Schneider v. Swaney Motor Car Co.

136 N.W.2d 338, 257 Iowa 1177, 1965 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 673
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedJune 30, 1965
Docket51624
StatusPublished
Cited by33 cases

This text of 136 N.W.2d 338 (Schneider v. Swaney Motor Car Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Schneider v. Swaney Motor Car Co., 136 N.W.2d 338, 257 Iowa 1177, 1965 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 673 (iowa 1965).

Opinion

Moore, J.

— On Saturday morning, February 4, 1961, tbe automobile of plaintiff, A. James Schneider, .while stopped for a traffic light at or near the intersection of Central Avenue and Sixth Street in Fort Dodge was struck from the rear by a truck driven by defendant James Quick. This is an action for the resulting damages. Plaintiff made Swaney Motor Car Company, an Iowa corporation, and Earle E. Fletcher defendants, claiming Quick was operating the truck with permission of each. Quick and Fletcher cross-petitioned against Swaney, claiming a right to indemnity. From judgment on verdict for plaintiff against them and denying indemnity Quick and. Fletcher have appealed.

Defendants-appellants Quick and Fletcher on plaintiff’s claim assign 43 errors. On their claim against Swaney for indemnity they assign 17 errors. They have not, however, argued each claimed error separately but grouped them in divisions. Each appellee has argued the assigned errors in divisions in so far as material to each. We shall so consider them.

.On February 2, 1961, Fletcher, after some negotiation, made a wholesale purchase of six motor vehicles from -Swaney for $3000. He signed an order which was accepted by .Swaney which stated it comprised the entire agreement affecting the order and that no other agreement or understanding of any nature had been made or entered into.' Fletcher testified Joel Johnson, Swaney’s general manager, represented the vehicles to be “roadworthy”. Johnson denied making such a statement or that the vehicles would'be filled-with gas or readied as claimed by. Flét- *1181 eher. He testified he had no knowledge of how Fletcher intended to move the vehicles. Johnson and other used car dealers testified a wholesale sale of used cars is a cash transaction on an “as is”, “where is” basis but the purchaser has the right to inspect or drive the vehicle before buying. Witness Don Carney testified: “If the buyer takes it, it is his ‘baby’. If it falls apart when he gets down the street, it is still the buyer’s.”

Quick, a Des Moines policeman, and others including Fletcher’s son, Charles, were employed by Fletcher to go to Fort Dodge and drive the six vehicles to Des Moines. Upon arrival at the Swaney used ear lot, Quick was assigned to drive a 1953 Ford truck (acquired by Swaney January 13, 1961) which was one of the purchased vehicles. He had never seen the vehicle before. A battery charger was being used on it when.the party arrived. Quick testified one of Swaney’s .men started the truck, told him it was ready to drive and where to go across town to get gas.

Quick testified he, without making any test of the vehicle, drove the truck west over the lot to Third Street, then a few feet north to Central Avenue and then east on Central. He did not stop before entering the public street from the private lot. He said he did not know the law required him to do so. As he drove eastward on Central Avenue he went around the public square between Fourth and Fifth Streets and finally turned east again when he said he observed plaintiff’s vehicle stopped for the red light at Sixth. There was a light cover of snow or slush on the streets. After traveling some' distance on Central at ábout 15 miles per hour toward plaintiff’s stopped vehicle, Quick testified he for the first time applied the truck brakes but they did not respond. He was unable to estimate his distance from plaintiff when he first applied the brakes. After pumping ' them and throwing the clutch in and out to no avail he attempted to turn left to avoid striking plaintiff’s car and thought he had done so until the right end of the truck’s front bumper struck the left rear corner of the car. The heavy truck bumper extended out beyond the fender some distance.

Quick testified he did not believe the car was moved by the collision.. Plaintiff said he was moved' ahead several feet, ‘the truck hit “real hard” like he was “hit with á crowbar”.

*1182 After the accident Charles Fletcher, who had followed the truck, told plaintiff Fletcher would take care of the damages. Charles then drove the truck back to Swaney’s lot where one of Swaney’s men inspected the master brake cylinder and found it needed brake fluid which was put in. Thereafter the brakes worked and the truck was driven to Des Moines.

Quick testified the man who opened the brake cylinder said “There’s cobwebs in there”. Charles Fletcher testified the man said there was not any fluid in the cylinder. He said nothing of any comment about cobwebs. With such a record appellants argue the cobwebs existed and that the sole cause of the accident was lack of brakes. The trial court did not agree with appellants’ contention but submitted to the jury the pleaded specifications of unreasonable speed under the circumstances, lookout, control and inadequate brakes.

I. Several of appellants’ assigned errors involve their contention that the question of proper lookout by Quick should not have been submitted to the jury.

In considering this contention as well as appellants’ claim that lack of proper control should not have been submitted to the jury certain general rules must be kept in mind.

When the court instructs the jury upon a certain question there must be some evidence upon which to base such instruction. Wilson v. Kouri, 255 Iowa 348, 355, 122 N.W.2d 300, 304; Clubb v. Osborn, 256 Iowa 1154, 1160, 130 N.W.2d 648, 652. And it is reversible error to submit an issue having no support in the record. Borough v. Minneapolis & St. L. Ry. Co., 191 Iowa 1216, 1223, 184 N.W. 320, 323; Clubb v. Osborn, supra, and citations.

In considering whether there is evidentiary support for an instruction we give the evidence the most favorable construction it will reasonably bear. Clubb v. Osborn, supra.

Even when the facts are not in dispute or contradicted, if reasonable minds might draw different inferences from them, a jury question is engendered. Citation of authority is unnecessary. See Buie of Civil Procedure 344(f) 17. This proposition is recognized in Brinegar v. Green (Iowa), 117 F.2d 316, 319, where the court states: “The determination of the existence of *1183 negligence where the evidence is conflicting or the undisputed facts are such that fair-minded men may draw different conclusions from them is a question of fact for the jury and not one of law fox the court.”

Driving an automobile into another in plain sight is evidence of negligence. Harris v. Clark, 251 Iowa 807, 809, 103 N.W.2d 215, 217. It is evidence of improper lookout, lack of control, speed and other specific acts of negligence, including driving with faulty brakes. Ruud v. Grimm, 252 Iowa 1266, 1274, 110 N.W.2d 321, 325. The evidence in each case must be carefully considered as to which acts or omissions caused the collision.

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Bluebook (online)
136 N.W.2d 338, 257 Iowa 1177, 1965 Iowa Sup. LEXIS 673, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/schneider-v-swaney-motor-car-co-iowa-1965.