Case ID: ny-2d_34/html/0648-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Jasen, J. (dissenting).", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

James B. A. Logan, Sr. et al., Plaintiffs, and James B. A. Logan, Jr. et al., Respondents, v. Frances B. Esterly, as Executrix of Andrew Esterly, Deceased, et al., Appellants, and City of New York, Appellant-Respondent.
    Argued February 11, 1974;
    decided March 28, 1974.
    
      
      Walter G. Evans and Alfred V. Norton, Jr. for Charles R. Esterly and another, appellants.
    
      William F. McNulty, Daniel J. Coughlin and Anthony J. McNulty for Gull Contracting Co., Inc. and another, appellants.
    
      Norman Redlich, Corporation Counsel (Bernard Burstein and Stanley Buchsbaum of counsel), for appellant-respondent.
    
      Seymour Stern for respondents.
   Memorandum. We find no reason to disturb the rulings appealed from insofar as they are in favor of plaintiffs against the defendants. We agree with the Appellate Division that the requests to charge the assumption of risk doctrine were deficient in that they should have included the qualification that the jury preliminarily find as a fact that the infant plaintiffs had knowledge that the defendant driver possessed only a learner’s permit, or the contingency that the driver’s lack of skill and experience was the sole cause of the accident. Of interest as to the latter, the jury found other defendants also contributed to the cause of the accident. Nor are we disposed to remand for an apportionment of liability as between defendants Gull Contracting Co., Inc.— Mac Asphalt Construction Corp. (Gull-Mac) and the City of New York. The abrogation of the “active-passive” distinction in Dole v. Dow Chem. Co. (30 N Y 2d 143) does not mean that where a defendant is only derivatively liable because of the active negligence of an agent, employee or contractor under its control full responsibility for paying the judgment cannot be assessed against the actively negligent party (see Commentary by David D. Siegel, McKinney’s Cons. Laws of N. Y., Book 7B, CPLR 3019, p. 207, 1972 supp.j. The Trial Judge, who the parties agreed should determine the city’s right to indemnity on its cross claim against Gull-Mac, found that Gull-Mac had created the hazard and that, in effect, the city’s liability was only derivative. There is thus no necessity to remand on that point. On oral argument in this court Gull-Mac contended that, in view of the Bole decision, this case should be returned for a determination as to the relative liability of the two active tort-feasors, i.e., Gull-Mac and the Esterlys, owner and driver of the errant car. We agree that this disposition would be proper (Kelly v. Long Is. Light. Co., 31 N Y 2d 25, 29). While it is not explicitly clear in the papers before us whether the stipulation authorizing Justice Gabbabino to determine the city’s cross claim against Gull-Mac would authorize him also to adjudge a newly interposed cross claim by Gull-Mac against defendants Esterly, we deem it preferable if this branch of the case were returned to him for a determination on the record already made in the trial upon the issues of liability.

Jasen, J. (dissenting).

Although I agree with the majority that a remand is required here on the issue of apportionment of liability between defendants Esterly and Gull Contracting Co., Inc. — Mac Asphalt Construction Corp. (Kelly v. Long Is. Light. Co., 31 N Y 2d 25, 29), I would reverse the interlocutory judgment and grant a new trial upon the ground that the trial court erred in refusing to charge, as requested, on the relationship and duties of the plaintiffs who were licensed drivers, and of the defendant, Charles Esterly, who was driving with a learner’s permit.

Section 501 (suhd. 4, par. b) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law in effect at the time, provided that “ [t]he holder of a learner’s permit shall not operate or drive a motor vehicle unless at all times under the immediate supervision and control of a driver at least eighteen years of age duly licensed. ” (Emphasis supplied.) Although it should be abundantly clear that public safety requires the supervision and control of learner-drivers in their operation of a motor vehicle by a licensed driver, nowhere in the charge did the court refer to this section and the respective duties and obligations placed upon a licensed driver accompanying the learner-driver. Throughout the court’s charge, the plaintiffs were referred to as ordinary passengers. At no time did the court mention that passengers, such as the plaintiffs, who accompany a driver who has a learner’s permit to operate a motor vehicle, assume the risk of such driver’s inexperience. (Spellman v. Spellman, 309 N. Y. 663.) Certainly the court should have explained to the jury the relationship between the plaintiffs, as ¡licensed drivers, and the defendant, as a learner-driver. Nor can it be said that the court inadvertently omitted instructions on this crucial issue since five specific requests to charge were made on this point and declined by the court.

Accordingly, I would reverse the order of the Appellate Division and remit the action to the Supreme Court for a new trial.

Judges Gabrielli, Jones, Wachtler and Stevens concur in memorandum; Judge Jasen dissents and votes to reverse in an opinion in which Chief Judge Breitel concurs; Judge Babin taking no part.

Judgment modified by directing a trial of the issue of apportionment of liability between defendants Esterly and Gull Contracting Co., Inc.— MacAsphalt Construction Corp., or other proceedings in accordance with the memorandum herein, and, as so modified, affirmed, with one bill of costs to plaintiffs-respondents against defendants-appellants. 
      
      . The following requests to charge were made and denied by the court:
      “Mr. Norton: Your Honor, I would respectfully request you to charge this jury that the relationship between a learner driver, and an operator, with a license, as to the obligations incumbent upon the operator with the license, his duties and obligations under the circumstances as they existed in this case.
      “ The Court: On balance, I will decline.
      
        “Mr. Norton: May I have an exception, if your Honor please.
      “ I would further request your Honor to charge the jury that a passenger riding with a driver, as in this ease, with knowledge of the driver’s experience, and acquiescing in what happened under the circumstances of this accident, cannot recover for any injury incident to the driver’s inexperience, incompetency, or recklessness.
      “ The Court: I will decline except as so charged.
      “ Mr. Norton: May I have another exception.
      “ The Court': Mr. Garavente?
      “Mr. Garavente: Your Honor, I would request your Honor to charge the jury that the holder of a learner’s permit shall not operate a motor vehicle unless at all times said motor vehicle is under the immediate supervision and control of a driver at least 18 years of age, duly licensed by the State of New York.
      “ The Court: I will decline to so charge.
      “ Mr. Garavente: The City further requests your Honor to charge that any person when instructing or accompanying another in the operation of a motor vehicle, pursuant to Section 501, shall be liable with him for any breach of this chapter, that is, the Motor Vehicle Law, or of any local ordinance, rule, or regulation.
      “ The Court: I will decline to so charge.
      “ Mr. Garavente: And the City further requests your Honor to charge that a licensed operator accompanying a person possessing a learner’s permit assumes the risk of the permittee’s inexperience or lack of skill in the operation of a ■motor vehicle.
      “ The Court: I will decline to so charge.”
     
      
      . The present law, amended in 1972 [L. 1972, ch. 780], still requires the" holder of a learner’s permit to be under the “ immediate supervision and control ota person at least eighteen years of age who holds a license valid in this state ”. (Vehicle and Traffic Law, § 501, subd. 5, par. [a], cl. [ii].)