Whittaker v. McDonnell
Whittaker v. McDonnell
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
There is no controversy in regard to the cause or extent of plaintiff’s injury, nor can it be seriously alleged that he was guilty of contributory, negligence. The defendants designated the place at which he was employed and the work which he was to perform. Being blind, he could not be charged with a failure to observe the condi
The operation of unloading the cars involved the swinging of the boom from the car to the place in the yard where the stone was deposited, and the mast had remained in the same place with reference to the line of wires for several years. The wires sagged to some extent and were moved to and fro by the action of the wind which prevailed during the day the accident occurred. The evidence tends to show that the electric current was communicated from one or more of the wires by contact with the iron head of the boom, and the metal rope which passed from the drum through the boom head.
The court submitted to the jury the question whether defendants were negligent in not knowing that the wires carried a heavy current of electricity, and in placing the defendant at work in a position which became dangerous by the contact of the wires with the boom. On the established facts we think the learned trial judge was not in error in this instruction.
In the present state of general information on the subject of electricity it is not unreasonable to attribute to an ordinary person knowledge that electric wires are dangerous and are to be avoided as far as practicable by those whose employment does not require them to be in contact with them. The defendants made no inquiry in regard to the nature of the electric service along this line, and had no knowledge on that subject; but this is not a sufficient answer to the charge that they placed their machine so close to the electric line that the swaying wires came in contact with the metallic part of the boom and thus communicated the current to the plaintiff.
We are not persuaded that the case should not be so disposed of. The electric wires, the iron cover of the boom, and the communicating steel rope suggest risk and the possibility of a diverted current of electricity, and care proportionate to the risk was therefore the obligation of the defendants.
The testimony of Mr. Ouston as to the conversation which he had with one of the defendants some fifteen years ago is perhaps of no weight but under the circumstances, it was not necessary to show actual knowledge on the part of the defendants of the fact that the wires supplied a high-tension service.
The charge of the learned trial judge covered the essential features of the case and is free from error in the respects complained of.
Judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.