Reynolds v. Texas & Pac. Ry. Co.


37 La. Ann. 694 (La. App. 1885).

One-Sentence Takeaway: Where the negligence of the defendant greatly multiplies the chances of accident to the plaintiff, and is of a character naturally leading to its occurrence, the mere possibility that it might have happened without the negligence is not sufficient to break the chain of cause and effect between the negligence and the injury.

Summary: Plaintiff, who weighed over 250 pounds, fell as she attempted to descend the dimly lit stairs, which also lacked a handrail, to Defendant’s railroad platform.

The court allowed the jury to infer that the negligent lack of lighting and handrail was a cause-in-fact of Plaintiff’s accident even though it was conceivable that Plaintiff may have fallen anyway due to some other reason.

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