Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1965

Weeks Ex Rel. Weeks v. Barnard

Weeks Ex Rel. Weeks v. Barnard
Supreme Court of North Carolina · Decided September 22, 1965 · Per Curiam
143 S.E.2d 809; 265 N.C. 339; 1965 N.C. LEXIS 981 (South Eastern Reporter, Second Series)

Weeks Ex Rel. Weeks v. Barnard

Opinion

PER CüRiam.

Between the ages of 7 and 14, a minor is presumed to be incapable of contributory negligence. Ennis v. Dupree, 258 N.C. 141, 128 S.E. 2d 231; Phillips v. R. R., 257 N.C. 239, 125 S.E. 2d 603. This presumption, however, may be overcome by evidence that the child did not use the care which a child of its age, capacity, discretion, knowledge, and experience would ordinarily have exercised under the same or similar circumstances. Walston v. Greene, 247 N.C. 693, 102 S.E. 2d 124; Caudle v. R. R., 202 N.C. 404, 163 S.E. 122. A child “must exercise care and prudence equal to his capacity.” Tart v. R. R., 202 N.C. 52, 55, 161 S.E. 720, 721; see also Hughes v. Thayer, 229 N.C. 773, 51 S.E. 2d 488; Annot., 107 A.L.R. 4, 40, 94. If it fails to exercise such care and the failure is one of the proximate causes of the injuries in suit, the child cannot recover. Morris v. Sprott, 207 N.C. 358, 177 S.E. 13; Tart v. R. R., supra; Foard v. Power Co., 170 N.C. 48, 86 S.E. 804, and cases therein cited.

The trial judge fully explained these and all other applicable principles of law to the jury. After carefully considering his charge as a whole we find no reasonable cause to believe that the jury was misinformed or misled by it. A new trial is not warranted.

No error.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.