Hanson v. City of Seattle
Hanson v. City of Seattle
Opinion of the Court
This is an action for personal injuries sustained by falling upon a sidewalk in the city of Seattle, tried to a jury. From a verdict and judgment thereon in favor of respondent, the city appeals. In
“In answer to paragraph four, this defendant says that, in the using of the sidewalk on Madison Street, complaint was made because of its slippery condition, although it was constructed of rough cement with cleats, and to overcome that and make it safe for pedestrians, there was placed on the sidewalk a coat of tar product and sand, a substance used to prevent slipping; and denies each and every other allegation contained in said paragraph.”
The city offered no evidence and moved for a non-suit and an instructed verdict, and after a verdict was returned, for judgment non obstante veredicto and for a new trial. The denial of each of these motions is assigned as error, as is also the refusal to instruct, as will more fully appear.
Appellant’s argument in support of its contentions that the evidence was insufficient to go to the jury is largely based upon the assumption that there was no evidence in the case going beyond the question propounded to respondent on cross-examination and her answer thereto as heretofore quoted. In such assumption we cannot agree with him. The testimony
If we concede that respondent was bound by the portion of the answer read in evidence, we find nothing therein that negatives the possibility of negligence. The paragraph read is an acknowledgment that the city, at some previous time, received notice of the slippery condition in spite of the cleats, but there is nothing therein indicating that due care required the obliteration of the cleats or that the substance applied was properly applied, or that as applied it would tend to prevent slipping.
Where, in addition, it is made to appear, as here, that the jury, after having their attention particularly called to the conditions thought to establish negligence by the testimony of the witnesses, viewed the premises, admittedly in the same condition then as at the time of the accident, except possibly the wetness, and had before them the evidence of the physical conditions from their own observation, we cannot say, as a matter of law, that there was no evidence upon which a verdict could be based.
Finding no error, the judgment is affirmed.
Holcomb, C. J., Mount, Bridges, and Fullerton, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Tina Hanson v. The City of Seattle
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Municipal Corporations (420, 464)—Torts—Defective Sidewalk —Negligence — Evidence—Sufficiency. Notwithstanding plaintiff testified that her fall was caused by the “wet and slippery” condition of a sloping sidewalk, the negligence of the city is for the jury, where it appears that the city rendered the cleats useless by filling the intervals with a tar, pitch or asphalt composition which was slippery. Same (448)—Defective Sidewalk — Pleading — Answer—Sufficiency. In an action for a fall upon a sloping sidewalk, an answer that the sidewalk was given a coat of tar and sand to prevent slipping does not negative the possibility of negligence; since it does not show that it was properly applied or prevented slipping. Stipulations (2)—Trial (100-1)—Requests for Instructions. A stipulation that the court may instruct the jury orally does not waive the requirement that requests for instructions must be made in due time and in writing. Appeal (464)—Haemless Error—Instructions—Refusal of Requests. The refusal of an untimely oral request to instruct that mere slipperiness of the sidewalk does not constitute negligence is not prejudicial where other instructions correctly stated the city’s duty and confined the jury to the negligence alleged.