<P> The plaintiff , Helen Palsgraf , was taking her daughters to the beach in August 1924 . As two men attempted to board a train before hers , one ( aided by railroad employees ) dropped a package that exploded , causing a large coin - operated scale on the platform to hit her . After the incident , she began to stammer , and subsequently sued the railroad , arguing that its employees had been negligent while assisting the man , and that she had been harmed by the neglect . In May 1927 she obtained a jury verdict of $6,000 , which the railroad appealed . Palsgraf gained a 3 -- 2 decision in the Appellate Division , and the railroad appealed again . Cardozo wrote for a 4 -- 3 majority of the Court of Appeals , ruling that there was no negligence because the employees , in helping the man board , did not have a duty of care to Palsgraf as injury to her was not a foreseeable harm from aiding a man with a package . The original jury verdict was overturned , and the railroad won the case . </P>
<P> The plaintiff , Helen Palsgraf , was taking her daughters to the beach in August 1924 . As two men attempted to board a train before hers , one ( aided by railroad employees ) dropped a package that exploded , causing a large coin - operated scale on the platform to hit her . After the incident , she began to stammer , and subsequently sued the railroad , arguing that its employees had been negligent while assisting the man , and that she had been harmed by the neglect . In May 1927 she obtained a jury verdict of $6,000 , which the railroad appealed . Palsgraf gained a 3 -- 2 decision in the Appellate Division , and the railroad appealed again . Cardozo wrote for a 4 -- 3 majority of the Court of Appeals , ruling that there was no negligence because the employees , in helping the man board , did not have a duty of care to Palsgraf as injury to her was not a foreseeable harm from aiding a man with a package . The original jury verdict was overturned , and the railroad won the case . </P>
the long island railroad won the case because the harm to ms. palsgraf was not
the long island railroad won the case because the harm to ms. palsgraf was not
foreseeable harm from aiding a man with a package
foreseeable harm from aiding a man with a package