Transportation Law Commons^™

Negligence-Res Ipsa Loquitur-Justification For A Directed Verdict In Favor Of The Plaintiff, William A. Bain, Jr. S. Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Defendant was driving his car along a straight and unobstructed stretch of gravel road when it ran off the road, overturned, and injured the plaintiff, who was a passenger. There was some conflict in the evidence as to the speed of the car and the only evidence that the defendant could offer as to the cause of the accident was a statement that it could have been the gravel or a tie rod. The trial court directed a verdict for the plaintiff. On appeal, held, affirmed. The car left a straight and unobstructed highway and there is no showing …

Railroads - Violation Of Ordinance Limiting The Obstruction Of Highways By Trains - Collision At Crossing - Proximate Cause, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff was injured, when an automobile in which she was a passenger, was driven into a freight train standing across a highway on a misty night. This train had been obstructing the crossing for more than five minutes, in violation of a state statute. Plaintiff sued the railroad, alleging negligence in violating the statute. On appeal from a judgment for the plaintiff, held that plaintiff had made no case, and that the judgment should be reversed without a new trial, and with costs to the defendant. Simpson v. Pere Marquette Ry., 276 Mich. 653, 268 N. W. 769 (1936).

Negligence - Guest Statutes - Proximate Cause, Erwin S. Simon

Michigan Law Review

The deceased was fatally injured while riding as a guest in defendant's truck. In the course of the action for damages brought by the administratrix, the court instructed that "if you find from a preponderance of the evidence that the driver of the truck was guilty of willful and wanton misconduct . . . and that as a consequence thereof the accident occurred, and further, that such conduct contributed to the death of plaintiff's intestate," then the jury should find for the plaintiff. Verdict was for the plaintiff and defendant appealed. Held, that the instruction was erroneous because it …

Automobiles-- Insurance - Effect Of Delay In Giving Notice Of Accident

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a boy of six, was struck by an automobile driven by the insured's brother who, after investigation, found no apparent injury and was so informed by the boy's mother. A week later the driver reported the affair to the insured. Two weeks after the accident the insured was notified of the plaintiff's claim. A week later, three weeks after the accident, the insurer was notified. The policy of liability insurance provided that "upon the occurrence of death or personal injuries or any accident covered by this policy, the assured shall as soon as practicable after learning thereof, give written …

Process In Actions Against Non-Resident Motorists, Maurice S. Culp

Michigan Law Review

Personal service on the defendant within the jurisdiction of a State is the conventional form of process in personal actions. But considerations of convenience and public need have resulted in recognizing an additional form of process in personal actions against nonresident motorists. Statutes in 35 States authorize the commencement of suit against the non-resident motorist by substituted service on a public official of the State where the cause of action arises; the official is made for this purpose the agent or attorney of the non-resident motorist.

It is proposed herein to discuss (1) the constitutional basis of such legislation, and …

Torts - Imputed Negligence - Passenger In Private Carrier For Hire

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff hired Hilton, a private carrier, to drive her from Detroit to Ann Arbor. Hilton's car collided with a car driven by the defendant, both Hilton and the defendant being negligent. Held, that the plaintiff could recover, as the negligence of a private carrier for hire will not be imputed to a passenger riding in his conveyance. Three judges dissented; the four concurring judges refused to join Justice McDonald in his opinion expressly overruling the whole doctrine of Thorogood v. Bryan. Lachow v. Kimmich, 263 Mich. 1, 248 N. W. 531 (1933).

Torts - Principal And Agent - Liability For Negligent Driving

Michigan Law Review

Defendant company's salesman, driving his own car while selling defendant's washing-machines on a commission basis over a large territory, and with no regulation by the defendant except as to the terms of the contracts the salesman might make, negligently collided with plaintiff's car. Held, a salesman driving his own car, with no more supervision than existed here, is an independent contractor for whose negligence his employer is not liable. Stockwell v. Morris, (Wyo. 1933) 22 Pac. (2d) 189.

Automobiles - Guest - Contributory Negligence

Michigan Law Review

The plaintiff was a guest of the defendant in the latter's automobile during a night trip. With the knowledge and consent of the defendant the plaintiff went to sleep. While he was sleeping the defendant negligently wrecked the car and plaintiff was injured. Held, that the question as to whether or not such conduct constituted contributory negligence was one of fact for the jury. Nelson v. Nygren, (N. Y. 1932) 181 N. E. 52.

Insurance - Injuries Resulting From The Operation Of An Automobile

Michigan Law Review

The defendant insured the plaintiff against accidental injuries suffered exclusive of all other causes and only as the result of operating, driving, or riding in or on an automobile. The plaintiff was injured while sitting in the driver's seat of an automobile by a discharge from a gun which was being unloaded by a companion on a hunting trip, preliminary to placing it in the car. Held, the accident arose as a result of operating the automobile within the meaning of the insurance policy and the plaintiff is entitled to recover. Dorsey v. Fidelity Union Casualty Co., (Tex. …

Torts - Recklessness - Liability Of Driver Under "Host-Guest" Statute

Michigan Law Review

Iowa Code, 1927, sec. 5026-b1, provides that no automobile owner or operator shall be liable for injuries received by a gratuitous occupant therein, except those caused by the driver's intoxication or reckless operation. Defendant, a rather inexperienced driver, became excited upon coming to a hill and pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, causing an accident which injured plaintiff, a gratuitous passenger in the car. The jury found that defendant had been driving recklessly. In reversing for error in instruction, the court held that recklessness may or may not include wilfulness or wantonness, but always implies no care, coupled with …

Automobiles - Right Of Way At Intersections - Effect Of "Stop" Street

Michigan Law Review

In driving his automobile plaintiff approached a "stop" street and stopped his car as required by law; he then entered the intersection and collided with defendant's car, which approached from plaintiff's left on the "through" street. On the trial of an action for the resulting damage the court instructed the jury that the vehicle on the through street "shall have right of way over all other vehicles approaching or traveling upon all streets intersecting said designated boulevard." Held, such instruction is erroneous, for the ordinance did not give the traveler on the through street right of way over cars …

Constitutional Law-Action For Personal Injury As Property

Michigan Law Review

In an action for personal injury to the plaintiff while a guest in defendant's car, the trial court instructed the jury that plaintiff must prove the elements required by the Guest Act, i.e., a heedless and reckless disregard of the rights of others, and not merely the common law requirements for negligence. The Guest Act (Pub, Acts, 1927, c. 308) was void for failure of the governor to sign in the prescribed time. Validating acts were passed after the accident in question. Held, action for personal injury was a property interest and the validating acts, operating retrospectively, impaired plaintiff's …