Graves v. Jewell Tea Co.

23 S.W.2d 972, 180 Ark. 980, 1930 Ark. LEXIS 34
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedJanuary 27, 1930
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 23 S.W.2d 972 (Graves v. Jewell Tea Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Graves v. Jewell Tea Co., 23 S.W.2d 972, 180 Ark. 980, 1930 Ark. LEXIS 34 (Ark. 1930).

Opinion

McHaney, J.

Appellant and one Joe Murphy brought separate actions against the appellees to recover damages for personal injuries received by them in an automobile accident, which occurred on January 9, 1929, at 18th and Taylor streets, in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. Appellant was riding in the automobile of Joe Murphy as his guest, traveling south on Taylor street, while the truck of appellee, Jewell Tea Co., was being driven west on 18th street by the appellee, Hewitt. The truck entered the intersection of the two streets, traveling at a very moderate rate of speed, at a time when the car driven by Murphy was some distance north of the intersection, and was struck by the Murphy car about the right rear wheel, with such force as to practically demolish the truck, and painfully injured appellee Hewitt. Murphy’s car, after striking the truck, ran some distance beyond, knocked down a fence post and turned over, severely injuring appellant. Appiellees filed answers, denying any negligence on their part, and alleging that the injury was caused ¡by the negligence of Murphy by driving his car at a reckless rate of speed, and without same being properly equipped with proper brakes and good working condition. Appellees also filed a cross-complaint against said Murphy, praying damages received by them because of said collision. The case was tried to a jury, which resulted in a verdict and judgment for appellees. Mary Graves only has appealed.

It is first insisted that the verdict is contrary to the law and the evidence, and this raises the question of the sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict. The evidence was in dispute relative to the negligence of the respective drivers of the automobiles. In determining this question in this court, we must view the evidence in the light most favorable to the appellees, in whose favor the verdict was rendered. According to the testimony of appellant and Murphy, they saw the truck about three-quarters of a block away, and thought it was stopped on the east side of Taylor street, on 18th, and that Murphy blew his horn; that they continued to approach 18th street, and when they had got within 25 to 50 feet of the intersection, Hewitt drove the truck into, the intersection in front of their car, and that Murphy swerved his car to the east in an effort to avoid a collision, but failed to do so. According to the evidence of appellees, Murphy was driving his car south on Taylor at a very rapid and dangerous rate of speed, from forty to eighty miles an hour; that Hewitt was driving west on 18th street at a very ordinary rate of speed, from five to ten miles an hour, as testified to by Murphy, and that he did not stop his car at the intersection to proceed west; that he saw Murphy’s car about three-quarters of a block away, did not know he was driving so rapidly, thought he had ample time to cross the intersection, and that Murphy had his car under such control as he would be able to stop without hitting him. We think this testimony is sufficient to support the verdict for the appellees, even as to Mary Graves, an invited guest in the Murphy car. While it is true that the negligence of Murphy cannot be imputed to appellant riding with him as his guest, it was the duty of appellant to exercise ordinary care for her own safety, and a failure to exercise such care, which contributed to her injury, would constitute contributory negligence on her part, barring- a recovery. Carter v. Brown, 136 Ark. 23, 206 S. W. 71; Pine Bluff Co. v. Whitlow, 147 Ark. 152, 227 S. W. 13. The court correctly instructed the jury at appellant’s request in this regard in instruction B, as follows: "The court tells the jury that, even though you believe from a preponderance of the evidence, that both Joe Murphy and C. J. Hewitt were negligent, that Mary Graves is entitled to recover against defendants, unless she contributed to her injuries by some act on her part of omission or commission.”

By returning- a verdict for appellees, the jury must have found either that Hewitt was not negligent or that "she contributed to her injuries by some act on her part of omission or commission.” The evidence was sufficient to support the verdict, and appellant’s contention in this regard must be overruled.

It is next said that the verdict is not responsive to the pleadings, because it does not state whether it is for the defendants on the complaints, and that no verdict was returned for or against appellant on her complaint. The verdict of the jury was, "We, the jury, find for the defendants.” The court instructed the jury very carefully on the form of verdict they should return, giving them five different -forms, depending upon their findings: (1) for Murphy, (2) for appellant, (3) for appellee Hewitt on his cross-complaint, (4) for Jewell Tea Company on its cross-complaint, and then the court told them-in the 5th form, "If, in your deliberations, you find that neither of the parties are entitled to recover, you will say, ‘We, the jury, find for the defendants’.” By the finding- of the jury, in accordance with the instructions of the court, it is evident that in their opinion neither of the parties was entitled to recover, and therefore they followed the 5th form. Appellant made no- objections to the forms of the verdict provided by the court. Moreover, the record reflects that the jury, after it deliberated some hours, came into court and stated they were unable to arrive at a verdict, and that, if the counsel did not object, they would give their reasons therefor, which was agreed to. A member of the jury then stated that they would like to know whether they could find damages for Mary Graves and not find any damages for Murphy and Hewitt, and requested further instructions from the court thereon. The court then read all the instructions, and about fifteen minutes later the jury returned a verdict for the defendants on the 5th form. We therefore cannot see that the verdict rendered was the result of a misapprehension in the forms of the verdict submitted. Appellant made no objection to the action of the court in reading- the instructions again, and did not insist on the court answering’ the question. She is therefore in no position to complain.

It is next said that the court erred in permitting a certified copy of the judgment of conviction of Murphy for reckless driving in the Little Rock municipal court to be offered in evidence, on the ground that evidence of a previous conviction in a criminal matter is not admissible in a civil action, and because the pleading alleged “speeding” -and not reckless driving. If this might be said to be error, it was invited. A wdtness for appellant, Leonard Roberts, had testified that Murphy was arrested as a result of the accident. On cross-examination, he was questioned further about the arrest and trial, when counsel for appellant objected on the ground that “the record is the best evidence — he can introduce that.”

“Mr. Lynn: Can I introduce a certified copy?”
“Mr. Martin: Yes, sir, re 'bob.”

Hewitt was also cross-examined regarding this matter by appellant’s counsel, as was also appellant’s witness, Barber. Therefore appellant cannot complain.

Appellant next says that the court erred in permitting the introduction in evidence of the photographs of the scene of the accident, and of Hewitt’s damaged car.

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Bluebook (online)
23 S.W.2d 972, 180 Ark. 980, 1930 Ark. LEXIS 34, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/graves-v-jewell-tea-co-ark-1930.