Guanzon v. Kalamau

402 P.2d 289, 48 Haw. 330, 1965 Haw. LEXIS 34

• Court: Hawaii Supreme Court
• Decided: April 29, 1965
• Docket: 4376
• Status: Published

Opinions

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

WIRTZ, J.

Plaintiff-appellant filed this action to recover damages for personal injuries and property damage suffered as a result of defendant-appellee driving an automobile into the rear of plaintiff’s automobile which was at a complete stop in obedience to a traffic signal. Defendant was driving a 1956 Packard automobile belonging to one Jukuma Tahara on Fort Street in Honolulu on April 14, 1961. As be approached the intersection of Fort and King Streets at five miles an hour lie noticed that the traffic light was against him. He applied the brakes which he said had worked perfectly up to that time but the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and the Packard rolled into the rear of an automobile driven by plaintiff who had stopped for the traffic light.

The case was tried before a jury and judgment was entered for defendant pursuant to the jury verdict. The court below denied plaintiff’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or in the alternative a new trial. From this judgment plaintiff brings this appeal.

Plaintiff’s theory of the case was based on negligence arising out of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur and the violation of an ordinance dealing with proper maintenance of motor vehicles. Defendant claims in defense that the accident was unavoidable.

Plaintiff contends “that he was entitled to [a] directed verdict and judgment N.O.Y. for the reasons that:

“ (1) The inferences in his favor under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, which the court refused to apply.

“(2) The violation of the ordinance requiring adequate brakes constituted negligence as a matter of law.

“Plaintiff further urges that the court committed reversible error in instructing the jury on the law of unavoidable accident and in refusing to instruct the jury on res ipsa loquitur, the legal effect of the violation of the ordinance, and in [refusing] to instruct the jury that failure to use the emergency brake could constitute negligence even if the failure of the foot brake did not amount to negligence.”

The seven specifications of error can be broken down into three categories and will be considered in that manner: (1) those relating to the application of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur; (2) those relating to the effect on the question of negligence of the violation of an ordinance prohibiting a person from driving a motor vehicle with such unsafe and inadequate brakes as may endanger any person on the highway, and (3) those relating to the unavoidability of the accident.

Plaintiff’s reliance on the doctrine of res ipsa, loquitur is misplaced.¹ The doctrine, where applicable, is a procedural device which operates to shift the burden of going forward with the evidence to the defendant without relieving plaintiff of the burden of proof. It relieves the plaintiff from showing any particular acts of negligence and places on the defendant the burden of explaining that the accident did not occur from want of care on his part. 61 C.J.S., Motor Vehicles, § 511(3) (b), p. 205.

At best, the doctrine of res ipsa, loquitur resulting in a presumption of negligence raises a rebuttable inference which allows a plaintiff to get his case to the jury. This is well illustrated even in the cases relied on by plaintiff. When defendant meets the burden by presenting evidence of how the accident occurred without fault on his part, the doctrine has accomplished its purpose and no longer remains in effect. As stated in Nielsen v. Pyles, 322 Ill. App. 574, 54 N.E.2d 753, 756:

“* * * As soon as evidence is produced which is contrary to the presumption which arose before the contrary proof was offered the presumption vanishes entirely * *

Plaintiff, in the presentation of the case for liability testified and called defendant to the stand as an adverse witness. Plaintiff’s version of the accident was as follows:

On April 14, 1961, at about 11:45 A.M., plaintiff delivered his wife to the main Fort Street entrance of the Liberty House. After she left the automobile he proceeded on Fort Street toward the ocean and stopped his car at the entrance to King Street in obedience to a red traffic light. He was at a complete stop waiting for the light to change when his Hillman automobile was struck from behind. Plaintiff was alone in the automobile, his foot was on the brake, and the force of the impact moved his vehicle about five feet forward. After the collision, plaintiff got out of his car, observed the damage to the rear end, and saw an old model Packard about five feet behind his car. Defendant, the driver of the Packard, spoke to plaintiff and inquired if he was hurt. When plaintiff asked defendant what had happened, defendant didn’t say anything— he just apologized. He did not state that the brakes had not worked. No oil or debris was observed by plaintiff near his car.

