Drathman v. Cohen, 73 P. 181

Drathman v. Cohen

73 P. 181 | Cal. | 1903

This is an action against the defendants to recover damages suffered by the plaintiff from the alleged negligence of the defendants. Answers were filed, and the case tried by a jury, resulting in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, whereupon the defendants moved for a new trial, upon several grounds, among which was that of the insufficiency of the evidence to justify the verdict. The court granted the motion upon that ground alone, and from the order granting the motion the plaintiff appeals.

In the granting of new trials, the trial court has much *311 discretion in considering whether or not the evidence justifies the verdict. Its duty is to grant the new trial whenever, upon the whole case, it believes that injustice has been done in that respect. Upon considering the evidence, as set forth in the transcript, we cannot say that the court erred in holding that the verdict in this case was not justified by the evidence.

The plaintiff, however, claims that the specifications of insufficiency of the evidence contained in the statement on motion for a new trial are not sufficient to present the question. The charge in the complaint against the defendants was, that they were engaged in manufacturing picture-frames, mirrors, and moldings; that in connection with the manufacture there was a rip-saw which was used to cut boards into strips; that the plaintiff was ignorant of the method of operating the saw, and had had no experience therein, and was ignorant of the dangers attending the same, all of which the defendants well knew; that defendants also knew that the operation of said saw was attended with danger, but nevertheless negligently directed plaintiff to run the said saw and cut therewith certain pieces of board, and neglected to instruct him touching the work, or warn him of the difficulties or dangers attending the same; that thereupon plaintiff proceeded to operate the saw, and in so doing, by reason of his ignorance of the dangers and of the manner of operating the same, his hand came in contact with the saw, and he was injured. The answer denies specifically the allegations of negligence on the part of defendants, and affirmatively avers that the injuries of plaintiff were caused by the negligence of the plaintiff. The specifications of insufficiency of the evidence to justify the verdict were in part as follows: "1st. It clearly appears from the evidence that plaintiff's injuries were caused by his own carelessness and negligence, and it also clearly appears from the evidence that plaintiff knew that the work of cutting boards by means of a circular rip-saw driven by steam-power was attended with danger. 2d. It clearly appears from the evidence that plaintiff had sufficient means of information to charge him with knowledge of the danger of cutting boards by means of a circular rip-saw driven by steam-power, and that he sustained the injuries complained of through his own carelessness while attempting to perform said work. 3d. It *312 clearly appears from the evidence that before commencing the work of cutting the boards, plaintiff was asked by the proprietor of the mill whether he could do the work, to which he replied that he guessed he could, and thereupon the proprietor of the mill replied: `I want to feel that I won't have any accident happen.' Thereby plaintiff was cautioned by the proprietor of the mill that it was dangerous to use that saw for the purpose of cutting those boards without knowing how to do the work. And it further clearly appears from the evidence that, notwithstanding such caution, plaintiff proceeded to do the work. . . . And it furthermore appears that said injuries were caused by his own carelessness, and that plaintiff assumed all the risks attending the performance of said work. . . . 5th. The evidence clearly shows that plaintiff was not ignorant of the dangers attending the cutting of the boards with that circular rip-saw driven by steam-power. 6th. The evidence clearly shows that plaintiff had not been instructed by his employers, or either of them, to saw the wood."

The plaintiff criticises the form of the statement in these specifications, his theory being that, instead of stating the insufficiency in the positive form, it should adopt a negative form of expression. For illustration, that instead of saying that "It clearly appears from the evidence that plaintiff knew that the work" was attended with danger, the form should be, "The evidence is insufficient to show that plaintiff did not know that the work was attended with danger." Although the latter form is preferable, the meaning is precisely the same, and the criticism goes to form rather than substance. No person acquainted with the English language could have any difficulty in ascertaining from these specifications that the defendants claimed that the evidence was insufficient to prove the allegations that the plaintiff was ignorant of the dangers of the work he undertook and that the defendant instructed him to do the work and neglected to inform or warn him of the dangers attending the same, nor that it was claimed that the evidence was insufficient to justify the verdict because it proved that the injury was received by reason of the plaintiff's own negligence. If the evidence showed the facts stated in the specifications, then it was clearly insufficient to justify the verdict. *313

The appellant relies upon the decisions in Dawson v. Schloss,93 Cal. 201; Kumle v. Grand Lodge A.O.U.W., 110 Cal. 204, Adamsv. Helbing, 107 Cal. 302; Baird v. Peall, 92 Cal. 238; Haight v.Tryon, 112 Cal. 6; De Molera v Martin, 120 Cal. 548.) The strongest case, and the one usually cited upon objections to specifications of this character, is De Molera v. Martin,120 Cal. 548. If the decision in that case were followed, perhaps the specifications here in question would be declared insufficient; but experience has proven that the rule there laid down was too strict, and that it has been productive of evil and not good. Perhaps some of the other cases cited may also tend to establish the same rule. But latterly the court has been more liberal in such matters, and the rule now followed is stated in Americanetc. Co. v. Packer, 130 Cal. 459, as follows: "Whenever there is a reasonably successful effort to state `the particulars,' and they are such as may have been sufficient to inform the opposing counsel and the court of the grounds, and the trial court has entertained and passed upon the motion, . . . . this court ought not to refuse to consider the case on appeal, and especially where, as in this case, the transcript shows that all the evidence has been brought up." (Stuart v. Lord, 138 Cal. 672;Owens v. Pomona etc Co., 131 Cal. 530; Standard Quicksilver Co.v. Habishaw, 132 Cal. 124.) In the case at bar, also, the record shows that it contains all the evidence taken on the trial. We therefore hold that the specifications are sufficient.

The order is affirmed.

Angellotti, J., and Van Dyke, J., concurred.

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