Keso v. United States
Keso v. United States
Opinion of the Court
The above is an action brought against the defendant under statutory permission contained in Section 1346(b) of Title 28 U.S.C.
After a careful consideration of the pleadings, the testimony of all the witnesses and the argument, the court is prepared to dispose of the motions: (a) by the defendant at the close of the plaintiff’s case to dismiss the complaint for failure to prove by a fair preponderance of the evidence, the cause of action alleged, or any cause of action (b) the motion of the plaintiff for a direction of a verdict which would encompass the damages sustained by the plaintiff and compensate him for pain and suffering allegedly caused by the negligence of defendant’s agent. This action arose out of the following circumstances:
On July 24, 1953 at approximately 6:30 in the afternoon of that day, plaintiff, Gerhardt S. Keso, 54 years of age, 5'5" tall, weighing 152 lbs., a real estate broker, was operating a 1949 Nash Statesman which he had purchased new in January 1949 and which, by his own statement and bill of particulars, was valued at $900 after the accident. It was a light, bright day, the atmosphere was clear and the traffic was light. Both plaintiff and defendant testified that there was no approaching traffic in a northerly direction on Main Street as each of them was progressing in a southerly direction on the same street between North Division and South Division Streets, all of said streets being public highways in the City of Buffalo.
At the intersection, there is a traffic control light which was red as the plaintiff, who was ahead of the defendant, arrived at the intersection of South Division Street. The defendant was Richard W. Mauler, who had been in the Postal Service since July 27, 1947
Each of them testified to an intention to make a left turn into South Division Street, which was permissible under the city ordinances at that intersection.
The plaintiff said that after he came to a full stop, he put his left arm out the window signalling the mail truck behind, and as an indication that he was about to turn left. His rear view mirror and rear window were clear and it was his testimony that the truck of the Postal Service struck plaintiff’s Nash car in the rear at a half turn, while each was proceeding to complete said turn. He then testified that he, the plaintiff, stepped on the brakes and clutched the wheel and came to a stop on South Division Street east of Main, along side a large office building, known as Ellicott Square.
As to this point, the mail truekdriver testified positively, and without rebuttal, that, after the parties started to turn east into South Division Street, the plaintiff came to a sudden, unsignalled and unexpected stop. That defendant’s driver and plaintiff immediately left their vehicles at or about the imaginary middle line at Main Street and South Division Street and exchanged information, at which time, the driver saw no damage to plaintiff’s automobile other than a slight dent in the fender “not larger than the size of a nickel”. The driver further testified that after the exchange of names, addresses and license numbers, each car proceeded a short distance into, and parked on the north side of South Division Street. Thereafter, defendant’s driver again talked with plaintiff and asked if anyone was hurt and was given a positive “no” to such query.'
It was stipulated that if a garageman-were sworn, he would testify to repairs-of $81.20 to plaintiff’s ear. It was particularly reserved in said stipulation that there was no admission of liability on the part of the defendant. The- plaintiff claimed that by the sudden application of brakes and tight holding of the steering wheel, followed almost immediately by the sudden pushing of his car, he developed a pain in the right side of the body and in the lower back right side. He testified that he was home for ten days and suffered pain during that period; that he called Dr. Grant T. Fisher, his family physician, within a' few days following the alleged- accident. Plaintiff testified he is still having backaches and, while he does and can follow his regular occupation and has from a period of three weeks after the accident to date, he can’t skate or swim and, whereas he used to walk over a mile and do gardening, he can do neither any more. He testified that the backache does not prevent him from sleeping, but he cannot sit for a long time without getting up and that the pains are more frequent during certain weather changes. He also testified that he cannot climb steps without danger to himself.
On cross examination, he admitted that he was confined to his home only from July 24th to July 27th, 1953 and that his first treatment by Dr. Fisher was on July 31st, 1953 at Dr. Fisher’s office. He and Dr. Fisher both testified to light ray treatments and therapeutic electric treatments. Dr. Fisher testified to his qualifications and the court has no doubt as to them. Succinctly, Dr. Fisher testified that plaintiff had a pain in the right sacroiliac, an inflamed condition of the back which he described as traumatic myositis, that the patient complained on flexing the back and when he walked.. He put plaintiff on the table
The plaintiff testified that after he had signalled the left turn by extending his left arm before the light turned green, he travelled half of the intersection of the east line of Main Street, which he expressed in his opinion was the distance of between 16 to 18 feet. His automobile was equipped with manual gear and he does not recall what gear he was in at the time of the impact. He stated his speed might have been 15 miles a hour, maybe only 10. He really could not say. He further stated that his car travelled one car length, which he estimated to be 16 to 18 feet after the impact, and that when it stopped, he had reached the right, or south side of South Division Street. He failed to recall' whether he had any conversation with the mail truckdriver and, when questioned about the garage bill which indicated damage entirely to the right side of his car, said he was drawing on his recollection and believed it to be the left bumper guard, concluding that it was so long ago, he doesn’t have the car any more, that he was not sure. Important to this decision, the plaintiff testified that he was separated from his wife, and that day had his wife and child in the 1949 Nash with him.
The foregoing is detail but, in the opinion of this court, needs to be stated in case of review. This court, having seen and heard the witnesses, believes plaintiff failed to prove a cause of action. Upon the above decision, proper findings of fact and conclusions of law may be prepared and presented by the defendant, as well as a judgment of no cause of action.
A patient listening to the witnesses: and a review of the pleadings and mo-, tions lead me to the inevitable conclusion, that even if the defendant was guilty of any negligence, the plaintiff was guilty of such contributory negligence as to defeat his right of action.
. Driving under mental tension; and failure to call either wife or daughter as witness.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gerhardt S. KESO v. United States
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published