Biesecker v. Dean

525 P.2d 924, 86 N.M. 564
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 7, 1974
DocketNo. 1350
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 525 P.2d 924 (Biesecker v. Dean) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Biesecker v. Dean, 525 P.2d 924, 86 N.M. 564 (N.M. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinions

OPINION

SUTIN, Judge.

Defendant appeals from a judgment in a negligent action in which the jury returned a verdict for plaintiff Mark Allen Biesecker.

The error claimed is (1) failure to grant defendant a directed verdict at the close of plaintiff’s case, (2) error in giving two instructions, and (3) the verdict was excessive.

(1)Defendant was not entitled to a directed verdict.

Defendant contends he was entitled to a directed verdict at the close of the plaintiff’s case. After setting forth the motion of the defendant for a directed verdict at the close of plaintiff’s case, defendant states:

This motion was denied and it is the defendant’s position the Motion should have been granted and the suit dismissed.

After the motion for directed verdict had been denied, defendant proceeded to put on his case. This constituted a waiver of defendant’s claim of error. Bondanza v. Matteucci, 59 N.M. 354, 284 P.2d 1024 (1955). However, defendant did move for a directed verdict at the close of all the evidence which the trial court again denied. We grant the defendant the right to challenge the sufficiency of all the evidence in the case to support the jury’s verdict. Plaintiff Mark Allen Biesecker was riding in his father’s automobile and was injured when the automobile collided with defendant’s bulls. Defendant claims he was not negligent in allowing two of his bulls to wander upon an unfenced highway.

Section 64-18-62(C), N.M.S.A. 1953 (2d Repl.Vol. 9, pt. 2) reads as follows:

Owners of livestock ranging in pastures through which unfenced roads or highways pass shall not be liable for damages by reason of injury or damage to persons or property occasioned by collisions of vehicles using said roads and highways and livestock or animals ranging in said pastures unless such owner of livestock is guilty of specific negligence other than allowing his animals to range in said pasture. [Emphasis added.]

Under the above statute, where the collision occurs on an unfenced highway between a vehicle and livestock, the owner of the livestock is not liable unless the owner is guilty of “specific negligence.”

In 1965, the owner of livestock was not liable “in the absence of negligence of any such owner.” Laws 1965, ch. 221, § 1. In 1966, the statute was amended to read in its present form. The reason for the change was that the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur was applicable in a car-cow collision. Mitchell v. Ridgway, 77 N.M. 249, 421 P.2d 778 (1966).

The use of the phrase “specific negligence” means that the plaintiff is denied the right to rely on the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. The plaintiff must rely only on the doctrine of negligence as defined in U.J.I. 12.1. For distinction between “specific negligence” and res ipsa •loquitur, see Tapia v. McKenzie, 83 N.M. 116, 489 P.2d 181 (Ct.App.1971), c. c., 85 N.M. 567, 514 P.2d 618 (Ct.App.1973); Terry v. Dunlap, 84 N.M. 86, 499 P.2d 1008 (Ct.App.1972); Prosser, Law of Torts, 4th Ed. § 40; 58 Am.Jur.2d Negligence, § 240; 65A C.J.S. Negligence § 220.23.

Defendant relies on Carrasco v. Calley, 79 N.M. 432, 444 P.2d 617 (Ct.App.1968). A careful reading of that case shows that this court did not determine the issue of negligence. The court said:

The fact situation presented by plaintiff viewed in the light most favorable to the trial court’s finding does not require a determination of negligence on defendant's part. * * * [Emphasis added.]

To establish liability of the owner, the evidence must show the elements of negligent conduct which caused the collision.

“ ‘Negligence’ encompasses within its meaning the concepts of foreseeability of harm to the person injured and of the duty to use ordinary care.” Latimer v. City of Clovis, 83 N.M. 610, 615, 495 P.2d 788, 793 (Ct.App.1972).

Was there sufficient evidence to submit to the jury the issue of defendant’s negligence? We say yes.

(a) Facts

The evidence most favorable to plaintiff is:

The accident occurred at nighttime on November 8, 1969, when plaintiff’s father’s Chevrolet van collided with two of defendant’s bulls on Highway No. 42.

Since 1937, defendant owned a ranch about six miles south of Willard, New Mexico, consisting of 34,480 acres. The land was adjacent to the highway in question on both sides for nine miles. When defendant first acquired the land there was no paved road, but an old dirt country road running along the old New Mexico Central Railroad road bed. This road was not maintained at first, but later was oiled by the Highway Department and the Highway Department began to maintain it. The road was never fenced.

For a period of five years prior to the accident:

(1) Defendant knew of at least 30 separate instances of collisions between automobiles and his own cattle on Highway 42 where it is abutted by the defendant’s property.

(2) About half of these collisions resulted in personal injuries to the drivers and occupants of automobiles and buses.

(3) Defendant had lost $9,000.00 worth of cattle on the highway.

(4) At first, defendant had been able to collect from automobile drivers, but the drivers “finally got smart” and if the drivers and vehicles were not delayed by injuries or property damage, defendant could not catch them. In the instant case, the defendant did not proceed by counter-claim to recover damages for loss of his two bulls.

(5) Half of all accidents between Willard and Corona involved defendant’s cattle.

(6) At the place of the accident, the cattle could water on either side of the road and salt was placed at the water sites, the water and salt being close to the road. The bull that collided with the plaintiff’s father’s vehicle was coming from the water site at the time of the accident.

(7) During the five-year period before the accident, defendant knew that the increase in traffic, the death loss, and the danger grew continually worse, and he became more concerned over the travelling public.

(8) Prior to December, 1969, a month after the accident, the New Mexico State Highway Department’s District Engineer had no conversations with defendant about fencing and defendant’s desire to pay part of the cost. Defendant expected the State Highway Department to be responsible for the cost of building the fence. After the accident, defendant wrote the District Engineer about the dangerous situation.

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Related

Andrus v. Gas Co. of New Mexico
798 P.2d 194 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1990)
Hansen v. Skate Ranch, Inc.
641 P.2d 517 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1982)
Dean v. Biesecker
534 P.2d 481 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1975)

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Bluebook (online)
525 P.2d 924, 86 N.M. 564, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/biesecker-v-dean-nmctapp-1974.