Price & Lucas Cider & Vinegar Co. v. Haley

Opinion op the Court by Judge O’Rear — Affirming. The principal question presented by this appeal is: Does a servant, employed in a manufacturing establishment, have to examine whether the situation in which he is placed to work is reasonably safe, after his master, or the latter’s vice principal, has assured him that it is safe? Appellant contends that the rule is that the servant must exercise ordinary care to acquaint himself with the condition of the premises, although the master may have assured [307] him that they have been put in a safe condition. If that were the rule, then there would he no value given to the assurance of the master. On the contrary, the rule is, if the conditions (whether of. place or machinery) are not reasonably safe when used as the servant is required to use them, but the danger is not so open that one of ordinary prudence seeing the situation would, refrain from working under those conditions, the servant may, upon the master’s assurance of their safety, go ahead in reliance on the master’s superior knowledge, judgment, and providence, and he does not in that state of case assume the risk. The case is different from either where there is no assurance, as where the servant might in that event be compelled to make some investigation for himself, or where there is a promise by the- master to repair, in which event the servant, though having the knowledge of the conditions, does not assume the risk from defects until after a reasonable time has transpired for making the promised repairs, in the meantime using extra precaution commensurate with the enhanced hazard. Here the danger was from a defective appliance. It had existed for so long that the master must he presumed to have known of it; it was safe only when the machinery was stopped during the particular work in which appellee was engaged when hurt; the master agreed to stop the machinery, and reported that he had stopped it; the room was dark, and other noises tended to confuse the sounds so that it could not be discovered without special examination, or particular attention whether it had been stopped; the servant, without making further investigation, though he had safe means at hand to do so, relied on his master’s assurance. We think he had the right to do so, and it was not contributory negligence that he did. [308] The. servant’s arm was. jerked .off at .the elbow. The ;verdict was for $9,000. , He was a day .laborer, aged.57 .years. "VVe do nqt regard the verdict excessive. Affirmed.