McCarty v. Lincoln Traction Co.
McCarty v. Lincoln Traction Co.
Opinion of the Court
Tbe only question presented for our consideration is tbe sufficiency of tbe evidence to support tbe verdict. Tbe action was to recover damages for a personal injury sustained by tbe plaintiff alleged to have been inflicted through tbe negligence of tbe defendant’s employees. The injury occurred while tbe plaintiff was in tbe act of alighting from one of tbe defendant’s street cars upon which be' was a passenger. Tbe evidence shows that tbe plaintiff and another passenger, Hawkins, who was plaintiff’s traveling companion, were at tbe time of tbe accident engaged in a business mission, and desired to alight from tbe car near tbe courthouse in Lincoln. Hawkins gave tbe signal to stop, and at tbe usual stopping place immediately east of tbe courthouse tbe car either stopped or nearly "so.. Plaintiff and Hawkins arose from their seats, and, while standing, asked for and received transfers from tbe conductor. Hawkins received bis transfer and alighted from tbe car. Plaintiff then received bis transfer, walked to tbe east side of tbe car, stepped upon the foot board or platform, then fell upon tbe pavement, receiving tbe in
The place of accident was about one-third of a mile from the O street junction, where the plaintiff and Hawkins would each be required to board the car to which he had received a transfer- Defendant contends that the fact that the plaintiff had asked for. and received a transfer ticket amounted to a notice to defendant that the plaintiff did not intend to alight from the car until he reached the junction point. The testimony of the defendant’s conductor is to the effect that, after issuing the transfer, he saw all of plaintiff’s movements up to and including the injury; that he had no knowledge that the plaintiff and Hawkins were traveling companions, nor that the plaintiff had occasion to stop at the courthouse- The facts that the defendant’s conductor saw the plaintiff walk to the exit side of the car immediately after receiving the transfer, and the plaintiff’s conduct in arising and following Hawkins, it seems would challenge the conductor’s attention to the plaintiff’s probable intention to alight. On the other hand, there is some merit in the defendant’s argument that the facts regarding the issuance of the transfer ticket would justify the conductor in believing that the plaintiff did not intend to leave the car until the junction point was reached. Such, however, defendant cannot contend was always the rule, for the conductor had just a moment previous issued a similar transfer to Hawkins, who immediately left the car. After a careful considera
Defendant, however, contends that the evidence clearly shows contributory negligence on the part of the plaintiff. As to this point, it clearly appears that, if the plaintiff’s testimony is true (and this was a question for the jury to determine), he was not guilty of contributory negligence as alleged by defendant.
For these reasons and in view of the conflicting testimony as to the manner in which the injury occurred, we recommend' that the judgment of the district court be affirmed.
By the Court: For the reasons statéd in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the district court is
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gilalmous McCarty v. Lincoln Traction Company
- Status
- Published