DAVIS v. NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY.
Docket No. 77, Calendar No. 47,080
Supreme Court of Michigan
Decided May 17, 1957
348 Mich. 262
CARR, J.
Aрpeal from Eaton; McDonald (Archie D.), J. Submitted January 17, 1957.
We hold that neither the petition nor the record before us make out a case for this Court to disturb the discretion of the trial сourt. The order of the circuit judge denying the petition for a delayed appeal is accordingly affirmed, with costs to the prevailing party.
DETHMERS, C. J., and SHARPE, SMITH, EDWARDS, KELLY, CARR, and BLACK, JJ., concurred.
DAVIS v. NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY.
1. RAILROADS—AUTOMOBILES—CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE—QUESTION FOR JURY.
A plaintiff in a case arising out of a collision at a railroad crossing is entitled to have issue of contributory negligence presented to jury, where the evidence is such that reasonable minds might draw differing inferences and defendant‘s negligence is admitted.
2. TRIAL—DIRECTED VERDICT—EVIDENCE.
Proofs offered for plaintiff must be construed as strongly as possible in his favor in determining whether or not a motion for directed verdict for defendant should be granted at the conclusion of plaintiff‘s proofs.
REFERENCES FOR POINTS IN HEADNOTES
[1, 6, 7] 5A Am Jur, Automobiles and Highway Traffic § 714.
[2] 3 Am Jur, Appeal and Error § 886.
[3, 4] 5A Am Jur, Automobiles and Highway Traffic § 1028.
[5] 5A Am Jur, Automobiles and Highway Traffic §§ 377, 378.
The question of negligence is ordinarily a question for the jury and not for the court, since it involves a determination of what would have been ordinary care under the circumstances and then the ascertainment of whether the person charged with negligence came up to that standard, usually a variable one.
4. SAME—UNDISPUTED FACTS—INFERENCES.
Negligence cannot be conclusively established by a state of undisputed facts when fair-minded men may well differ as to the inferences to be drawn.
5. RAILROADS—CROSSINGS—DUE CARE.
Special conditions may change the duty of one about to cross railroad tracks to look and listen for railroad trains from a standard of conduct to an element of care to be weighed by a jury.
6. SAME—CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE—QUESTION OF LAW OR FACT.
Whether the matter of contributory negligence of a motorist who collides with a railroad engine is a question of law for the court or one of fact for the jury depends upon the circumstances of the particular case.
7. SAME—AUTOMOBILES—CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE—QUESTION FOR JURY.
Whether or not northbound plaintiff motorist in action against railroad was guilty of contributory negligence held, a question of fact for the jury, where evidence shows cars on siding at right obscured train, westbound at 6:40 p.m. in mid-November, that well-lighted area rendered it difficult to see headlight of enginе, that crossing was protected by a simple wooden cross-arm, that plaintiff looked each way as car reached southernmost rail by switch track, defendant‘s unscheduled train was not then seen, and that engine bell was not ringing and its whistle was not blown.
Appeal from Eaton; McDonald (Archie D.), J. Submitted January 17, 1957. (Docket No. 77, Calendar No. 47,080.) Decided May 17, 1957.
Case by Leslie W. Davis against New York Central Railroad Company, a Michigan corporation, for damages resulting from collision at street cross-
Kelly, Kelly & Kelly, for plaintiff.
McKone, Badgley, Domke & Kline, for defendant.
CARR, J. While driving his automobile across the tracks of the defendant railroad company at Hall street in the city of Eaton Rapids, plaintiff was struck by a train operated by defendant in a westerly direction, and severely injured. The accident occurred on November 13, 1954, at approximately 6:40 p.m. The train in question was not a regularly schеduled one. Claiming that the accident and his injuries sustained therein resulted from negligence on the part of defendant, plaintiff brought this action for damages. The declaration alleged that the defendant‘s employees had negligently placed certain cars on a siding in such manner as to obstruct plaintiff‘s view to the east as he approached the crossing, that proper signals of the approach of the train were not given, and that said train was traveling at an excessive rate of speed. Plaintiff further averred that he exercised a reasonable and proper outlook for his own safety, and that he was not guilty of negligence contributing to the accident.
