Settel v. Public Service Railway

Supreme Court of New Jersey

Settel v. Public Service Railway

109 A. 363, 94 N.J.L. 137, 1920 N.J. LEXIS 152

DecidedMarch 1, 1920

StatusPublished

This text of 109 A. 363 (Settel v. Public Service Railway) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of New Jersey primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Settel v. Public Service Railway, 109 A. 363, 94 N.J.L. 137, 1920 N.J. LEXIS 152 (N.J. 1920).

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Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Stvayze, J.

The trial judge said that he was not satisfied by a fair preponderance of the evidence of the negligence of the defendant and then added, “In view of that fact 1 am going to enter a nonsuit in this ca.se on the ground that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence.” We think [138]*138this amounted to a finding that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. This finding not only came later than the finding that there was a lack of proof of negligence on the part of the defendant, but is inconsistent with that finding. Contributory negligence by the plaintiff cannot exist unless there was negligence on the part of the defendant to which the plaintiff’s negligence contributed. A finding of contributory negligence necessarily and logically results in a judgment for the defendant, not in a nonsuit. There may be, as the Supreme Court says, cases in which the court may enter a nonsuit on its own motion, but there must be a reason for such action. It would be intolerable for the court, sitting as a jury, without suggestion on the part of counsel or the court, that any reason existed for a nonsuit, to allow a nonsuit, and thus deprive the parties of the judgment to which the findings of the court entitled them. The very fact that the court ¡proceeded to announce its findings of fact demonstrates that no reason existed for a nonsuit. This case is not within section 167 of the District' Court act. That applies only where sufficient proof is not given entitling either plaintiff or defendant to the judgment of the court. In this case proof satisfactory to the judge was given of contributory negligence and that entitled the defendant to final judgment. The failure to enter the judgment which the finding required was error.

For this error let the judgment be reversed and the record remitted in order that judgment final may be entered in favor of the defendant. As this disposes of the case, the defendant is entitled to costs.

We think it well to call attention to the mere slip in the opinion of the Supreme Court which might work mischief if allowed to pass unnoticed. The opinion says the granting of a nonsuit is “an act of judicial discretion.” This is incorrect. The parties are entitled as of right, not of discretion, to the judgment to which the finding, the equivalent of a verdict, entitled them. We are not here concerned with a nonsuit for failure to bring on the case or for default in pleading. In case of a voluntary nonsuit submitted tó by [139]*139the plaintiff, it is his right if applied for at the proper time; it was not in this case. As to a nonsuit for failure of proof that is the defendant’s right if he asks for it.

For afih'Mcmcc—None.

For reversal—Tile Chancellor, Chitíe Justice, Swayze, Trenottard, Parker, Mtnturn, White, Heppenheimer, Williams, Taylor, Gardner, Ackerson, JJ. 32.

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The opinion of the court was delivered by

Stvayze, J.

The trial judge said that he was not satisfied by a fair preponderance of the evidence of the negligence of the defendant and then added, “In view of that fact 1 am going to enter a nonsuit in this ca.se on the ground that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence.” We think [138]*138this amounted to a finding that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. This finding not only came later than the finding that there was a lack of proof of negligence on the part of the defendant, but is inconsistent with that finding. Contributory negligence by the plaintiff cannot exist unless there was negligence on the part of the defendant to which the plaintiff’s negligence contributed. A finding of contributory negligence necessarily and logically results in a judgment for the defendant, not in a nonsuit. There may be, as the Supreme Court says, cases in which the court may enter a nonsuit on its own motion, but there must be a reason for such action. It would be intolerable for the court, sitting as a jury, without suggestion on the part of counsel or the court, that any reason existed for a nonsuit, to allow a nonsuit, and thus deprive the parties of the judgment to which the findings of the court entitled them. The very fact that the court ¡proceeded to announce its findings of fact demonstrates that no reason existed for a nonsuit. This case is not within section 167 of the District' Court act. That applies only where sufficient proof is not given entitling either plaintiff or defendant to the judgment of the court. In this case proof satisfactory to the judge was given of contributory negligence and that entitled the defendant to final judgment. The failure to enter the judgment which the finding required was error.

For this error let the judgment be reversed and the record remitted in order that judgment final may be entered in favor of the defendant. As this disposes of the case, the defendant is entitled to costs.

We think it well to call attention to the mere slip in the opinion of the Supreme Court which might work mischief if allowed to pass unnoticed. The opinion says the granting of a nonsuit is “an act of judicial discretion.” This is incorrect. The parties are entitled as of right, not of discretion, to the judgment to which the finding, the equivalent of a verdict, entitled them. We are not here concerned with a nonsuit for failure to bring on the case or for default in pleading. In case of a voluntary nonsuit submitted tó by [139]*139the plaintiff, it is his right if applied for at the proper time; it was not in this case. As to a nonsuit for failure of proof that is the defendant’s right if he asks for it.

For afih'Mcmcc—None.

For reversal—Tile Chancellor, Chitíe Justice, Swayze, Trenottard, Parker, Mtnturn, White, Heppenheimer, Williams, Taylor, Gardner, Ackerson, JJ. 32.

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Bluebook (online)

109 A. 363, 94 N.J.L. 137, 1920 N.J. LEXIS 152, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/settel-v-public-service-railway-nj-1920.