Myers v. City of Plattsburgh

Decision Date09 May 1961
Citation214 N.Y.S.2d 773,13 A.D.2d 866
PartiesJeanett Mae MYERS, as Administratrix of the Estate of George Richard Myers, Deceased, Appellant, v. CITY OF PLATTSBURGH et al., Respondents.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Robinson & Holcombe, Plattsburgh, for appellant (Thomas A. Robinson, Plattsburgh, of counsel).

Allen M. Light, Plattsburgh, for respondents.

Before BERGAN, P. J., and COON, GIBSON, REYNOLDS and TAYLOR, JJ.

MEMORANDUM DECISION.

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court entered in Clinton County, which, upon motion, dismissed the complaint on the ground that the statute of limitations is a bar to the action, which was brought to recover damages for negligence occurring during the period November 15, 1938 to August 31, 1940, whereby plaintiff's estate contracted histoplasmosis through exposure to large amounts of pigeon excretion present in a structure in which he worked, the disease causing pain and suffering in his lifetime and his death on August 18, 1956.

Inasmuch as plaintiff, in his lifetime, failed to commence an action to recover damages for his personal injury resulting from negligence, within three years after his cause of action accrued (Civil Practice Act, § 49, subd. 6), the causes of action sought to be prosecuted by his administratrix are barred, since a cause of action for personal injuries, once foreclosed by the statute, is not, upon death, revived in favor of the estate and the cause of action for wrongful death given by section 130 of the Decedent Estate Law is barred if the personal injury cause of action was outlawed in decedent's lifetime. Kelliher v. New York Cent. & Hudson River R. R. Co., 212 N.Y. 207, 105 N.E. 824, L.R.A.1915E, 1178; Johnson v. Stromberg-Carlson Tel. Mfg. Co., 250 App.Div. 352, 294 N.Y.S. 173, affirmed 276 N.Y. 621, 12 N.E.2d 607, certiorari denied 305 U.S. 645, 59 S.Ct. 150, 83 L.Ed. 416. Appellant does not dispute the applicability of the cases cited but considers that Kelliher (which Johnson followed) was not correctly decided and that New York should follow the contrary rule which has been adopted in certain other jurisdictions. Appellant's attorneys candidly recognize that if there is to be a new interpretation of section 130, it must be by the Court of Appeals.

Judgment unanimously affirmed, without costs.

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23 cases
  • Raftery v. Wm. C. Vick Const. Co.
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • December 7, 1976
    ...268 Ala. 576, 109 So.2d 699 (1959); Milford Memorial Hospital, Inc. v .Elliott, 58 Del. 480, 210 A.2d 858 (1965); Myers v. Plattsburgh, 13 A.D.2d 866, 214 N.Y.S.2d 773 (1961); Howard v. Bell Telephone Co., 306 Pa. 518, 160 A. 613 (1932); Street v. Consumers Mining Corp., 185 Va. 561, 39 S.E......
  • Adams v. Armstrong World Industries, Inc., Civ. No. 80-4161.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of Idaho
    • November 1, 1984
    ...5, 163 A. 661 (1932) Kelliher v. New York Central & Hudson River R.R., 212 N.Y. 207, 105 N.E. 824 (Ct.App.1914) Myers v. Plattsburgh, 13 A.D.2d 866, 214 N.Y.S.2d 773 (1961) Piukkula v. Pillsbury Astoria Flouring Mills Co., 150 Or. 304, 42 P.2d 921 (1935) Howard v. Bell Tele. Co., 306 Pa. 51......
  • Fisk v. U.S.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Seventh Circuit
    • August 21, 1981
    ...Hospital v. Elliott, 8 Storey 480, 210 A.2d 858 (1965); Gaudette v. Webb, 362 Mass. 60, 284 N.E.2d 222 (1972); Myers v. City of Plattsburg, 13 A.D.2d 866, 214 N.Y.S.2d 773 (1961). Of these cases, only Myers applies the rule the Government urges. In Winn, the state statute was derivative and......
  • Weinberg v. Johns-Manville Sales Corp.
    • United States
    • Maryland Court of Appeals
    • April 5, 1984
    ...276 N.Y. 621, 12 N.E.2d 607, cert. denied, 305 U.S. 645, 59 S.Ct. 150, 83 L.Ed. 416 (1938); see Myers v. City of Plattsburg, 13 A.D.2d 866, 866, 214 N.Y.S.2d 773, 774 (3rd Dept.1961). Illustrative is the case of Kelliher v. New York Cent. & H.R.R. Co., 212 N.Y. 207, 105 N.E. 824 (1914). The......
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