Laskowski v. Manning

325 Mass. 393 (1950) 91 N.E.2d 231

BRIDGET LASKOWSKI
vs.
WILLIAM T. MANNING & another (and a companion case^[1]).

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Bristol.

October 24, 1949. March 3, 1950.

Present: QUA, C.J., RONAN, WILKINS, SPALDING, & COUNIHAN, JJ.

W.J. Fenton, (F.M. Silvia, Jr., with him,) for the defendants Manning.

F.D. Mone, for the defendant Citizens Savings Bank, submitted a brief.

W.A. Torphy, for the plaintiff, submitted a brief.

WILKINS, J.

The plaintiff, on February 5, 1942, was hurt in a fall on ice on the sidewalk on Anawan Street near the corner of Union Street, Fall River, and brings these two actions of tort, one against the lessees (hereinafter called the Mannings) of a portion of a building adjacent to the sidewalk and the other against the bank, the owner. There were verdicts for the plaintiff. Near the point of fall there was a doorway leading to a ramp which was included in the premises leased by the bank to the Mannings under a written instrument dated May 28, 1937. Above the doorway on the outside wall of the second floor of the building adjacent to premises of which one Cherry and Webb Company was the occupant, there was a bell which was part of a sprinkler system for the prevention of fire.

In answer to special questions the jury found that (1) the ice upon which the plaintiff fell was caused to form by water flowing from a defective sprinkler bell, or that part of the sprinkler system to which the bell was attached, and freezing upon the sidewalk as the result of natural causes; (2) the bank retained control of the sprinkler system, including the bell; (3) the defective condition of the bell or the sprinkler system existed as a result (a) of the negligence of the bank but (b) not of the Mannings; and (4) the snow or ice accumulated as the result of the neglect of the Mannings in not removing it.

The defendants excepted to the denial of their motions for directed verdicts and of their motions to enter verdicts in their favor under leave reserved. There was evidence that the ice, which was concealed by a recent light fall of snow, had remained there for two or three days; that it was the only ice in the vicinity and extended from a point directly below the fire alarm bell across the sidewalk to the curbstone; that on two previous occasions water had leaked from the sprinkler system into the bell, thence down the side of the building and across the sidewalk; and that both defendants knew or ought to have known of these leaks, which later were ascertained to be due to a defective valve in back of the bell which allowed water to escape.

Apart from questions arising out of an agreement on the part of some tenant to keep the sidewalk free from ice thus caused, the bank would be liable. It owned the building, and the leaking sprinkler system was, or could have been found to be, a source of danger to travellers upon the highway. Cavanagh v. Block, 192 Mass. 63, 65. Woodman v. Shepard, 238 Mass. 196, 199. See Donahue v. M. O'Keefe, Inc. 255 Mass. 35, 39; Roland v. Kilroy, 282 Mass. 87, 92; Bullard v. Mattoon, 297 Mass. 182; Tomasunas v. Khoury, 314 Mass. 754; Hooper v. Kennedy, 320 Mass. 576.

The lease from the bank to the Mannings contained the following: "Said lessees ... will save the lessor harmless from all loss and damage occasioned by the use or escape of water upon said premises or by the bursting of pipes or from any claim or damage arising from neglect in not removing snow and ice from the roof of the building or from the sidewalks bordering upon the premises so leased, or by any nuisance made or suffered to be made by the lessees on the premises over which they have control, or which is within their ability and power to prevent and eliminate ...; and will hold the lessor harmless and indemnified against any injury, loss or damage to any person or property on said premises." The Mannings would be liable if the plaintiff's injuries were caused by neglect to perform their obligations under the lease. Wixon v. Bruce, 187 Mass. 232. Coman v. Alles, 198 Mass. 99, 103. Cerchione v. Hunnewell, 215 Mass. 588. Brazinskos v. A.S. Fawcett, Inc. 318 Mass. 263, 266-267. See Leydecker v. Brintnall, 158 Mass. 292, 297. But this would not prevent the bank also from being liable to the plaintiff if the bank could have been found to have retained control of the sprinkler system and bell. Follins v. Dill, 221 Mass. 93, 98. Donahue v. M. O'Keefe, Inc. 255 Mass. 35, 39. Clarke v. Ames, 267 Mass. 44, 46-47. See Gilroy v. Badger, 301 Mass. 494, 496; Nichols v. Donahoe, 309 Mass. 241, 242.

There was ample evidence from which the bank could have been found to have retained such control. Marston v. Phipps, 209 Mass. 552, 555. Hilden v. Naylor, 223 Mass. 290, 292-293. Conroy v. Maxwell, 248 Mass. 92, 97. Sordillo v. Fradkin, 282 Mass. 255. MacDonald v. Adamian, 294 Mass. 187, 191. Of such evidence we need mention only that the sprinkler system ran throughout the building and was designed to protect the entire edifice from fire. It could have been found that the bank procured and paid for all the repairs to the sprinkler system that were made (Marston v. Phipps, 209 Mass. 552, 555), while there was nothing connecting any tenant with responsibility for its operation. Besides the Mannings, other tenants were the Anawan Garage and the Central Sign Company. Whether the Cherry and Webb Company was a subtenant of the Anawan Garage was an unimportant minor issue, and the bank was not harmed by the exclusion of evidence it offered apparently to prove that fact. It appeared that the bank was not an occupant of any part of the building, and that all the floors were leased to others. The excluded evidence had no greater tendency to show that the bank had given up control of the sprinkler system.

