Home MATILDA M. CONBOY vs. BOSTON MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

323 Mass. 757

December 3, 1948

Exceptions overruled. This is an action of tort for personal injuries caused by a fall on an icy sidewalk adjacent to the premises of the defendant at the corner of Congress and Franklin streets in Boston about noon on January 30, 1946. The declaration alleged the cause of the fall to be an "unnatural accumulation of snow or ice or both coming from the defendant's premises." The plaintiff excepted to the direction of a verdict for the defendant at the conclusion of the plaintiff's case. From the evidence most favorable to the plaintiff, it appeared that the sidewalk in question was of stone and concrete ten feet in width adjoining the defendant's four-story building. The plaintiff fell on ice "five or six inches in width and about three inches thick" which "extended right around the edge of the whole sidewalk." "It was the outside of the sidewalk where she fell." "The central part of the sidewalk seemed all right." "The inner part . . . was in pretty good shape." Icicles were hanging from a sign which protruded diagonally over the sidewalk forty inches from brackets attached to the building. Icicles were also hanging from a gutter on the building which extended over the sidewalk about six inches. The weather report showed a snowfall on January 25 and patches of ice remaining on the city sidewalks in the morning of January 30. It is apparent that no physical connection was shown between the ice where the plaintiff fell and the possible drippings from either the gutter or the sign. A conclusion that the ice on which the plaintiff fell was an unnatural accumulation due to the maintenance of the defendant's building was not warranted. On the facts here disclosed, Bullard v. Mattoon, 297 Mass. 182, Sullivan v. Long, 310 Mass. 230, and Tomasunas v. Khoury, 314 Mass. 754, relied on by the plaintiff, are not in point. See Mosher v. Cape Ann Savings Bank, 309 Mass. 512.

Home LINA H. GAUNT vs. HANNAH BURROUGHS, executrix.

323 Mass. 757

December 28, 1948

Decree affirmed. This petition to the Probate Court alleges, in substance, that in the assets of the estate of Harry E. Burroughs is the sum of $800, the property of the petitioner, which is being withheld from the petitioner without right; and that this money "was given in trust to the defendant for the petitioner" by one McCarthy, "trustee at the time." The prayers are that the court find that said sum is the property of the petitioner, and for further relief. The answer, in substance, denies the allegations of the petition and sets up the defence of res judicata. The Probate Court, "after a full hearing," dismissed the petition, and the petitioner appeals. The record discloses no express findings of fact by the judge, and the evidence is not reported. Obviously there is nothing in the record to show any error in the decree. Milne v. Walsh, 285 Mass. 151, 153. The petitioner has filed a "brief" with us including certain statements of facts not contained in the record. Appealed cases cannot be retried before us upon assertions in briefs. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 215, Section 12. G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 214, Section 24, as amended by St. 1947, c. 365, Section 1. Hale v. Blanchard, 242 Mass. 262, 264-265. Carilli v. Hersey, 299 Mass. 139, 145.

Home IVY SAMPSON vs. METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY.

323 Mass. 757

February 3, 1949

Exceptions overruled. The plaintiff, a passenger who was hurt alighting from a bus of the Boston Elevated Railway Company, brings this action of tort. The defendant was substituted as party defendant. St. 1947, c. 544, Section 20.

Page 758

The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff following the denial of the defendant's motion for a directed verdict. There was no error. There was evidence that the bus had stopped close to the curbstone in response to the plaintiff's ringing the signal bell; that the operator opened the doors for her to leave; and that while both her feet were on the lower step and just as she was about to step off, the bus suddenly started and threw her onto the sidewalk, breaking her hip. The plaintiff testified that she did not know what caused the bus to start. Upon the evidence it was a question for the jury whether the plaintiff's injuries were due to the defendant's negligence. McDermott v. Boston Elevated Railway, 208 Mass. 1. Killam v. Wellesley & Boston Street Railway, 214 Mass. 283, 284-285. Gray v. Boston Elevated Railway, 215 Mass. 143, 145, 148. Weil v. Boston Elevated Railway, 218 Mass. 397. Perella v. Boston Elevated Railway, 306 Mass. 547, 549. Pellard v. D'Atlesandro, 321 Mass. 387, 389.