Case ID: ad2d_49/html/1013-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Gene A. Young et al., Appellants, v Clarence A. Hackett, Respondent.
   Judgment unanimously affirmed, without costs. Memorandum: The jury’s verdict is supported by the credible evidence in the record that plaintiff husband failed to bring his vehicle to a full stop at the stop sign controlling traffic entering Niagara Falls Boulevard but instead drove his vehicle into the path of the oncoming defendant’s car when defendant was three or four car lengths, or less, away from the intersection. While it was error for the court to deny counsel’s requested charge that the negligence of plaintiff husband may not be imputed to his passenger wife riding in the back seat and exercising no control over the operation of the vehicle (Iwanicki v Muszynski, 33 AD2d 654; Bartholomew v Zinni, 25 AD2d 480), the error was harmless (McLean v Triboro Coach Corp., 302 NY 49; Bell v Wick Motor Sales, 29 AD2d 628; Griswold v Newman, 259 App Div 1111). The form of the jury’s verdict makes it clear that the case was not decided on the basis of contributory negligence but rather the failure to prove that the defendant was negligent. (Appeal from judgment of Erie Trial Term in automobile negligence action.) Present,—Marsh, P. J., Moule, Cardamone, Simons and Del Vecchio, JJ.