DeMott v. Knowlton
DeMott v. Knowlton
Opinion of the Court
This suit was instituted to recover compensation for personal injuries received by Mrs. DeMott The case made by the plaintiffs ivas, that while Mrs. DeMott was walking along the sidewalk on Washington avenue, in the borough of Tenafly, she was run down and injured by an automobile owned by the defendant Walter E. Knowlton and driven by
The first ground of reversal urged before us is that the trial court should have directed a nonsuit or ordered a verdict in favor of the defendant Walter E. Knowlton, because' of the fact that there was'no evidence that his wife was at the time of the accident acting as 'the agent and servant of her husband. We think this contention is unsound. There was proof that the car was purchased by him for the purpose of being used by the family for recreation and pleasure, for the enjoyment of Mrs. Knowlton and for the taking of the children out to give them sunshine and air. At the time of the accident Mrs. Knowlton had taken the car out, with the children in it, and had paid a visit to a friend, and was returning home when the accident occurred. These facts bring the ease within the doctrine laid down in Missell v. Hayes, 86 N. J. L. 348, and makes the question of agency one for the determination of the jury.
The next ground of reversal is that a verdict should have been directed in favor of the defendants because of the entire absence of proof of negligence on the part of Mrs. Knowlton, which was the producing cause of the accident. ' But this contention is based upon a misapprehension of fact. Mrs. Knowlton on her cross-examination was asked about a conversation which she had had with Mr. DeMott relating'to this accident, and this question was put to her: “Q. Do you remember telling him that it was all your fault?” "A. Surely, I think it was all my fault.” “Q. I see.” “A. How could I think it was Mrs. DeMott’s fault. Surely, it was all my fault. I took the blame entirely on myself.” With this admission in the case, it would have been clear error for the trial court to have directed a verdict in favor of the defendants upon the ground suggested.
Another ground of reversal is directed at the refusal to charge the following request: “Mrs. Knowlton was only
It is further urged that the trial court erred in refusing to charge certain other requests submitted by the defendants bearing upon the question of the negligence of Mrs. Knowlton. Most of those requests were charged in effect. Those that were not so charged .were properly refused.
Other reasons for reversal are specified in the grounds of appeal, Lnt are merely formally argned. They are manifestly without merit and do not justify discussion by us.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.