the work in which plaintiff was engaged, and as such foreman it was not only his duty, or rather that of defendant company acting through him, to provide plaintiff a reasonably safe place in which to perform the work required of him, but to use ordinary care in keeping it in a reasonably safe condition. The situation there being one of danger, as shown by defendant’s evidence, and Crellin having testified on direct examination respecting the number, location, and efficiency of the lamps, and that he had taken the extension or adjustable light from the' bin in which he and the plaintiff had been at work that same afternoon, and hung it over bin No. 4, it was.not only plaintiff’s right to cross-examine him respecting the things he actually did, but it was within the discretionary power of the court to permit plaintiff to interrogate him respecting his object and reason for doing certain things, especially in view of the fact that he was a “willing witness” for defendant and adverse to plaintiff. Jones on Evidence, sec. 826.
There is another reason why this testimony was admissible. The acts of Crellin in the premises, on principle and in law, were the acts of defendant company, and the plaintiff was entitled to this evidence for the purpose of showing that the place was one of danger, and that the defendant company, through its foreman, Crel-lin knew of such danger, and understood and appreciated the necessity of more than one lamp in the immediate vicinity of bin No. 4, in order that the work might be *114performed without exposing plaintiff to extraordinary and unnecessary hazards and dangers. In other words, the knowledge of Crellin in reference to these matters was knowledge to his principal. And again, as I have already stated and pointed out, the theory upon which the case was tried, both by plaintiff and defendant, was that the stationary lamp hereinbefore mentioned did not light up the interior of bin No. 4 after dark, and that additional light to that furnished by this stationary lamp was necessary at that point; the defendant claiming that on the evening in question the adjustable lamp was hanging over bin No. 4 and furnished an abundance of light whereas the claim and theory of plaintiff was that the only light at said bin was that produced by the two stationary lamps mentioned in "Wright’s testimony. Hence, under this theory of the case, the testimony was unimportant, except only so far as it tended to bring home to defendant knowledge of the conditions as they existed at that time, and the necessity of additional light to that furnished by the stationary lamps.
The next error alleged is the exclusion of Avery’s testimony with reference to the plank which other witnesses for defendant had testified to having seen lying across bin No. 4 just prior to the accident. It appears from the record that the plank in question was not a part of the bin; that is, it was not a fixture of or permanently attached to the bin. Crellin, defendant’s principal witness testified on his direct examination with reference to its character as follows: “Q. Now, do you know whether or not, in addition to this plank and ladder, there were any other loose material about the floor? A. You mean plank? Q. I mean plank. A. Yes, sir; there were several pieces of plank lying around there.” In fact the record shows that there was but little more permanency respecting the location of the plank than there was to the pick, shovels, and other tools with which the work there was performed.
Under these circumstances, in order to entitle appellant to Avery’s testimony that he saw a plank lying *115across bin No. 4 two or three hours after the accident occurred, it was incumbent upon it to show that the conditions a.t the bin were the same when Avery went to work as they were when plaintiff was hurt. True, Crel-lin made the sweeping statement that in the meantime no changes had taken place; but the record shows that he left the premises immediately after the accident, and accompanied the plaintiff to his home, a distance of about two miles from the mill, stayed with him from one-half to three-quarters of an hour, and returned to the smelter about ten minutes before the 11 o’clock shift went to work. Therefore, according to his own testimony, he was not in a position to know what took place a.t the bin between the time he left with Meyers at 8 or 9 o’clock and his return at 11 o’clock p. m. And the record shows that in the meantime ore was run into bin No. 4, and that conditions to some extent had changed. Under these circumstances and conditions I do not think it was an abuse of discretion for the court to exclude Avery’s testimony. If the plank'had been a fixture and attached to the bin, an entirely different rule would govern, but the record shows that it and other loose plank were used, among other things four-foot boards, and were frequently moved from one bin .to another.
I am of the opinion that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.