Whitney v. Fogg
Whitney v. Fogg
Opinion of the Court
The question here is whether there was evidence to sustain the verdict for the plaintiff. We believe there was and therefor the defendant’s exceptions are overruled.
On the testimony most favorable to the plaintiff the jury could find the following facts: The defendant was driving west at eighteen miles an hour in a heavy rain, on a busy street with which he was well acquainted, with cars double parked on his right hand side. Ahead of him in his lane an automobile was double parked. Opposite this car on the southerly side of the road a large van truck with its tail board extending out four feet in back was also parked. The automobile which was double parked started to pull out ahead of the defendant and he without stopping, although he could have done so easily, cut out across the center and into his left hand lane increasing his speed to try to squeeze through between the automobile and the truck. He got by the automobile but drove so close to the truck that he struck the right leg of the plaintiff just as the latter, who was starting to cross the road, took his first step out from behind the tail board of the truck. We believe reasonable men could find the defendant negligent on this evidence and the question was properly submitted to the jury.
The burden of proving contributory negligence was on the defendant and the plaintiff was not guilty of such as a matter of law. There was no evidence from the plaintiff himself as to what he saw or heard
No other exceptions being briefed or argued the order is
Judgment on the verdict.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.