Quinlan v. City of Utica

Smith, J.: The evidence presented questions of fact as to the alleged negligence of the defendant, and contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff, which were properly submitted to the jury, and there is nothing in the evidence which requires us to disturb their verdict upon those questions. It is contended on the part of the appellant that the court erred in permitting the plaintiff to prove that other persons had slipped and fallen, at various times, on the sidewalk where she was injured. The condition of the walk was very fully and minutely described by the witnesses, and photographs, measurements and a model of the surface of the walk, showing its elevations and depressions, were put in evidence. There was testimony showing quite conclusively that for several years immediately preceding the accident, including the various times to which the testimony under consideration referred, the walk was in the same general condition that it was in when the plaintiff received her injuries. It is claimed by the counsel for the respondent that, under these circumstances, the evidence in question was properly received, on the ground that it tended to show that the walk, tested by actual use, had been demonstrated to be in an unsafe and improper condition, and that such was its condition at the time when the plaintiff was injured. We [219] are inclined to sustain the ruling on that ground. Upon an issue as to the utility, proper condition or safety of any worlc of human construction designed for practical use, evidence tending to show how the article has served when put to the use for which it was designed, would seem to bear directly upon the issue, and often may be of the most satisfactory and conclusive character. It is objected by the appellant’s counsel that the testimony presented new issues, of which his client had no notice, and which it could not be prepared to meet. In one sense, every item of testimony material to the main issue introduces a new issue; that is to say, it calls for a reply. In no other sense did the testimony in question make a new issue. Its only importance was that it bore upon the main issue, and all legitimate testimony bearing upon that issue the defendant was required to be prepared for. The cases cited by the appellant’s counsel, in support of the objection, are not applicable. In Sherman v. Kortright (52 Barb., 267) it did not appear', and there was no offer to show, that the road was in the same condition when the other injuries, which were offered to be proved, occurred as when the plaintiff was injured; on the contrary, it appeared that the breaks in the road of which the plaintiff complained were made the day before the accident, and after the previous injuries had happened. On that ground alone the case was properly decided, and „ what was said to the effect that the admission of such testimony would present new issues, was not necessary to the disposition of the ease. The true ground of objection to the testimony was, not that it presented new issues, but that it did not bear upon the real issue. The other cases cited are Filio v. Jones (4 Keyes, 328), Warner v. New York Central Railroad Company (44 N. Y., 465) and Ross v. Ackermam, (46 id., 210). They are so entirely different from the present case that it is not necessary to refer to them more particularly. It is also objected that in the present ease the evidence showed that in some instances the slipping of others was under entirely different circumstances from those under which this accident occurred. If so, that was for the jury to consider, under proper instructions from the court. We are not aware of any reported cases in this State precisely in point upon this question, and none have been cited by counsel. [220] There are actions for setting fires by the negligent use of steam engines, which seem to sustain the rule of evidence for which the respondent contends. Sheldon v. The Hudson River Railroad Company (4 Kern., 218) was an action to recover for a building which was alleged to have been set on fire by sparks from one of defendant’s engines, which passed shortly before the fire was discovered. It was held that evidence that engines of the company passing near that place on other occasions emitted sparks and coals, which fell further from the track than the building in question, was competent after evidence given tending to exclude the probability that the fire was communicated by any other means. To the same effect are Field v. The New York Central Railroad Company (32 N. Y., 339) and Westfall v. Erie Railway Company (12 S. C. N. Y. [5 Hun], 75). In Hinds v. Barton (25 N. Y., 544), which was an action for the firing of a building by a steam engine used to operate a dredge on the Erie canal, it was held that the