ARK.] 1059 GEnRaE LEE TATUM V. K. W. RESTER
5-4106 412 S. W. 2d 293 Opinion delivered February 20, 1967 [Rehearing denied March 27, 1967] [Supplemental opinion on rehearing delivered March 27, 1967 242 Ark. 271, 412 S: IC 2d 293] 1. NEGLIGEN CE—TRIAL, JUDGMENT & REVIEW—IN STRUCTION STANDARD OF CARE.—In action for damages for injury allegedly caused by appellee's negligence, in view of the record the giving of an instruction which defined the standard of care regarding the condition of appellee's premises was error. 2. JURY—VOIR DIRE EXAM INATION—DISCRETION OF TRIAL COURT, ABUSE ff.—Court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to permit appellant on voir dire examination of the jury to propound certain questions, although the questions were not per se ob- jectionable if asked in good faith subject to : reasonable control by trial court. Appeal from Union Circuit Court, Melvin Maefield, Judge ; reversed. Bernard Whetstone, for appellant. Shaekleford & Shaeklefor, for appellee. PATTI, WARD, Justice. This is a pers.onal injury suit. While George Lee Tatum, a five year old boy (here- after referred to as appellant), was playing with the children of K. W. R2ster (appellee) at Rester's home he was injured when appellee was attempting to back his car out of the carport. Suit was filed by George's father (who, having died later, was replaced by a guardian—Robert E. Rorex) against appellee to recover damages for the injury al- legedly caused by the negligence of appellee. A jury trial resulted in a verdict for appellee. For a reversal appellant relies on two points which we will discuss in reverse order from that presented in his brief. One. This point relates to certain instructions giv- en and refused by the trial court, but first it is necessary to set out a summary of the pertinent facts which are not in dirpnte 1060 TATura V. RESTER 041
Appellant lives with his family who are close neighbors of appellee who has a wife and small children. The children of the two families frequently play togeth- er in their yards. On the day of the accident appellant was playing with appellee's children in his yard. It is not contended that he was invited over on this particular occasion nor is it contended he was a trespasser. Ap- parently it is agreed that appellant was a licensee or an invitee. On that occasion appellee was washing his car in the carport, aware of the presence of the, children in his yard and that they were nearby. When appellee decided he would back his car clear of the carport to finish the job he told the children of his intention and also told them to keep out of the waT Appellee then proceeded to back the ear, holding the left front door open with his hand. In doing so the edge of the open door struck ap- pellant's hand while it was resting on the post which supported the rear corner of the carport. At the close of the testimony appellant requested the court to give the following instruction: "You are instructed that under the circumstances that existed in the present case that K. W. Rester owed the duty to George Lee Tatum to use ordinary care not to cause injury to George Lee Tatunr" The trial court refused the above instruction ovei the objection of appellant, and then gave to the jury the following instruction over appellant's objection, "You are also instructed that at the time of the cc- curence here involved the Defendant, K. W. Rester, did not have a duty to use ordinary care for the safety of the Plaintiff, George Lee Tatum, unless he knew or reasonably should have known that George Lee Tatum was in a position of danger." "And, of course, if the Defendant did know or rea- ARR.] TATUM 1'. RESTER 1061 sonably should have known that George Lee Tatum was in a position of danger at the time of the oc- curence, then the Defendant had a duty to use ordi- nary care to avoid injury to him." It is our conclusion the court erred both in refusing and giving the above instructions. This conclusion is supported by the case of Liny wiler v. El Dorado Sports Center, Inc., 233 Ark. 191, 343 S. W. 2d 411.
In the above cited ease this same issue was raised under similar circumstances. Appellant (a boy eighteen years old) stopped in a bowling alley and chatted with a , nineteen year old employee of the alley. They em- ployee picked up a pistol which a policeman had checked at the counter and accidentally shot and injured the ap- pellant. The trial court, in that ease, instructed the jury as follows: " 'The owner of a premises or place of business is under no duty to protect one who goes upon the : premises or in the place of business as a volUnteer for his own pleasure, privacy, or curiosity.' " On appeal to this Court we reversed the judgment in favor of appellee, stating, among other things: "This instruction should not have been given, for it embodies a rule of limited liability that is proper- ly applicable to a landowner's responsibility for the condition of his premises rather than to his liabil- ity for the conduct of his employees." Following the above statement we said: "The condition of the appellee's bowling center had nothing to do with Billy Linxwiler's injury. Lavelle Parker was well aware of Billy's presence. In this situation Parker and his employer owed Billy the standard duty of ordinary care, regardless of his indecision about whether to howl or riot." 1062 TATum V. HESTER 1.241
We can see no distinction, in principle, between the cited ease and the ease under consideration here. It is possible that the trial court could have been misled by the similarity between AMI instruction 1106 and the one which it gave in this case. However it is apparent that AMI 1106 refers to the duty of a person to keep his premises in a safe condition, which is not the situation in this case
Two. It is also urged by appellant that the trial court "erred in his handling of the voir dire of the jury panel". However, since the ease must be reversed on the first point and since we find no reversible error here, we deem it unnecessary to discuss this point in detail.
