50 N.Y.S. 1032 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1898
Lead Opinion
The appellant contends that the respondents were chargeable with negligence in the selection and employment of an incompetent contractor to perform the work required. It is alleged in the complaint that Luther was then “engaged in business as a practical carpenter, mason, and builder,” but that he had no theoretical or practical knowledge of building or mason work; that he possessed none of the experience, knowledge, or qualifications necessary for a contractor to make the alterations provided for by the contract; that he was wholly without the information usually possessed by contractors, builders, and masons, and was wholly unfit and incompetent to enter into said contract, or to oversee or supervise the work. It
Under what circumstances may an employer be held liable upon the ground of negligence in selecting an incompetent and reckless contractor? What degree of care is required? Is knowledge of the incompetency essential? If the person selected is following for his vocation the particular employment, and holds himself out as competent therein, and the employer has no knowledge of his incómpetency, but innocently believes him to.be a competent and careful man, may he forbear further inquiry?
An able and careful author on negligence makes this statement:
“Some of the judges, in their opinions, have qualified the rule [as to independent contractors] by assuming that it is only applicable to cases where the proprietor has not been guilty of negligence in awarding a contract to a person incompetent, habitually negligent, or otherwise unfit to be intrusted with it. No case has been found, however, where a proprietor has been held answerable for the negligence of an independent contractor upon this ground alone.” 2 Thomp. Neg. 908.
In an action against the city of New York for damages caused by negligent blasting in excavating a street, the plaintiff offered to prove that the contractor who did the work “was notoriously incompetent to perform the work.” The offer was excluded, and the appellate court remarked that:
*1035 “The offer was not broad enough in offering merely the fact of the contractor being notoriously incompetent, without showing that the defendants had knowledge of such incompetency at the time of employment, or such facts as would show them guilty of negligence in making such contract. The corporation is not to be presumed to knpw more than other bodies corporate or individuals; and, if they are sought to be held liable for employing improper persons to do the work of the public, it can only be after knowledge of such incompetency is shown.” Kelly v. Mayor, etc., 4 E. D. Smith, 291.
This decision seems never to have been questioned or disapproved in express terms by any subsequent decision of the courts of this state. It was rendered subsequent to the decision in the same case reported in 11 N. Y. 432, and was not reversed thereby, as is erroneously stated in many of the books.
In Berg v. Parsons, 84 Hun, 60, 31 N. Y. Supp. 1091, the action was for damages caused by negligent blasting' on defendant’s premises, resulting in injuries to plaintiff’s house. It appears that the only steps taken by the defendant to ascertain the competency of the contractor was to inquire of a lawyer’s clerk, and he also claimed to have seen a piece of blasting done by the contractor which was reasonably well done. “But, from information that the defendant got in respect to the capabilities of the contractor, he was not informed that he had ever done the kind of work called upon to be done on this occasion. He had done some blasting for sewers, but nobody ever knew that he had excavated a cellar. We think, therefore, that the defendant did not, so far as this record discloses, perform that duty which is incumbent upon a man who is about to employ another to do a dangerous piece of work.” The jury foxmd that the defendant was negligent in this regard, bxrt the verdict was set aside for errors committed on the trial.
The case of Norwalk Gaslight Co. v. Borough of Norwalk, 63 Conn. 495, 28 Atl. 32, was also a case of negligent blasting. The court charged the jury that, if the contractors were xinskillful and incompetent to perform the work, and the defendant, knowing this, employed them, then the defendant would be liable for their negligence. It was held that this charge was erroneous, and imposed upon the defendant a too limited measure of liability; and that the defendant “would be liable as stated, not only in consequence of negligence, which would certainly be most gross, in knowingly employing incompetent contractors, but also in failing to exercise due and reasonable care to select such as were skillful and competent.”
