Stephenson v. Wisconsin Gas & Electric Co.
Stephenson v. Wisconsin Gas & Electric Co.
Opinion of the Court
It appears from the record that the court also ordered judgment for the defendant notwithstanding the verdict. However, we find it not necessary to consider that aspect of the case.
The wife of plaintiff, who was driving the car at the time of the accident, in her testimony made no statement as to distances. It appears, however, from her testimony that it was daylight; that she saw the street car half way down the block to her right — that is, to the east, — and that she went forward thinking that she had time to cross the track; that the next time she looked she was just evén with the curb line or the front wheels were a trifle past the curb line,
It is argued very strenuously that the court erred in holding that the answer to cprestion 11 controlled the answer to question 13. The finding of the jury in response to question 11 was of a specific fact, while the finding of the jury in response to question 13 was of a general conclusion, and we are of the opinion that the trial court correctly held that the verdict was inconsistent and that under the evidence the answer to question 11 was a direct finding of contributory negligence amply sustained by the evidence.
It is contended that this case is ruled by Dahinden v. Milwaukee E. R. & L. Co. 169 Wis. 1, 171 N. W. 669. In this case it was plainly to be seen that the street car was not approaching at a lawful rate of speed, as appears from the testimony of Mrs. Eliason, and it was the duty of the driver of the automobile to observe ordinary care under the circumstances as they existed and as they were apparent to her by the use of her senses. This the jury found in response to question 11 she did not do. Such being the fact, she was guilty of contributory negligence. The court fully instructed the jury as to the rule set out in the Dahinden Case, and under that instruction the jury found contrary to the plaintiff’s contention.
This case is ruled by Vetter v. Southern Wis. R. Co. 140 Wis. 296, 122 N. W. 731.
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). In answer to question 11 the jury found that the driver of plaintiff’s automobile was able to see the approaching street car so that by the exercise of ordinary care she might have avoided the collision. In answer to question 13 it was found that no want of ordinary care on the part of the driver of plaintiff’s automobile proximately contributed to cause the collision and resulting damage to plaintiff’s automobile. The trial court held that these answers were inconsistent, and accorded controlling weight to the answer to question 11. This ruling is approved by this court on the theory that the “finding of the jury in response to question 11 was of a specific fact, while the finding of the jury in response to' question 13 was of a general conclusion.”
If there is any principle of law that is thoroughly settled by the decisions of this court it is that only issuable facts should be submitted to a jury in the form of a special verdict. Wawrzyniakowski v. Hoffman & Billings Mfg. Co. 146 Wis. 153, 131 N. W. 429; Schendel v. C. & N. W. R. Co. 147 Wis. 441, 133 N. W. 830. In thfe latter case it is said:
“-Special verdicts should be so drawn that, no matter what -responsive answer is returned to any question, a judgment in favor of one party or the other can be based upon the verdict as returned.”
Question 11 submitted no issuable fact to the jury. The issuable fact to be determined by the jury was whether any want of ordinary care on the part of the driver of plaintiff’s automobile proximately contributed to cause the collision and resulting damage. Question 11 is nothing more nor less than a cross-examination of the jury. It may tend to impeach the finding of the jury that there was no contributory negligence on the part of the driver of the plaintiff’s automobile, but it does not nullify it. The conclusion of the court can be reached only on the-theory that, because the driver of the automobile could have avoided the collision,
But in my judgment the most unfortunate feature of the opinion in this case” is the statement that “the -finding of the jury in response to question 11 was of a specific fact, while
For these reasons I am obliged to dissent.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Stephenson v. Wisconsin Gas & Electric Company
- Status
- Published