St. Lukes Hospital v. Melin‪.‬

This action was brought by the plaintiff (appellee) to recover damages for personal injuries allegedly caused by the negligence of the defendant (appellant). Jurisdiction was based on diversity of citizenship. The plaintiffs claim was that, while he was in defendants hospital at Duluth, Minnesota, a porcelain faucet handle, in the bathroom which he used, broke in his hand, inflicting serious cuts; that the handle was defective and cracked; and that the defendant had actual or constructive knowledge of its defective condition. The defendant denied liability. The case was tried to a jury. A motion of the defendant for a directed verdict was denied. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, upon which judgment was entered on May 6, 1948.