Baley v. J. F. Hink & Son

283 P.2d 349, 133 Cal. App. 2d 102, 1955 Cal. App. LEXIS 1594
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 18, 1955
DocketCiv. 16271
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 283 P.2d 349 (Baley v. J. F. Hink & Son) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Baley v. J. F. Hink & Son, 283 P.2d 349, 133 Cal. App. 2d 102, 1955 Cal. App. LEXIS 1594 (Cal. Ct. App. 1955).

Opinions

KAUFMAN, J.

This is an appeal by plaintiff from a judgment of nonsuit in an action for personal injuries sustained while plaintiff was a customer in the department store of respondent, J. F. Hink and Son, in Berkeley. A nonsuit [104]*104was likewise granted on plaintiff’s suit against the defendant Doris Potter, a customer in the aforesaid store, whose leashed dog was alleged to have been the cause of appellant’s fall from which she suffered serious personal injuries.

Appellant’s complaint against respondent Hink alleged that appellant was a business invitee; that respondent Doris Potter owned a dog which she knew to be lively, mischievous and frolicsome; that respondent store negligently consented to respondent Potter’s bringing said dog into the store and into an aisle thereof when appellant was present and negligently consented and allowed respondent Potter to “guide and control said dog in such a careless, negligent and unlawful manner, that it was carelessly, negligently and unlawfully caused, permitted and allowed by respondent Potter, to collide with" and trip” appellant and throw her to the floor with great force and violence. It was further alleged that appellant was unable to arise, and that respondent Hink was negligent in providing her with assistance, thereby exacerbating the injuries sustained in the fall. Respondent Hink generally denied all the charging allegations and pleaded contributory negligence and unavoidable accident. Respondent Potter likewise denied the allegations of the complaint and pleaded negligence of respondent Hink as the sole proximate cause; negligence of appellant as the sole proximate cause; contributory negligence and unavoidable accident.

The case was presented before a jury, but motions for non-suit in favor of both respondents were granted at the close of appellant’s case on the ground that there was no evidence of negligence on the part of respondent Hink proximately causing or contributing to the injuries of appellant and none on the part of respondent Potter proximately causing or contributing to the happening of the accident.

Although appellant pleaded the unruly and mischievous nature of the dog, there was no attempt made at the trial to show the disposition of the dog or any previous knowledge of such disposition by either respondent. Appellant’s theory at the trial was simply negligence in bringing the dog to an improper place and carelessly controlling and guiding it while there. Most of the cases involving dogs that have been previously decided in this state are not helpful, since they are concerned with proof of prior knowledge of eccentricity, traits, or disposition of the particular animal.

Appellant testified that she entered the respondent store with the intention of making a purchase at about 5 p. m. She [105]*105made a purchase in the Baby Department in the rear of the store. She then went to the gift wrapping desk at the left of the store to pick up her purchase. From there she had walked about 10 or 15 feet up the center aisle when she suddenly fell to the floor. She said that she felt something hit her legs and she went down. Appellant was unable to rise. Immediately when she landed she saw respondent Potter with the dog on a leash to her right. The dog appeared to be a springer. Respondent Potter told her to lie still until help would come. People from the store brought ammonia and placed it under her nose as she felt she would faint. They did not move her from the floor, nor did they put any covering over her. She thought it was about a half hour before the ambulance arrived to take her to the hospital.

Just prior to the accident appellant had been proceeding to meet her sister and was looking straight ahead. She was not looking at the floor, but the floor was within her range of vision. Appellant was wearing glasses with corrective lenses which brought her vision to normal. She would glance to the side at the merchandise as she moved along the aisle. Appellant was walking when she felt something hit her legs and she went down. She did not feel it with just one of her legs. She believed the dog was reddish-brown in color. Upon objection the court struck out the following answer given in cross-examination:

“Q. And you determined that (the dog was a springer) while you were on the floor did you not?
"A. Well, the dog was at the side of me then, when it hit me. I didn’t see the dog when it hit me.”

The answer was stricken on the ground that it was the opinion and conclusion of the witness. Appellant contends that this was erroneously stricken, for although appellant had not previously seen the dog, she was capable of identifying what hit her by faculties other than sight.

Respondent Potter testified that the dog was a cross between a springer and a cocker and that it was completely black in color. She had it on a leash about 6 feet in length attached to the dog’s collar. She was in the vicinity of appellant when she fell. Respondent Potter testified as follows:

Q. And you say you were in contact with Mrs. Baley when she fell? A. When she fell; and when she fell, when she hit me, yes.
“Q. When she hit you? A. She fell by herself.
“Q. She fell by herself ? A. That is right.
[106]*106“Q. And she hit you after she fell? A. No, before.
“Q. Before, and what were you doing at that time? A. I was walking toward the front of Hink’s.
“Q. And when she fell, where did she fall with respect to you ? A. Oh, I would say she cleared me about 2 feet, because I know there was a space as I watched her there, as I looked there was a space of light between us, 2, I would say 2 feet.
“Q. Was she closer to the front or closer to the back of Hink’s when she fell? A. Nearer the back.
‘ ‘ Q. And your dog was in the same area ? A. The dog was in front of me.”

Respondent Potter testified that Mrs. Baley was unable to get up and she told her that the sensible thing to do was to go over to Herrick Hospital and have it X-rayed. Respondent stated that she had no conversation with anyone about appellant falling over her dog, and that she did not tell Mrs. Baley or any police officer that she was sorry about it, and not to worry that everything would be taken care of. She said that she was involved in this thing but she was not responsible, that she was positive her dog had nothing to do with it.

Respondent Potter followed appellant to Herrick Hospital. Appellant’s sister and nephew arrived while appellant was still in Herrick Hospital. It was then decided to send appellant by ambulance to Permanente Hospital. Respondent Potter drove her own ear over to Permanente and waited in the reception room.

Miss Potter also testified that appellant was in the respondent store about one half hour after the accident before the ambulance arrived, but stated that the employees brought out a stretcher and placed her on it, covering her with a blanket which she threw off, saying she was too warm. There were several people of Hink’s around, one brought a pillow, others brought smelling salts and water.

Miss Potter testified to a conversation with Mr. Winston from the Johnson Bureau of Investigation. He asked her if she knew Mrs.

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Baley v. J. F. Hink & Son
283 P.2d 349 (California Court of Appeal, 1955)

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Bluebook (online)
283 P.2d 349, 133 Cal. App. 2d 102, 1955 Cal. App. LEXIS 1594, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/baley-v-j-f-hink-son-calctapp-1955.