Mullin v. Central Railroad
Mullin v. Central Railroad
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Plaintiff, an employe of the defendant company, while engaged at work in repairing a switch
The defendant contends that the verdict against it should be set aside for three reasons: First, because the proofs disclose no negligence on its part; second, because the plaintiff contributed to the accident by his own negligence, and third. because the damages are excessive.
The first reason can be disposed of by reference to our decided cases. In D’Agostino v. Pennsylvania Railroad Co., 43 Vroom 358, it was held by this court that where a track laborer is injured by an engine running over him because of the failure of his foreman to give the customary warning of its approach, the failure of the foreman to perform this duty is imputable to the defendant company. In the later case of Germanus v. Lehigh Valley Railroad Co., 45 Id. 662, the Court of Errors and Appeals declared that where the
The contention that the plaintiff was negligent in not observing the approach of the engine is also without substance, we think, ft was impossible for him to properly perform the work upon which he was engaged, and at the same time to be constantly on the lookout for cars and engines which were moving about the yard. He knew that his foreman was there, and he had a right to presume that he would give him timely warning when danger threatened. Where a workman in the discharge of his duty has placed himself in a position of probable danger, relying on receiving timely warning before the danger becomes actual, and he is injured because no warning is given, the question whether he is guilty of contributory negligence is for the jury (D’Agostino v. Pennsylvania Railroad Co., supra; Germanus v. Lehigh Valley Railroad Co., supra), and the conclusion of the jury in the present case that the plaintiff displayed reasonable care for his own safety in relying upon the watchfulness of his foreman to protect him against danger from ears and engine, is, we think, entirely justified by the testimony. It is urged on behalf of the defendant that even if it be conceded that ordinarily a workman placed in such a position as was the plaintiff, may rely on his foreman to warn him against approaching dangers, nevertheless the plaintiff was negligent in not observing the notice given to him by the blowing of the whistle upon the engine, which was done just before it moved down to the switch. But it must be remembered that there were at least six other engines about the yard, and, this being so, it is difficult for us to see how the mere fact that one of these engines blew three blasts of its whistle was any indication to him that he was about to be put in actual danger by the movement of the engine which ran him down.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WILLIAM MULLIN v. CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY
- Status
- Published