Gardner v. Friederich

| N.Y. App. Div. | Feb 15, 1898

Green, J.:

The cause of action alleged in the complaint arose out of the same accident involved in the case of Wittenberg v. Friederich (8 A.D. 433" court="N.Y. App. Div." date_filed="1896-07-01" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/wittenberg-v-friederich-5180930?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="5180930">8 App. Div. 433, 439).

In that action the plaintiff was nonsuited as to the defendants Friederich, and the jury found a verdict against Seitz for $4,000. Upon appeal by the plaintiff from the judgment, entered upon the non-suit the same was-affirmed. . Upon appeal by the defendant Seitz from the judgment and the order denying a motion for a new trial the same were affirmed. The plaintiff there was an employee of the Friederichs. The complaint was framed upon the theory that the accident was attributable solely to the defective and unsafe condition of the floor of the building, and there was no allegation charging the Friederichs with any negligence in the construction of the brick wall, nor ■ in respect of overloading the floor with brick and mortar. It'.appears that the evidence was directed to showing the use of improper materials and improper construction in erecting the floor which fell, for which Seitz was held responsible. It was also sought to hold the Friederichs responsible for the injury occasioned to their employee upon the principle that, although Seitz was an independent contractor, it was their duty to properly inspect the construction and condition, of the floor to ascertain its' safety before permitting their employees to be put in a position of danger. And no charge of negligence was made against them on account of any overloading of the floor or of defective masonry. After the decision of the appeals referred to, the complaint herein was amended so as to charge all the defendants generally with negligence in constructing the building in an unsafe, improper and unworkmanlike manner, in using improper and defective materials in its construction, in permitting, directing and allowing their employees to deposit mortar and bricks upon the top floor, which was not properly built, supported or maintained, thereby making it dangerous and unsafe for any person to be upon it; in allowing the plaintiff and others to go and be upon this floor; in not giving notice or warning of its unsafe condition, and in not having proper overseers and inspectors to examine the work of constructing the building and see that it was properly done and that proper and sufficient materials were used.

The plaintiff Gardner was an employee of the Rochester Bridge and Iron Works Company, whose duty it was to furnish the iron materials required in the construction of the building, and was injured while engaged in the performance of his duties on the top floor at the time of the accident.

In the former action of Wittenberg the court remarked : “The difficulty in this case, which has provoked much discussion and contention, arises from the fact that it is claimed that, after the accident, it was impossible to obtain any adequate and satisfactory explanation, of its proximate' cause. * * * It may be assumed that the precise cause of the accident has not been made to clearly appear.” (Pp. 441, 442;) All.the facts and circumstances alleged and proven in that ease were, given in evidence' upon the trial of this action, and much more in addition. In the present case the defendants Seitz and the Friederichs assumed a position of direct antagonism^, and each, endeavored to throw the responsibility for ' the accident upon the other. As a result of the contest between them, the particular acts or omissions attributable to each in ■the performance of their respective duties in and about the construction, of the building were pretty fully .disclosed by. the ■ evidence presented, and the causes or combination of causes that contributed to produce. the accident were revealed, in so far as it-was possible, under the circumstances, to discover and make them known to the jury. That the evidence adduced was sufficient in law for the consideration of a. jury, and to warrant a finding in favor. of the plaintiff for the damages sustained by reason of an accident of the character disclosed, we have no doubt. But the particular point in controversy is,, against whom, justly, should the verdict have, been rendered ? Who was responsible for the accident, Seitz or the Friederichs, or both? Were the acts of commission or omission-attributable to Seitz done or omitted in violation- of any duty he owed either to the plaintiff -or to the: Friederichs ? Did the latter-do or neglect to do any act that it was their duty to' do or omit in view of the situation, condition and the state of affairs then existing? Were they of a-negligent.character, and ,did they contribute to the catastrophe ? The jury was empowered to determine the responsibility from all the circumstances of the case, and it came to the conclusion that neglience was imputable to the Freiderichs, and accordingly fixed the liability upon them and acquitted the defends ant Seitz. The Friederichs contend upon this appeal, as. they did upon the trial, that the negligent acts or omissions of Seitz were the proximate cause of the accident, and that he alone (if any one) was'responsible for the consequences.- It is true that (assuming the floor fell first) the evidence would warrant the inference that the' cutting of the mortise into the beam and the boring of the holqthrough it were contributing causes, and that the accident 'would not ' or might not have happened if that-had not been done, notwithstanding that a large quantity of brick and mortar had been placed upon the floor by the Friederichs’ employees. But the question would still remain whether negligence was imputable to Seitz in not foreseeing that the floor would be used in the manner and under the circumstances it was used by the Friederichs, the contractors, and in failing to -render it more secure for the purpose of holding a considerable quantity of brick and mortar. And assuming that the jury would have been warranted in finding that Seitz was chargeable with negligence, a question would remain for consideration, i. e., whether the act of the Friederichs in imposing the additional weight upon the floor in the condition it then was, incomplete and temporarily supported, contributed to produce the casualty and was a negligent act in view of all the circumstances of the case. If the concurrent or successive negligence of two persons combined together results in an injury to a third person, he may recover damages of either or both; and this rule obtains, although it may be difficult to determine in what proportion each of the wrongdoers contributed to the injury. (2 Thomp. Neg. 1088.) The fact that another person contributed, either before the defendant’s interposition or concurrently with such interposition, in producing the damage is no defense. ' (Whart. Neg. § 144.) In Slater v. Mersereau (64 N.Y. 138" court="NY" date_filed="1876-02-08" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/slater-v--mersereau-3625363?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="3625363">64 N. Y. 138) the court remarked: “ It is true the defendant and-Moore and Bryant were not jointly interested in reference to the separate acts which produced the damages. Although they acted independently of each other, they did act at the same time in causing the damages, etc., each contributing towards it, and although the act of each, alone and of itself, might not have caused the entire injury, under the circumstances presented, there is no good reason why each should not be liable for the damages caused by the different acts of all. * * * Here, also, the contractor and sub-contractors were separately negligent, and although such negligence was not concurrent, yet the negligence of both these parties contributed to produce the damages caused at one. and the same time.” (See, also, Chipman v. Palmer, 77 N. Y. 54; Durkin v. Sharp, 88 id. 225.)

