Court Opinion

ID: 5496378
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 02:52:52.310918+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:49.429522
License: Public Domain

Martin, J.
A careful examination of the evidence in this case has led us to the conclusion that it was sufficient to justify the court in submitting the *218question of the defendant’s negligence to the jury. Ellis v. Railroad Co., 95 N. Y. 546; Gottlieb v. Railroad Co., 100 N. Y. 462, 3 N. E. Rep. 344. Nor do we think it can be held as a matter of law that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. Under the evidence, the question of plaintiff’s contributory negligence was for the jury, and was properly submitted to it. Thurber v. Railroad Co., 60 N. Y. 326; Massoth v. Canal Co., 64 N. Y. 529; Stackus v. Railroad Co., 79 N. Y. 464; Halsey v. Railroad Co., 12 N. Y. St. Rep. 319, (affirmed in court of appeals March, 1889,) 20 N. E. Rep. 876, mem.
The defendant claims that the writing or paper signed by the plaintiff, wherein it was stated that he agreed that the defendant should in no case be liable to him for any damage or injury to his person or property by reason of the negligence of the defendant or its employes, was a bar to the recovery in this action. This instrument was signed by the plaintiff while he was in the defendant’s employ. His employment preceded the execution of the agreement, and continued until the time of his injury. When it was signed there was no agreement between the parties as to any future employment of the plaintiff by the defendant. It was without any new consideration whatever. The plaintiff did not read it, nor did he know its contents. Without deciding or discussing the question as to the validity of such an agreement, when founded upon a good and sufficient consideration and fairly understood by the parties, we are of the opinion that this agreement was without a sufficient consideration to support it, and that the trial court committed no error in holding that it was not a bar to this action. The appellant has called our attention to no errors of the court in the admission or rejection of evidence, or in its charge to the jury, and we have found none that would seem to require discussion or justify a reversal of the judgment herein; hence it follows that the judgment and order should be affirmed. Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.
Hardin, P. J., concurs. Merwin, J., not sitting.