Hammonds v. Mansfield

296 S.W.2d 652, 41 Tenn. App. 515, 1955 Tenn. App. LEXIS 67
CourtCourt of Appeals of Tennessee
DecidedApril 22, 1955
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 296 S.W.2d 652 (Hammonds v. Mansfield) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hammonds v. Mansfield, 296 S.W.2d 652, 41 Tenn. App. 515, 1955 Tenn. App. LEXIS 67 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1955).

Opinion

CARNEY, J.

These three cases which were tried together come from the Circuit Court of Obion County, Tennessee, and arose out of an accident which occurred at the Lindenwood School in Obion County on Hallowe’en night, October 31, 1952.

Lindenwood School is located about three miles north of Union City, Tennessee, on a county gravel road which runs east and west. The schoolhouse faces north and the steps of the school are about 123 feet south of the county gravel road. There is a gravel driveway which runs in a southwestern direction from the county gravel road down to the schoolhouse steps making a circle in front of the steps.

The driveway slopes to the schoolhouse steps and is from 10 to 14 feet wide. The schoolhouse steps are located 7 feet south of the driveway — this 7-foot space is gravelled for a walkway but not usually travelled by cars.

The schoolhouse has a concrete porch 9 feet 9% inches wide north and south and 20 feet 4 inches long east and west. Leading up to the schoolhouse porch from the driveway are four steps 10 feet wide. The first step is from 3 to 5 inches high, the second step is 6% inches high, the third step is 6% inches high, and the fourth step is 6% inches high.

There was a community Hallowe’en party being held at the schoolhouse on the night in question and the defendant, W. N. (Naul) Hammonds and his wife, Mrs. *520 Hammonds, drove to the schoolhouse in their automobile to attend the party. There were a number of cars parked along the driveway. Mr. Hammonds came slowly down the driveway toward the steps where he intended to let his wife out of the car and his purpose was then to drive on around the circle and park at some convenient place without blocking the entrance to the steps.

As the Hammonds car approached the schoolhouse steps driving slowly in a southwesterly direction the plaintiffs, "Walter W. Mansfield, his wife, Mrs. Helen Mansfield and his mother Mrs. Eva May Mansfield, were in the act of walking up the schoolhouse steps. They were on'the second or third step when the Hammonds automobile drove into or against the steps striking and injuring Mrs. Helen Mansfield and her mother-in-law, Mrs. Eva May Mansfield from behind.

Mrs. Eva May Mansfield sustained a broken leg and Mrs. Helen Mansfield’s left leg was completely crushed and her injuries were of a much more serious nature than those sustained by Mrs. Eva May Mansfield.

The Mansfields did not see the Hammonds car but Hammonds, immediately before running into the steps, did yell or holler for them to watch out or look out but not in time to prevent the accident.

Damage suits were filed by the wife, Mrs. Helen Mansfield, and by her husband, Walter W. Mansfield individually and a third suit by Walter W. Mansfield as the administrator of his mother, Mrs. Eva May Mansfield who had died on May 11, 1953 following the accident on October 1952.

*521 The declarations were in three counts. The First Count alleged that Mr. Hammonds was guilty of common-law negligence.

The Second Count alleged violation of Cold secs. 2681 and 2682 as follows:

“2681. Reckless driving. — Any person who drives a vehicle upon a highway recklessly, or at a speed, or in a manner so as to endanger, or he likely to endanger life, limb or property of any person, shall be guilty of reckless driving.”
“2682. Lawful speed: reckless driving: starting, stopping, or turning. — (a) Any person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive the same at a careful speed not greater nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the highway and of any other conditions then existing-. Any person who shall drive any vehicle upon a highway at such a speed as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person, or so as to unnecessarily block, hinder or retard the orderly and safe use of the highway by those following, or so as to cause congestion on the highway, shall be prima facie guilty of reckless driving. * * *
“(c) Reckless driving within the meaning of this sec. shall be deemed to include the following offenses, which are expressly prohibited:
“First: Driving a vehicle when not under complete control, or with inadequate or improperly adjusted brakes. * * *
*522 “Sixth: Exceeding a reasonable speed nnder the circumstances and traffic conditions obtaining at the time. * # *
“Thirteenth. Coasting or operating motor vehicle with the gears in neutral.”

The Third Count alleged a violation of Code sec. 2695 as follows:

“2695. Lights; brakes; emergency parts. — B. (a) Brakes. Brake equipment required.
“1. Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle, including two (2) separate means of applying the brakes, each of which means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least two (2) wheels.
If these two (2) separate means of applying brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes on at least two (2) wheels. * * *
“(b) Performance ability of brakes.
“1. The service brakes upon any motor vehicle or combination of vehicle shall be adequate to stop such vehicle or vehicles when travelling twenty (20) miles per hour within a distance of thirty (30) feet when upon dry asphalt or concrete pavement surface free from loose material where the grade does not exceed 1 per cent.
*523 “2. Under the above conditions tbe band brake shall be adequate to stop sncb vehicle or vehicles within a distance of fifty-five (55) feet and said hand brake shall be adequate to hold snch vehicle or vehicles stationary on any grade npon which operated.
‘ ‘ 3. Under the above conditions, the service brakes . upon a motor vehicle equipped with two-wheel brakes only, and when permitted hereunder, shall be adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of forty (40) feet and the hand brake adequate to stop the vehicle within a distance of fifty-five (55) feet.
“4. All braking distances specified in this section shall apply to all vehicles mentioned, whether such vehicles are not loaded or are loaded to the maximum capacity permitted under this act.
“5. All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate as equally as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.”

The defendant pleaded the general issue; contributory negligence; and that the accident was unavoidable insofar as the defendant Hammonds was concerned.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
296 S.W.2d 652, 41 Tenn. App. 515, 1955 Tenn. App. LEXIS 67, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hammonds-v-mansfield-tennctapp-1955.