Defendant, as an adverse witness, testified, in substance, that Avhile driving in Honolulu on Fort Street, near the Liberty House crossAvalk he was looking for a space in Avhich to park his car. He was “rolling” about “five miles” hoping that someone would pull out from a parking place. He saw plaintiff’s car stopped for the red traffic light for the first time just before defendant had come to the Liberty House crossAvalk in the middle of the block on Fort Street between Hotel and King Streets. At the crossAvalk he put his foot on the brakes and they Avorked “fine.” He kept his foot on the brake, without pressing, and Avhen he was thirteen feet nine inches² behind plaintiff’s car he pressed down on the brake but it “didn’t work.” There was no friction or resistance and the brake “just went down.” He “went” for the emergency brake but it was too late and he “bumped right into him.” He had pulled out the emergency brake two inches but he was so close he “banged” right into the plaintiff. He couldn’t swerve one way or the other because “cars were parked on the side.” The brake on the defendant’s car was an oil hydraulic brake. It was working “fine” at every other stop he had made that day. He lived at the home of the owner of the car and had driven this “family” car many times before. He said there was no oil or debris on the road near the point of impact. There were no passengers in defendant’s car.

After plaintiff’s ease was closed, defendant rested without presenting any further testimony or additional evidence. In this posture of the case, there was no evidence as to the condition of the brakes after the collision or if or where the brakes were repaired. Nor was it established When or where the brakes were last serviced, inspected or tested.

In considering the applicability of the doctrine of res ipsa, loquitur to the operation of the motor vehicle in question by defendant, we are of necessity confined to the specific procedural situations in which the question was raised in the trial court. Since the presumption of negligence arising under that doctrine when applied is a rebut-table one, the explanation of the accident’s occurrence offered by the defendant, albeit as an adverse witness, necessarily raised the issue of negligence versus unavoidability for the jury to resolve. In doing so, it precluded the trial judge from directing a verdict for the plaintiff or granting judgment notwithstanding the contrary result reached by the jury.

The evidence so introduced by the plaintiff disclosed how the event occurred and made it appear that it was through no fault of the defendant. Dabroe v. Rhodes Company, 64 Wash. 2d 444, 392 P.2d 317, 322. Any further evidence as to the condition of the brakes or the physical facts at the scene of the accident would merely serve to either corroborate or impeach defendant’s testimony. It was up to the jury to determine whether or not the accident ivas caused by a sudden unexpected brake failure.

In this factual atmosphere,³ no instruction was required to assist the jury on this question since the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is merely procedural and not a rule of substantive law and is based on common sense to withstand the challenge of a nonsuit. Chase v. Beard, 55 Wash. 2d 58, 346 P.2d 315. Cf., Morgan v. Yamada, 26 Haw. 17. In Ritchie v. Thomas, 190 Or. 95, 224 P.2d 543, 550-551, the court held that since the effect of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is merely to take the plaintiff’s case to the jury (so as to preclude a nonsuit) there Avas no more reason for requiring the court to comment on this type of circumstantial evidence than upon any other type, and it was not error to refuse plaintiff’s requested instruction.

In explaining the function of an evidentiary presumption in law, Professor Wigmore has this to say:

“A presumption * * * is in its characteristic feature a' rule of law laid down by the judge, and attaching to one evidentiary fact certain procedural consequences as to the duty of production of other evidence by the opponent * * *.

* * [The] peculiar effect of a presumption ‘of law’ * * * is merely to invoke a rule of law compelling the jury to reach the conclusion in the absence of evidence to the contrary from the opponent. If the opponent does offer evidence to the contrary (sufficient to satisfy the judge’s requirement of some evidence), the presumption disappears as a rule of law, and the case is in the jury’s hands free from any rule * *

IX Wigmore, Evidence, § 2491.

Professor Thayer is in accord, asserting that once the opponent has introduced evidence, the presumption has served its purpose and the case proceeds as though there had been no presumption. Thayer, A Preliminary Treatise on Evidence at the Common Law, p. 346 (1898).

Plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 12,⁴ which was refused over objection reads as follows:

“You are instructed that since the automobile operated by defendant, ERNEST K. KALAMAU, was under his exclusive control immediately prior to the collision and since plaintiff’s car was stopped at the intersection in obedience to a traffic light when struck in the rear by defendant’s car, you may infer from the collision itself under these circumstances, without a credible explanation of the cause of the collision, that the collision was caused by the defendant’s negligence.

“Since, however, the burden of proof is upon the plaintiff to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant was negligent, it is essential in order to hold the defendant negligent by such inference, that the evidence supporting an inference of negligence have greater weight and more convincing force than all evidence to the contrary.” (Emphasis added.)

This instruction, apart from being unnecessary under the state of the evidence as seen above, and possibly misleading in the second paragraph as compelling rather than permitting the inference of negligence, focuses unwarranted attention in the first paragraph on the credibility of defendant’s explanation. The only explanation given of the cause of the accident was in the words of the defendant and by the use of the adjective “credible” the trial judge would have been commenting on the credibility of defendant’s testimony when no attack as to such had been made under the evidence.

As to the doctrine’s applicability to the negligent maintenance of the brakes of the motor vehicle,⁵ defendant had no right of control over the instrumentality at the time such negligence, if any, was committed. Ciacci v. Woolley, supra, 33 Haw. 247. The doctrine has no application in this connection against the borrower of an automobile for whom the brakes worked properly at all times before the accident since any negligence in connection with their maintenance must have occurred prior to his possession and control. Such user of the motor vehicle had no duty or responsibility in connection with the maintenance of the vehicle.

We find no error, in the trial judge’s refusal to grant a directed verdict for the plaintiff or a judgment for the plaintiff notwithstanding the jury’s verdict for the defendant, nor in the trial judge’s refusal to give plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 12.

Under plaintiff’s second category of errors,⁶ relating to the legal effect to be given a violation of a traffic ordinance dealing with maintenance of motor vehicles, he complains of the refusal of the trial court to give the hereinafter quoted portion of his requested Instruction Number 7, which after setting out portions of Sections XX and XXI of the Traffic Code of the City and County of Honolulu, stated:

“And you are further instructed that the failure to use reasonable care to comply with said provisions of the law would be negligence as a matter of law, and therefore, if you find from a preponderance of all of the evidence that the defendants [sic] failed to use reasonable care to have said motor vehicle, operated by Defendant, ERNEST K KALAMAU at the time of the accident, with adequate and safe brakes sufficient to promptly check the speed of and to stop the vehicle, and that such failure was a direct and proximate cause of any injuries suffered by Plaintiff, RAFAEL S. GUANZON, then your verdict must be in favor of the Plaintiff, RAFAEL S. GUANZON, and you shall award him such damages as you believe just under these instructions.”

This requested instruction was confusing and misleading in that it is apparent that it was drafted to apply to the owner of the motor vehicle rather than to defendant who was only the bailee.⁷

Whether or not defendant, a mere bailee, violated any section of the traffic code pertaining to the care and maintenance of brakes was a question for the jury. The trial judge properly instructed the jury that they could consider the pertinent sections of the traffic code, above referred to, in determining the question of defendant’s negligence. According to defendant’s testimony, the brakes worked perfectly prior to the accident and he had no reason to believe that they would suddenly cease to function. Under these facts defendant did not violate the traffic code unless a person could be held to have violated the ordinance without any fault on his part. Cf., Albers v. Ottenbacher, 79 S.D. 637, 116 N.W.2d 529.

Plaintiff recognized, in his requested Instruction Number 7, supra, and in agreeing to defendant’s requested Instruction Number 5, infra, that some failure to use reasonable cai’e must be shown. To justify a finding of negligence it must be determined that a reasonably prudent man would not have done what defendant did. This was the question for the jury. It cannot be said that driving a borrowed automobile with apparently good brakes is negligence simply because the brakes failed unexpectedly. The burden on the owner of the automobile to justify his conduct in these circumstances may well be considerably heavier. Cf., Ponce v. Black, 224 Cal. App. 2d 159, 36 Cal. Rptr. 419 (Dist. Ct. App., 2d Dist.).

