Reilly v. Shannon , 180 Pa. 513 ( 1897 )

Opinion by

Mr. Justice McCollum,

The defendants were lessees of the building in which the plaintiff was injured, and Henry C. Lea was the owner and lessor of it. Sometime previous to the occurrence in question the building was damaged by fire and at the time of the accident the work of repairing it was in jirogress. It appears that the work was being done under a contract, and that Wm. McPherson, Jr., was the contractor. The evidence does not show when the lease was made, who was the other party to the contract for repairs, or that the defendants were in possession of the building before the fire. It is clear however that such use as the defendants had of the building at the time of the accident was permissive only. They were allowed to bring into the building and, by means of the elevator, carry some of tlieir goods to the upper floors. The elevator was not turned over to them. It was unfinished and still in charge of the men who put it in. These men were not employees of the defendants or subject to their orders. The plaintiff was an employee of McPherson whose foreman directed him to do the work in which he was engaged when lie received his injury. The defendants had no supervision of this work or control of the person performing it. They had no connection with the alleged cause of the accident. It was not shown that they or any one in their service started the elevator while the plaintiff was in the shaft. McPherson’s foreman testified that when he went to work in the building “it wasn’t occupied at all,” but that defendants had some stock in it at the time of the accident. The evidence submitted by the plaintiff clearly shows that the repairs and improvements contracted for and necessary to fit the building for the possession and use of the defendants in carrying on their business were not completed on the 28th of August. The carpenters, painters, plumbers and elevator men were then at work there. All the work then in progress was being done under contract. The defendants did not supervise or direct the performance of any portion of it. The injury the plaintiff received may have resulted from his want of ordinary care in the performance of the work he was directed to do, from the negligent act of a fellow workman, or from some omission of duty on- the part of his employer, but his evidence is insufficient to charge the defendants with any negligence in connection with the accident.

Judgment affirmed.