Citation Numbers: 2 N.J. Misc. 466
Judges: Ctkiah
Filed Date: 5/29/1924
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 7/25/2022
"While driving his ear after dark in the early evening of March 10th, 1923, the plaintiff’s Ford automobile suddenly fell into an excavation which turned out to he a manhole belonging to the defendant company. The proofs were that tlio manhole cover was broken in half, whether by the passing of the Ford ear over it, or from other conditions of traffic or otherwise, did not appear. The whole of the testimony on behalf of the plaintiff was that after the accident happened the plaintiff got out; of his car and saw a big manhole without- any cover on; that the cover was lying along side broken. The defendant moved for a nonsuit, which was refused, and at the conclusion of the case asked for a direction of a verdict in its favor. This was also refused and an exception noted. The refusal of the court to grant these motions is the subject now in review. It is contended that there was no evidence of negligence sufficient to go- to the jury.
It is true that there is no direct proof of negligence in the case. The question, therefore, arises as to- whether the doer trine of res ipsa loquitur applies. It has ever been regarded that he who maintains by lawful right an opening in the public highway is under duty to use the care wdiich the circumstances require to- safeguard those using the surface of the street, and reasonable care under such circumstances has been held to be of a high character. Schroeder v. Public Service, 118 Atl. Rep. 337; Fox v. Wharton, 64 N. J. L. 453: Insurance Co. v. Railroad Co., 92 Id. 467. The application of the doctrine was elaborately discussed by the Court of Errors and Appeals in the case of Bahr v. Lombard, 53 Id. 238, and in it Mr. Justice Garrison uses this language: “If something unusual happens with respect to the defendant’s property, or something over which he has control. which injures the plaintiff, and the natural inference on the evidence is that the unusual occurrence is owing to the defendant’s act, the occurrence, being unusual, is said to speak for itself that such act was negligent.”
The verdict being found for the plaintiff, undeí a correct charge of the judge, the judgment must be affirmed.