O'Flaherty v. Nassau Electric Railroad

Hatch, J.: Although the record in this case is somewhat voluminous, in its disposition but little discussion is required. It is undisputed that the defendant’s trolley wire broke, and one end of the broken piece fell to the ground. The plaintiff, at the time when the wire broke, was passing along the street, as was lawfully her right; and at about the time the wire fell she was in its immediate vicinity. The evidence satisfactorily discloses that she received a shock of electricity sufficiently violent to throw her to the ground, and that upon regaining her feet she was again shocked and was again thrown down. While much argument by the appellant is devoted to showing that the plaintiff was not in the vicinity where the wire grounded, yet plaintiff’s testimony was that something struck her upon the back ; that she received a shock, and the testimony of an [76] ■eye-witness was that the wire was near her when it fell. That she was thrown down twice is not disputed, and it. was for the jury to say whether her fall was occasioned by electrical shock. Measurements and statements of witnesses as to particular places where the wire struck or remained upon the ground is not conclusive. It is not entirely clear from the testimony whether she received the shock by coming in contact with the .wire, or whether she occupied ■such a position as caused her body to form a circuit through which the electricity, flowing from the broken wire, or- some part of .it, passed. Either conclusion, we think, is permissible from the téstimony. The in juries which the plaintiff thus, received were serious and, ■as the evidence tended to establish, permanent in character. While it is true that injuries arising from fright alone do not authorize a recovery, yet, where there is physical injury accompanying fright, it furnishes basis for a recovery of damage. Here the jury were ■authorized to find the existence of electrical shock and fright produced by it, the whole causing plaintiff’s present condition. The falling of the trolley wire into the street raised a presumption of negligence on the part of the defendant, and in the absence of contributory negligence,'as to which no claim was made that it existed, ■created a liability for the injuries thus sustained, unless the defendant satisfactorily explained the conditions so as to overcome the presumption of negligence which thus arose. (Jones v. Union Railway Co., 18 App. Div. 267.) The defendant claims that by its proof it successfully met the presumption, and established by conclusive evidence that it was without fault. In this regard it is contended that its evidence established that it used, in the construction •of its trolley wire, and the supports for the same, such material as is commonly in use for such purpose, and the best which the market affords; and that its method of construction and supports was in accordance with the best plan which practical use has demonstrated to be proper. It is also contended by the defendant that, in addition to thus •establishing the use of proper material and care in construction, it had a system of inspection. under which its trolley wire and the supports were carefully examined at least once in every four days ; and in addition thereto that the wire' which broke, and the supports in [77] connection therewith, were inspected the day before the wire broke, and found to be in perfect order. We think there are two considerations appearing in the testimony, which answer this claim. The system of inspection which the defendant claims to have existed rests for its support upon the testimony of interested witnesses, charged with the duty of discharging this obligation. Under well-settled rules, therefore, this testimony was that of interested persons, who had, or might have, a motive for shielding themselves from blame. Under such circumstances their credibility ivas involved, and became a question" to be determined ■by the jury. (Volkmar v. M. R. Co., 134 N. Y. 418.) In addition, to this, it was disclosed by the testimony that the defendant employed a device called the breaker system, which, when properly constructed and in proper working order, would throw the current off the wire the moment it came in contact with the ground. This device was explained by Professor Sheldon, an expert witness called by the plaintiff, whose testimony upon this subject is adopted by the defendant as correct. This witness testified that this breaker would have the effect claimed for it if it was properly adjusted. As we have before observed, the jury were authorized to find that the plaintiff received her injuries by reason of the passage through her body of the current of electricity coming from the ground after the same had escaped thereto from the broken wire. Upon this subject Professor Sheldon said : “ The trolley wire and the system of feeders constitute a good conductor; the rail and the supplementary conductors for return also constitute a good conductor; the wire striking the ground, as between it and the rail, between its terminal and the rail, a fairly large resistance, if the human body, through the shoes, through the feet, should be interposed between those two points, the rail and wire — the wire should strike the ground — the human body. offering resistance about the same as that of the earth would divide the current with the earth in returning it to the rail.” The jury were, therefore, authorized upon this testimony to find that the automatic device was either not "properly adjusted, or was not in proper working order; for had it operated properly the current would have been immediately cut off, and thus none passed through the body; whereas it continued to escape [78] for a period long enough to twice shock the person. Under such circumstances the jury were permitted to find that the condition of the wire and its appliances was not consistent with the testimony of the defendant, and, therefrom conclude that the defendant was guilty of negligence in not discharging its duty. • (Scherer v. Holly Manufacturing Co., 86 Hun, 37.) It follows, therefore, that this claim of the defendant may not be sustained. Nor do we think that error was committed in permitting the witness King to testify as to the permanent character of the plaintiff’s injuries., He was not called for the purpose of testifying whether such condition as he found present when he made his examination was the result of the injuries alleged to have been received; consequently, a history of the case had little or no bearing as forming a basis for the expression of his opinion. He detailed at length all of the conditions which he found present, and these conditions evidently formed the basis from which he reached his conclusion. The case is, therefore, different from Connelly v. Manhattan Railway Co. (60 Hun, 495) and Page v. Mayor (32 N. Y. St. Repr. 563). In each of those cases the inquiry was directed to whether the existing condition might have been produced by the' injury, while in the present case the inquiry was, would her present condition be permanent or not. A history of the case was, therefore, not essential, and the witness stated fully the conditions which he found. In People v. McElvaine (121 N. Y. 250) the question was somewhat different. There the issue was as to' the sanity of the defendant at the time of the commission of the crime, and the witness was' permitted to answer without disclosing the facts upon which he based his conclusion. It is apparent that such case has no application to, the present one. In addition to this,, the defendant has not raised the question which it seeks to present. ■ No objection was made to the statement that he “ got a history of the case,” or to the question which produced such answer. The objection interposed was upon the ground of incompetency;' while the exception presents the additional ground that it is incompetent and immaterial. The testimony was competent, because directed to her existing condition, and the witness was competent to testify as he had qualified as an expert. The testimony was material. No suggestion appears in this objection [79] that the witness was not disclosing the facts upon which he based, his opinion, and the court was left clearly in the dark, as we should now be except for the insistance of counsel that the point as now urged was intended to be presented. This point, even if good, which it is not, would not now be available. It follows that the judgment should be affirmed, with costs. ■Judgment and order unanimously affirmed, with costs.