Case ID: mich_347/html/0344-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Boyles, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

CLOWE v. PATON.
    1. Appeal and- Error — Automobiles—Intersection—Contributory Negligence — Evidence.
    The testimony must be viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiffs on defendant motorist’s appeal based on his elaim that plaintiff driver was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law in action arising out of a collision at an intersection of 2 country roads.
    References for Points in Headnotes
    
       3 Am Jur, Appeal and Error § 937 et seq.
    
    
       5A Am Jur, Automobiles § 1006 et seq.
    
    
      2. Automobiles — Intersections—Great Weight op Evidence— Stopping — Observation.
    Verdicts for southbound motorist and her husband in their actions against westbound motorist for injuries sustained in collision at intersection of country roads held, not contrary to the great weight of the evidence, where there was testimony that plaintiff driver had stopped completely 10 or 12 feet from the intersection, looked to the east before proceeding and was in second gear when hit broadside by defendant.
    Appeal from Ingham; Coash (Louis E.), J.
    Submitted June 8, 1956.
    (Docket No. 49, Calendar No. 46,800.)
    Decided December 28, 1956.
    Case by Mary Clowe against Margaret Patón for damages for personal injuries resulting from automobile collision. Similar action by Warren Clowe for property damage and medical expense. Cases consolidated for trial and appeal. Verdicts and judgments for plaintiffs. Defendant appeals.
    Affirmed.
    
      Farhat & Burns (James E. Burns, of counsel), for plaintiffs.
    
      Jennings, Fraser, Parsons é Trebilcoclc, for defendant.
   Boyles, J.

This is an appeal.by the defendant from judgments entered for the plaintiffs on verdicts after jury trial arising from an automobile collision. Plaintiff Mary Clowe had verdict and judgment for $3,000, and her husband Warren for $459.35.

Plaintiff Mary Clowe was driving her husband Warren’s automobile south on Boichot road in Clinton county and a collision occurred in the center of its intersection with Stoll road, with an automobile driven west on Stoll road by defendant Margaret Patón. Both were narrow, gravel, country roads, neither having priority. The' collision occurred about 3 'o’clock in the afternoon of a clear day in June and the road surfaces were dry. '

The defendant claims for reversal that the plaintiff driver was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law, and that the verdicts for the plaintiffs were contrary to the great weight of the evidence. Under the circumstances, the testimony must be taken in the light most favorably to the plaintiffs. ; ;

The testimony of the parties was conflicting. ’Its credibility was for the jury. Plaintiffs’ automobile was first into the 'intersection and was struck broadside on its left' by defendant’s automobile coming from the east. Theré'was conflicting testimony 's to how far the defendant driver could see north on Boichot from Stoll road; whether the plaintiff driver stopped completely 10 or' 12 feet from the intersection and proceeded into the intersection in second gear as she testified; she also testified that she looked east (Stoll road) before proceeding. As to any conflict in testimony, the jury obviously believéd the plaintiff driver, and gave credibility to the plaintiffs’ proofs. ' Viewed here on the appeal in the light most favorable to the plaintiffs, we do not find from the record that the plaintiff driver was guilty of contributory negligence as. a matter of law. Nor does it. appear that ’ the verdicts of the jury were contrary to the great weight of the evidence.

Affirmed.

Sharpe, Smith, Edwards, Kelly, Carr, -and Black, JJ.,'concurred with Boyles, J.

Dethmers, C. J., concurred in the result.