Shea v. Crompton & Knowles Loom Works

• Decision Date: 28 February 1940
• Citation: 25 N.E.2d 725,305 Mass. 327
• Court: United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
• Parties: SHEA v. CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOM WORKS.

305 Mass. 327

25 N.E.2d 725

SHEA

v.CROMPTON & KNOWLES LOOM WORKS.

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Worcester.

Feb. 28, 1940.

Exceptions from Superior Court, Worcester County; Broadhurst, Judge.

Action by Walter Shea against Crompton & Knowles Loom Works for injuries received by plaintiff while at work in factory of his employer, the defendant. A verdict was directed for defendant, and plaintiff brings exceptions.

Judgment for defendant.

N. Fusaro, of Worcester, for plaintiff.

G. B. Rowell, of Boston, for defendant.

DONAHUE, Justice.

The plaintiff brought this action to recover damages for injuries received by him while at work in the factory of his employer, the defendant, who was not a subscriber under the Workmen's Compensation Act. G.L. (Ter.Ed.) c. 152, § 1 et seq.

The declaration alleged the negligent failure of the defendant to furnish him with a safe and suitable place to work, or with suitable means and appliances with which to do his work, or to warn him of any hidden dangers incident to his work. At some time before the trial a motion of the defendant for specifications was allowed by the court and the plaintiff specified, in substance, that the negligence of the defendant that caused his injury was the requirement that he lift boxes containing cast iron weighing over one hundred pounds without the aid of suitable lifting appliances or devices.

At the trial, the plaintiff testified that at the time of his injury he had started to carry a box containing cast iron when his foot slipped on an accumulation of oil, grease and steel chips upon the floor and he fell and was injured. At the close of the plaintiff's evidence he filed a motion to amend the specifications earlier filed by him by adding thereto the statement that the place where he worked was dangerous because oil, grease and steel chips were allowed to accumulate on the floor, and he was not provided with suitable means for lifting the boxes of cast iron. After a hearing the judge denied the motion and no exception was taken to the denial. The power of allowing or denying the motion to amend the specifications rested in the sound judicial discretion of the judge, Nickerson v. Glines, 220 Mass. 333, 334, 107 N.E. 942;Gerrish v. Gerrish, 249 Mass. 219, 223, 144 N.E. 235, and there is nothing to indicate that such discretion was here abused.

So far as appears, the only evidence introduced at the trial was the testimony of the plaintiff. At the close of the plaintiff's evidence the defendant rested, and the judge directed a verdict for the defendant, subject to the plaintiff's exception. The parties stipulated that if, on the exception taken by the plaintiff, it should be determined in this court that the case should have been submitted to the jury, judgment shall be entered for the plaintiff in the sum of $1,000, otherwise judgment shall be entered on the verdict for the defendant.

The purpose of specifications is to give the judge and the opposing party knowledge of the nature and grounds of an action, or the...