287 N.W. 560 | Mich. | 1939
Lead Opinion
This court granted leave to appeal from a verdict of $500 in plaintiff's favor for personal injuries arising out of an automobile accident. Shortly after the filing of the original declaration, which alleged ordinary negligence of defendant, defendant filed a petition in bankruptcy listing plaintiff's claim in his schedule of liabilities. Thereupon, by leave of court, plaintiff amended his declaration to charge gross negligence. The question we are asked to decide is whether the jury was correctly allowed to find from the evidence that defendant Nicks was guilty of such wanton misconduct that his liability to plaintiff survived his subsequent discharge in bankruptcy. Concededly, if his conduct was not so reckless and unmindful of consequences as to constitute gross negligence, recovery for simple or ordinary negligence is barred by that discharge.
Plaintiff, Chester Bielawski, was riding as a guest passenger in an automobile owned by John Nalepa and being driven by him in a southerly direction on Jefferson road in Macomb county. As the car crossed the intersection of Sugar Bush road, defendant Nicks, who was coming in the opposite direction on Jefferson road, attempted to overtake a slow moving vehicle which was also traveling north. As defendant turned to his left to pass, he was *404 squarely in the path of Nalepa's car. The latter, realizing the danger, drove over to the shoulder of the road on his own right side, where he had a right to be. Defendant, apparently expecting Nalepa to remain on the road, and being unable to get into the proper traffic lane, drove completely across the road and struck Nalepa's car on the shoulder of the highway. Plaintiff was thrown through the windshield and sustained lacerations on his face, requiring medical aid and abstinence from work for eight days.
The evidence leaves no doubt that Nalepa was driving in a reasonably careful and prudent manner and was free from any contributory negligence. There is equally no doubt that defendant was driving carelessly. In spite of the fact that it is viewed in plaintiff's favor, the testimony does not, however, support the claim that defendant was guilty of wanton misconduct. Jefferson road, a two-lane thoroughfare, is about 20 feet wide. Near the point of collision it is straight and the view on both sides is clear and uninterrupted. Defendant was driving at a speed variously estimated at from 45 to 60 miles per hour. While this was undoubtedly careless, we have consistently held that mere excessive speed does not constitute gross negligence. Van Blaircum v. Campbell,
It is claimed that shortly after the accident defendant admitted that he had taken a drink some time before. Although this was contradicted, it may be assumed to be true. The testimony of all witnesses indicates, however, that defendant was not intoxicated. Furthermore, even intoxication is not necessarily indicative of wilful and malicious misconduct.Bonnici v. Kindsvater,
Taken independently, none of the individual claims relied on to show appellant's conduct grossly negligent sustains such a conclusion. Nor does the entire record warrant the inference made by the trial judge that, taken in the aggregate, the various phases of defendant's conduct such as speed, manner of driving, et cetera, substantiate the finding of gross negligence. The testimony indicates that appellant was proceeding at a high rate of speed; that he attempted to pass another car without making due allowance for Nalepa's car approaching in the opposite direction; that when he realized he could not pass safely, he sought to avoid a head-on collision by pulling over to the same shoulder toward which Nalepa had sought a place of safety. Defendant's judgment may have been poor; his reaction *406
to threatened peril unusually slow; his confusion great and his general conduct careless. Such characteristics were not lacking, however, to the operators of motor vehicles inFinkler v. Zimmer,
The jury's finding that defendant Nicks was guilty of wanton and wilful misconduct is unsupported by the evidence. The judgment should have been for defendant. It is accordingly reversed, with costs, without new trial.
WIEST, BUSHNELL, SHARPE, and NORTH, JJ., concurred with BUTZEL, C.J.
Dissenting Opinion
Defendant had a new Lincoln Zephyr automobile. There was evidence that, just prior to the accident, he was driving his car 60 miles an hour on a highway 20 feet wide and that the car was swaying all over the road. Defendant was going north, and the car in which plaintiff was a passenger was proceeding in a southerly direction. When defendant was 400 feet away, the driver of plaintiff's car noticed that defendant's car was proceeding at a high speed, swaying over the road, and coming toward them; and therefore drove to the right off the traveled portion of the road onto the shoulder in order to avoid danger. Defendant proceeded right on, crossed the highway to his left at high speed on the wrong side of the highway and collided with the car that was completely off the road. There was evidence that after the accident *407 there was the odor of alcohol on defendant's breath. Was there any evidence to submit to the jury that defendant was guilty of gross negligence? The trial court ruled that it was a question of fact for the jury. It is impossible to see how he could have done otherwise. There was no error. Judgment should be affirmed.
POTTER, and CHANDLER, JJ., concurred with McALLISTER, JJ.