This case would appear to come within the general rule that where men of ordinary prudence and discretion, upon consideration of all the circumstances of the case, the positions óf the parties,, the situation .and condition of- things existing, may differ as td the character, of the a'et claimed to be negligent, the question should be-decided as- one of fact. And where the inferences to be drawn •from the proof are not certain and incontrovertible, the .question must be submitted to the jury and cannot properly be decided as a matter of law by directing a verdict or nonsuit..

The counsel for -the respective parties have .carefully reviewed ■and commented upon the evidence, called attention to the salient •points and drawn the deductions and inferences most favorable to their respective views of the controversy. We deem it unnecessary to enter into a full discussion of the evidence, or to present the arguments and contentions suggested thereby, as we are satisfied that the court below would not .’have been justified in nonsuiting the .plaintiff or in directing a -verdict for.,the defendants Eriederieh.. Whenever there is any doubt, as to the-facts, it is the province of the jury to determine not only what they are, but what are the proper inferences to be drawn from them. Whether the facts be disputed or undisputed, if different minds may honestly, draw different conclusions from them, the case should prop-. erly be left; to the jury. But, of course, there must be .evidence upon which they might reasonably and properly conclude that there was negligence. The cases arising often present such a variety of circumstances that it is eminently proper that the degree of care and circumspection demanded of persons in various situations should be determined by the triers of fact. “It is this class of cases, and those akin to it,, that the law commits 'to the decision of a jury. Twelve men of the average of the1 community, comprising men of ■education and ■ men of little education, .men of learning and men whose learning consists only in what they have themselves seen and ■heard —- the merchant,, the mechanic, the farmer, the laborer —■ these sit together, consult, apply their separate experience of the affairs of. life -to the facts proven, and draw a unanimous conclusion. This average judgment thus given it is, the great effort of the law to obtain.”' (17 Wall. 664.) It would be a rather difficult undertaking for this court to assume and determine,' as a matter of law* and in opposition to the finding of the. jury, that the defendant Seitz, and not the Eriederichs, is the person who should have been held solely responsible for the consequences of the casualty. And it is no defense for a person against whom negligence which caused damage is proved, to prove that another person assisted in contributing to the result. The appellate court is limited in its power to review the findings of fact by a jury, to the inquiry whether there was any fair, reasonable and proper evidence to warrant the conclusion arrived at, "even though the court, if it were in the position of the jury, would probably have decided the matter the other way.

The court was justified in submitting the questions which it did submit to the jury, and the verdict rendered should be sustained, unless there were errors committed by the court in its rulings upon the trial.

It is claimed in behalf of the appellants Friederich that the learned judge at the trial committed various errors in his rulings upon questions of the admission and rejection of evidence, and in his refusals to charge as requested, and we will now proceed to an examination of such alleged errors.

