Altum v. Booth

399 S.W.2d 836, 1966 Tex. App. LEXIS 2749
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedFebruary 16, 1966
DocketNo. 11361
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 399 S.W.2d 836 (Altum v. Booth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Altum v. Booth, 399 S.W.2d 836, 1966 Tex. App. LEXIS 2749 (Tex. Ct. App. 1966).

Opinion

HUGHES, Justice.

This suit is by Lee Ed Altum and wife Darlene Altum and H. E. Altum as next friend of the minors, Tanya and Shelia Altum, appellants, against James R. Booth and wife, Linda Kay Booth, appellees, to recover property damage and damages for personal injuries alleged to have resulted from a collision between a 1959 four-door Buick automobile driven by appellant Darlene Altum and a 1964 yellow convertible Chevrolet being driven by appellee, Linda Kay Booth, such collision occurring at the intersection of West 10th Street and North Main Street (Highway 317) in the City of Belton, Bell County, Texas, about 11:40 a. m. January 7,1964.

Appellees filed a cross action for damages to their automobile.

Trial was to a jury, but when all parties had rested the court instructed a verdict against appellants, whereupon, appellees dismissed their cross action. Judgment was entered accordingly.

[837]*837Appellants have seven points, the first four of which, jointly briefed, complain of the court’s action in directing a verdict. The basis of these points is that there was evidence of Mrs. Booth’s negligence sufficient to submit to the jury. We are of the opinion that there is no evidence of negligence on the part of Mrs. Booth and that the instructed verdict was proper.

The collision occurred at an uncontrolled intersection. The day was bright and clear. The view of each driver was unobstructed for reasonable distances. No unusual conditions of traffic or roads were present, and no evidence that either automobile was not in good running order.

Mrs. Booth was driving east on 10th Street. Mrs. Altum was driving north on Main Street. The point of impact was in southeast corner of the intersection. The right front of the Altum car sustained most of the damage done to it. The Booth car was damaged only on the right rear quarter panel and the trunk lid.

There is no evidence that either car was driving at an excessive rate of speed, thirty miles being the highest estimate given. Mrs. Altum testified that the Booth car when she first saw it was going twenty-five or thirty miles an hour, “but slowing.”

There is no evidence that either driver gave any signal or applied the brakes prior to the collision.

The evidence is undisputed that the Booth car entered the intersection first.

Appellants alleged that Mrs. Booth was negligent in (1) failing to maintain a proper lookout (2) failing to timely apply her brakes (3) failing to keep her car under proper control (4) failing to yield the right of way to Mrs. Altum (5) operating her car at an excessive or imprudent speed, and (6) in another manner which will be discussed later.

With respect to the failure of Mrs. Booth to keep a proper lookout we will quote from the record the principal relevant evidence. The only two witnesses on this issue were the drivers of the cars. Mrs. Altum testified:

“Q Mrs. Altum, can you tell us when you first saw that Chevrolet and where you were when you first saw it?
A I was about SO feet back down east, yeah, back down from 317 and 10th intersection.
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Q Now Mrs. Altum, with reference to the way this accident happened I understood you to say, and please correct me if I am wrong because during that time I couldn’t hear you too well, I understood you to say that it was your car that was about 50 feet back south of the intersection when you first saw the Booth car, is that what you said?
A I said about that or about two and a half car lengths.
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Q Now where was the Booth car at that time, I didn’t understand you to testify where it was.
A She was approaching the intersection.
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Q Where was she, I am not trying to testify for you?
A She was — well, I am not very good at these feet or anything but she looked to be about 25 or 30 feet back, I am not sure.
Q In other words she was about half as far from the intersection as you were?
A It appeared to be yes.
[838]*838* * ‡ ‡ s{:
Q What did you do, if anything, after seeing that automobile ?
A Well, I saw it. I looked and saw it and I proceeded on and I looked back up the road you know and when I saw it she appeared to be stopping.
* * * * * *
Q Did you continue to watch the yellow convertible?
A Yes, I didn’t keep my eye on it all of the time, I looked back up the road.
Q By back up the road you mean you looked north up 317?
A Yes.
Q Did you again see that yellow convertible prior to the collision?
A Yes.
Q And where was it then ?
A You mean right before the collision happened?
Q Yes..
A Well, it was at the intersection of 317 and 10th and as I saw her and she just zoomed out in front of me.
Q Zoomed out in front of you?
A Yes.”
Mrs. Booth testified:
“Q Now Mrs. Booth as you approached that intersection I want you to describe to me in your own words as best that you can about where you were in your car when you first saw the Buick automobile that we now know to be the Altum car, can you just describe that for me as best you can ?
A I was approximately from 5 to 10 feet from the intersection when I first saw the red Buick. It was on my right.
Q At about what distance from the intersection was the Altum car or the Buick when you first saw it?
A Approximately 8 or 9 car lengths figuring a car at 17 feet would make it right around 150 feet.
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Bluebook (online)
399 S.W.2d 836, 1966 Tex. App. LEXIS 2749, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/altum-v-booth-texapp-1966.