Case ID: nc_240/html/0470-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "JoiiNsoN, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

J. R. MIDKIFF, Administrator of the Estate of JESSE MIDKIFF, Deceased, v. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STOCK CAR AUTO RACING, INC., COMPETITOR LIAISON BUREAU OF NASCAR, INC., J & W, INC., WILLIAM (BILL) FRANCE and JAMES CHESNUTT.
    (Filed 4 June, 1954.)
    1. Pleadings § 15—
    The allegations of the complaint must be liberally construed upon demurrer.
    2. Gaines and Exhibitions § 4—
    Allegations to the effect that plaintiff’s intestate was a competitor in a stock car automobile race, that the racetrack was under the control of the defendants, who, acting in concert, were conducting the race, and that they started the race with the track in an unsafe condition as a result of one or more “dead” cars being left thereon after the trial runs immediately before the race, without the knowledge of the competitors, but with defendants being chargeable with notice thereof, and that intestate was fatally injured when his car collided with a “dead” car upon the track, is held sufficient to state a cause of action against defendants on the theory of concurrent negligence.
    3. Negligence §§ 10%, 16—
    Ordinarily, assumption of risk is a matter of defense which must be set up by answer rather than by demurrer.
    4. Death § 6—
    In an action for wrongful death, allegations that plaintiff is the duly qualified and acting administrator of the estate of the deceased is sufficient without allegation that plaintiff brings the action in his representative capacity.
    Appeal by defendants (except J & W, Inc.) from Patton,, Special Judge, at January Civil Term, 1954, of AlamaNce.
    
      Civil action by plaintiff to recover damages for tbe wrongful death of bis intestate, Jesse Midkiff, due to the alleged negligence of the defendants.
    The defendants (except J & W, Inc.) demurred (1) for failure of the complaint to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action and (2) for defect of parties. G.S. 1-127 (4) and (6).
    The trial court overruled the demurrer, and from the judgment based on such ruling the demurring defendants appealed.
    
      Tho.s. C. Carter and Long & Ross for plaintiff, appellee.
    
    
      Long, Ridge, Harris & Walker for defendants, appellants.
    
   JoiiNsoN, J.

The complaint alleges in substance these ultimate facts: (1) that the intestate, as one of the competitors in a stock car automobile race held on a track near Raleigh, North Carolina, 19 September, 1953, collided with a dead car upon the track a few seconds after the beginning of the race and was killed in the collision; (2) that the individual defendants, as officers, agents, and servants of the corporate defendants, were supervising and directing the race which was being promoted jointly by the corporate defendants; and (3) that the intestate’s death was proximately caused by the joint and concurrent negligence of the defendants in that they, “acting in concert,” started the race when they knew, or in the exercise of due care should have known, the track was in an unsafe condition as a result of one or more dead cars being left thereon following the test runs made immediately before the race, the dead cars being out of sight of the competitors starting the race who were without knowledge, or means of knowledge, that the track was in such unsafe condition.

These allegations, when liberally construed in favor of the plaintiff, as is the rule on demurrer, are sufficient to state a cause of action against the defendants on the theory of concurrent negligence. Bumgardner v. Fence Co., 236 N.C. 698, 74 S.E. 2d 32; Bumgardner v. Allison, 238 N.C. 621, 78 S.E. 2d 752; Blalock v. Hart, 239 N.C. 475, 80 S.E. 2d 373. See also Glazener v. Transit Lines, 196 N.C. 504, 146 S.E. 134, and 38 Am. Jur., Negligence, Sec. 63.

The decisions cited and relied on by the defendants are distinguishable. In the case of Shives v. Sample, 238 N.C. 724, 79 S.E. 2d 193, it was alleged merely that the plaintilf truck driver, employee of the defendants, was injured in delivering a truck-load of crushed stone or gravel, on a stock pile when the stock pile which was hollow underneath caved in. In that case there was no allegation in respect to how, when, or under what circumstances the stock pile came to be hollow underneath, nor was there allegation that the stock pile was under the control of the defendants, nor that the plaintiff did not have the same knowledge, or means of knowledge, of tbe danger as did tbe defendants. Here, it is alleged tbat tbe race track was under tbe control of tbe defendants, who^ acting in concert, were conducting tbe race, and tbat they started tbe race witb tbe track in an unsafe condition as a result of one or more dead cars being left tbereon after tbe trial runs immediately before tbe race, without tbe knowledge of tbe competitors, but witb defendants being chargeable witb notice thereof. These allegations clearly distinguish tbe instant case from Shives v. Sample, supra.

Tbe question whether tbe defendants are entitled to have tbe plaintiff’s allegations of negligence made more definite and certain under tbe procedure authorized by G.S. 1-153 is not presented by this record.

Also, it would seem tbat tbe defendants’ argument based on the doctrine of assumption of risk is premature and untenable. Ordinarily, assumption of risk is a matter of defense which must be set up by answer rather than by demurrer. Dorsett v. Clement-Ross Mfg. Co., 131 N.C. 254, 42 S.E. 612; Hubbard v. Southern R. Co., 203 N.C. 675, 166 S.E. 802. See also 65 C.J.S., Negligence, Sections 192 and 197 (b).

Tbe defendants’ contention tbat tbe complaint is demurrable for failure of tbe plaintiff administrator to allege specifically tbat be brings this action in bis representative capacity seems to be without merit. It is alleged tbat plaintiff “is tbe duly qualified and acting Adminstrator of tbe estate of Jesse Midkiff, deceased, having been duly appointed by tbe Clerk of the Superior Court of Alamance County, North Carolina.” These allegations suffice to overcome tbe defendants’ demurrer directed to tbe question of “defect of parties plaintiff.”

Tbe judgment below is

Affirmed.