Francisco v. Coca Cola Bottling Co. of New York, Inc.
Francisco v. Coca Cola Bottling Co. of New York, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiffs in this case sought to recover compensation from the defendants because of an accident occurring July 5th, 1930, about nine-fifty A. M., at the intersection of Neptune Highway and Asbury avenue in Neptune township.
The questions put to the jury, which were disputed questions of fact, were: (1) whether or not the defendants were guilty of negligence, and (2) if guilty of negligence whether the plaintiff G. Gordon Francisco was guilty of contributory negligence.
The plaintiff Eose A. Francisco was awarded $15,000 and of this the plaintiff does not complain. The jury found a verdict of no cause for action as to G. Gordon Francisco, and a verdict of $250 for the son, A. Vincent Francisco. Plaintiffs, G. Gordon Francisco and A. Vincent Francisco have a rule and it is contended that new trials should be had because the verdict of no cause for action against G. Gordon Francisco was against the weight of the evidence and because the damages awarded to A. Vincent Francisco, the son, were inadequate.
Taking up, first, the case of G. Gordon Francisco the jury could believe from the conflicting testimony that G. Gordon Francisco, who was driving the car in question, was going south on Neptune Highway and was about fifty to eighty feet from the traffic light when it was red. As he neared the intersection he changed gears, halted his car and really came to a stop. The light had then turned green and he
The defendant’s driver said he was traveling north on Neptune Highway in a three and a half or four-ton Coca Cola truck and that for a distance of one to two blocks from As-bury avenue the road is straight; that he was driving about fifteen to eighteen miles an hour near the right-hand curb;
From this conflicting testimony I am inclined to believe that it was peculiarly a question of fact for the jury. I am not relying on the testimony of defendant’s driver alone, but if the testimony of Mr. O’Brien, a relative who was interested in the case, is true or partly true, the plaintiff was making the turn at a speed of eighteen miles an hour, which is a fast rate of speed in which to make a left-hand turn and would be a violation of the Traffic act, which, while not standing •alone as evidence of negligence, nevertheless can be considered by the jury in determining whether or not there was negligence under all of the circumstances of the case.
Then, too, if what the real estate agent said relative to the place where the accident happened is true, it could very well be and the jury would have a perfect right to believe that the accident happened out near the center of the highway at the time plaintiff made a sudden left-hand turn, and the truck by swinging right and coming in contact with plaintiff’s car, could do nothing but push it some distance.
I might say that I have gone over the testimony carefully on two different occasions and it seems to me the testimony is in conflict to such an extent that it was for the jury to say whether or not the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence.
In the case of Stefanacci et al. v. Bordens Farm Products Co., 125 Atl. Rep. 129; 100 N. J. L. 160, it appears that the ^plaintiffs were driving north on the easterly side of River
“Evidence that defendant’s truck, while proceeding on-street in an opposite direction from plaintiffs, turned rapidly and without, warning, colliding with plaintiff’s automobile, striking it on the left side and injuring its occupants, was sufficient evidence of negligence to justify denial of nonsuit.”' Stefanacci et al. v. Bordens Farm Products Co., supra.
“Where the existence of negligence depends upon the conclusion to be reached from a variety of circumstances, considered in their relation to and their reaction upon each other, the jury, and not the court, is normally the tribunal to draw such conclusion.” Sutton v. Bell, 77 Atl. Rep. 42; 79 N. J. L. 507. See, also, Hann v. Salem & Pennsgrove Traction Co., 109 Atl. Rep. 509; 94 N. J. L. 162.
In the case of Maurer v. Simon, 133 Atl. Rep. 79, the court said: “The suit arises out of a collision between two automobiles in the city of Passaic. Each party claimed that the other was in fault,, and both parties claimed damages. The plaintiff was driving his car northerly on Main street, and undertook to turn to his left into Oak street. The defendant going south on Main street struck the plaintiff’s car as it was-turning and forced it up against a telegraph pole on the south side of Oak street. Plaintiff sued for damages. At the trial the plaintiff was nonsuited for failing to prove the amount of his damages. This nonsuit was probably erroneous, because of the well-settled rule that mere failure to> prove substantial damages is not a ground of nonsuit, the-claimant being entitled, at least, to a nominal verdict.” The
I have read the cases cited by the plaintiffs. The case of Wingert v. Cohill, 110 Atl. Rep. 857, was not exactly in point because of the fact that the defendant in this case turned into an intersecting road and the plaintiff, who was in the rear of defendant’s ear, struck a culvert in his attempt to avoid the first driver. It was claimed that the defendant had not put out her hand as notice to the car following that she intended to make the turn.
