Mancuso v. Yellow Taxicab Co.

203 N.W. 875, 231 Mich. 189, 1925 Mich. LEXIS 607
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedMay 14, 1925
DocketDocket No. 32.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 203 N.W. 875 (Mancuso v. Yellow Taxicab Co.) 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
Mancuso v. Yellow Taxicab Co., 203 N.W. 875, 231 Mich. 189, 1925 Mich. LEXIS 607 (Mich. 1925).

Opinion

Moore, J.

By stipulation of counsel the above cases were tried as one, but separate verdicts and judgments were entered therein. Grace Mancuso recovered a judgment for $1,500 against the Yellow Taxicab Company, and James Mancuso recovered a judgment of $500 against the Yellow Taxicab Company. The cases are brought into this court by writs of error.

The cases are simplified by a stipulation filed in this court by counsel for the Yellow Taxicab Company that they abandon all assignments of error arising out of the refusal of the trial court to adjourn the trial to enable them to obtain a certified copy of a petition filed in a suit commenced in Cleveland by Mrs. Mancuso against the Cleveland Transfer Company. Counsel also concede that the petition offered in evidence from the Cleveland court was not certified as a true and correct copy, but was an uncertified *191 petition and duplicate only, as testified to by William Brooks.

The record discloses that on September 14, 1921, about 6:00 a. m. James Mancuso and Grace Mancuso, husband and wife, residents of Cleveland, boarded a taxicab as passengers for hire of the Yellow Taxicab Company in front of the Hotel Tuller in Detroit, to go to the Michigan Central depot to take a train for their home in Cleveland. At the intersection of Bagley avenue and Second boulevard the Yellow taxicab going west collided with an Overland car driven by defendant Palgut, going in a southerly direction on Second boulevard.

Mr. Palgut was called as an adverse witness. He testified in part:

“I was the owner of the Overland touring car that was in this accident on Second and Bagley. I was driving in a southerly direction on Second avenue, on the day of the accident. I was driving about 20 miles between blocks and I cut down to about 8 when I came there — I looked to the left and right, saw that my way was clear and proceeded on. No more than I got under way, the Yellow taxicab dashed upon me and before I had a chance to do anything— I tried to turn to the right and at the same time with the terrific speed he was going, I could not help but come in contact with him. I can judge approximately the speed at which automobiles travel by watching them. The Yellow taxicab was traveling across the intersection about 30 miles an hour. The taxicab did not slow at all when it crossed Second avenue. There is an electric light pole right at the corner of Second; he just missed that by about three feet. My car was facing west. The taxicab turned me right around facing west, in the same direction the taxicab was going. As I got to the corner of Bagley and Second, the Yellow taxicab was not in sight. I presume there were other cars on that side of the street that obstructed my view. The taxi did not attempt to turn either direction. It did not slow down to cross Second avenue.”

*192 A witness testified in part as follows:

“My name is James Maguire. I live at 624 Bagley avenue between Second and Third, closer to Second than to Third. I work at the Michigan Central depot. On the 14th day of September, 1921, I was living at 624 Bagley. I recall an accident that happened on the 14th day of September, 1921, in which the Mancusos were injured. I got up and was going to work and started to shave and heard a crash, about 6 and 7, Detroit time. I was in the house; I should judge my place is a distance of 200 feet from Second. I was in the back part of the house. I ran out sof the house and I seen a cab turned over on its side, west of Second, nearer my house than what Second is. I rushed over there and I found this couple in the cab. The cab was on its side, tipped over between the curb and sidewalk. When I got there, Mr. and Mrs. Mancuso were in the cab, and I helped to pull them out. I took Mrs. Mancuso into my house, laid her out on the davenport there in the sitting room and my wife tried to restore her to consciousness until the patrol wagon came and took her away, which was maybe about half an hour. She was unconscious when she was brought into my house. The taxicab was approximately — at least 75 feet from the corner when I saw it tipped over, — when it came to a stop, west of the corner. I did not see another automobile there. I did not pay much attention to it because my attention was drawn to aid this. lady. Her clothes were mussed up, quite a bit I recall; I believe one of her stockings was ripped open quite a bit; her dress was torn some I think. I never met Mr. Mancuso and Mrs. Mancuso before in my life. The taxicab was headed west on Bagley when I saw it.”

The plaintiffs were both sworn and testified that when the Yellow taxicab approached Second boulevard, and when the accident happened, it was running 30 to 40 miles an hour. They testified in detail as to the occurrence and the injuries. They were subjected to a long and able cross-examination. The taxicab driver was not called. It was made to appear that he could not be found. A recordograph was *193 attached to the taxicab and it was claimed it showed the speed of the taxicab was but 14 miles an hour when the accident happened.

A witness was sworn on the part of the defendant who testified in part as follows:

“I am Mrs. Jessie Stiles; I am at 1732 Fort street. I did live at 625 Bagley, on the south side of Bagley avenue, near the intersection of Bagley and Second; there is just a vacant lot between my place and Second avenue, one large lot. I was at home the morning of the accident in this case. I saw the accident. I saw the taxicab that proceeded along west on Bagley. I was sitting in the window; my attention was attracted to the taxicab first because I heard it blow its horn a little ways this side of First street.
“Q. And how near was the taxicab to Second street —the taxicab was going west on Bagley; how near was it to Second street when you first saw it?
“A. I saw it coming quite a way down Bagley avenue from First street.
“Q. That is one block is it?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. You say that you noticed or you was attracted by the blowing of the horn as he proceeded along west on Bagley toward Second street, what did you see in reference to his operation of the car?
“A. Well, I seen he stopped or came to pretty near a stop when he got to the corner of Second street and then he started up and got pretty near across the street when this other car came and hit him.
“Q. The taxi you say was nearly across the street?
“A. Yes, it was.
“Q. And where did the other car hit the taxicab?
“A. In the side.
“Q. What happened to the taxicab after the other car hit it in the side?
“A. Turned over.
“Q. And where did the other car or the taxicab go then?

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
203 N.W. 875, 231 Mich. 189, 1925 Mich. LEXIS 607, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mancuso-v-yellow-taxicab-co-mich-1925.