Ohio Court of Appeals, 1931

Riffle v. State Auto Mutual Ins.

Riffle v. State Auto Mutual Ins.
Ohio Court of Appeals · Decided June 29, 1931 · Being, Crow, Defendant, Dist, Evidence, Intoxication, Issue, Klinger, Preponderance, That
10 Ohio Law. Abs. 502; 1931 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 1222

Riffle v. State Auto Mutual Ins.

Opinion of the Court

JUSTICE, PJ.

In Union Trust Company v Lessovitz, et al, 122 Oh St 407, the Supreme Court held:

*503“7. Where no motion to dismiss has been filed, or if filed has been withdrawn, the Court of Appeals will hear the appealed cause, unless the appellant dismisses his appeal or elects to hear his error proceeding.”

The motion to dismiss the appeal is, therefore, overruled.

Coming now to the merits of the cause. The sole issuable fact is: Was Wilson intoxicated at the time of the collision? Defendant claims he was. Plaintiff denies it. The evidence is in dispute. To review the evidentiary facts will serve no useful purpose as all concerned are fully advised. Suffice .it to say that after a careful consideration of all the evidence touching this disputed proposition, a majority 'of the Court is persuaded that defendant upon whom rests the burden of proof has failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that Wilson was intoxicated at the time of the accident. The majority of the court, therefore, concludes that plaintiff is entitled to a finding in his favor as prayed for and that a decree should be rendered in his favor similar to that .entered in the Court of Common Pleas. .

Decree accordingly.

KLINGER, J, concurs. CROW, J, dissents, being of the opinion that the preponderance of the «evidence is with the defendant on the issue of intoxication.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.