In the case of Estabrook v. Main, 147 Atl. Rep. 822, the court held that it was clearly a jury question and that the verdict as rendered was justified.
In the case of Wilson v. Kuhn, 130 Atl. Rep. 468, there was evidence that defendant’s automobile was going fifty miles an hour and it was held that that speed alone warranted to finding of a verdict. There is no evidence of excessive speed in the Francisco case.
Assuming that the view had by Mr. Gilbert in his office, two hundred feet away from the scene of the accident, that defendant’s truck was traveling thirty miles an hour, that would not be an excessive speed in the open country. There was nothing to show that that speed continued. On the contrary, there was testimony on the part of defendants, uncontradicted, as to the speed just prior to the accident.
The case of Elgin Dairy Co. v. Shepherd, 108 N. E. Rep. 234, cited by plaintiff, would be more helpful to the defendant than to the plaintiff because it there holds:
“Where a motorcycle rider, on entering an intersection of streets, saw a motor truck approaching on the right side of the street and there was nothing to suggest a change in the course of the truck, the rider need not anticipate any change in its course, but could act on the assumption that the truck driver would continue on the right side of the street, as required by municipal ordinance.”
That is just what the defendant contended in the case at
In the case of Day et al. v. Beyer, 139 Atl. Rep. 317, it appeared that plaintiff was proceeding on his motorcycle west on South Orange avenue in South Orange, and the defendant proceeding east with his automobile on the same street. As they neared Wyoming avenue, which intersects but does not cross South Orange ayenue, defendant attempted to turn north to his left into Wyoming avenue in face of the motorcycle, passing from behind another car preceding him for the purpose. Plaintiff then attempted to turn to his own right to avoid the collision. The court said:
“Whether motorist in making left-hand turn at street intersection, resulting in collision with motorcyclist approaching from opposite direction, used proper care and sought opportune time, held for jury.
“Motorist intending to make left-hand turn at street intersection and cross line of traffic was obliged to use great care and seek an opportune time.” Day et al. v. Beyer, 139 Atl. Rep. 317.
In the case of Rogoza v. Mahoney, 136 Atl. Rep. 196, it was held:
“Weight of evidence is determinable, not alone by number of witnesses testifying, but by credence the jury, in view of all circumstances, attributes to their testimony.”
I realize that plaintiffs’ injuries were very serious but I am bound to determine this matter from the testimony as presented by the various witnesses in the case, and I cannot reach the conclusion that the verdict is so against the weight of the evidence as to permit a new trial.
In recent months we have had juries who would listen carefully to the evidence and the charge of the court and have
The rule to show cause as to G. Gordon Francisco will be discharged.
Concerning the case of A. Vincent Francisco, I can readily understand why the verdict was rendered for $250. Counsel for plaintiffs paid very little attention, in so far as the evidence appears, to the boy’s injuries. There is a statement in the brief of plaintiffs in behalf of the boy that the only testimony concerning his injuries is to be found on page 178 of the transcript of testimony. As a matter of fact, testimony will be found on pages 62 and 63 as well. On page 62 we find that Dr. Albright testified that the boy had a fracture of the oleeronon process of the ulna. On page 63 the doctor further testified that on the right side there is a little tip of bone uniting the bone in the forearm which was broken off. The boy was in the hospital five days, his arm was placed in a splint and he was allowed to go home. This piece of bone was in the elbow. On page 178 we find that on November 14th, which was about four months after the accident, the doctor said: “On that day I considered the child recovered. He had a condition in his right elbow, a possible sprain, fracture we call it, might have been, and a laceration of that elbow that left a small scar. He had another one on the left side of his scalp that left a small scar and he had some body bruises that were minor in character.” There was nothing to be seen on November 14th, 1930, except the scar on the elbow. Whether there was a fracture of this tip or a possible sprain, it is difficult to say because the doctor used the words above mentioned as if it might have been a sprain but that the medical men called it a fracture. In any event, there is no testimony to show when he was cured. As a matter of fact, he was only at the hospital for five days and the arm was put in splints. There was no cast put on the arm and
On examination of a number of eases cited by plaintiffs’ counsel relative to verdicts received for fracture of the arm, I find they are not in point because the injuries in the cases I looked at are not only serious fractures, but include other injuries.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.