The case of Albers v. Ottenbacher, supra, relied on by plaintiff, is hardly determinative of this question. There the defendant drove his own car from his home and it failed to stop the first time he applied the brakes. The opinion recognizes that a driver would not be liable for violating a statute if the violation was beyond his control but the court obviously felt that the defendant should have determined whether or not his brakes were working properly before he left home. 116 N.W.2d 531. Here, according to defendant’s testimony, the brakes had been tested, as it were, through effective use on several occasions immediately prior to the accident. Cf., Sothoron v. West, 180 Md. 539, 26 A.2d 16, cited in Albers, supra.

Plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 3 is slanted to emphasize plaintiff’s evidence and is misleading in that it attempts to blame defendant for the brake failure. The instruction reads as follows:

“The driver of a motor vehicle is bound to use reasonable care to see that the vehicle driven by him is in a safe and proper condition for use upon a highway, and a person who undertakes to drive an automobile on the public highway is charged with notice of any defect therein affecting its operation which a reasonable inspection or test would disclose. The mere fact that a driver acts in an emergency when the brakes fail to work is no excuse for negligence where the injury could have been avoided had the brakes been in good condition.”

The subject matter of this instruction was adequately and properly covered by defendant’s Instruction Number 5 which was given by agreement and stated:

“Where the brakes of an automobile have previously functioned properly, but suddenly fail to respond, their failure alone does not render the driver guilty of negligence unless he had, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have had, knowledge of the defective condition, and unless he failed to exercise due care after he discovered the failure.”

Accordingly, we find no error in the trial judge’s refusal to direct a verdict in favor of plaintiff or to enter a judgment for plaintiff notwithstanding the verdict and to give plaintiff’s Instruction Number 3 and the portion of plaintiff’s Instruction Number 7 above referred to.

Under plaintiff’s third category of errors⁸ dealing with the unavoidability of the accident we first consider plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 14. This reads as follows :

“Defendant, ERNEST KALAMAU, claims that he was not negligent because of a sudden foot brake failure. In determining whether he was negligent you may consider his testimony that he had an emergency brake and did not use it. In other words, even though you believe that his foot brakes, through no negligence of his, suddenly failed, the accident was avoidable if he was negligent in failing to use the emergency brake after the discovery of the claimed brake failure, and such negligence directly and proximately caused the collision.”

The instruction was improper in that it misstated the evidence. Defendant testified that he used the hand brake but was unable to stop in time:

“Q. Now, you had an emergency brake?

“A. Yes. I went for it but it was too late. I bumped right into him. I pulled it out about two inches.

“Q. You did actually start to apply the emergency brake?

“A. I already had my hand on it. I pulled it out two inches and I was so close to him I banged right into him.”

Furthermore, the instruction misleadingly and unduly emphasized part of the evidence favorable to plaintiff. Estate of Ching, 46 Haw. 127, 376 P.2d 125. It was for the jury to decide if any particular act or omission of the defendant constituted negligence and the trial court should not charge the jury that any particular act might amount to negligence.

Plaintiff’s contention that “whether the defendant actually used the hand brake or whether he used it in time to avoid a possible collision was a question of fact for the jury” has merit. We also agree that “the jury was certainly entitled to consider as [a] separate ground of negligence whether or not defendant acted properly after the discovery of the claimed failure of the [foot] brakes” but such could have been accomplished by argument under plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 13 given by agreement, set out infra, without the undue emphasis and confusion through misstated evidence inherent in plaintiff’s Instruction Number 14 under consideration.

Finally plaintiff objected to the giving of an unavoidable accident instruction. This instruction (defendant’s requested Instruction Number 11-A) read as follows:

“In law, we recognize what is termed an unavoidable accident. This term does not mean literally that it is not possible for such an accident to be avoided. It simply describes an accident that occurred without having been proximately caused by negligence.