It appears that appellant attempted to ask each of the jurors two questions. One, in effect, was whether he would disregard the -apparent ability or in-ability of the defendant to pay any judgment rendered against him. The other was, in effect, if he owned any stock in or worked for any casualty or liability insurance com- pany. The trial court, upon objection, refused to allow appellant to ask these questions at that time and in the exact way they were presented For reasons set out below we find that the trial Court committed no reversible error.
In the case of Hogg v. Darden, 237 Ark. 478, 374 S. W. 2d 184, we said:
"It has long been recognized in this State that 'litigants in civil cases, as well as in criminal cases, have the right to examine the jurors separately in order to determine whether such jurors are subject to challenge for cause, or to elicit information on which to base the right of peremptory challenge, subject of course to the right of the Court to can- trol the extent of sueh examination, acting in its sownd discretion.' " (Emphasis ours.) ARK.] TATUM V. RESTER 1063 The court did not, we think, abuse its discretion under the circumstances disclosed by the. record. The court, on two occasions, told appellant he could inquire of the jury as to the content of the questions mentioned above. The court also explained that it would. take up too much time to ask the questions of each juror separately—as requested by appellant. Moreover, the' court asked each juror as to his or her occupation, and excused two because of their connection, in some way, with insurance companies. The court also questioned the panel at length regarding their duty to render a fair and impartial verdict under the law and the evidence.
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
ARK.] 1059 GEnRaE LEE TATUM V. K. W. RESTER
5-4106 412 S. W. 2d 293 Opinion delivered February 20, 1967 [Rehearing denied March 27, 1967] [Supplemental opinion on rehearing delivered March 27, 1967 242 Ark. 271, 412 S: IC 2d 293] 1. NEGLIGEN CE—TRIAL, JUDGMENT & REVIEW—IN STRUCTION STANDARD OF CARE.—In action for damages for injury allegedly caused by appellee's negligence, in view of the record the giving of an instruction which defined the standard of care regarding the condition of appellee's premises was error. 2. JURY—VOIR DIRE EXAM INATION—DISCRETION OF TRIAL COURT, ABUSE ff.—Court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to permit appellant on voir dire examination of the jury to propound certain questions, although the questions were not per se ob- jectionable if asked in good faith subject to : reasonable control by trial court. Appeal from Union Circuit Court, Melvin Maefield, Judge ; reversed. Bernard Whetstone, for appellant. Shaekleford & Shaeklefor, for appellee. PATTI, WARD, Justice. This is a pers.onal injury suit. While George Lee Tatum, a five year old boy (here- after referred to as appellant), was playing with the children of K. W. R2ster (appellee) at Rester's home he was injured when appellee was attempting to back his car out of the carport. Suit was filed by George's father (who, having died later, was replaced by a guardian—Robert E. Rorex) against appellee to recover damages for the injury al- legedly caused by the negligence of appellee. A jury trial resulted in a verdict for appellee. For a reversal appellant relies on two points which we will discuss in reverse order from that presented in his brief. One. This point relates to certain instructions giv- en and refused by the trial court, but first it is necessary to set out a summary of the pertinent facts which are not in dirpnte 1060 TATura V. RESTER 041
Appellant lives with his family who are close neighbors of appellee who has a wife and small children. The children of the two families frequently play togeth- er in their yards. On the day of the accident appellant was playing with appellee's children in his yard. It is not contended that he was invited over on this particular occasion nor is it contended he was a trespasser. Ap- parently it is agreed that appellant was a licensee or an invitee. On that occasion appellee was washing his car in the carport, aware of the presence of the, children in his yard and that they were nearby. When appellee decided he would back his car clear of the carport to finish the job he told the children of his intention and also told them to keep out of the waT Appellee then proceeded to back the ear, holding the left front door open with his hand. In doing so the edge of the open door struck ap- pellant's hand while it was resting on the post which supported the rear corner of the carport. At the close of the testimony appellant requested the court to give the following instruction: "You are instructed that under the circumstances that existed in the present case that K. W. Rester owed the duty to George Lee Tatum to use ordinary care not to cause injury to George Lee Tatunr" The trial court refused the above instruction ovei the objection of appellant, and then gave to the jury the following instruction over appellant's objection, "You are also instructed that at the time of the cc- curence here involved the Defendant, K. W. Rester, did not have a duty to use ordinary care for the safety of the Plaintiff, George Lee Tatum, unless he knew or reasonably should have known that George Lee Tatum was in a position of danger." "And, of course, if the Defendant did know or rea- ARR.] TATUM 1'. RESTER 1061 sonably should have known that George Lee Tatum was in a position of danger at the time of the oc- curence, then the Defendant had a duty to use ordi- nary care to avoid injury to him." It is our conclusion the court erred both in refusing and giving the above instructions. This conclusion is supported by the case of Liny wiler v. El Dorado Sports Center, Inc., 233 Ark. 191, 343 S. W. 2d 411.
