New York Supreme Court, 1890

Pallett v. Kings County Elevated Railway Co.

Pallett v. Kings County Elevated Railway Co.
New York Supreme Court · Decided July 18, 1890 · Dykman
10 N.Y.S. 691; 32 N.Y. St. Rep. 954; 57 Hun 591; 1890 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 933 (New York Supplement)

Counsel

Wm. J. Gaynor, for plaintiff. Tracy, MacFarland, Ivins, Boardman & Platt, for defendant.

Pallett v. Kings County Elevated Railway Co.

Opinion of the Court

Dykman, J.

We find nothing in this case to justify a recovery. The deceased was in the employ of a company engaged in painting the superstruct-' *692ure, and, if he was lawfully upon the track, the defendant owed him nó duty, and was under no obligation to regulate the operation of its trains with reference to his presence. The testimony fails to convict the engineer of any failure in duty after the discovery of the deceased upon the track, and in fact there is no proof that he was seen by any person upon the train until he was struck, while it plainly appears that the deceased could see the train for a considerable distance from where he was struck. He was upon a railroad track, and was bound to know that a train might run over it at any time. Other persons upon or around the track made their escape from the incoming train with safety, and it is not apparent why he did not do so likewise. The exceptions cannot therefore be sustained, and the defendant must have judgment dismissing the complaint, with costs.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.