Duff v. Caputo

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Duff v. Caputo, 433 Pa. 7 (Pa. 1968)
248 A.2d 210; 1968 Pa. LEXIS 479
Bell, Brien, Cohen, Eagen, Jones, Musmanno, Roberts

Duff v. Caputo

Dissenting Opinion

Dissenting Opinion by

Mr. Justice Eagen :

The lower court entered judgment for the defendants notwithstanding the jury’s verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The court felt that the evidence established that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. In my view, this disposition was erroneous.

It is fundamental that contributory negligence exists as a matter of law only where there is no reasonable basis for holding otherwise under the facts of the case. Cushey v. Plunkard, 413 Pa. 116, 196 A. 2d 295 (1964). I am not convinced that under all of the circumstances disclosed by the evidence in the instant case that there is no room for “fair and reasonable disagreement” as to the plaintiff’s negligence.

I dissent, and would reverse the judgment of the lower court and would enter judgment on the verdict returned by the jury.

Mr. Justice O’Brien and Mr. Justice Roberts join in this dissent.

Opinion of the Court

Opinion

Per Curiam,

Judgment affirmed by an equally divided court.

Mr. Justice Musmanno did not participate in the decision of this case.

Reference

Status
Published