Boeing v. Gottstein Furniture Co.
Boeing v. Gottstein Furniture Co.
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff, Boeing, seeks recovery of damages which he claims to have suffered, on account of injuries to his person and to his limou
For present purposes, we may regard Westlake avenue as running north and south. The paved portion of the roadway of the avenue, along which all of the vehicle traffic proceeds, is twenty feet wide. On the west side of the avenue opposite the place of the collision is a gasoline station. At the time in question, the pavement was wet and somewhat slippery. Appellant’s driver was proceeding north on the east side of the roadway, driving its furniture truck, approaching the gasoline station with the intention of turning to the left into the station. At the same time, respondent’s driver was proceeding south on the west side of the roadway, driving his automobile, approaching the gasoline station, respondent sitting in the rear seat. The theory of the collision and the blame therefor,
The theory of the collision and the blame therefor, as maintained by counsel for appellant, is that the truck was not turned other than slightly towards the west, or with any intention on the part of its driver to pass in front of and into the oil station before the passing of respondent’s car; that appellant’s .driver had given due warning of his intention to turn in that direction, but had practically come to a stop; that, at the moment of the collision, there was ample room for respondent’s car to pass between appellant’s truck and the west curb of the driveway; and that respondent’s driver, without cause, apparently became confused and turned to his left—that is, to the east—directly in front of appellant’s truck, and came in collision with it when the whole of it was upon the east side of the driveway with ample room to pass upon the west side. The contentions made in behalf of appellant are that its driver was entirely free from negligence and that respondent’s driver was guilty of contributory negligence.
There is nothing involved in this controversy for our consideration other than questions of fact. The oral testimony is in sharp conflict touching the proximate cause of the collision. Looking to that testimony alone, we would not feel warranted in disturbing the conclusion reached by the trial court; and when we look to the photographs of the two machines, taken immediately after the collision, showing plainly the manner in which each was injured, we are much inclined to the conclusion of the trial court, placing the blame for the accident upon appellant’s driver and exonerating respondent’s driver from the charge of
The judgment is affirmed.
Fullerton, Bridges, and Holcomb, JJ., concur.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting)—The record, as I read it, establishes the negligence of the respondent and I therefore dissent.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- W. E. Boeing v. Gottstein Furniture Company
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- Published
- Syllabus
- Appeal (415)—Review—Findings. The findings of the trial court, in an action for damages, that the collision between an automobile and motor truck was due to the negligence of the driver of the latter, made on conflicting evidence,, will not be disturbed on appeal where the evidence as a whole preponderates in support of the findings.