Granata v. Simpson

181 So. 2d 791
Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided December 21, 1965·No. 6479·Published·Cited by 10 cases

Opinion

181 So.2d 791 (1965)

Lawrence GRANATA, Ind. etc., Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Maury SIMPSON et al., Defendant-Appellants.

No. 6479.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

December 21, 1965.

*792 Horace C. Lane, Anthony J. Clesi, Jr., of Gordon & Clesi, Baton Rouge, for appellants.

Charles W. Franklin, of Franklin & Keogh, Dennis Whalen, of Tilton & Whalen, Baton Rouge, for appellee.

*793 Before LOTTINGER, LANDRY, REID, BAILES and F. S. ELLIS, JJ.

BAILES, Judge.

This is a tort action arising out of a vehicular accident involving an automobile owned and driven by Jesse Gene Brown in which plaintiff's minor daughter, Josephine B. Granata, was riding as a guest passenger, and a pickup truck owned and driven by defendant, Maury Simpson, and insured by the other defendant, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company.

The trial court awarded plaintiff-appellee the sum of $1,199.05 for medical expenses incurred in the treatment of his daughter, and general damages in the sum of $6,500 for the use and benefit of the minor, Josephine B. Granata. From this judgment, defendant-appellants appeal.

The plaintiff brought this suit individually and in the capacity of administrator of the estate of his said minor daughter. Individually, he seeks to recover for doctors and hospital expenses incurred in the treatment of the daughter's injuries. In his petition, he alleges hospital and medical expenses of $4,000, doctor bills of $1,000, and future medical expenses of $10,000, making a total of $15,000. As administrator of his daughter's estate, he sued to recover a total amount of $57,000 for physical pain and suffering, future pain and suffering, permanent disability, mental pain and anguish and for loss of time from school.

The plaintiff did not join as a party defendant the host driver, Jesse Gene Brown, however, by third party petition the defendants, Maury Simpson and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, seek, in the event it is finally determined that Maury Simpson was guilty of negligence that was a proximate cause of the accident, that the court find that Jesse Gene Brown was guilty of joint and concurrent negligence that was also a proximate cause of the accident, and that any judgment rendered finding Maury Simpson liable to plaintiff that an in solido judgment therefor be rendered against third-party defendant.[1]

The record shows the following facts. This accident occurred about eight p. m., on October 4, 1963, at the intersection of Plank Road, more correctly designated at this place as Louisiana Highway No. 67, and Thomas Road in East Baton Rouge Parish. For clarity it should be stated that Plank Road runs north and south, that Thomas Road intersects Plank Road on the west, and that the continuation of Thomas Road on the east side of Plank Road is known as Comite Drive. Controlling traffic entering or crossing Plank Road is a stop sign and also a red flashing light. This same flashing light is yellow or amber for traffic traveling on Plank Road. On this occasion, Mr. Simpson was traveling alone and driving south on Plank Road. The sedan in which plaintiff's daughter, Josephine, was riding was traveling east on Thomas Road. In addition to the driver, Brown, and Josephine Granata, this vehicle was occupied by Josephine's date, Sherrel J. Aucoin. All three occupants were seated on the front seat with Josephine in the middle and young Aucoin on the right side.

It is the contention of Brown that he stopped his vehicle on Thomas Road prior to entering Plank Road, and that immediately after stopping and before he could make the right turn that he contemplated making, his vehicle was struck by the Simpson *794 pickup truck. He testified that he never at anytime saw the Simpson vehicle prior to the collision. The photographs of the Brown Vehicle filed in the record show extensive damage to the entire front of the vehicle. All three of the occupants testified that Brown stopped prior to entering Plank Road.

Defendant, Maury Simpson, testified that he at no time saw the Brown vehicle prior to the collision. He assigned no physical reason for not having seen this vehicle as it approached the intersection, although he was given ample opportunity to explain his reason for not seeing it. Mr. Simpson stated that as he approached the scene of the accident he was traveling between forty and forty-five miles per hour, that he was aware of the flashing caution light, that he glanced to his right and then to the left, and that the speed limit for this area was posted at forty-five miles per hour. The photographs filed in evidence shows extensive damage to the entire right side of the Simpson truck.

Young Miss Josephine Granata testified that Brown was driving at about forty-five miles per hour on Thomas Road, that as he approached the intersection he slowed down and stopped before entering Plank Road; that he stopped long enough to look both ways; that she saw him look both ways; that she did not see anything coming and did not see the other vehicle prior to the collision, however she contended that her vision was blocked to the left.

Sherrel J. Aucoin testified that the Brown vehicle slowed down and stopped for a couple of seconds, that he did not see any south bound traffic on Plank Road, and that he did not see the Simpson truck until after the accident. Although he steadfastly maintained that Brown stopped before entering Plank Road, he admitted that he had made a prior statement that Brown did not stop. He attempted to excuse this inconsistency by stating that he was mistaken in his prior statement.

In addition to the occupants of the two vehicles, the record contains the testimony of Trooper Arthur LeBlanc who investigated the accident. The Trooper testified Brown told him he did not stop before entering the intersection. He testified that the posted speed limit was forty-five miles per hour; that his investigation shows the accident occurred in the southbound traffic lane on Plank Road; that there were no skid marks left by either vehicle leading up to the point of impact; that vision between Thomas Road and Plank Road was impaired for 150 feet from the intersection extending north on Plank Road, and that it was obstructed for about 100 feet more. It was the trooper's testimony that one traveling on Plank Road could not distinguish a headlight of a vehicle traveling on Thomas Road because of the obstruction of vision caused by weeds, grass and trees.

Frank Ashford was called as a witness. He testified that he was driving about seventy-five feet behind Simpson. It is deducted from his testimony that Simpson was traveling at between 40 and 45 miles per hour at the time of the accident. He testified that Brown did not stop before entering Plank Road; and that he could see a "pretty good ways back down Thomas Road" from where he was driving as he approached the intersection.

Edward Williams, a motorist stopped on Comite Drive at the intersection waiting for traffic to clear in order to permit his entrance into Plank Road, testified that he saw the Simpson truck approach and also the Brown vehicle as it approached the intersection, that from the speed of each it became apparent to him that a collision was going to occur. He testified that Brown did not stop prior to entering Plank Road; that the impact occurred approximately in the center of the intersection; and that he estimated Simpson's speed at between forty and forty-five miles per hour, and Brown's speed at thirty-five *79

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