Becker v. Schneider

335 S.W.2d 850, 1960 Tex. App. LEXIS 2243
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 11, 1960
Docket10756
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 335 S.W.2d 850 (Becker v. Schneider) 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
Becker v. Schneider, 335 S.W.2d 850, 1960 Tex. App. LEXIS 2243 (Tex. Ct. App. 1960).

Opinion

GRAY, Justice.

Appellee, Raymond J. Schneider, sued appellant, Gilbert Becker, for damages to his automobile sustained when it collided with appellants’ automobile. Appellant an7 swered and filed a cross action for damages to his automobile sustained in said collision. At a nonjury trial a judgment was rendered awarding appellee damages and denying appellant any recovery on his cross action.

Appellant’s six points are to the effect that: the evidence shows that appellee was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law; the original findings of fact and conclusions of law filed by the trial court are insufficient because they are too vague and indefinite and fail to make findings on every material issue; the supplemental findings by the trial court should be disregarded because they were not filed in accordance with Rules 296 and 297, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and are insufficient as a matter of law; there was no evidence showing in what location or vicinity the damages were sustained; the “before and after” value of appellee’s automobile was erroneously applied because appellee sued for the cost of repairs, and appellee failed to prove that the repairs to his automobile did not enhance its value.

At about midnight on August 24, 1957, appellant was making preparations to pull an automobile belonging to Donald Bra-suell out of the bar ditch along Farm to Market Road No. 25 near New Braunfels. This road leads from New Braunfels to Seguin and runs generally from north to south. Brasuell’s car was in the bar ditch on the west side of the road and was facing generally to the southwest. Appellant had arrived at the scene and had stopped his car facing northeast and partially on the paved portion of the highway. He had attached a cable to Brasuell’s car with the intent of attaching it to his car and to then pull Brasuell’s car from the ditch. At the time appellant’s headlights were burning on the low beam, his car was facing north or rather northeast and the highway came over a hill to the north from where appellant’s car was. The distance to this hill was estimated to be from 150 to 750 feet. While appellant was engaged as above stated ap-pellee drove his car over the hill going toward Seguin.

Appellee testified that he was driving at about 45 miles per hour; that when he reached the top of the hill he saw the lights of an automobile in his lane of traffic; that at the time he thought it was crossing over to the opposite lane and that he stayed on his own right side of the highway ; that as he approached the automobile another car was coming from toward Se-guin and that if he had turned in front of the parked car he would have met the approaching car headon. Appellee said that when he got within about 80 feet of appellant’s car he pulled onto the shoulder of the highway and then saw Brasuell’s car in the ditch behind appellant’s car; that he applied his brakes, that his car skidded on the loose gravel on the shoulder and that he struck appellant’s car about its left rear door and fender and struck Brasuell’s car near its right rear fender and bumper.

Appellee testified that he was in the car repair business and had been in such business since 1948. He said his car was a 1956 Mercury, four-door sedan and that it was damaged in the collision to the extent of $467. He detailed the damages to his car ánd said the total damage was $467.23 and that the value of his car im *852 mediately before the accident was $2,100 and immediately after such value was at least $1,000 less.

Appellee’s car was repaired at a total cost of $467.22 for which amount judgment was rendered for appellee.

Among other things the trial court found that appellee used all means available to him to avoid the collision and that if he had attempted to pass in front of appellant’s car he would not have acted as a reasonably prudent person would have acted under the circumstances. He further found that ap-pellee’s car was damaged in the collision; that repairs were necessary; that the cost of such repairs was reasonable and amounted to the sum stated in the judgment and that the market value of appellee’s car immediately after the accident was $467.22 less than it was immediately before. Pie found appellant was guilty of negligence in occupying the right lane of the highway “upon which plaintiff was traveling.”

By appellant’s first point he says that ap-pellee was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. He says that his car and its location on the highway was plainly visible; that it should have been observed and avoided by appellee and that in failing to do so appellee was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. In support of his argument appellant cites authorities to the effect that a person cannot close his eyes to that which is plainly visible and to that which would have been observed by a person of ordinary prudence similarly situated.

We see no occasion here to discuss these authorities because they are not applicable to the facts before us. Appellee did see appellant’s car, or its lights, and did observe its location and that it was in his lane of traffic. Appellee testified that he first thought that the car was crossing to the opposite lane, presumably because its lights were pointing to the northeast. He also said that because a car was approaching from toward Seguin he could not pass in front of appellant’s car, that he then turned onto the shoulder of the highway and that when he was within about 80 feet

of appellant’s car he for the first time saw Brasuell’s car in the ditch behind appellant’s, that he then applied his brakes and because of the loose gravel on the shoulder his car skidded and collided with the two cars. These facts simply present the issue whether appellee acted as a reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances. 30-B Tex. Jur. p. 310, Sec. 97. The trial court resolved the issue in favor of appellee. There was evidence as to the width and condition of the shoulder of the highway however it is not shown to be such as to have prevented appellee from passing behind appellant’s car if the Brasuell car had not been present. We do not understand appellant to argue to the contrary.

Even if it be said that appellee, at the time he attempted to pass appellant’s car, knew such passing was attended by some degree of danger it cannot be said as a matter of law that he was guilty of contributory negligence in doing what he did do. 30-B Tex.Jur., Sec. 164, p. 430. There is sufficient evidence in the record from which the trial court could find as he did and that finding is binding here.

The judgment was rendered September 19, 1959 and thereafter appellant requested that findings of fact and conclusions of law be filed. The same were filed and on October 22, 1959, appellant excepted thereto, requested that additional findings and conclusions be filed and called attention to the fact that less than thirty days remained before the time for filing the record in this court. This request was called to the attention of the trial court October 28, 1959 and on November 3, 1959 the amended findings and conclusions were filed.

Appellant says that the amended findings and conclusions were not filed within five days after his request therefor and that under Rule 298, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the same cannot be considered, and that the original findings are not sufficient.

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Bluebook (online)
335 S.W.2d 850, 1960 Tex. App. LEXIS 2243, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/becker-v-schneider-texapp-1960.