Bliss v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co.
Bliss v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The appellant contends (1) that the plaintiff’s evidence did not disclose a cause of action and (2) that the
The defendant offered to prove that the same cause of action had been set up in the Court of Common Pleas, No. 1, of Philadelphia, where a compulsory nonsuit was granted at the close of the plaintiff’s testimony; this for the purpose of showing that the subject was res adjudicata. An extended argument is presented by the appellants in support of the proposition that a compulsory nonsuit has the legal effect of a judgment on a demurrer to evidence and that the plaintiff is, therefore, precluded from prosecuting a second action on the same state of facts. We are unable to accept the view of the proposition entertained by the learned counsel for the appellant. The doctrine declared in Bournonville v. Goodall, 10 Pa. 133, and reaffirmed in Fitzpatrick v. Riley, 163 Pa. 65, has not been disturbed by later adjudications. It is held by the Supreme Court of the United States in Manhattan Life Insurance Co. v. Broughton, 109 U. S. 121; Gardner v. Michigan Central R. R. Co., 150 U. S. 349, and with general uniformity so far as our examination has extended in the various states where the question has been raised with the exception of the state of New Hampshire where Ordway v. Boston and Maine R. R., 69 N. H. 429, announces the contrary doctrine. While it is true that a compulsory nonsuit after the presentation of the plaintiff’s case has the effect of a judgment for the defendant on a demurrer to the evidence to the extent that it puts the plaintiff out of court,
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
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- Bliss v. Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
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- Negligence — Street railways — Passenger—Jolt of car — Evidence —Case for jury. In an action by a passenger against a street railway company to recover damages for personal injuries, tbe case is for tbe jury and a verdict and judgment for plaintiff will be sustained, where tbe evidence establishes tbe fact that tbe accident was caused by a jolt due to tbe abrupt stopping of the car, and sufficiently described by the use of general terms in tbe evidence, as to tbe effect on tbe passengers. Practice, C. P. — Res judicata — Compulsory nonsuit — Effect of. While it is true that a compulsory nonsuit after tbe presentation of tbe plaintiff’s case has tbe effect of a judgment for tbe defendant on a demurrer to tbe evidence, to the extent that it puts tbe plaintiff out of court, its legal effect is entirely different. No judgment is entered on tbe merits of tbe case. It is not contended that tbe court in such procedure could enter judgment for tbe defendant or against tbe plaintiff. No appeal is allowed, under tbe statute, from tbe action of tbe court in granting such nonsuit. The right of appeal arises when tbe court refuses to take off tbe nonsuit, and it is tbe judgment of tbe court, on the latter question which the plaintiff may have reviewed. If tbe defendant desires to test tbe sufficiency of tbe plaintiff’s case on tbe merits, be should demur to the evidence and thereby raise an issue, on which tbe judgment of tbe court could be taken but, if be seeks to avoid tbe risk of sucb ,a course and only asks for a nonsuit, be is not left in a situation to object to a second action on tbe same cause.