Basel v. City of Pittsburgh

• Decision Date: 31 October 1944
• Docket Number: 173,174
• Citation: 39 A.2d 582,350 Pa. 545
• Parties: Basel, Admrx., v. Pittsburgh, Appellant
• Court: Pennsylvania Supreme Court

39 A.2d 582

350 Pa. 545

Basel, Admrx., v. Pittsburgh, Appellant

Nos. 173, 174

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

October 31, 1944

Argued September 29, 1944.

Appeals, Nos. 173 and 174, March T., 1944, from judgments of C.P., Allegheny Co., April T., 1943, Nos. 3079 and 3080, in case of Mary Basel, Administratrix, v. City of Pittsburgh. Judgments reversed; reargument refused November 27, 1944.

Trespass for wrongful death. Before EGAN, J.

Verdicts for plaintiff, in sum of $3,548.20, for pecuniary loss to decedent's dependents and in sum of $100 for loss to decedent's estate, and judgments thereon. Defendant appealed.

Judgments reversed and here entered for defendant.

Frederic G. Weir, Assistant City Solicitor, with him Anne X. Alpern City Solicitor, for appellant.

William L. Jacob, for appellee.

Before MAXEY, C.J., DREW, LINN, STERN, PATTERSON and STEARNE, JJ.

OPINION

MR. JUSTICE DREW:

These are companion suits in trespass brought by Mary Basel, widow of Joseph Basel, and administratrix of his estate, to recover for her own loss and the loss of the estate, resulting from negligence of the City of Pittsburgh, defendant, which is claimed to have been the sole cause of his death. The jury awarded her $3548.20 in the death action and $100.00 in the survival action. The learned court below in each case refused to grant the municipality's motions for judgment n.o.v. and for a new trial and from the entry of judgments on the verdicts, it appealed.

The facts are not disputed. On September 14, 1942, a clear, sunny day, Joseph Basel, while driving his car north on Kendall Street, struck an accumulation of dirt in the street at the intersection of Kendall Street and Kent Way, and was thrown over an embankment to his death. Kendall Street is a paved thoroughfare which descends at a 23% grade. At the northern extremity of the grade, Kent Way, an unimproved dirt roadway, cuts sharply to the left, at a practical right angle; there is no other outlet from that end of Kendall Street. Progressing a few feet due north on Kendall Street beyond this intersection, there is an abrupt drop overlooking Keystone Street. This drop is approximately 60 feet; the automobile of deceased careened over the embankment and fell onto Keystone Street.

The accumulation of dirt which Basel struck had been created by erosion from the adjoining hill and the failure of the sewer to carry it away. At the time he struck it, it was approximately seven feet long, three feet wide and one foot deep. It had been there for about three years and was an annoying and notorious factor in the neighborhood. The City does not dispute that it had constructive notice and was negligent, but relies solely upon decedent's alleged contributory negligence to prevent recovery.

The uncontradicted testimony shows that this was decedent's home neighborhood, and that he was thoroughly familiar with Kendall Street. It was also shown that he frequently walked over this street, and was fully aware of the surrounding conditions.

Shortly before the accident, Basel's car was parked before a house on Kendall Street, about 200 feet from the embankment, and at a place from which the foot of Kendall Street, the curve into Kent Way, and the trees and fence at the end of Kendall Street could be seen plainly. He came out of the house, got into the car, and started down the 23% grade of Kendall Street at a speed of approximately 15 miles an hour. When he came to the end of the street the car was out of...