Louisville Salvage Corps v. Lyons ( 1911 )

Opinion op the Court by

Chief Justice Hobson

Affirming.

Tlie Louisville Salvage Corps is a corporation formed under the laws of Kentucky. It is maintained by tbe underwriters doing business in Louisville. Tbe purpose of tbe corps is to minimize losses at fires; tbe men go to tbe fires and protect personal property from water and loss in the interest of tbe insurers. James- S. Lyons was in tbe employment of tbe company. Its headquarters for its men are on Market street, consisting of two separate buildings. Tbe rear building is 50 feet long and 37. feet wide. Tbe upstairs of this building was used to hang tarpaulins in. Lyons was ordered to go up in this building and move some tarpaulins to make room for some which bad been used at a fire and were wet. While doing this work be fell through an open hatchway, and sustained serious injuries in tbe fall to recover for which be brought this action against tbe company. He charged that be did not know of tbe hatchway, that tbe loft was dark so that be could not see it and that be was sent into tbe building without notice of it, and that bis employer negligently failed to furnish him a reasonably safe place to work by reason of which be was injured. On a trial of tbe case be recovered a judgment for $3,000.00. Tbe company appeals.

The testimony for tbe plaintiff on tbe trial was to tbe effect that while there were some windows in tbe upstairs of tbe building tbe light from these windows was cut off by the tarpaulins which bad been stretched across tbe room; that tbe tarpaulins covered a large part of tbe bole, and that while be was engaged in tbe work that bad been assigned him, be stepped into tbe bole and fell through; that -be did not know tbe hatchway was there,- and bad only been in tbe service of tbe company a few days. On the other hand the proof for the defendant showed that Lyons had used the open hatchway in connection with the other men, and knew of its existence. The court gave the jury among others, this instruction:

“But if you shall believe from the evidence that the place at which the plaintiff was working at the time he received the injuries complained of, was reasonably safe for the work which he was required to do; or if you shall believe from the evidence that the plaintiff knew, or could by the exercise of ordinary care, have known of the existence of the open hatchway in the floor prior to the accident, then, in either of these events, the law is for the defendant and the jury should so find.”

It is not insisted on the appeal that the instructions are erroneous or that the amount recovered by Lyons is excessive, if he is entitled to recover. It is simply insisted that the facts proven showed that Lyons must haye known of the hatchway. There is great force in this if only the testimony introduced by the defendant is considered. The testimony for the defendant is to the effect that the hatchway was always open, and that Lyons had worked about it or at it since he had been there. As it . was a large opening there would be much force in the position that he must have known of it, if it was always open. But the proof for the plaintiff is to the effect that it was closed most of the time, and if it was closed most of the time it may have been closed at the times when Lyons was about it. He had only been there a few days, and this testimony on his behalf is strengthened by the testimony of another man who had worked there but a few days, who testified on the trial that he did not know of the hatchway at the time Lyons was hurt, this evidence being brought out by the defendant, itself.

The credibility of the witnesses is for the jury and on all the facts we can not say that the verdict is palpably against the evidence. The jury is the tribunal created by law to pass on disputed questions of fact. The right of jury trial is guaranteed by the Constitution. -The jury sees and hears the witnesses; they are practical men coming from the different walks of life; They put' together their common experiences, and their,finding on a question of fact should not be disturbed simply because they believed one witness rather than others. ■ - -.

Judgment affirmed.