As there is no evidence that the respondents did not exercise due and reasonable care in selecting the contractor, we are not called to declare what is, or should be deemed, the true principle of liability applicable to cases of this character. The fact that the contractor was negligent in respect of the work in question afforded no presumption that the respondents were guilty of negligence in having employed him. The respondents had the right to place reliance upon the supposed qualifications and good character of the contractor, and were not bound to anticipate misconduct on his part; so that, to make them responsible in this case, some participation in the particular acts through which the accident occurred must be brought home
The appellant asserts that the respondents are chargeable with the consequences, upon the ground that Thayer personally supervised and controlled the work. The general rule is that one who has contracted with a competent and fit person, exercising an independent employment, to do a piece of work, not in itself unlawful, or attended with danger to others, according to the contractor’s methods, and without his being subject to control, except as to the results of his work, will not be answerable for the wrongs of such contractor, his subcontractors, or his servants, in the prosecution of such work. 2 Thomp. Neg. 899, 909, 910. And see Hexamer v. Webb, 101 N. Y. 377, 383, 4 N. E. 755; Engel v. Eureka Club, 137 N. Y. 100, 32 N. E. 1052. The rule is thus well expressed by Sharswood, J., in Oil Co. v. Gilson, 63 Pa. St. 146:
“It may be considered as now settled that, if a person employs others, not as servants, but as mechanics or contractors in an independent business, and they are of good- character, if there was no want of due care in choosing- them, he incurs no liability for injuries resulting to others from their negligence or want of skill.”
When a contractor takes entire control of the work, the employer not interfering, the employer—supposing there was no negligence in the selection of the contractor and that the work contracted for was lawful—is not liable to third persons for injuries to such parties by the contractor’s negligence or the negligence of his subordinates. But any interference, assumption of control, or directions given by the owner of buildings, being erected for him by contractors, under a special agreement, may render him personally liable for injuries caused to third persons by the negligent conduct of such contractors in work done in obedience to such directions. Heffernan v. Benkard, 1 Bob. (N. Y.) 432. In other words, the employer may make himself' liable by interfering with the contractor and assuming control of the work, or of some part of it, so that the relation of master and servant arises, or so that an injury ensues which is traceable to his interference. But the mere fact that the employer retains a general supervision over the work, for the purpose of satisfying himself that the contractor carries out the stipulations of his contract, does not make him responsible for the negligence of the contractor. 2 Thomp. Neg. 913.
If the injury occurred in consequence of the negligent or unskillful performance of the work, the employer is not liable, provided he did not interfere with, and assume control of, and actually control, the work and the method and means of its performance. It is true that it is not the fact of actual interference and control, but the right to-interfere, which makes the difference between an independent contractor and a servant or agent. But when, as in this case, the relation is the former, it is then correct to say that the liability of the employer in such cases arises from the fact of actual interference- and control. Norwalk Gaslight Co. v. Borough of Norwalk, 63 Conn. 495, 525, 28 Atl. 32.
“The only point made by the appellant in this branch of the case is that the rule that the owner of premises is not liable for the negligent conduct of a contractor is not applicable, for the reason that the defendants in person directed portions of the work; but the finding in this respect does not disclose the nature of these directions, or that they had any connection with the injuries sustained by the plaintiff. On the contrary, the referee found that these were inflicted without the fault and against the wishes and advice of the defendants.”
The evidence is insufficient to warrant a submission to the jury of any question as to the respondents’ liability upon this ground.
There is no testimony that Thayer gave any directions as to how the iron work or masonry work should be done, or about the removal of the wall between líos. 8 and 10 Seneca street, or about the foundations of the iron columns. Indeed, it does not appear that he gave any directions whatever in respect of the methods of proceeding with the work, or that he exercised the right or power of directing and controlling the contractor as to the manner of its execution, or that any directions he may have given had any connection with the accident, or that the consequence was traceable to his interference. Ho right of control or direction of the work was reserved by the respondents in the contract. All that appears is that Thayer was about the building nearly every day and saw what was going on. Ho doubt he possessed a general knowledge as to building constructions, but he was not a builder, and did not, apparently, possess such a theoretical or practical knowledge of the subject as would warrant his interference in directing the contractor in the method or mode of construction. “It would be unreasonable to require an unskilled person to point out to a skilled person in what way the work should be done.” Earl v. Beadleston, 42 N. Y. Super. Ct. 300. He could not properly do so, for the contractor is generally skilled in the business and the employer is not. It is argued that the dangerous character of the mode of working was patent, and that Thayer must have been aware of it. If that were so, it would naturally be expected that he would have taken some means to prevent or avoid the catastrophe. Workmen of experience were engaged upon the work, and yet they made no complaint that the building was in danger of collapsing.
