2005 Ohio 5920 | Ohio Ct. App. | 2005
{¶ 2} Appellant, Harry Paulino, filed a notice of appeal and raises the following assignment of error:
Was the trial court correct in granting summary judgment to Appellee upon the basis that Appellant asked the court to rely solely on "speculation and conjecture" when lay testimony of witnesses to the collision as well as the expert testimony of Peter Alexander [based upon the witness statements, police investigation and deposition testimony] would have permitted the trier of fact to conclude that Appellee lost his right of way because he was inattentive and failed to see and avoid Andalcio Lewis when every other witness was able to clearly discern, and avoid, Andalcio Lewis?
{¶ 3} By the assignment of error, appellant contends that the trial court erred in granting appellee's motion for summary judgment. To prevail on a motion for summary judgment, the moving party must demonstrate that, when the evidence is construed most strongly in favor of the non-moving party, no genuine issue of material fact remains to be litigated and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Civ.R. 56(C); Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co. (1978),
{¶ 4} In Dresher v. Burt (1996),
{¶ 5} When an appellate court reviews a trial court's disposition of a summary judgment motion, the appellate court applies the same standard as applied by the trial court. Maust v. Bank One Columbus, N.A. (1992),
{¶ 6} In this case, answers to interrogatories and four depositions were filed, one was a witness to the accident, two were police officers, and an expert for appellant, along with the expert's reports.1 James T. Jones, Jr., was a witness to the accident. He testified that he was traveling east on Morse Road, in the curb lane at approximately 20 to 25 m.p.h. (Jones Depo., at 10, 19.) Morse Road at that location is a three-lane road in each direction with a center turn lane. As Jones approached the intersection of Morse and Wolford, the traffic light turned red. He slowed down to approximately 10 to 15 m.p.h., but the light changed to green so he did not completely stop. As he was accelerating through the intersection, he saw a pedestrian, later identified as Lewis, walking across Morse Road from the south to the north side. (Jones Depo., at 13-14.) Lewis was walking "casually," in a "gingerly, loafing kind of way." (Jones Depo., at 14.) Jones also described Lewis as "strolling" or having a "clumsy walk." (Jones Depo., at 31-32.) When Lewis reached the median lane, he was struck by appellant's vehicle and carried under the vehicle for some distance. (Jones Depo., at 16.) Lewis was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a light brown-colored jacket, headphones, boots and khaki pants. (Jones Depo., at 20-21.) Jones testified that appellee entered the intersection on a green light and the collision occurred east of the crosswalk. (Jones Depo., at 33-34.) In Jones' opinion, appellee had no opportunity to avoid the collision. (Jones Depo., at 33.)
{¶ 7} John Herman, a Columbus Police Officer, testified that he was an investigating detective who completed the on-scene and follow-up investigation. (Herman Depo., at 13.) He determined that the area of impact for the accident was 28.9 feet east of the crosswalk area. (Herman Depo., at 32.) He also determined that the driver entered the intersection on a green light and there was no evidence that the driver was at fault. (Herman Depo., at 59; 61.) Another Columbus police officer, an accident reconstructionist, Mark Rice, testified. He investigated the accident and determined that appellee's speed was less than the 45 m.p.h. posted speed limit. (Rice Depo., at 15.) He also determined that the accident occurred east of the intersection of Morse and Wolford, and east of the crosswalk. (Rice Depo., at 46-47.) Both Herman and Rice believed that the cause of the accident was that Lewis was illegally in the roadway and caused his demise. (Rice Depo., at 50.)
{¶ 8} Peter Alexander, a physicist who performs accident reconstructions, testified that he believed one cause of the accident was the careless driving by appellee because either he was inattentive or driving too fast since he did not see Lewis in time to stop his vehicle, but that Lewis may also bear some responsibility for the collision. (Alexander Depo., at 19-21; reports.) Alexander concluded that the data reviewed did not provide sufficient information to accurately determine the speed of appellee's vehicle, but the damage to the vehicle is consistent with an impact speed of 35 to 45 m.p.h. In his report, Alexander stated that the debris field indicated that the point of impact was near, or in, the crosswalk, but in his deposition he agreed that he had no facts sufficient to conclude that Lewis was in the crosswalk and that the witness statements he read indicated that Lewis was not in the crosswalk. (Alexander Depo., at 41.)