Defendant by answer denied negligence on its part and further asserted that plaintiff failed to make proper observations before attempting to cross the tracks and was for that reason guilty of contributory nеgligence. The case was duly brought on for trial before a jury. At the conclusion of plaintiff‘s proofs counsel for defendant moved for a directed verdict on the grounds, 1st, that plaintiff had failed to show any negligence on defendant‘s part, and, 2d, that under the record as it then stood plaintiff was
Plaintiff was driving on Hall street in a northerly direction at the time of the accident. The tracks of the defendant intersect said street at an angle, the crossing being marked with a wooden crossarm sign. At Main street, approximately 360 feet east of Hall street, crossing bells and flashing lights were maintained by defendant to indicate the approach of a train. Farther to the east is Jackson street, approximately 960 feet distant, its location being significant solely on the ground that witnesses for plaintiff testified that they heard the whistle blown in proximity to Jackson street as the train approached.
As a witness in his own behalf plaintiff testified that he had lived in Eaton Rapids for 22 years, that he operated a milk route, and that he was familiar with the crossing where the accident occurred. He claimеd further that he was familiar with the schedule of regular trains passing through Eaton Rapids, and that on the occasion in question he was aware that no regular train was scheduled to pass. He also testified, as did other witnesses, that switch-
On his direct examination plaintiff testified to the presence of freight cars on the siding south of the main track, and that those on the еast side of Hall street, from which direction defendant‘s train approached, interfered with his view in that direction. It was his claim that he knew that a train might pass through the city at any time, that he looked in both directions alternately as he approached the crossing, that he listened for signals, and that he heard no bell or whistle of a train coming from the east. It was his claim also that he could have heard a bell or whistle if it had been sounded. His testimony indicatеd that the crossing was well lighted, and it is suggested that this fact is important as bearing on the question whether plaintiff was negligent in failing to notice beams from the headlights of the locomotive.
Plaintiff stated that as the front end of his car entered on the south rail of the sidetrack he could see approximately 45 feet to the east along defendant‘s main track, that he looked at that time, and that there was no train in sight. He insisted that he heard no bell or whistle at that time, and that he could have heard them if such signals had been given. He testified that, having taken his view to the east, he then looked to the west to see if there was possible danger from that direction. He claimed that he was struck by defendant‘s locomotive as he was completing such view. He estimated his speed at the time he was struck at approximately 8 miles an hour. On his cross-examination plaintiff indicated that he could not have heard the warning bell at Main street if the wind had been against him, that is, blowing from west to east. He admitted also that he had the windows of his car closed. It should be noted that on his cross-examination plain-
Plaintiff‘s witness Roland White, who was standing outside his store on Main street as the train passed, testified that he heard thе whistle blown “in the vicinity east of Jackson street,” that he did not hear it again, and that as the train passed west toward Hall street he did not hear any bell on the locomotive. He claimed that he could have heard it had it been rung. The testimony of Mrs. White corroborated that of her husband. Other witnesses called by plaintiff testified as to the regular train operations in and through Eaton Rapids. The physical situation involved in the case is indicated by exhibits that have bеen submitted to this Court with the record.
Do the proofs in the case, and particularly the testimony of the plaintiff, establish that he was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law? If the issue was one concerning which opinions might properly have differed he was entitled to have his case submitted to the jury on the basis of the proofs as they stood at the time the motion for a directed verdict was made. In considering the matter we must necessarily have in mind the general rule that the proofs offered by plaintiff must be construed as strongly as possible in his favor. Thompson v. Michigan Cab Co., 279 Mich 370; Grover v. Simons, 342 Mich 480. The rule is applicable, notwithstanding that certain inconsistencies and contradictions may be deemed to exist in plaintiff‘s testimony. Yampolsky v. Smith, 320 Mich 647.