It is also contended that the respondents failed to file with the superintendent of buildings sufficient plans and specifications for the contemplated alterations or improvements, as required by section 292 of the city charter, and the omission to do so is asserted as a basis of liability for the negligence of the contractor in the execution of the work. The charter provision relates to “the construction or remodeling of any building,” and it is argued by.the respondents that the alterations provided for in this contract did not amount to "a remodeling” of the building, within the meaning of this requirement; that to remove a partition wall on the ground floor between two of the small stores on Seneca street and the rear wall on the same floor, so as to open into the Main street store, was not a remodeling of this large building; that it is plans and specifications “of the building”
Appellant further contends that the failure of the respondents to efliploy an architect in connection with these alterations, as contemplated by the contract, was an element of negligence, for the consideration of the jury, taken in connection with all the other circumstances of the case. The contract provided that the work should be done to the satisfaction of Mr. Esenwein, architect; that no alteration should be made in the work shown or described by the drawings and specifications, except upon his written order, etc. This provision -was disregarded, except in so far that the architect was engaged to pass upon the work when completed, and Thayer testified that he intended to have him in case of an emergency. “The proprietor usually retains control by a skilled architect, not for the purpose of controlling the contractor in his methods, but for the purpose of assuring himself that the results enumerated in the specifications of the contract are reached by the contractor step by step, as the work progresses.” 2 Thomp. Neg. 914. There is no authority for the proposition that the employment of an architect to make plans and specifications for work of this character, and to supervise the work in its progress to completion, is a legal duty owing by the employer either to the contractor or to third persons. We are not aware of any such rule of law. An architect is usually retained for the protection of the proprietor. If there was no negligence imputable to the proprietor in the employment of the contractor, or negligence in other respects, the failure to employ an architect does not constitute a breach of duty owing to the public, and is no evidence of negligence in the execution of the work. In this case, certainly, there can be no liability on any such ground, considering that the contract "was made with a builder believed to be a competent and careful man; that the work was to be done according to a plan which had been examined and approved by the bureau of buildings; that, had the work been done in accordance with the plan as approved by the official inspectors, there probably would have been no accident; and that the work, when completed, was to be approved by the architect. In view of these circumstances, we are unable to perceive that the nonemployment of the architect was a contribu ling-
From the views thus expressed, it follows that we are of the opinion that the learned justice at trial term was justified in granting a nonsuit, and in denying the motion for a new trial on the minutes. Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.
HARDIN, P. J., and FOLLETT, J., concur.
Dissenting Opinion
It is an undisputed fact in this case that the defendants Thayer & Hastings, as the agents of the defendant Brown, were charged by their principal with the supervision of the work to be performed under the contract with the defendant Luther, for the reconstruction of the building in question. On the 24th day of April, 1896, the defendant Brown wrote Thayer & Hastings as follows:
“We, of course, rely on your careful observation as regards the specific and proper carrying out by Mr. Luther of his contract, and, when finished, as to its completeness.”
In response to this letter the parties to whom it was addressed, under date of April 25th, say:
“Please accept our thanks for your reliance and confidence in us, ■ which we will assuredly exert ourselves to merit in attending to your best interests in the matter, looking to the details of the work as it progresses, and making payments only after it is thoroughly and properly done.”
The defendant Hastings testified that he and Thayer knew that it was their duty to watch Luther, and see that he fully performed his contract, and he further testified that before making payments he personally inspected the work. It also appears that both Thayer and Hastings were men of experience, and that one, if not both, of them was quite familiar with the business of constructing and reconstructing buildings by contract. It is quite obvious, therefore, that if they had been at all faithful to the obligation which was cast upon them by' their principal, as they assured him they would be, they must have observed the means employed by Luther to perform the work called for by his contract, and they must also have known that he was performing that work regardless of the instructions of the bureau of buildngs in the city of Buffalo, and in a manner which was grossly negligent. It is impossible to read the record in this case without reaching the conclusion that the proximate cause of the disaster which resulted in the plaintiff’s injuries was the violation of, or failure to observe, the instructions given by the city inspector of buildings; and it seems equally clear that men of average intelligence and ordinary experience not only ought to have known that these instructions were not being observed, but they ought to have anticipated just the result
WARD, J., concurs.