151 Wis. 149 | Wis. | 1912
The evidence as to the condition of the floor of the engine room and as to whether or not the engine room was sufficiently lighted is conflicting. The plaintiff’s testimony shows that the engine room was in an oily, greasy, and filthy condition, that oil dripped from the engine almost constantly, and that the floor was not kept clean. ITis testimony also is to the effect that the engine room was dark by reason of the fact that wire screens were placed over the windows, and the windows were not kept clean. On behalf of the defendant the testimony is that, while more or less oil and grease dripped from the engine, the engine room was cleaned
The basement floor, not including the engine room, was known as the garage, and was used by the defendant for repairing automobiles. The evidence shows that plaintiff was familiar with the use to which this floor was put and with the operations there carried on. In the west side of the garage there was a wash rack, and at the northeast corner there was a‘ bench where a steam pipe came out from the boiler room which' was used in blowing grease and dirt out of differential and gear casings. ■ Water was also used on the wash rack for the same purpose. On the morning in question some gear casings were blown out which deposited a great deal of dirt and grease on the floor. To the knowledge of plaintiff, the character of the work carried on in this room made the floor wet, greasy, or dirty at all times. In order to reach the engine room plaintiff crossed the garage diagonally from the southwest comer to the northeast comer, passing the wash rack and the bench where the grease was deposited on the floor in cleaning the differential and gear casings, and entered the engine room by descending the flight of steps in the northeast corner of the garage. He then went around the engine and generator, which stood in the center of the room, and came to the ladder. He went up to about the sixth rung to look at the fan, when his foot slipped on the rung and his hand
In treating the case we have assumed that the grease was on plaintiffs shoe at the time he slipped, that there was no grease on the ladder, and that the grease caused him to slip. These assumptions are perhaps more favorable to plaintiff than the evidence would warrant, especially as to the grease on the ladder. But, even indulging in these presumptions in favor of the plaintiff, the fact remains that it would be impossible to trace the grease on plaintiff’s shoe with reasonable certainty to an actionable cause for which defendant was responsible. This burden is placed upon every plaintiff in a personal injury action. It is incumbent upon him to show to a reasonable certainty that the defendant was negligent and that such negligence was the proximate cause of his injury. It is not sufEcient to show two or more causes, some of which are actionable and some of which are not, and from such evidence permit the jury to guess or speculate as to which one of the two occasioned the injury. Hyer v. Janesville, 101 Wis. 371, 77 N. W. 729; Hamann v. Milwaukee B. Co. 127 Wis. 550, 106 N. W. 1081; Schell v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 134 Wis. 142, 113 N. W. 657; Hart v. Neillsville, 141 Wis. 3, 123 N. W. 125; Stock v. Kern, 142 Wis. 219, 125 N. W. 447; Houg v. Girard L. Co. 144 Wis. 337, 129 N. W. 633; Samulski v. Menasha P. Co. 147 Wis. 285, 133 N. W. 142. The trial court, therefore, properly directed a verdict for the defendant because the evidence failed to disclose that defendant’s negligence, if any there was, constituted the proximate cause of plaintiff’s injury.
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.