Walter v. Detroit, Jackson & Chicago Railway

158 N.W. 154, 191 Mich. 667, 1916 Mich. LEXIS 719
Michigan Supreme Court·Decided June 1, 1916·No. Docket No. 17·Published

Opinion

Stone, C. J.

This case grows out of the same ac-' cident that was involved in the case of Martha Walter against the same defendant, ante, 181 (157 N. W. [669]*669414). All of, the witnesses, except one, sworn in that case, were sworn in this, and the testimony of the witnesses, common to both cases, is substantially the same on all material points in each. As the reported case contains a full statement of the occurrence, a brief statement here will suffice.

About noon, on June 28, 1913, the plaintiff and her daughter, Martha Walter, were riding west, in a light market wagon drawn by a single horse, on Michigan avenue, through the township of Dearborn, Wayne county. It was a bright, clear day. Michigan avenue was paved with concrete at the place in question. Lying immediately north of the concreted way, and running parallel thereto, and about three feet distant therefrom, was the track of the defendant. Both highway and track were straight for a considerable distance east and west of the scene of the accident. The plaintiff was driving the horse, which was on the north side of the concreted roadway. Approaching from the west at a rapid rate of speed, and likewise on the north side of the concreted way, was an automobile. As it came toward the plaintiff’s rig it was directly in front. It continued to proceed thus, until within a few feet of the rig, when it swung suddenly to the south and passed. The manner of its approach, or its passing, or both, caused the horse to take fright and precipitately turn toward and proceed upon the defendant’s track. At this time one of defendant’s freight cars was approaching from the west at a rate of speed estimated to be from 35 to 40 miles an hour, and, although the plaintiff tried to get the horse back off the track, it was struck and killed by the car, and both women were thrown from the wagon and injured. The plaintiff brought suit, and on the trial recovered a verdict and judgment for $1,000. A motion for a new trial, on the grounds that the verdict was contrary to law and against thé weight of the evidence, was made, and [670] denied. To this denial the defendant filed exceptions, and has brought the case here assigning errors.

As to the negligence of the defendant charged, the two declarations are identical. Upon the questions of the negligence of the defendant, and the proximate cause of the injury, we are of the opinion that the instant case is governed and controlled by the opinion in the case of Martha Walter.

By the assignments of error some questions are raised upon rulings in the admission of evidence. We proceed to consider those.

The plaintiff called the motorman, Denio, for cross-examination under Act No. 307, Pub. Acts 1909 (3 Comp. Laws 1915, § 12554), and the following occurred :

“Q. In what distance could you stop that car on that track at that place under those conditions with that load on, going at the rate of 35 miles an hour towards the east?
“Mr. Fitzpatrick: I object to that as incompetent, as calling for a conclusion, and an opinion. The question in this case is: What distance did he stop the car in? Then the question further may be whether that was a reasonable or proper or improper' stop, but I claim that the witness cannot be asked to give his opinion or a conclusion as to the distance in which he could have stopped that car on that morning.
“The Court: I think he may answer it.
“Mr. Fitzpatrick: Exception.
“Q: Do you desire the question read, Mr. Denio?
“A. Please.
(The question was repeated by reporter.)
“Mr. Fitzpatrick: I add the further objection that it does not yet appear the weight of the car, a question that would obviously be of importance, almost controlling bearing, if the question is to be treated as a hypothetical or expert one.
“Mr. Dohany: The question refers to that identical car, your honor.
“The Court: Does he know the weight of it?
[671] “Q. Did you hear Mr. Hugh Savage testify concerning the weight of that car?
“A. No, sir; I did not.
“Q. You never weighed it yourself?
“A. No, sir.
“Mr. Dohany: I insist upon an answer, your honor.
“Mr. Fitzpatrick: Perhaps I have not made the point that I intend to raise, your honor, sufficiently clear. It is this: That it is never competent in a case of negligence or claimed negligence to put the actor, the man who is really charged with the negligence, upon the witness stand, and by a hypothetical or expert opinion or question draw from him a statement which amounts to an opinion or conclusion, which opinion or conclusion comprehends the vital issue in the case as to whether or not there was or was not negligence in the doing or refraining from doing the things that were done or that were refrained from. That was what I had in mind. That, in this case, ultimately the jury must determine from all the facts and circumstances whether the actual stop that this man made of the car was a negligent or a nonnegligent stop, and to ask him hypothetically, in advance of a showing of all the facts and circumstances, to say within what distance he could stop the car, is an invasion of the province of the jury.
“The Court: It is true that is a question for the jury to find on. As I understand it, witness, you had driven this car for some time?
“A. Yes, sir.
“The Court: Or similar cars?
“A. Yes, sir.
“The Court: I think he may answer the question.
“Mr. Fitzpatrick: I may have an exception?
“The Court: Yes.
(The question was read by reporter.)
“Mr. Fitzpatrick: I also have an exception on the proposition that the question does not include the weight of the car?
“The Court: Yes.
“A. About 400 feet.”

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Walter v. Detroit, Jackson & Chicago Railway, 158 N.W. 154, 191 Mich. 667, 1916 Mich. LEXIS 719 (Mich. 1916).

158 N.W. 154 (Walter v. Detroit, Jackson & Chicago Railway) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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