118 Ga. 525 | Ga. | 1903
Mrs. Ludd brought suit against Wilkins for damages for the homicide of her husband, alleging that it was brought about by the negligence of the defendant. The judge granted a nonsuit, and this is the error assigned. The defendant was engaged as a contractor in constructing in the city of Atlanta what is known as the Whitehall street viaduct. The husband of the plaintiff was an employee engaged at work upon the viaduct, and at the time of receiving the injury which resulted in his death was engaged in putting in place a piece of iron and standing on or near iron brackets which received these iron pieces. Planks had been placed, extending from one bracket to the other, for employees to stand upon while engaged at work. These planks were apt to slip off the brackets. There was evidence that this slipping could have been prevented by nailing pieces under each end of the plank, or by putting a bolt through each end pr a ten-penny nail, or by tying the plank to the bracket. None of these methods were adopted. The plank was laid loosely upon the brackets. There is no evidence that there were any defects in any of the planks. The plank upon which plaintiff’s husband was standing had slipped to a point where walking upon it would cause one end to leave the bracket; and this precipitated him to the street below, and he died as a consequence of this fall. The negligence alleged was that the defendant failed to have the plank braced or secured so as to prevent the same from-slipping; that it was the defendant’s duty to furnish the deceased with a safe place to work, and to do this it was incumbent upon him to have the plank securely fastened.
Judgment affirmed.