Theatres Co. v. American Railway Express Co.
Theatres Co. v. American Railway Express Co.
Opinion of the Court
This case is before us upon a report from the judge who heard it sitting without a jury in the Superior Court. He found for the defendant; and the report stipulates that if he was warranted upon the evidence in finding for the defendant, judgment is to be entered on his finding; otherwise judgment is to be entered for the plaintiff in a sum stated. The evidence consisted of a statement of agreed facts and a further statement of evidence which was excluded by the judge against the plaintiff’s exception. Both are appended to the report.
The evidence would support findings that a van owned by the defendant, drawn by a motor driven by its servant on its business, struck and injured electric signs and the marquee on which they were placed extending over the sidewalk •of Tremont Street in Boston, and attached to a building belonging to the plaintiff. No contention is made that the driver was wilful or wanton in his conduct. The trailing van was seven and one half feet in extreme width, and eleven feet in height. Its body did not overhang the wheels on either side. It was being drawn, northward, along Tremont Street with its right hand wheel distant not less than ten to twelve inches from the curb and parallel with the curb. To its left were a line of automobiles parked next to the further curb; two lines of vehicles going southerly on Tremont Street;
There is nothing in this evidence, which, as matter of law, required a finding of negligence of the driver. If he had known that the marquee with its signs projected into the travelled way, it might well be thought that he was not negligent in failing to observe his exact relation to them when occupied with so much else to look out for. He was so far from the curb that he had five or six inches clear space in which to pass, unless some sudden slip or jolt, not to be anticipated, threw the top of his trailer against the overhanging obstruction. St. Germain v. Fall River, 177 Mass. 550. The finding for the defendant was warranted by the evidence.
It is not necessary to consider the question of the plaintiff’s right to maintain the projecting marquee and signs. The evidence excluded related only to the validity of the plaintiff’s' license to maintain them, and is immaterial if the defendant was not responsible for negligence. The plaintiff,
It follows that entry must be made
Judgment for the defendant.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Theatres Company of Boston v. American Railway Express Company
- Status
- Published