The plaintiff’s witness Howard, who had described in detail the situation as it existed immediately after the accident, was asked on cross-examination by the counsel for the defendants Friederich this: “ Q. The appearance then indicated, did it not, that the floor in falling had pushed the wall outward ? ” Mr. Harris objected in behalf of the defendant Seitz, as calling for a conclusion. The objection was sustained, and the defendants Friederich excepted. The Court: “ He may state what the facts were.” The witness then proceeded to make the statement in detail as indicated by the court. The plaintiff did not make the objection, but it was made by the defendant Seitz, and the court ruled that the witness might state what the facts were, instead of stating a mere opinion. The appellants had the benefit of all the facts pertaining to the appearance and condition of the building as it existed after the accident, so they were not in any manner prejudiced by the refusal of the court to allow the witness to state the conclusion at which he had arrived, and its exclusion does not present error calling for a reversal of the judgment.

There was no prejudicial error committed by the judge at the trial in receiving evidence respecting the post under .the beam, and the adequacy of the support of the beam. The evidence was clearly competent as against Seitz, and the exception was joint, when there should' have been a separate objection by the Friederichs. The court should have been requested to limit its effect to Seitz by ¡appropriate instructions. ■

One of the plaintiff’s'witnesses was asked what kind of 'material was put into the south wall; this was objected to. The objection was overruled and' an exception taken by appellants, who claimed that this was prejudicial. As the charge Of negligence is not predicated upon the construction of the east wall alone, it would seem that this exception might be disregarded. •. If the floor was. unduly loaded, the Friederichs might be held responsible therefor.

The plaintiff was asked if there was any reason why the' truss could not have been completed the day of the accident! This was objected to by the Friederichs and an exception taken to the overruling of such objection.. The answer was, not that he could see. Apparently, this answer is of no particular consequence.;. The appellants argue that they had nothing to do with the construction of the truss. There is evidence tending to show that the truss could have been completed before the walls were finished; that it was the appellants’ duty to furnish iron' beams, etc., for the tiébeams, without which the latter could not have been completed; that they were responsible for the condition of the. floor, in so far as they made it dangerous by overloading it with bricks and mortar. The answer of the witness did not throw the responsibility upon the appellants for failure to complete the truss without the other evidence. '

The court did not err in excluding appéllants’ offer to show a custom to use the floor as standing room for men and materials. The appellants claimed that they had a right to show that they were using the floor in the usual and ordinary way in doing their part of the work, and thus to establish ordinary care. But this offer did not go to prove that other contractors would, under the same circumstances, do the same thing in the same way. Such evidence would not establish that, under all the circumstances existing in the case, it was a prudent thing to do. It also appears that one of the appellants testified that Seitz knew he would use the floor to put men and material on; “ that is the custom; I have built a good many buildings with Seitz, and that is the way we always do.” So the appellants had the benefit of the evidence showing what the custom was between the Friedericlis and Seitz.

Of course, it was clearly evident to the jury that the floor would necessarily be more or less used by the workmen, and that that was to be expected; but the question was, whether Seitz expected it would be loaded with a large quantity of brick and material; and in view of the fact that the Friedericlis knew that Seitz had not and could not then complete his work in respect to making the floor perfectly safe, custom cannot relieve appellants from having loaded the floor as though it had been entirely completed. And it should be further observed that, as to the appellants’ right to use this floor, the court charged, at their request, as favorably to them as they were were entitled, and no exception was taken to such charge. The appellants, therefore, were not prejudiced by the ruling of. the court excluding their offer to show custom, and we are of the opinion there, was no error presented by such ruling.

One Madden, the architect’s assistant, was called as a witness by defendant Seitz and asked this: “ Q. What took place between you and Mr. Seitz on the subject of making an alteration in regard to that plate? The defendants Friederich objected. The objection was overruled and exception taken. A. I cannot recall the circumstances, but I know .why it was done. That is, that it would mar the ceiling; I agreed to have it cut in.” A similar question was also put to the defendant Seitz, and he Was allowed to answer the same over objection and exception by the defendants Friederich.

