Amato v. Sixth Avenue Railroad

29 N.Y.S. 51 | New York Court of Common Pleas | 1894

BISCHOFF, J.

In response to the call of a passenger, and intending to supply the latter with a paper, the plaintiff, a newsboy, jumped aboard one of the defendant’s cars. While standing on the front platform of the car in the act of supplying the passenger, the plaintiff was ordered off by the driver. The lad begged to be permitted to remain pending the passing of a truck, and did not at once leave the car, which was moving at the time. Heedless of the appeal, the driver violently pushed the lad, who fell off and under the car,, thus sustaining the injuries which have made him a cripple for life. True, the driver, called as a witness for' the defendant, denied that he pushed the lad; but there is nothing so intrinsically improbable' in the latter’s version of the accident that, in crediting him, we may say that a verdict in his favor was against the preponderance-of evidence. The defendant did not, when the introduction of evidence for both sides was concluded, ask that a verdict be directed in its favor. Neither was the motion for dismissal of the complaint renewed. It was conceded, therefore, that the evidence was sufficient to require its submission to the jury. Paige v. Chedsey, 4 Misc. Rep. 183, 23 N. Y. Supp. 879; Meyers v. Cohn, 4 Misc. Rep. 185, 23 N. Y. Supp. 996.

We assume that in boarding the defendant’s car, not intending to-become a passenger, the plaintiff, for the time being, was a trespasser. That fact, however, did not lawfully expose him to ejectment by unusual means or excessive force, nor license the defendant or its servants unnecessarily to inflict upon him bodily injury (Filkins v. People, 69 N. Y. 101; Kiff v. Youmans, 86 N. Y. 324; Loomis v. Terry, 17 Wend. 496); and whether or not the force used was excessive, or the means resorted to for the plaintiff’s expulsion were unusually dangerous and menacing to life or limb, was, in view of all the circumstances, a question of fact for the jury (Cooley, Torts,. 2d Ed., p. 194 et seq.). Defendant may lawfully prevént access by-a trespasser to its cars; and, if access has been gained, it may lawfully expel the trespasser, using for that purpose only necessary-force, in view of all the circumstances, and resorting to no means which unnecessarily menace the life or limb of the trespasser. It may lawfully delegate its authority in that regard to its servants, and “qui facit per alium facit per se.” Broom, Leg. Max. pp. 524,. 525; Cooley, Torts (2d Ed.) p. 625 et seq. Authority from the de fendant to its driver to expel trespassers is fairly to be implied from the employment. Wood, Mast. & S. p. 524 et seq. Hence, in ejecting the plaintiff from the car the driver was acting within his employment, and the rule “respondeat superior” applies. To that effect are the adjudged cases. Rounds v. Railroad Co., 64 N. Y. 129; Hoffman v. Railroad Co., 87 N. Y. 25; Clark v. Railroad Co., 40 Hun, 605, affirmed 113 N. Y. 670, 21 N. E. 1116; Day v. Railroad Co., 12 Hun, 435, affirmed 76 N. Y. 593. The judgment and order should be affirmed, with costs. All concur.