“Thus, if you find that under the facts of this case the accident was such an unavoidable accident, you may not award the plaintiff any damages.”⁹

Although Nawelo v. Von Hamm-Young Co., 21 Haw. 644, approved an unavoidable accident instruction, that case did not authorize such an instruction in every negligence case. Franco v. Fujimoto, 47 Haw. 408, 390 P.2d 740. In Franco, upholding the trial judge’s refusal to give an unavoidable accident instruction, this court at page 437 declared that “whether or not such an instruction should be given depends entirely upon the facts of the particular case” since “it is impossible to announce a fixed rule applicable to all cases by which it can be decided just when the issue of unavoidable accident is presented.” The test then suggested by Franco is that:

“* * * In order to determine whether such issue [unavoidable accident] is involved, the facts of each particular case must be examined with the view of ascertaining whether there is presented a theory under which the accident could have happened, notwithstanding all the persons concerned exercised the degree of care required by law.”

Nonetheless, Franco goes on to caution that “exceptional circumstances are required to warrant such an instruction” quoting, with approval from the extended annotation on Unavoidable Accident Instruction in 65 A.L.R. 2d at pp. 23-24: “* * * the better course would appear to be to omit the instruction except in those instances in which quite plainly it is peculiarly appropriate.”

The recent case of Fenton v. Aleshire, 238 Or. 24, 393 P.2d 217, called to our attention by counsel subsequent to argument, joins Butigan v. Yellow Cab Co., 49 Cal. 2d 652, 320 P.2d 500, in disapproving the giving of an unavoidable accident instruction in any case.¹⁰ As stated in Franco, “we are unwilling to go that far.”

Mechanical failure or malfunction due to a latent defect would clearly seem to constitute “exceptional circumstances” and an instance in which the unavoidable accident instruction “is peculiarly appropriate.” In the extended annotation, above referred to in 65 A.L.R. 2d at page 102, we find the following statement:

“In most jurisdictions [except those generally disapproving such instruction], an ‘unavoidable accident’ or an equivalent accident instruction will be at least proper in a motor vehicle accident case where there is evidence that the misadventure resulted from sudden mechanical or tire failure of the defendant’s vehicle, and without negligence on his part.”

An unavoidable accident instruction has been deemed appropriate in cases involving claimed brake failures. Reuter v. Olson, 79 N.D. 834, 59 N.W.2d 830; Ridley v. Young, 127 Colo. 46, 253 P.2d 433. The fact that there was no avenue of escape¹¹ open to the defendant renders the circumstances “exceptional.”

The principal reason for judicial reluctance to give an unavoidable accident instruction is concern that such instruction would be confusing and misleading to the jury. However, in the instant case the instruction could not possibly have been misleading in view of plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 13 which was also given. Each party was entitled to have his theory of the case presented under instructions to the jury, so long as supported by the evidence. Defendant’s theory which the jury could accept was that he was not negligent and the accident was unavoidable which would result in no liability. On the other hand, if the jury adopted plaintiff’s theory of the case, defendant was negligent and therefore liable, as set forth in plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 13 which was given by agreement and stated:

Kenneth E. Young (also on the briefs) for plaintiff - appellant. Thomas M. Waddoups (Frank D. Padgett and Robertson, Castle & Anthony on the brief) for defendant-appellee.

“If you find from all the evidence under these instructions that negligence of the defendant, ERNEST EALAMAU, directly and proximately caused the collision with plaintiff GUANZON’S automobile, then such collision was avoidable.”

While the refusal by the trial judge to have given defendant’s requested Instruction Number 11-A might well have not been error (cf., Franco v. Fujimoto, supra, 47 Haw. 408, 390 P.2d 740), clearly the giving of this instruction, setting forth defendant’s view of the case, in conjunction with plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 13, was not prejudicial since no juror could have been misled. There was no error in the giving of defendant’s Instruction Number 11-A and the refusal to give plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 14.

The issue of negligence versus unavoidability thus clearly and simply presented was resolved by the jury in its verdict for the defendant. We can find no valid reason for disturbing that determination.

The judgment appealed from is affirmed.

1 Specifications of error I, II and V are considered under this category of the applicability of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur.

Error I: “The Circuit Court erred in denying the plaintiff’s motion for a directed verdict at the close of all the evidence [under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur] * * *."

Error„ II: “That the Court erred in refusing to give plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 1 [directing a verdict on liability against the defendant] * * *.”