In the above cited ease this same issue was raised under similar circumstances. Appellant (a boy eighteen years old) stopped in a bowling alley and chatted with a , nineteen year old employee of the alley. They em- ployee picked up a pistol which a policeman had checked at the counter and accidentally shot and injured the ap- pellant. The trial court, in that ease, instructed the jury as follows: " 'The owner of a premises or place of business is under no duty to protect one who goes upon the : premises or in the place of business as a volUnteer for his own pleasure, privacy, or curiosity.' " On appeal to this Court we reversed the judgment in favor of appellee, stating, among other things: "This instruction should not have been given, for it embodies a rule of limited liability that is proper- ly applicable to a landowner's responsibility for the condition of his premises rather than to his liabil- ity for the conduct of his employees." Following the above statement we said: "The condition of the appellee's bowling center had nothing to do with Billy Linxwiler's injury. Lavelle Parker was well aware of Billy's presence. In this situation Parker and his employer owed Billy the standard duty of ordinary care, regardless of his indecision about whether to howl or riot." 1062 TATum V. HESTER 1.241
We can see no distinction, in principle, between the cited ease and the ease under consideration here. It is possible that the trial court could have been misled by the similarity between AMI instruction 1106 and the one which it gave in this case. However it is apparent that AMI 1106 refers to the duty of a person to keep his premises in a safe condition, which is not the situation in this case
Two. It is also urged by appellant that the trial court "erred in his handling of the voir dire of the jury panel". However, since the ease must be reversed on the first point and since we find no reversible error here, we deem it unnecessary to discuss this point in detail.
It appears that appellant attempted to ask each of the jurors two questions. One, in effect, was whether he would disregard the -apparent ability or in-ability of the defendant to pay any judgment rendered against him. The other was, in effect, if he owned any stock in or worked for any casualty or liability insurance com- pany. The trial court, upon objection, refused to allow appellant to ask these questions at that time and in the exact way they were presented For reasons set out below we find that the trial Court committed no reversible error.
In the case of Hogg v. Darden, 237 Ark. 478, 374 S. W. 2d 184, we said:
"It has long been recognized in this State that 'litigants in civil cases, as well as in criminal cases, have the right to examine the jurors separately in order to determine whether such jurors are subject to challenge for cause, or to elicit information on which to base the right of peremptory challenge, subject of course to the right of the Court to can- trol the extent of sueh examination, acting in its sownd discretion.' " (Emphasis ours.) ARK.] TATUM V. RESTER 1063 The court did not, we think, abuse its discretion under the circumstances disclosed by the. record. The court, on two occasions, told appellant he could inquire of the jury as to the content of the questions mentioned above. The court also explained that it would. take up too much time to ask the questions of each juror separately—as requested by appellant. Moreover, the' court asked each juror as to his or her occupation, and excused two because of their connection, in some way, with insurance companies. The court also questioned the panel at length regarding their duty to render a fair and impartial verdict under the law and the evidence. There- after appellant declined to ask any more questions. This, we said in the Hogg case, supra, "constitutes a waiver".
By this opinion we do not mean to hold that the questions appellant desired to ask the jury are, per se, inadmissible if asked in good faith subject to reasonable control by the trial court.
Reversed. GEORGE ROSE SMITH and BROWN, JJ., concur. LYLE BROWN. Justice, concurring. I agree this case should be reversed because of error in instructions. How- ever, I believp the opinion fails to give proper consid- eration to some important points which were raised and which are most likely to occur in the event of an- other trial.
