[Download] "Eckstein v. Scoffi Et Al." by Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ~ Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Eckstein v. Scoffi Et Al.
- Author : Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
- Release Date : January 01, 1938
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 61 KB
Description
RUGG, Chief Justice. This is an action of tort by an employee against his employers to recover compensation for personal injuries sustained by him by reason of their negligence. The action is at common law. It arose in 1932 or 1933. The pertinent facts are those as shown by the exceptions: The defendants were not insured under the Workmen's Compensation Act. The plaintiff was employed as a baker in East Boston by the defendant John Scoffi, beginning in June, 1932. His duties comprised the firing or starting of the oven and the making of various articles of food. The plaintiff worked downstairs alone in a subbasement with an oven. The bakery store was upstairs. For the first few weeks John Scoffi came to the bakery every morning and then he told the plaintiff that his son, Salva Scoffi, 'who had just graduated from high school, would now be in the store as well.' Thereafter John Scoffi came about twice a week to the bakery, and would deliver whatever the plaintiff had ordered for supplies. Salva Scoffi was about eighteen years of age; he would usually be there at noon time to relieve his aunt who was upstairs in the store. In firing the oven it was necessary for the plaintiff to use a long shovel. The one furnished him consisted of a long pole with an iron shovel and a wooden handle. It was in good condition until December, 1932. Through use it came to be rough and splintery and dangerous to use. The plaintiff spoke to John Scoffi about its condition, and the latter said he would get a new one right away. The plaintiff repeated his complaints several times, but continued to work in reliance upon promises to furnish a new shovel. There was evidence tending to show that after the lapse of several weeks splinters from the shovel injured the hands of the plaintiff; he suffered great pain, was disabled from work, and was under the care of a doctor for seven weeks. The plaintiff was paid his wages up to the time he was hurt. There was conversation with John Scoffi about compensation for the plaintiff's injuries and he was told to go home, to take care of his hands, to come back to work when he was better, and that he (John Scoffi) would 'fix it up.' When the plaintiff was ready to return to work, he saw Salva Scoffi, who said that they intended to keep the baker they had. When the plaintiff asked about compensation for the injuries to his hands, Salva Scoffi replied that he must see his father, John Scoffi. Since the defendants were not insured under the Workmen's Compensation Act, G. L., Ter.Ed., c. 152, the defence of assumption of risk by the plaintiff was not open to them. Cronan v. Armitage, 285 Mass. 520, 524, 527, 190 N.E. 12. It is too plain for Discussion that there was ample evidence that the plaintiff was in the employ of John Scoffi. White v. Newborg, 208 Mass. 279, 94 N.E. 269. It was the duty of the defendants to furnish to the plaintiff safe tools with which to do his work. O'Toole v. Pruyn, 201 Mass. 126, 87 N.E. 608; Haley v. Lombard, 207 Mass. 545, 93 N.E. 633. It might have been found that there was an express promise to furnish a suitable shovel when notice of the defects of the one in use was given. Wood v. Danas, 230 Mass. 587, 120 N.E. 159; Jellow v. Fore River Ship Building Co., 201 Mass. 464, 87 N.E. 906.