Harris v. Bernstein

171 N.W. 521, 204 Mich. 685, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 744
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedApril 3, 1919
DocketDocket No. 94
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 171 N.W. 521 (Harris v. Bernstein) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Harris v. Bernstein, 171 N.W. 521, 204 Mich. 685, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 744 (Mich. 1919).

Opinion

Moore, J.

On the afternoon of March 24, 1914, plaintiff went on an automobile ride with two other ladies. They were driving south on Antoine street, which runs in a northerly and southerly direction and approached Columbia street which intersects Antoine street at right angles. The accident out of which this action arose occurred at the intersection of these [686]*686two streets. Only two witnesses gave testimony as to the facts of the accident. The defendant was sworn. He was called under the statute by the plaintiff to show his ownership of the machine, but did not give his version of what occurred. The court directed a verdict for the defendant on the ground that the evidence showed that plaintiff’s driver was guilty of contributory negligence, and that it failed to show the defendant was guilty of any negligence. The case is brought here by writ of error and the question is, Should it have.been submitted to the jury?

It has long been the law in case of a directed verdict that the evidence on behalf of the appellant is to be treated in the light most favorable to appellant. Foley v. Railway Co., 179 Mich. 587; Spreng v. Railway, 197 Mich. 343.

The diagram on opposite page was offered in evidence.

It was stipulated in relation thereto as follows:

“The diagram hereto attached may be inserted in the record of the cause for the purpose of illustration to indicate to the court the approximate distances and locations and it is the intention of the parties hereto that the objects indicated on such diagram and the distances given thereon shall be conclusive as to such objects and distances only so far as corroborated by the testimony.”

We quote from the testimony of the plaintiff:

“I have ridden in automobiles ever since they have been, and know that we were driving at a moderate rate of speed and, as compared to the rate of speed which we were driving, the car which collided with us was going at a faster rate of speed. I saw the car before it collided with us. I know that the lady who was driving our car blew her horn for I heard it. * * * After the impact of the collision it had the effect to turn our car * * * it knocked the hind end of our car around and we came to a stop in front of * * * the store on the southeast corner. * * * I [688]*688only saw Ms automobile at a glance. I saw it was coming toward us. Mrs. Hunt screamed just before we were struck. Our automobile was on the south side of the intersection of Antoine and Columbia streets at that time. Her automobile was in front of the automobile that was coming toward us, when she screamed but it struck her back wheel. I thought it was going to strike us quite square or broadside but our machine moved forward a sufficient distance so that it struck the back wheel and that shoved our automobile around. * * *
[687]*687

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
171 N.W. 521, 204 Mich. 685, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 744, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harris-v-bernstein-mich-1919.