Error V: “That the Court erred in refusing to give over objection plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 12 [setting forth the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur and which will be quoted in the body of this opinion, infra] * *

2 Determined by reference to a space in the courtroom indicated by defendant while testifying.

3 When the evidence was insufficient to show how the injury probably could have occurred without the defendant’s fault, it was not error to give an instruction covering the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur permitting, but not compelling, an inference of negligence. Lorene v. Chemirad Corp., 37 N.J. 56, 179 A.2d 401. Cf., Ciacci v. Woolley, 33 Haw. 247. Also, under such a factual situation, it was plain error not to give a res ipsa loquitur instruction where the jury had been instructed that “negligence is- never presumed, it must be proved” which effectively deprived the plaintiff of the benefit of any inference of the negligence of the defendant. Vespe v. DiMarco, 43 N.J. 430, 204 A.2d 874. It was also felt there that the error was aggravated by the giving of an unavoidable accident instruction, and the court then went on to proscribe prospectively the giving of such an instruction in any case. However, we have not gone so far as to proscribe the giving of an unavoidable accident instruction in all cases, see infra.

4 Defendant contends that plaintiff failed to object and may have even acquiesced in the trial court’s refusal to give plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 12 and that consequently such refusal will not be reviewed upon appeal under H.R.C.P., Rule 51(e). Considering the conversation that occurred in connection with this instruction, defendant’s contention would be literally so. However, considering the record as a whole it is apparent that the objection made by plaintiff to the denial of a directed verdict and the refusal to give plaintiff’s requested.Instruction Number 1 was likewise applicable to this instruction. The refusal to give Instruction Number 12 may be reviewed upon appeal. Couto v. United Fruit Co., 203 F.2d 456 (2d Cir. 1953) ; Irvin Jacobs & Co. v. Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Maryland, 202 F.2d 794 (7th Cir. 1953) ; Di Bari v. Fish Transport Co., 275 F.2d 280 (2d Cir. 1960) ; Hasselbrink v. Speelman, 246 F.2d 34 (6th Cir. 1957).

5 The complaint stated two counts. While Count I charged negligent operation of the vehicle by defendant, Count II alleged negligence in operating a vehicle with defective brakes which defendant knew or should have known were defective. The ease was not submitted to the jury under either or both counts specifically, but under the theory of negligence generally.

6 Error I, see footnote 1, supra.

Error II: “That the Court erred in refusing to give plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 1 [directing a verdict on liability against the defendant] * *

Error III: “That the Court erred in refusing to give over objection plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 3 [set out in the body of the opinion, infra\ * *

Error IV: “That the Court erred in refusing to give over objection the * * * portion of plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 7 [set out in the body of the opinion, infra] * *

7 Plaintiff had mistakenly sued as co-defendant, George Tahara doing business as Cine-Pic Hawaii, as the owner of the car and the court earlier during the trial dismissed the case as to George Tahara.

8 Error VI: “That the Court erred in refusing to give over objection plaintiff’s requested Instruction Number 14 [set forth in the body of the opinion, infra], * * *."

. Error VII: “That the Court erred in giving defendant’s Instruction Number 11-A over objection of the plaintiff [relating to unavoidability of the accident, set forth in the body of the opinion, infra] * * *.”

9 The form and content of the instruction are not at issue, only the giving of an unavoidable accident instruction per se.

10 Whether Butigan, supra, actually disapproved generally the giving of an unavoidable accident instruction, questioned in Franco, supra, appears doubtful from the later California case of Sheppard v. City of Los Angeles, 172 Cal. App. 2d 338, 342 P.2d 282, which upheld the judgment against' the plaintiff where such an instruction had been given on the grounds that it had not denied plaintiff a fair trial.

11 The only evidence in the record relating to traffic conditions on Fort Street at the time of the accident is found in the answer to the question propounded by plaintiff’s counsel to defendant, who was called to testify by plaintiff as an adverse witness:

“Q. Did you attempt to swerve from Mr. Guanzon [plaintiff] one way or the other when you noticed the brake was not working?

“A. No, sir, I couldn’t. The cars were parked on the side.”