Moorman v. Williams

103 Ga. App. 726
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedMay 4, 1961
Docket38779
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 103 Ga. App. 726 (Moorman v. Williams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Moorman v. Williams, 103 Ga. App. 726 (Ga. Ct. App. 1961).

Opinion

Felton, Chief Judge.

1. Assuming for the sake of argument that the driver of the truck was negligent in attempting to cross the public road under the circumstances, which fact we expressly do not decide, the uncontradicted evidence in the case shows that the deceased could, in the exercise of ordinary care, have seen the truck entering into and crossing the public road when the automobile driven by the deceased was approximately 150 yards away, and that he could, by the exercise of ordinary care, have avoided the consequences of the defendant’s negligence, if any. Code § 105-603; Central of Ga. Ry. Co. v. Roberts, 213 Ga. 135 (97 S. E. 2d 149), and cit.

2. The plaintiff mother in this case is barred by the negligence of her son, damages for the tortious death of whom she seeks to recover. Porter v. Southern Ry. Co., 73 Ga. App. 718 (37 S. E. 2d 831); Lowe v. Payne, 156 Ga. 312 (118 S. E. 924).

The court correctly awarded a nonsuit.

Judgment affirmed.

Nichols and Bell, JJ., concur.

Mrs. Willie Mae Moorman sued J. D. Williams & Son, a partnership composed of J. D. and Joe E. Williams, to recover the value of the life of her son, William Moorman, who was allegedly killed by the negligence of an employee of the defendant. On the subject of the alleged negligence of the defendant, the petition alleged as follows: “3. That Sim Cook, who was in the employ of the said J. D. Williams & Son on the 21st day of November, 1958, while operating a large truck, pulling a twenty (20) foot trailer, entered the highway leading from Wrightsville, Georgia, to< Spann, Georgia, to make a left turn from the private driveway of Lanier Lumber Company, and failed to stop and see that the highway, which was a two-lane paved highway, was clear of traffic, which was flowing [727]*727in each direction on said highway at the time, and entered said highway and blocked the same completely while the automobile driven by her son, William Moorman, was approaching, and when it Was too late for her said son, William Moorman, to be able to stop, thereby causing the death of her said son, William Moorman, on said date. 5. That said wreck took place on the 21st day of November, 1958, on the paved highway leading from Wrightsville, Ga., to Spann, Ga., a distance of about one and one-half (1%) miles from Wrightsville, Ga., at a point on said highway directly in front of the Lanier Lumber Company planing mill and lumber plant, at about 4:30 o’clock p.m. 6. That the said Sim Cook in entering said paved highway to make a left turn from the private driveway of Lanier Lumber Company, without stopping to see that the highway was clear of traffic flowing in each direction, and that it was safe for him to make said left turn and block said highway, thereby violated the traffic laws of the State of Georgia, and is thereby guilty of negligence per se, having caused said wreck and the death of her said son, William Moorman, by violating said traffic laws of the State of Georgia. 10. That at the time said William Moorman was killed in said wreck, he was not violating any laws of the State of Georgia, and was traveling the right-hand side of a two-lane paved highway, where he had a right to travel, and was not driving more than fifty to fifty-five miles per hour when said truck, driven by the said Sim Cook for J. D. Williams & Son, drove out in front of him and completely blocked said highway, when it was too late and impossible for her said son, William Moorman, to stop said car and avoid striking said truck, and that her said son, William Moorman, did all in his power to keep from striking said track and to prevent said wreck, as he had pulled his said car as far to the right as he possibly could, but said highway was completely blocked by said Sim Cook, while operating said track for J. D. Williams & Son, when the car in which her said son, William Moorman, was driving was approaching on said highway, coming from Wrightsville, Ga., and traveling in a southwesterly direction towards Spann, Ga., completely blocking both lanes of said highway, when the car which her said son [728]*728was driving was too close to said truck, and when it was impossible for him to have stopped before striking said truck, thus causing said wreck and causing the death of her said son, William Moorman, on said date. 11. That her said son, William Moorman, was 23 years of age and in good health on the date he was killed.” After the introduction of the plaintiff’s evidence, the court granted a nonsuit, to- which judgment the plaintiff excepts.

L. T. Chester testified for the plaintiff substantially as follows: Direct Examination. I knew the deceased, William Moorman. He worked for me four or five years before his death, on the 21st of November, 1958. He was in my employment at that time. The deceased was involved in an accident on the 21st of November, 1958. I saw the accident, which occurred approximately 150- to 200 feet from the office of Lanier Lumber Company on the Wrightsville-Spann Road. I was in my office and John Henry Carter was going in to transact some business. I have an office beside a window. I happened to look out of the window, and drew John Henry Carter’s attention and I said that there was going to- be a wreck, or words to that effect. I saw the truck pull out and saw the car coming. You could hear the tires squeak, and that was my observation. I saw this particular truck pulling out and the incident struck my mind when I saw the car coming. I imagine it was 100 yards. The truck was driven by Sim Cook. I saw the car hit the trailer almost from the wheels to the back end. The extension there may be 4 or 5 feet. It hit the trailer, which was still moving, somewhere about from the wheels to the rear end of the trailer. The truck was blocking the paved highway from Wrightsville to- Spann. I would say that the automobile was on its right-hand side when it hit the rear .end of the trailer. William Moorman had pulled off to- the right and half of his automobile was off of the paved portion of the road. It seemed to me that the truck driver, instead of trying to make a turn, tried to beat the automobile across the road. In driving from the mill into or across the road, there is no kind of substance that would block the view. You would not have to pull on the highway to be able to- see to the left. There were weeds there, [729]*729but we kept it fairly clear where a man could see. You have to pull pretty close to the highway before you can see up towards Wrightsville. I could see further from where I was because my office was up on the hill. Numerous trucks are going in and out of that place every day. There are several roads on each side of the highway running off the highway, three or more on each side. There are a lot of skid marks all over that highway. I have seen people drive down that road and tum into my office. I have seen them do the hoop slide. There are always a lot of skid marks. That was a race road, if you want my observation. Across the road there is about a three and one-half foot grade on the right coming back towards Wrightsville from the office. There is no hill there of any noticeable size. The highway is comparatively straight there. There is a slight curve at the railroad crossing but I would say it is a good road. There are no traffic control devices up and down that highway, stop signs or anything. If it pleases the court, I would like to make this observation. I, myself, put obstacles in that road.

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Related

Moorman v. Williams
120 S.E.2d 312 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1961)

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Bluebook (online)
103 Ga. App. 726, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/moorman-v-williams-gactapp-1961.