Webb v. Lambert ( 1930 )

WESTERFIELD, J.

Plaintiff, a negro brick mason, brings this suit for damages said to be due to physical injuries alleged to have been sustained by reason of his having been struck in the back by a piece of timber, which, it is claimed, fell from an overhanging gallery attached to a building owned by defendants. Defendants answered admitting the ownership of the property from which the timber was alleged to have fallen, but denying any liability because “your respondents are under the belief that this plaintiff was not injured as set forth and is unjustly claiming damages from them.”

• There was judgment below in defendants’ favor, dismissing plaintiff’s suit, and plaintiff has appealed.

After a careful examination of the record, we are convinced that the judgment complained of is erroneous. The evidence presented by plaintiff seems to clearly establish the fact that he was injured by the falling of the timber from the gallery of the defendants’ property; in fact, there is nd dispute on this point. The reliance of defendants in this court is, as it was below, upon the alleged falsity of the plaintiff’s testimony; no question being made of its effect and preponderance.

We regret our inability to agree with our brother below, and we are most reluctant to disturb his conclusion upon a question of fact, but we have no alternative when a case is presented, like the present one, where it seems to us that the judgment is not responsive to evidence in the record.

The uncontroverted testimony, as it appears in the record, is that the plaintiff on April 20, 1928, was hit in the back by a piece of falling timber measuring 2"x4" x54" and weighing 16 pounds. Two eyewitnesses testified that this timber fell from a balcony attached to the building known by the municipal number 2625 Calliope street (defendants’ property). A photograph of the building is in evidence, and there appears a vacant space in the balustrade which would seem to be of the proper size to accommodate a piece of timber of the dimensions of the one which struck plaintiff in the back. At the time of his alleged injury, plaintiff was employed by Jos. Edwards, who testified that the last day he worked for him was April 19th, and that he was reported ill on the 20th. A doctor whn treated plaintiff for his injuries presented a bill which was offered in evidence, which showed that the first of a number of professional visits covered by the bill was made on April 20th. Plaintiff’s account at a neighborhood drug store showed that a number of prescriptions had been filled for him, and the first charge on this account was on April 20th.

Plaintiff’s case, as thus established, is assailed by defendants as having been manufactured, and in support of their position our attention is directed to some inconsistent statements made by plaintiff and one of his witnesses. For example, plaintiff denied having called upon an agent for an insurance company, which it seems had insured defendants’ liability in this case, and denied demanding certain payments of money on account of his injury. There is no doubt that plaintiff was mistaken in this respect, because the proof is that he did call at the insurance office and demand some money. Of course, this circumstance does not fortify his testimony, but if it be entirely rejected, his case is amply sustained by that of othei* witnesses. It is possible that plaintiff’s case is manufactured out of the whole cloth, but, we believe, extremely improbable, since it is too circumstantial and involves the co-operation of too many individuals in a nefarious enterprise for the benefit of a negro bricklayer. Besides no sufficient motive appears for such wholesale cupidity.

The evidence concerning' the quantum is not as satisfactory as it might be. It appears, however, that his injuries were quite serious and involved his incapacity to work for several months. He incurred certain expenses for doctors and drugs. He had an earning capacity of $1.50 per hour or $12 per day. On the whole we believe the sum of $1,200 to be a proper award under the circumstances.

For the reasons assigned the judgment appealed from is reversed, and it is now ordered, adjudged, and decreed that there be judgment in favor of plaintiff, Carter Webb, and against the defendants, Frank R. Lambert and Oscar M. Moroy, in the sum of $1,200.