Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1974

Nixon v. Southern Railway Co.

Nixon v. Southern Railway Co.
Supreme Court of Louisiana · Decided April 26, 1974 · Are, Barham, Calogero, Dixon, Granted, Should, Tate
293 So. 2d 182; 1974 La. LEXIS 3787 (Southern Reporter, Second Series)

Nixon v. Southern Railway Co.

Opinion of the Court

In re: Odelia Pierre, wife of/and Joseph D. Nixon, Sr. applying for certiorari, or writ of review, to the Court of Appeal, Fourth Circuit, Parish of Orleans. 290 So.2d 371.

Writ denied. On the facts found, the result is correct.

Concurring Opinion

BARHAM, J.,

concurs in the writ denial. I would reinstate the “pure” last clear chance doctrine which applies when a defendant who has been negligent discovers timely the situation of a negligent plaintiff which a reasonable man could respond to in a manner to avert the accident. Forty eight states follow this doctrine. The forty-ninth state applies the “humanitarian doctrine” to “dangerous” instrumentalities. Only Louisiana has eliminated contributory negligence in so called “last clear” chance cases.

Dissenting Opinion

TATE, J.,

The result is contrary to Louisiana jurisprudence, which correctly (in my opinion) holds that the operator of a train or motor vehicle has the duty to look ahead and is liable for inattentiveness for injuries to an inattentive pedestrian. See Jackson v. Cook, 189 La. 860, 181 So. 195 (1938) and succeeding jurisprudence.

DIXON and CALOGERO, JJ., are of the opinion the writ should be granted.

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