Dunlevy & Bro. Co. v. Forrest
Dunlevy & Bro. Co. v. Forrest
Opinion of the Court
In this case Elizabeth Forrest, a British subject, brought suit against the Dunlevy & Bro. Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania, to recover damages for the death of her husband, alleged to have been caused by the negligence of said company while he was in its employ. A verdict was found for plaintiff, and on entry of judgment thereon defendant sued out this writ, and assigned for error the refusal of the court to give binding instructions in its favor.
The deceased had worked four months in the defendant’s factory, oiling machinery and doing odd jobs. On the day of the injury he was directed to oil the elevator. This he had done three times before, but was not told how to do it, or warned as to any danger. To oil the worm gear which operated the elevator drum, it was necessary that one stand near a shafting on which there was an unguarded set screw, of which the deceased did not know, and which was not distinguishable when the shaft was revolving. No one witnessed the accident; but it seemed likely that, while Forrest was trying to oil the elevator, his clothing was caught by the set screw, and he was whirled around in such manner as to cause his death. The case involved two questions, viz., whether the machinery was safeguarded, under the provisions of the Pennsylvania statute; and, second, whether the court should have held the deceased guilty of contributory negligence.
After full consideration, we are of opinion the judgment should be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- DUNLEVY & BRO. CO. v. FORREST
- Status
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- Syllabus
- 1. Master and Servant (§ 286’*) — Action for Injury to Servant — Questions for Jury. In an action to recover for the death of an employé by being caught in machinery, whether the machinery was safeguarded as required by a state statute is ordinarily a question for the jury. [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Master and Servant, Cent. Dig. §§ 100J, 1006, 1008, .1010-1015, 1017-1033, 1036-1042, 1044, 1046-1050; Dee. Dig. § 286.*] 2. Master and Servant (§ 289*) — Action for Injury to Servant — Questions for Jury — Contributory Negligence. In an action to recover for the death of a servant, the question of contributory negligence held properly submitted to the jury on evidence showing that, while deceased was oiling machinery in an obscure light, he was caught by a set screw on another part of the machinery, of which he had not been warned. [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Master and Servant, Cent. Dig. §§ 1089, 1090, 1092-1132; Dec. Dig. § 289.*]