Mytinger v. Weir
Mytinger v. Weir
Opinion of the Court
This is an action to recover damages for personal injuries received in an automobile accident. The appeal is by defendants Mrs. W. B. Weir and her chauffeur Leon Darras from an order granting plaintiff’s motion for a new trial following a jury verdict in their favor. The motion was granted upon the ground of the insufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdict, the court specifically finding that “The evidence is insufficient to justify or warrant the jury’s implied finding that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. ’ ’
Plaintiff, accompanied by guests, was driving her station wagon north on the highway known as “The Alameda” in San Mateo County. Defendant Darras, operating his employer’s car, was driving west on Stockbridge Avenue which intersects the said highway at approximately a right angle. A third car, driven by a Mr. Peterson, along The Alameda
Under the specification contained in the order granting a new trial, the only question necessary to consider on appeal is whether the evidence shows that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law, and whether there was thus an abuse of discretion by the trial court in granting the motion upon the specified grounds. (Hall v. Desser, 8 Cal. (2d) 29 [63 Pac. (2d) 809].) Some of the citations relied upon by appellants would be applicable were the purpose of this review to ascertain whether there was any evidence to sustain the verdict, but on an appeal from an order granting a new trial the test is whether there is a conflict upon a material issue. If so, the action of the trial court is conclusive on appeal. (Bonner v. Los Angeles Examiner, 17 Cal. App. (2d) 458 [62 Pac. (2d) 427] ; Gallardo v. Luke, 33 Cal. App. (2d) 230 [91 Pac. (2d) 211].)
The main question raised by appellants is as follows: “Is it contributory negligence as a matter of law for a motorist to drive across an obstructed intersection without taking any observation of traffic coming from the right and with a vehicle thus coming from the right possessing the right of way, at a rate of speed in violation of the Motor Vehicle Code and in deliberate avoidance of any observation of such traffic until both machines are in the intersection, and a few feet apartV’ If such facts appear undisputed in the record, at least collectively, an affirmative answer must be given.
Certain contradictions appear in plaintiff’s testimony, a matter for the trial court to consider, but the record discloses and the physical facts show that the collision between the station wagon and the car driven by Darras occurred in the northeast quadrant of the intersection, the front of the appellants’ car colliding with the right side of the station wagon toward its rear.
Defendant Peterson testified that as he approached the intersection “I saw some cars come together. I had looked ahead temporarily, I suppose either to the right or left and
In Henderson v. Braden, 35 Cal. App. (2d) 88 [94 Pac. (2d) 625], relied upon by appellants, the defendant stopped his truck at an intersection, and when proceeding onward in conformity with traffic regulations decedent’s ear was hit by the truck. A jury returned a verdict for defendant. A motion for a new trial was granted in general terms. On appeal it was presumed that the order was not based upon the ground of the insufficiency of the evidence. It was contended that the decedent was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. In the present case, plaintiff testified that when she first saw appellants’ car it was twice as far aivay from the intersection as hers; that her attention was imme
Newly discovered evidence and misconduct of counsel for appellants were also urged as grounds for a new trial. In view of the conclusion reached on the main issue, consideration of the additional grounds becomes unnecessary.
The order appealed from is affirmed.
Peters, P. J., and Knight, J., concurred.
A petition for a rehearing was denied August 1, Í941, and appellants’ petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied August 28, 1941.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CAROLINE MYTINGER v. MRS. W. B. WEIR
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- 1 case
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