Guirizinski v. . American Radiator Co. , 222 N.Y. 85 ( 1917 )

This is an action under the employers' liability provisions of the Labor Law as amended in 1910.

Plaintiff was employed by defendant in its factory as helper to Kucewicz, a belt repairer. It was his duty to hand Kucewicz his tools as called for and aid him as he was directed. At the time of the accident Kucewicz was at work with plaintiff taking down a belt which had become loose, in order to shorten it. The belt was about ninety feet long and a foot wide and weighed about three hundred pounds. It passed around two pulleys about forty-five feet apart which were about seven feet from the floor. The ends of the belt were joined by being lapped over and stuck together with fish glue. In order to open it, Kucewicz was prying apart the laps with a tool similar to a screw-driver. When the work was about three-quarters done he wanted a larger tool which was lying on the floor nearby, and told plaintiff to get it. He kept on opening the belt. That made the belt fall. A radiator weighing about three hundred pounds stood near. Piles of radiators were standing under the belt. When the belt fell it struck the radiator and tipped it over upon plaintiff's foot, causing the injury for which the action was brought.

The trial judge directed a verdict in favor of the defendant. Judgment entered thereon was affirmed by the Appellate Division.

Kucewicz was intrusted with authority to direct, control and command plaintiff in the performance of his duty and the defendant is liable for injuries caused by his negligence in a detail of the work, not merely by his negligence in directing plaintiff. (Labor Law [Cons. Laws, ch. 31], § 200; Marion v.Coon Constr. Co., 216 N.Y. 178; Pelow v. Oswego Constr.Co., 217 N.Y. 506.)

The only question presented by this appeal is whether a jury could properly find that plaintiff's injury was due to a negligent act on the part of Kucewicz. Plaintiff did not assume the risk nor was he guilty of contributory negligence as matter of law. (Maloney v. Cunard S.S. Co., Ltd., 217 N.Y. 278,281.)

Kucewicz testified that the belt fell because he pried it open. The inference is permissible that by inattention or indifference to the surroundings he permitted this large, heavy belt to come down with considerable force where it might hit plaintiff or knock over on him a radiator which stood unfastened on the floor, and that he thus failed to observe that degree of care which was due to plaintiff for his protection from injury.

Defendant contends that all reasonable men would say that Kucewicz was not chargeable with negligence, even if he intentionally opened the belt and allowed it to fall; that plaintiff's mishap was so unusual and unexpected that no one was to blame for it.

The case is not so plain. A jury should have an opportunity to consider it.

The judgment appealed from should be reversed and a new trial granted, with costs to abide the event.

HISCOCK, Ch. J., CUDDEBACK, CARDOZO, McLAUGHLIN, CRANE and ANDREWS, JJ., concur.

Judgment reversed, etc.