plaintiff was entitled to give evidence of the distance at which sparks emitted by the engine had kindled fires at different points on the canal previous to the destruction of the plaintiff’s projoerty. Some recent cases decided by the Court of Appeals seem to imply the competency of the testimony in question. They may be briefly referred to. Dougan, v. Champlain Transportation Company (56 N. Y., 7) was an action to recover for death of plaintiff’s intestate, who stepped upon an icy deck of defendant’s boat, on which he was a passenger, slipped and fell overboard, passing under the guard railing around the deck. The only proof relied on as showing negligence was the leaving the space open between the railing and the deck. Held, that there was no evidence of negligence, and that the plaintiff could not recover. Grover, J"., delivering the opinion of the court, said: “ There was no proof tending to show that any one had ever before fallen and gone overboard under the railing, or that any such danger had been apprehended by any one.” This plainly implies that proof of a similar prior accident at that place would have been competent, as tending to show that the space was dangerous, and consequently that the defendant was negligent in allowing it to remain open and exposed. Crocheron v. Worth Shore Staten Island Ferry Company (id., 656) and Cleveland v. New Jersey Steamboat Company (Ct. App., MS. opin. of Folger, J.) [221] were of tbe bke character. A similar question was presented, and tbe like reasoning was advanced by the court. Tbe cases in other States cited by tbe respondent’s counsel seem to sustain bis position. They are Hill v. Portland Railroad Company (55 Me., 438); House v. Metcalf (27 Conn., 631); Darliny v. Westmoreland (52 N. H., 401; S. C., 13 Am. Rep., 55); Kent v. Lincoln (32 Vt., 591); Bailey v. Trumbull (31 Conn., 581); Calkins v. Hartford (33 id., 57). We are of .the opinion that tbe exception was not well taken. Tbe other exceptions in tbe case bave been examined, but tbey point to no error. Tbe question as to tbe right of tbe plaintiff to costs arises upon certain provisions of tbe defendant’s charter. (Laws 1862, chap. 18, p. 28.) Section 123 provides that “no costs shall be recovered against tbe city in any action brought against it for any unliquidated claim which has not been presented to tbe common council to be audited.” Tbe question is whether this provision relates to claims ex delicto. We are of tbe opinion that it does not. Tbe section is contained in title 9, which is entitled “ of tbe auditing of claims against tbe city,” and embraces three sections. Tbe word “ claim ” occurs several times in tbe title. In tbe one hundred and twenty-first section it is used in connection with tbe word “ accounts: ” “All claims and accounts against tbe city shall be audited,” etc. Sometimes tbe word “ account,” and at .other times the word “ claim,” is used alone, and in either case tbe expression is evidently intended to embrace all demands of every nature to which tbe title relates. Thus, “ tbe common council may require £ any account,’ etc., to be verified; ” “ all damns must be presented in writing; ” “ the damns shall be audited,” etc.; “ in case tbe common council shall disallow any damn, etc., its decision shall be ft bar,” etc. The term “ accounts ” is applicable to matters of contract, and not of tort, and according to the maxim “ noscvtur a socUsf tbe word “ claim ” thus used has tbe like meaning. Section 121 provides that tbe verification shall be by affidavit, in tbe same manner that town accounts are required to be verified. Tbe mode prescribed for verifying town accounts is by tbe affidavit of tbe person presenting or claiming tbe same that tbe items of such account are correct, and that the disbursements and services charged therein have been in [222] fact made or rendered, etc. (Laws 1845, chap. 180, § 23, and Laws 1847, chap. 490.) It is manifest that those provisions were not intended to apply to a claim founded upon tort. Again, section 122 provides that no “ claim or demand” against the city which has not been audited or which has not been liquidated by the common council shall bear interest, a provision wholly unnecessary in the case of unliquidated demands for wrongs, as they do not bear interest. We regard this question as settled by the case of Howell v. The City of Buffalo (15 N. Y., 512), but as the appellant’s counsel has suggested that the language of the statute in that case differed from that of the Utica charter, we have given our views of the construction of the latter act. The case of McClure v. Supervisors of Niagara (4 Abb. [N. S.], 202) is a clear authority in favor of the respondent. The judgment and order should be affirmed. Present — Mullin, P. J., Taloott and Smith. JJ. Judgment and order affirmed.