In Thompson v. Michigan Cab Co., supra, which was an action to recover damages for injuries sustained in an intersection accident, it was claimed on behalf of defendant that the driver of plaintiff‘s
“Under the legitimate inferences from all of plaintiff‘s testimony taken in its most favorable light (Loveland v. Nelson, 235 Mich 623), did Benjamin exercise that degree of reasonable care that would be exercised by a person of ordinary prudence under all the existing circumstances, in view of the probable danger of injury? Detroit & Milwaukee R. Co. v. Van Steinburg, 17 Mich 99, 118.
“It is an impossibility to lay down precise rules by which we may measure all acts of contributory negligence. Some сases must, of necessity, stand or fall on their own facts. What one does or fails to do as relates to the circumstances under which he acts is the test to be applied. Flynn v. Kramer, 271 Mich 500, 505.
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“Were Benjamin‘s actions those of an ordinary careful and prudent man under like circumstances? Can the minds of reasonable men differ in answering this question? If so, the evidence should be submitted to a jury. Adams v. Canfield, 263 Mich 666. In cases of this character, it should be made very plain by the proofs that the cоnduct of plaintiff‘s driver was negligent before he should be declared to be guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. Frary v. Grand Rapids Taxicab Co., 227 Mich 445.”
In Detroit & Milwaukee R. Co. v. Van Steinburg, cited by the Court in the language above quoted, Chief Justice COOLEY pointed out that as a general rule the question of negligence is one of fact and not of law. In discussing the propriety of a directed verdict generally, it was said, in part (pp 120-123):
“The case, however, must be a very clear one which would justify the court in taking upon itself this responsibility. For, when the judge decides that a
“But, while there is any uncertainty, it remains a matter of fact for the consideration of the jury: Briggs v. Taylor, 28 Vt 180, 183. The difficulty in these cases of negligent injuries is, that it very seldom happens that injuries are repeated under the same circumstances; and, therefore, no common standard of conduct by prudent men becomes fixed or known. In North Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Heileman, 49 Pa 60, 63, it is said: ‘That what constitutes negligence in a particular case is generally a question for the jury, and not for the court, is undoubtedly true, because negligence is want of ordinary carе. To determine whether there has been any, involves, therefore, 2 inquiries: First, What would have been ordinary care under the circumstances;
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“It is a mistake, therefore, to say, as is sometimes said, that when the facts are undisputed the question of negligence is necessarily one of law. This is generally true only of that class of cases where a party has failed in the performance of a clear legal duty. When the question arises upon a state of facts on which reasonable men may fairly arrive at different conclusions, the fact of negligence can not be determined until one or the other of those conclusions has been drawn by the jury. The inferences to be drawn from the evidence must either be certain and incontrovеrtible, or they can not be decided upon by the court. Negligence can not be conclusively established by a state of facts upon which fair-minded men may well differ.”
The test to be applied in a case of this nature in determining whether a verdict should be directed, as declared in the above cases, was approved, and said decisions were cited, in Stephens v. Koprowski, 295 Mich 213.
In Reedy v. Goodin, 285 Mich 614, 620, this Court affirmed a judgment for the plaintiff, saying:
“Contributory negligence is ordinarily a question of fact for the jury, if there is one, unless the evidеnce so plainly and clearly establishes such contributory negligence that no reasonable man could come to any other conclusion. Frary v. Grand Rapids Taxicab Co., 227 Mich 445. If plaintiff was in the exercise of ordinary care under all of the circumstances, he was not guilty of contributory negligence; and what is ordinary care is usually a question of fact. It is the care which an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under the same or similar circumstances.”
“Special conditions may change the duty of one about to cross railroad tracks to look and listen for railroad trains from a standard of conduct to an element of care to be weighed by a jury.” (Syllabus 3.)
“Whether the matter of contributory negligence of a motorist who collides with a switch engine is a question of law for the court or one of fact for the jury depends upon the circumstances of the particular case.” (Syllabus 4.)
“The question of plaintiff‘s contributory negligence should be submitted to the jury when the testimony is conflicting or where candid and intelligent men might reach different conclusions upon the question.” (Syllabus 5.)
