Porter v. Ninth Avenue Railroad

119 Misc. 704 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1922

Per Curiam.

This was an action to recover for damages to plaintiff’s automobile resulting from a collision with one of defendant’s trolley cars.

In the midst of the trial an unfortunate colloquy occurred between the court and defendant’s counsel in which counsel was severely reprimanded for insolence and directed to take his seat and to behave himself. It is urged that there was no justification for these directions, but while the record contains nothing preceding this passage which explains its occurrence, it is quite immaterial, so far as the trial is concerned, whether the reprimand was justified or not. The learned judge below, however, remarked further: “ I have had some experience with you before.” The same remark was shortly thereafter repeated, to which was added: “ unless you are more circumspect about your conduct something worse'than a refusal to withdraw a juror will happen to you.” All this was concededly in the presence of the jury.

The statement concerning past experience of the court with the same lawyer was wholly unrelated to anything then occurring and served no purpose whatsoever in the conduct of the trial then pending. On the other hand, it surely was calculated to impress the jury with the unfavorable view of the court of counsel’s genéral conduct and standing, a view which may fairly be regarded as tending to influence the jury’s attitude toward the counsel’s client.

Under the circumstances, and quite regardless of the merits of the case which presented a question of fact for the determination of the jury, we feel that the defendant may properly claim that its interests were prejudiced to such extent as to require a new trial. It is unfortunate that this wholly gratuitous burden should be inflicted upon the plaintiff, but the result is unavoidable.

Judgment reversed and new trial ordered, without costs of appeal to either party.

All concur; present, Guy, Bijur and Delehanty, JJ.

Judgment reversed.