McKee v. Crucible Steel Co. of America

Citations

• 213 Pa. 333
• 62 A. 921
• 1906 Pa. LEXIS 475

Syllabus

<p>Negligence — Master and servant — Unsafe appliance.</p> <p>In an action against a steel company by an employee to recover damages for personal injuries, the case is for the jury, where it appears that the accident happened by reason of the absence of a bolt or rivet in the machinery, that the bolt or rivet had not been in its place for months, and that the defect in the machinery could not have been revealed to the plaintiff except by very special investigation.</p> <p>In such a case questions put to witnesses, which admitted and invited answers that regarded absolute safety, should be ruled out, inasmuch as all that is required to exonerate an employer is that the machinery be reasonably safe; but if it appears that the defendant could not have been prejudiced by the answers in view of very careful instructions in the charge, the judgment will not be reversed.</p>