Since these questions were not asked by the plaintiff, how can they affect the verdict ? The purpose of the questions put by Seitz •was to relieve himself from responsibility, and it would seem to be proper, as between him and the Friedericlis, to show how the mortise came to be cut. Seitz had a right to this evidence in support of his defense against .the plaintiff’s claim, notwithstanding the Friedericlis’ objection. So far as this exception is concerned, it is a matter between the co-defendants alone. The circumstances under which the defendant Seitz cut this mortise would appear to be material and proper evidence. It was proper for him to give such evidence as tended to relieve him from the charge of negligence. The Friedericlis contend that they were not responsible for cutting the mortise; that if it was improper to cut it, the assent of an architectural draftsman was no justification, but that it made Seitz’s duty of adequately supporting the beam more obvious and imperative. It is contended that it was the Friederichs’ duty to examine the strength of it and ascertain whether it would hold before placing the large quantity of brick and mortar upon the floor ; that if they had made any attempt at inspection, they would have discovered the holes in the mortise ; that Adam Friederich saw this tiebeam ; that he saw the post and the carpenter at work upon the tiebeam. and the post. Under the issues raised upon the trial, we are of the opinion that this evidence was competent.

Upon the trial the counsel for -defendant Seitz framed a hypothetical question upon the evidence, shelving a state of facts as claimed by Seitz to have existed, and his expert witness Kuiehling was asked to say, under such a state of facts, Avhich broke and fell first, the beam or the wall ? This was objected to by the defendants Friederich, and the objection was overruled and an exception taken by them.- Previous to the asking of this hypothetical question, the appellants’ own witness, Architect Warner, introduced the subject by giving his opinion “ from the appearance of things,” as lie observed them, and testifying from that, that in his opinion the tiebeam broke first. And afterwards the appellants put the identical hypothetical question, to which they make objection, to their witness Brown, and Brown answered the samé contrary to the .answer of the witness Kuichling. I cannot perceive that there is any sound reason Avhy the exception, assuming it to be technically correct, should warrant a reversal. The'object of the-hypothetical question Avas to relieve Seitz from liability and throw the responsibility upon the appellants. The tendency of it was to relieve Seitz from liability to the plaintiff, and the plaintiff made no objection to it and does not complain of it. This again raises the interesting question, how far will the admission of incompetent evidence, as between the co-defendants, jointly and severally liable in'tort, justify a, reversal of a verdict rendered in favor of the plaintiff, who did not put the question, or. make any objection to it ? If co-defendants so situated' as these should agree together to inject into a case incompetent evidence, and should succeed in having the same admitted over objection and exception taken by one of the defendants, a plaintiff who had obtained a righteous verdict would be pre■eluded from enjoying the fruits of the same if the court should decree to sustain exceptions thus taken, in which the plaintiff had no part, and over which he had no control. This would be unjust to the plaintiff; and I do not believe he should be affected by such exceptions. Certainly the plaintiff in this case should not be affected by the exception now under review if there be sufficient evidence for the jury that the Friederichs were chargeable with negligence. The negligence of Seitz is no defense to them.

In response to a request made by the plaintiff, the court charged that it. was Seitz’s duty to put up an adequate support for the purpose of holding the beam to enable him to construct the framework according to the conditions of the contract; but that he was not required to put up any supports unless he made the contract with Friederich ■& Sons that he would do so for the pxirp>ose of holdmg whatever brick might be put on the floor. Under the evidence in the case it is so clearly apparent that this charge was not erroneous in that particular that it needs no discussion.

Plaintiff requested the court to charge that Seitz, knowing that the floor was to be used by the Friederichs as a place for their men and materials, was negligent, unless lie used reasonable care and properly supported it for that use. In response the court said: “ No, gentlemen, umder the contract he did not owe any duty to prop up this floor so as to enable them to lay the brick wall. He was bound to exercise reasonable prudence and care in executing the work that he was required to do under the contract; and, if the accident occurred by his failure to exercise reasonable care and prudence, then he might be liable:” This was excepted to by the appellants. The plaintiff asked this instruction for himself and not in behalf of the Friederichs. It is evident that the court had reference to the placing of an unreasonable quantity of bricks and mortar ujion the floor. It was properly left to the jury to determine whether, under all the circumstances, Seitz used due care. The request made just jneceding the one under consideration related .to supports and not to the tiebeam. The court had also charged that the Friederichs had a right to use the floor and were not negligent in putting bricks and mortar there. Taken in connection with the balance of the charge, I believe there was no error committed by the court in the portion of the charge thus made.

Defendant Seitz requested an instruction that he was not required by the terms of the contract to support the heam which broke by means of the post — as to the plaintiff'. In response the court said : “ I am inclined to think that he was not required to prop up that beam for the benefit of the plaintiff. He was required to use all ordinary care and prudence, including skill, in the erection of the timbers and in carrying out his part of the contract according to the plans and specifications and nothing more.” To this the defendants Frederich excepted. The refusal to charge as requested was prejudicial to the plaintiff, but he does not complain. The, remarks of the court, related particularly to the duty of Seitz toward the plaintiff, and, if the Friederichs desired to protect them- • selves against any prejudicial remarks of the court, they should have requested proper instructions in respect to the duties required by the contract, under the circumstances of the case, to be performed by Seitz as regarded themselves. The attention of the court should have been specifically called to this matter; besides, the remarks of the court should be taken in connection with the whole charge and other requests made or refused, and not as entirely disconnected from that which preceded or followed. The exception does not present error calling for a reversal of this judgment as to the defendants Friederich.

