Smiel v. United States, Civ. No. 6230.

• Decision Date: 04 January 1957
• Docket Number: Civ. No. 6230.
• Citation: 147 F. Supp. 835
• Parties: Peter SMIEL, as Administrator of the Goods, Chattels and Credits of James Smiel, Deceased, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Northern District of New York

147 F. Supp. 835

Peter SMIEL, as Administrator of the Goods, Chattels and Credits of James Smiel, Deceased, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES of America, Defendant.

Civ. No. 6230.

United States District Court N. D. New York.

January 4, 1957.

Hage & Ferris, Utica, N. Y., for plaintiff. Raymond J. Ferris, Utica, N. Y., of counsel.

Theodore F. Bowes, U. S. Atty., Syracuse, N. Y., for defendant. Richard Bolton, Troy, N. Y., of counsel.

BRENNAN, Chief Judge.

A troublesome question of liability exists in making the decision in this case.

Action is brought under the provisions of the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U. S.C.A. §§ 1346, 2671 et seq., to recover money damages based upon the alleged negligent operation of a United States mail truck resulting in the infliction of personal injuries upon the person of James Smiel which resulted in his death. A second cause of action, authorized under the provisions of New York State law, seeks compensation to the estate of the deceased because of his conscious pain and suffering.

At the time of the accident, hereinafter referred to, James Smiel was an infant of the age of three years and eight months. His death occurred within minutes after the accident and there exists no basis for an award in the second cause of action.

The evidence as to the happening of the accident is unsatisfactory and I am fearful that if plaintiff's contention is to be accepted, the basis of liability must go beyond the reach of legitimate inference and enter the realm of speculation.

At the outset, it may be said that I am impressed that all of the witnesses, for both litigants, gave their evidence in accordance with their present recollections. Some of the witnesses were children and they were prone to opinionate their statements. The evidence was not lengthy and an outline of same is set out below from which may be gathered the problem involved in determining negligence of the agent of the defendant.

Grande Street, in the City of Mechanicville, N. Y., may be termed as located in a residential district. Its paved portion is 28 feet wide from curb to curb. It runs generally in an easterly and westerly direction and a 3 foot paved sidewalk is located on either side of the highway, adjacent to the curb line itself. The Smiel home is located on the north side of the street and the Amodio residence is located on the south side of the highway.

On the 12th day of July 1956, Mr. Callahan, who also resided in the vicinity, operated a United States parcel post truck in a westerly direction over Grande Street, bringing same to a stop on the southerly side of that street, near the residence referred to as the Amodio home. The business of the driver at the time and place was the delivery of a parcel post package at the Amodio residence. The day was fair. The time of the accident is fixed at about 12:15 P.M.

Peter Smiel, the father of the infant James, returning home to his noonday meal, parked his passenger vehicle on the north side of the highway, facing west and in the vicinity of his home. He fixed the time at about 12:10 P.M. At that time he saw the deceased on the sidewalk across the street. He entered his own home. A few minutes later, his other son, Peter, aged about five years, entered the house and advised that Jimmy had been hurt. The witness went outside. Jimmy, the injured child, was being carried by the driver of the truck, into the Amodio home.

The witness, Johnal Roy, age ten, testified that she was sitting on the porch of the Amodio home, playing with some other young girls. She saw the truck stop in front and saw the driver get out of the truck. She "thinks" that Jimmy, the deceased, Billy Mullady and Peter Smiel were playing in that vicinity. Billy asked the driver if he could get into the truck and she again "thinks" that the three boys got into the truck, seating themselves in the driver's seat. The package was delivered at the Amodio home by the truck driver. He returned to the standing truck, asked the boys to get out. She is not sure but "thinks" she saw the three of them get out of the truck and she saw no more until after the accident.

Barbara DeVito, about 13 years of age, was in front of her own home on the opposite side of the street and was engaged in mowing the lawn. She stopped her activity and was engaged in conversation with David Devoe. She saw the truck stop in front of the Amodio home, heard children laughing and saw Billy Mullady next to the truck; saw no other boy there. There were, however, children on the Amodio porch. She saw no children at the driveway. Her attention was next attracted when David Devoe yelled "Jimmy". She looked and Jimmy was on the ground near the right rear of the truck. Callahan, the driver, came over and picked him up.

David Devoe, age 9, stood holding his bicycle and talking to Barbara. He also saw the truck stop in front of the Amodio home and saw two boys — Billy Mullady and Jimmy Smiel — near the Amodio driveway. He observed nothing else until he saw Jimmy under the right wheel of the mail truck. The truck moved forward a short distance. The witness did not see Peter Smiel at all. He did however see the driver of the truck get out and go up to the porch and, as he returned, saw him walk around the rear end of the truck.

Martin Callahan was the driver of the truck involved. He resides in the immediate vicinity; was well acquainted therewith and had...