{¶ 9} Alexander concluded that the data from the witness statements indicate that Lewis was crossing the roadway for approximately 11 seconds from the time he stepped off the curb until impact. The data also indicated that the light for eastbound traffic was red when Lewis stepped off the curb, implying that the light for northbound traffic was green. To reach the 11 seconds conclusion, Alexander assumed 30 feet from the curb and traveling at 2.7 feet per second. (Alexander Depo., at 43.) However, these conclusions were based upon inadmissible hearsay, the witness statements and assumptions.
{¶ 10} Alexander also concluded that appellee should have been able to see Lewis crossing the road for approximately five seconds before the impact based upon the time that another witness, Ms. Aronowicz, first saw Lewis. Assuming 40 m.p.h., appellee should have been able to stop his vehicle in approximately 177 feet or 4.5 seconds, allowing for normal perception/reaction time. Since appellee did not see Lewis until immediately before impact, Alexander concluded that appellee was the main cause of the collision because he was either inattentive or driving too fast. However, Alexander concluded that both parties bear responsibility for the collision. (Alexander Depo., at 78.)
{¶ 11} There was no evidence presented that appellee should have seen Lewis. Alexander's opinion is based upon the fact that other drivers were able to avoid hitting Lewis. Alexander himself testified that he is not an expert in lighting, visibility or conspicuity issues. (Alexander Depo., at 61.) The fact that a vehicle hits an individual on a roadway does not establish negligence. Dixon v. Nowakowski (Aug. 27, 1999), Lucas App. No. L-98-1372. Negligence must always be proven, it is never presumed. Biery v. Pennsylvania Rd. Co. (1951),
{¶ 12} In addition, Lewis violated R.C.
{¶ 13} In this case, the evidence provides that appellant was traveling lawfully at the time of the collision. R.C.
"Right-of-way" means * * *
(1) The right of a vehicle * * * or pedestrian to proceed uninterruptedly in a lawful manner in the direction in which it or the individual is moving in preference to another vehicle * * * or pedestrian approaching from a different direction into its or the individual's path[.]
{¶ 14} R.C.
Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles * * * upon the roadway.
{¶ 15} Appellant argues that appellee lost his right-of-way because he contends that appellee violated R.C.
This section does not relieve the operator of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley from exercising due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway.
{¶ 16} Appellant argues that appellee did not exercise due care because he did not see Lewis despite the fact that other drivers avoided hitting him. However, Lewis was crossing Morse Road outside of the crosswalk and against the traffic light. The police investigators testified that Lewis was crossing outside the crosswalk because the area of impact was east of the crosswalk. (See Rice Depo., at 45; Herman Depo., at 53.) The investigating officer determined that appellee entered the intersection on a green light and there was no evidence that appellee was at fault. (Herman Depo., at 59; 61.) The only witness to testify stated that appellee entered the intersection on a green light, and the collision occurred east of the crosswalk. (Jones Depo., at 33.) Jones testified that he believed appellee did not have an opportunity to avoid the collision. (Jones Depo., at 33.) Although appellant argues that appellee was a cause of the collision, it is based on the expert report which states appellee was a cause because he should have seen Lewis since other drivers avoided hitting him. No evidence was presented that appellee did not exercise due care once the perilous situation, appellant crossing the street, was discovered. All the admissible evidence provides that appellee was not at fault. Appellant has not met his reciprocal burden on summary judgment to demonstrate a material issue of fact that appellee was negligent. Appellant's assignment of error is not well-taken.
{¶ 17} For the foregoing reasons, appellant's assignment of error is overruled and the judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.
Petree and Sadler, JJ., concur.
DESHLER, J., retired of the Tenth Appellate District, assigned to active duty under authority of Section