Enough has been said to show that there was no error in the denial of the bank's requests for instructions numbered 5 and 6, which were at variance with the principles herein expressed as to the retention of control by the bank. The same is true of the exception to that part of the charge in which the judge said that if the jury found that the bank retained control of the sprinkler system, it was conceivable that they might find for the plaintiff against the bank. The exception to the portion of the charge relating to the third question submitted to the jury does not merit discussion.

There likewise was no error in the denial of the bank's motions or in the refusal of its requests for instructions numbered 2, 10, and 11, which were based upon a supposed exoneration of the bank in the covenants by the Mannings in the lease.

We are confirmed in this conclusion by a consideration of those covenants. The Mannings contend, and we think rightly, that the indemnity provision should not be construed to cover the removal from the sidewalk of ice forming as the result of the bank's negligence. In Boston & Maine Railroad v. T. Stuart & Son Co. 236 Mass. 98, 104, it was said, "A contract of the nature here involved will not be considered as indemnifying one against his own negligence, or that of his employees, unless its express language requires it. Such an intent must unequivocally appear, and words of general import are not sufficient. It is not to be assumed in the absence of clear stipulation that a contract is to be construed as creating a result so far reaching, and involving consequences which may be so hazardous and momentous." New York Central & Hudson River Railroad v. T. Stuart & Son Co. 260 Mass. 242, 249-250. Farrell v. Eastern Bridge & Structural Co. 291 Mass. 323. See Ortolano v. U-Dryvit Auto Rental Co. Inc. 296 Mass. 439; American Sandpaper Co. v. Waltham Factories, Inc. 299 Mass. 369. See also Gast v. Goldenberg, 281 Mass. 214. This is not a case where it is necessary, in order to give effect to the lessee's undertaking, to construe his promise as comprehending an indemnity against the lessor's negligent acts as to a part of the property in the lessor's control, and we do not accept that construction. See now G.L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 186, § 15, as inserted by St. 1945, c. 445, § 1.

The verdict against the Mannings was based entirely on neglect to remove the ice, which formed entirely because of the negligence of the bank. There was no other evidence of negligence on their part. We are of opinion that the motions for a verdict in their favor should have been granted.

The bank also excepted to the following portion of the charge: "Something was said about a water pipe bursting in the basement of the property occupied by Manning and being repaired by Mr. Clark; and the bank paid the bill, it was said, because it serviced the entire building. You have a right to consider that evidence. You have a right to consider the fact that when the fire underwriters came there in the summer preceding this accident and required the renewing of sprinkler heads in order to conform with the conditions of the fire insurance policies on the building ... Mr. Clark went down and did that and sent the bill to the bank." There was no error. In the first place, the evidence referred to, having been admitted without objection, was in the cases for whatever effect it might have to prove any matter in issue. Jackson v. Colonial Provision Co. Inc. 314 Mass. 177, 179-180. Ventromile v. Malden Electric Co. 317 Mass. 132, 135. Eastern Paper & Box Co. Inc. v. Herz Manuf. Corp. 323 Mass. 138, 143. Furthermore, where there was an issue as to control of premises, the acts of control of the bank were admissible. Readman v. Conway, 126 Mass. 374, 377. Poor v. Sears, 154 Mass. 539, 548-549. O'Malley v. Twenty-Five Associates, 170 Mass. 471, 477. Baum v. Ahlborn, 210 Mass. 336, 337. Maionica v. Piscopo, 217 Mass. 324, 329. Gallagher v. Murphy, 221 Mass. 363, 365-366. Crudo v. Milton, 233 Mass. 229, 231. Ruane v. Doyle, 308 Mass. 418, 421. Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed.) § 283. Cases where there was no conflicting evidence as to control are to be distinguished. McKeon v. Cutter, 156 Mass. 296, 298. Kearines v. Cullen, 183 Mass. 298, 301. Shepard v. Worcester County Institution for Savings, 304 Mass. 220, 222-223.

The bank's eighth request relating to the burden of proof was given in substance.

There is no merit in the bank's exception to the admission in evidence of the notice^[1] given to the bank under G.L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 84, §§ 18, 19, as amended, and § 21. The notice gave the plaintiff's name and address with street and number and the time, place, and cause of her injury. It was signed on her behalf by her attorneys, and was given five days after the accident. Its substance was a sufficient compliance with the statute to lay a foundation for her claim. It was not necessary that the notice contain a claim of damages or threat of action. Goff v. Hickson, 322 Mass. 655, 658-659. It did not have to say in so many words that it was given as and for a statutory notice. See Meniz v. Quissett Mill, 216 Mass. 552, 556.

During the cross-examination by counsel for the Mannings of one Clark, called as a witness by the plaintiff, the witness testified without objection that he knew that the pipes connecting the bell with the sprinkler system were disconnected after the accident at his direction. The witness was then asked, "You did it as the maintenance agent for the bank?" Subject to the bank's exception, he answered, "Yes." In any event, the bank was not harmed by this answer, as full details of Clark's employment appeared in other testimony both by him and by a vice-president of the bank in charge of its real estate. The substantial rights of the bank were not affected. G.L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 231, § 132.

In the action against the Mannings the exceptions are sustained, and judgment is to be entered for the defendants. In the action against Citizens Savings Bank the exceptions are overruled.

So ordered.

NOTES

[1] The companion case is by the same plaintiff against Citizens Savings Bank.

[1] The body of the notice, which was dated February 10, 1942, and addressed to the bank, was as follows: "Due to the defective condition of the premises at 338 Anawan Street, Fall River, Bridget Laskowski, 7 Washington Street, Fall River, was seriously injured on February 5, 1942, at approximately 9:45 A.M. The said injury was caused by the accumulation of ice on the sidewalk in front of said 338 Anawan Street and said ice accumulated due to water leaking from a bell attached to said building and which bell was in a defective condition."