Giroux v. United Transit Co.
Giroux v. United Transit Co.
Opinion of the Court
These actions of trespass on the case for negligence were tried together in the superior court before a justice thereof sitting with a jury and resulted in a verdict for each plaintiff. Thereafter the trial justice granted the defendant’s motion for a new trial in each case and the cases are before us solely on the exception of each plaintiff to that decision.
The plaintiffs seek to recover damages resulting from injuries sustained by Linda Giroux on September 10, 1952 when she was alighting from the rear door of a bus, owned and operated by defendant, on Exchange Place in the city of Providence. At that time Linda was about five years old. The father’s action to recover for expenses incurred because of his daughter’s injuries is dependent upon liability being found against defendant in the action by the minor.
The cases were on trial for several days and the transcript of evidence is somewhat voluminous. However, it is not necessary or desirable to discuss it at length. It is sufficient to refer to it generally.
The mother of Linda, Alice Margaret Giroux, testified that as she and Linda attempted to alight from the bus she got off first holding Linda’s right hand with her right hand; that Linda had one foot out of the bus and the other ready to step out when the door clamped on her foot; that Linda’s hand was still clasped by her when the bus started; that the child’s left foot was off the bus first, but the bus door closed on the right foot before she could reach the street; that as the bus moved forward she, the mother, screamed and the bus stopped; and that the door opened and Linda fell to the ground. She further testified that when she
On cross-examination she testified that as the bus started she screamed and the bus stopped; that the driver opened the door, Linda’s right leg was freed, and she fell to the ground; and that when she first struck the ground the bus was stopped. It was the mother’s impression that Linda received her injuries while she was in back of the rear wheel when the bus driver backed up.
Sally Ann Jackson, a witness called by the plaintiffs, testified that she was a passenger on the bus and was seated near the rear door on the first side seat near the stair well; that Linda and her mother were the last to get off at that particular stop; that Linda was behind her mother; that when they passed her the mother did not have the child by the hand; that they went down the steps and the bus operator closed the door; that she looked away because everything seemed all right; that she then heard people on the sidewalk hollering “back up”; and that when the bus driver opened the door she got out and observed the child in front of the back wheel. She further testified that the child was not in the bus when the door closed; that she could see it was all clear inside the door; that, as far as she could see, Linda had gotten through the door and the bus had started up when the persons on the sidewalk “hollered”; and that when the driver opened the door she got out and saw the child in the position stated above.
Laurie E. Wescott, the operator of the bus, testified that he stopped his vehicle about three or four inches from the curb. His version is in part as follows: “Well, I stopped the bus. The first thing, I pulled the emergency brake up. I opened the rear door and I opened the front door. While the passengers were getting off, I stood up and turned the destination sign. After turning the sign I sat down in the
From the above statement of facts it clearly appears that the testimony was conflicting. Having in mind the allegations in the single count of the declaration, there is a conflict not only between the witnesses for plaintiffs and defendant but also between the several witnesses offered by plaintiffs. In his rescript granting defendant’s motion for a new trial the trial justice stated that in the exercise of his independent judgment, after weighing the testimony and
The plaintiff’s exception in each case to the granting of defendant’s motion for a new trial is overruled, and each case is remitted to the superior court for a new trial on all issues.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Armand Giroux v. United Transit Company Linda Giroux, p.a. v. Same
- Status
- Published