In accord with the foregoing decisions is Vukich v. City of Detroit, 325 Mich 644. There the trial judge directed a verdict for defendant, apparently basing such action on his conclusions as to plaintiff‘s credibility and, also, on the physical facts disclosed by the proofs. In reversing the judgment and ordering a new trial, it was said (pp 647, 648):
“The facts and all inferences therefrom must be construed most favorably for plaintiff on appeal from a directed verdict, Dasovich v. Longacre, 324 Mich 62. Although we may be in accord with the trial judge as to the improbability of the accident occurring as testified to by plaintiff, this is primarily a question of fact for the jury, and there may be a possibility of reconciling the physical facts with the testimony of plaintiff, considered in the light most favorable to him. Defendant also contends that the verdict was properly directed in its favor as plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law in not making a proper observation or judgment as to his ability to cross the intersection ahead of the bus. Defendant mainly relies on the statements of law made in the recent case of MacDonald v. Skornia, 322 Mich 370, and the cases cited therein, in which the Court fully reviewed the applicable law. However, the testimony of Vukich, construed most favorably for him, distinguishes the facts of the instant case from the facts of the above cases. The trial judge did not pass on this question in directing the verdict. We are unable to say on this record that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence as a mattеr of law.
“Defendant also relies on the impossibility of the accident occurring as testified to by the plaintiff. These are proper arguments to the jury, not to the court. A discussion of the physical facts would not
See, also, Greenberg v. Greenberg, 337 Mich 390.
Under the proofs in the case at bar opiniоns may well differ, not merely as to the facts but as to the inferences to be drawn from the facts. Whether plaintiff failed to exercise proper care for his own safety involves consideration of the circumstances attending the accident, particularly with reference to the physical situation. We conclude that the issues in the case should have been submitted to the jury.
The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for a new trial.
DETHMERS, C. J., and SHARPE, EDWARDS, and KELLY, JJ., concurred with CARR, J.
BLACK, J. (concurring). In this negligence case the trial judge directed a verdict for defendant. He said plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. The question, then, brought here by plaintiff, is whether the judge was right in assuming to determine the issue himself.
The problem of contributory negligence is usually complicated by the necessity of taking into account 2 sets of causally-connected circumstances affecting conduct of different persons—in this case the plaintiff motorist and the defendant‘s engineer. Whether plaintiff was contributorily negligent depends, in part, on what if anything he had a right to expect of the engineer. This requisite of dual view of the action of 2 persons—“if the danger depends at all upon the action of any other person“—, when a court undertakes consideration of a motion for instructed
Our difficulty in recent years* is due, I think, to a want of reflective thought upon the fenced-in position the moving party occupies when he asks that the court decide the issue of contributory negligence to exclusion of the jury. Actually, and when a defendant moves that the court so decide, he concedes for the purpose of his motion all that his opponent may rightfully claim from the evidence (Van Steinburg, p 118 of report). So, and in the case before us, he admits for such purpose the excessive and unexpected speed of the football special as testified by plaintiff‘s witnesses; the omission of a warning whistle and bell as testified; the unscheduled, untimely and unusual appearance of the special; the obstruction of plaintiff‘s view by standing boxcars; the customary appearance of a flagman at the crossing when switching of cars theretofore took рlace; the absence of a flagman on the occasion in question, and verity of plaintiff‘s testimony to the degree of care exercised for his own safety. If this be right, and our earlier decisions headed by Van Steinburg repeat the test with steady regularity, it is in order to say that this case of Davis marks end of an errant cycle and beginning of a new one. The case must now, as in the days of our Court from COOLEY through FELLOWS, be a very clear one which will justify the court in taking upon itself thе responsibility of instructing a verdict on assigned ground of contributory negligence.
Last September, 4 present members of this Court agreed that:
As a Court, and by majority decision in this case, we have now partaken. Those who propose and oppose directed verdicts in negligence cases may henceforth refer to Van Steinburg for reliable guidance.
I concur in reversal.
SMITH and VOELKER, JJ., concurred with BLACK, J.