Hunter v. Alfina

Plaintiff seeks to recover for personal injuries sustained in defendants’ home when one of their kitchen chairs collapsed beneath her. At the conclusion of plaintiff’s evidence and a stipulation as to defendants’ testimony the court directed a verdict and entered judgment for defendants. The sole issue on appeal is whether the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is applicable to this case. The facts follow.

On December 1, 1959, plaintiff was employed by the defendants as a domestic servant in their home. She had been so employed one day a week for six or seven weeks pursuant to an agreement whereby…