This cause first was called for trial on February 14, 1966. On behalf of Tatum (plaintiff), his attorney asked this question on voir dire examination:
"Bernard Whetstone—My question is, gentlemen of the jury, do you or any member of your family now, or have you in the past, worked for or own any stock in or have any interest in any casualty or lia- bility insnrance company?" 1064 TATTJM v. HESTER. I:241
Counsel for Rester (defendant) immediately asked for a mistrial and the court promptly granted the mo- tion. Although a prior question asked is not in the rec- ord, it is apparent from the statements made by the pre- siding judge that the question regarding insurance was immediately preceded by another question In substance, the first question inquired of the panel whether the ap- parent ability or inability of the defendant to pay a judgment would affect the findings of the jury. After granting the mistiial, the court expressed the view that the propounding of these twu questions "back to back" were meant to impress upon the july the fact that the defendant probably had insurance. This reason- ing seemed to impel the trial court to grant the mistrial. The second trial began May 25, - 1966. - On voir dire examination Mr. Whetstone inquired of juror Smither- man, in substance, if he could disregard the apparent ability or inability of a defendant to pay a judgment. Shackleford objected and the question was un- answered. The court overruled the objection and pro- ceeded to take over the questioning of the panel. After numerous questions were asked by the court, Mr. Whet- stone requested a conference at the Bench After some discussion, the judge and attorneys retired to Chambers. The judge addressed this question to Mn Whetstone : "As I understood your motion, you wanted to ask each one of the jurors individually the question whether or not they would try this case and render a judgment for the plaintiff if they feel the law and evidence justified it, without considering his appar- ent ability or inability to pay the judgment. Now is that the question you wanted to ask?" (To which Mr. Whetstone replied in the affirmative.) The court denied the motion and gave three reasons therefor ; the reasons are summarized in italics, and the balance constitutes my comments : ARK.] TATUM v. RESTER 1065
1. To propound the same question indicidually to 23 jurors would be too much of a burden, on the jury and the court and is unnecessary. The court was certainly acting within the bounds of discretion in so ruling
2. The question is improper because the ability or inability to pay a ;judgment cannot be involved in a case. It is not a proper thing for the jury to take into consid- eration. Ability or inability to pay cannot be introduced into evidence. On this point I believe the court is in er- ror, assuming it to have been ruled that the question is never proper under any circumstances. It is human na- ture for most people to sympathize with the poor, the unfortunate, or the undP.rprivileged. Direet testimony is not necessary for jurors to reach a conclusion or impres- sion that a party to a case has ability or inability to pay. A question of the same content is in fact not infrequent- ly propounded by counsel for a large corporation when it is being sued by a widow or on behalf of minor chil- dren whose parent has suffered death in au accident.
To admit the propriety of this question, when asked in good faith, knowing it is a caus p wherein the jury will uridouhtedly reach defiuite imprcssiong about the ability or inability to pay, still does not remove from the trial court all its discretion. Acting in sound discre- tion, the court is privileged to conclude that the question is not proper in a particular case.
3. The purpose of this question is to indicate to the jury that liability insurance is involved, "that this man (defendant) does not have the ability to pay but he hos plenty of iwsurance.'' Herein lies the danger of coupling the two questions. And in this situation the court's discretion comes into play. The court passes on the question of good faith, knows the attorneys, their mannerisms in asking the questions, the word emphases they may use—all of which are important in discerning good faith. The appellate court does not have this ad- vantage. So, unless from the record itself we ean glean .1066 TATUM V. _RESTER [211 an abuse of discretion, we should not say the trial court ,erred in this respect. Lawyers have the right to question jurors, separ- ately and individually, to determine whether they are subject to challenge for cause, or to elicit information on which to base the right of peremptory challenge. But all this is subject to the right of the court, acting in sound discretion, to control the extent of the examina- tion. Then, too, the court would seem to have the respon- sibility of moving forward on questions concerning stat- utory qualifications. See Ark. Stat. Ann. 39-226 (Repl. 1962). The ease and statutory law relative to voir dire examination are not complicated when compared to oth- er fields of trial procedure. When a problem in fact is 'anticipated it can undoubtedly be settled by raising it in pre-trial conference. In those rare instances where it might not be settled in pre-trial, the record can there be made and the time and patience of jurors are not jeopardized. GEORGE ROSE SMITH, J., joins in this concurrence.