MacKey v. Queen City Wood Works & Lumber Co.

261 S.W. 132, 216 Mo. App. 205, 1924 Mo. App. LEXIS 100
Missouri Court of Appeals·Decided February 27, 1924·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

FARRINGTON, J.

The plaintiff recovered a judgment in the trial court on a petition alleging personal injuries sustained and damage to a bicycle occasioned by a collision with one of defendant’s trucks on Campbell street in the city of Springfield, Mo. There were two grounds of negligence pleaded. First, violation of *208 a city ordinance requiring that a signal he given with the hand when a vehicle is to be turned in the street. The second ground, which was not submitted to the jury by instruction, was on the last chance doctrine.

It is not urged here that the plaintiff failed to 'make a case under the evidence. Errors go to the giving and refusal of instructions, admission of evidence, and excessive verdict. We. will take them up in their order.

The facts proven to the satisfaction of the jury are that as plaintiff, who holds the position of City Building Inspector, was proceeding north on Campbell street riding a bicycle, near the east curb, he was struck by one of defendant’s motor trucks which had turned abruptly from its southern course into a gateway leading into a lumber yard abutting the east side of Campbell street, and which yard was immediately north of defendant’s yard. There is evidence to sustain a finding that no signal was given by the driver of the truck previous to making the turn, and that when he did make such turn the plaintiff had proceeded to a place where he was directly in front of the gate into which the truck was run, and seeing that the truck was about to strike him he turned east into the opening but was caught by the left front fender of the truck which became entangled with his bicycle dragging it and plaintiff to a point within the lumber yard, and then owing to the incline and insufficient brakes the truck backed down into the street dragging plaintiff and his bicycle. Plaintiff describes his personal injuries as follows:

“I got released as the wheel had passed over my leg. The bicycle was damaged so it was a total wreck. I had to be taken home and stayed there several days, and went on crutches for about seven weeks, I was at home about four days, part of the timé I was confined to my bed and part of the time I sat up. I walked on crutches about seven weeks and then used a cane. I called Dr. Barnes when I was hurt, I was injured about the ankle, the skin was torn and the flesh was torn, it has healed, the leg is still bad and my hip hasn’t the *209 proper feeling. Before I was hurt I traveled on a bicycle; since then I have been unable to do so because my foot wouldn’t allow me, I can’t bear my weight on it, I suffer pain every day, I don’t suppose there is a minute that it doesn’t bother me unless it is when I am asleep, in fact I can’t walk around four blocks without it bothering me. The injury interfered with my work as a carpenter, I couldn’t be on my foot all day without having pain.”

“Q. What effect did it have on climbing around on scaffolds'?”

By Mr. Hamlin: “We object; that isn’t pleaded, which objection is by the court overruled, to which ruling of the court the defendant then and there excepted at the time.”

“A. I would have to do climbing when I would go around to look after a job. The pain manifested itself from the center of the heel to the rear part of the leg, I can’t describe the nature or feeling of the pain. I am fifty-three years old. I had to have a new bicycle, the old bicycle before it was injured was worth about twenty or twenty-five dollars — it wasn’t worth having repaired.”

The principal objection urged by appellant is to the giving of plaintiff’s instruction No. 1; it is as follows:

“The court instructs the jury that it is a violation of the ordinance of the City of Springfield to turn .an automobile upon the streets of the city unless a plain signal is previously given by the hand or whip indicating the direction of the turn. Therefore if you find from the evidence that on the 16th day of August, 1921, W. Gr. Mackey was riding a bicycle north on Campbell avenue exercising ordinary care for his own safety, and if you find from the evidence that defendant by its agent, servant or employee was driving a motor truck south on Campbell Avenue at said time and turned from said Campbell Avenue without previously indicating the direction of the turn by signaling with his hand or whip at the time said motor truck struck the said W. Gr. Mackey and caused the injuries complained of, and if you find *210 and believe from the evidence that the injuries of said W. G-. Mackey resulted directly from the act of the defendant in so turning without so signaling, if you find it so, then your verdict must be for the plaintiff, not to exceed, however, the sum of twenty-five hundred ($2500) dollars.”

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MacKey v. Queen City Wood Works & Lumber Co., 261 S.W. 132, 216 Mo. App. 205, 1924 Mo. App. LEXIS 100 (Mo. Ct. App. 1924).

261 S.W. 132 (MacKey v. Queen City Wood Works & Lumber Co.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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