The plaintiff asked the court to instruct the jury that Seitz did not perform his full duty by merely properly supporting the floor and joists; but that, if he knew that the Friederichs were to use the floor for their men and materials, and he allowed them to use it, he was bound to properly support it for the men and materials. In response, the court, after alluding to the duty of Seitz toward his own servants^ said: “ But, so far as the Friederichs were concerned and their servants, Seitz had no Control over them. He could not dictate to Friederichs that they could not take any brick up on the attic floor.” The Friederichs excepted to the charge so made, but took no exception to the omission or refusal to charge the proposition requested. The plaintiff was asking instructions in respect 'of Seitz’s duty towards himself, and not in behalf of the Friederichs, nor in regard to Seitz’s obligations towards them. The remarks of the court excepted to were proper. The court did not expressly refuse the request, and no exception was taken to that.

The defendants Friederich excepted “to that portion of the charge where the court charged, in substance, that Seitz was not required to prop up this floor for the purpose of enabling the Friederichs to put brick upon it or to enable his men to work upon it.”

It is perfectly apparent from other portions of the charge, or instructions given by the court, that the court had reference to the placing of a large or unusual quantity of bricks upon the floor while it was left in its then incomplete condition, and, taken in connection with the entire charge, the portion of the charge above excepted to presents no error.

The defendants Friederich excepted to the charge, in substance, that the jury was to say whether the Friederichs were negligent in building the walls; also whether the floor was overloaded.

There was evidence that there was a large quantity of bricks and mortar upon the floor when the accident occurred, and whether that was a negligent act and a contributing cause of the accident, was for the jury. The construction of the wall might have been proper and safe and no accident happened, had it not been for the bricks placed upon the uncompleted floor, and if there had been no rain and the walls had not been “ green,” and the mortar had had time to cohere. All of the evidence of this character was proper upon the subject of the negligence of these defendants, and was for the jury.

The court was asked to charge that, if the jury was unable to determine whether the accident was caused by the breaking of the beam or falling of the wall, then there could be no recovery against the Friederichs. The court, in response, said: “ I decline to Vary my charge upon that point.” The appellants contend that this matter was not even alluded to in the charge. If that be true, then it was the duty of the counsel to call the court’s attention to the omission. The appellants were charged with negligence in respect to placing too heavy a weight upon the floor, in the condition in which it was left, and there was some evidence in respect to the wall.

The court was requested to charge that, if the jury concluded that there was no overloading of the floor, in case it was properly constructed, “ then there can be no recovery against the Friederichs, if they were not negligent in constructing the wall. The

Court: I decline to vary my charge upon that point.” The appellants’’ counsel asserts that .this was error, as the subject had not been mentioned in the charge. If the court had failed to charge, specifically as to the proposition requested, counsel should have pointed out the-omission and corrected the court.

The court had charged repeatedly, and in general terms, in respect; to the relative duties of the co-defendants toward each other, in . respect to the matter of the- tiebeams and their supports, and as to-the placing of materials thereon, and the ruling of the court presents no error.

In response to a request to charge that the Eriederichs were warranted in assuming that Seitz would support the tiebeams, so as to-mate them safe for the usual work upon the floor above, the. court, said: “I so charge as to the usual work, but it is for the jury to-determine whether this, work was the usual work, or whether the floor was overloaded.” And again, “ There is no question but what. . he had a right to usé the floor, but, gentlemen, you must determine whether he used it as a prudent, discreet man would have used it, Drought to have used it under the circumstances, -and you may take into-consideration the condition the floor was in at the time.” The court, refused to charge that there was no evidence that the wall was overloaded at the moment when the accident happened. The charge as-made, and the -refusal to charge as requested, present- no error: The-court was justified, under the evidence given upon this trial, to submit the question of the negligence of the. defendants to the jury. Such question was fully and fairly submitted by the court to the-jury, and that body has -passed upon the question and found that, under the evidence in this case, these appellants were guilty of the negligence which caused the injury to the plaintiff.

The evidence is sufficient to justify and uphold such a verdict.

The order should be affirmed, with costs.

All concurred.

Order affirmed, with costs.