Livingston & Co. v. Streeter
Livingston & Co. v. Streeter
Opinion of the Court
Margaret Streeter brought an' action for damages against the J. Livingston & Co. in the Cuyahoga Common Pleas, for injuries, which were alleged to have been sustained by her, while riding as a passenger in a Euclid Ave. street car. It appeared that while the car was at a stop at the intersection of East 9th and Euclid Ave., a two pound sledge hammer was permitted to drop, from the 21st floor of the Union Trust Bldg, by an employee of the Livingston Company. The sledge went through the roof of the car, and landed in the center aisle of the ear. It was claimed by Streeter that she was struck by the hammer on the sternum bone, and ribs of her chest. The Livingston Co. admitted being negligent in dropping the hammer, but denied that the hammer struck Streeter. _
A verdict was returned by the jury and judgment thereon was rendered in favor of Streeter for $22,500. Error was prosecuted and the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the Common Pleas. The Livingston Company on taking the case to the Supreme Court claim:
1. That the court in 'its charge said in part, “thus raising a presumption of negligence
2. General charge was erroneous in that the Court stated that the doctrine o fres ipsa logui-tur applied.
3. The effect of the erroneous instruction to the jury was that prejudicial error and reversible error was committed.
4. Res Ipsa Loquitur means that the facts of the occurrence warrant an inference of negligence, not that they compel such an inference; nor does res ipsa loquitur convert the company’s general issue into an affirmative defense. Klunk v. Railroad. 74 OS. 125.
5. The petition of Streeter was not based upon the theory of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, and by pleading specific and separate items of negligence, Streeter was precluded from and waive her right to rely upon the doctrine.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LIVINGSTON & CO. v. STREETER
- Status
- Published