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e s ki ns a nd hi s w

i f e The l m

a J e a n D

e s ki ns , a ppe a l a j udgm

e nt of t he C

i r c ui t C

our t f or Se vi e r C ount y, e nt e r e d pur s ua nt t o a j ur y ve r di c t , w hi c h di s m

i s s e d t he i r c l a i m a ga i ns t Be ul a h M

. W i l l i a m s f or pe r s ona l i nj ur i e s s uf f e r e d by M r . D e s ki ns a nd l os s of c ons or t i um a nd s e r vi c e s by M r s . D e s ki ns , r e s ul t i ng f r om a n a ut om

obi l e a c c i de nt oc c ur r i ng on J une 3, 1989. M r .2

D e s ki ns a l s o a ppe a l s a j udgm e nt i n f a vor of t he or i gi na l D e f e n d a nt a n dC

o u nt e r - Pl a i ntif f , Be u l a hM . W illia m s . The j ur y f ound M

r . D e s ki ns t o be 100 pe r c e nt a t f a ul t i n t he a c c i de nt a nd t ha t M s . W i l l i a m s ha d s uf f e r e d da m a ge s i n t he a m ount of $20, 000 a s a r e s ul t of t he i nj ur i e s s he r e c e i ve d.

The D e s ki ns e s a ppe a l r a i s i ng t he f ol l ow i ng i s s ue s :

I . W H ETH ER TH E TR I A L CO U R T ER R ED I N I TSR U LI N G S R ELA TI V E TO TH E FO R TY - FI V E ( 4 5 ) M

PH SPEED SI G N BEI N G PR O PER LY ER EC TED A FTER TH E A PPELLA N TSR A I SED TH E QUESTI ON OFTHEAUTHENTI C I TY AND NON- COM

PLI ANC EOF T. C. A §55- 8- 152, ETSEQ . II. W HETHER THETR

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LUDI NG THE TESTI M O N Y O FTH E STA TE TR O O PER SR ELA TI V E TO TH E SPEED O FA PPELLA N TS ' V EH I C LE. III. W H ETH ER TH ER E I SN O M A TER I A L EV I D EN C E TO SU PPO R T THEVER

DI C TI N THATTHEPHYSI C ALFAC TSC AN NOT BE R ECO N C I LED W I TH TH E D I R EC T TESTI M

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Y. APPELLEESHOULD HAVE BEEN GUI LTY OFNEGLI GENC EASA M A TTER O FLA W . V. W H ETH ER TH ER E W A SM A TER I A L EV I D EN C E TO SU PPO R T TH E EXOR BI TANTJ UDGM

ENTR ENDER ED BY THEJ UR

Y, I N FAVOR

OF APPELLEE, I N THEAM OUNTOFTW

ENTY THOUSAND ( $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) DOLLAR S . The a c c i de nt gi vi ng r i s e t o t hi s a ppe a l oc c ur r e d, a s a l r e a dy not e d, on J une 3, 1989, a bout 9: 00 a . m . The s un w

a s3

s hi ni ng, t he r oa d w a s dr y, a nd t he w e a t he r pl a ye d no f a c t or i n its c a u s a tio n .

M s . W illia m s w a s dr i vi n ga v e hi c l e ina n or t he r l y di r e c t i on on J one s C ove R oa d, a l s o know

n a s St a t e R

out e 339. J one s C

ove R oa d i nt e r s e c t s i n a Ti nt e r s e c t i on w i t h O l d N e w por t H i ghw a y, a l s o know

n a s ol d U

. S . R out e 411, a t t he s c e ne of t hi s a c c i de nt . M

r . D e s ki ns , dr i vi ng a 1987 M e r c e de s a ut om

obi l e , w

a s pr oc e e di ng i n a n e a s t e r l y di r e c t i on on O l d N e w por t H i ghw a y a nd, a f t e r c r e s t i ng a hi l l s om e 100 ya r ds f r om

t he i nt e r s e c t i on, w a s una bl e t o s t op be f or e t he f r ont of hi s ve hi c l e c ol l i de d w i t h t he l e f t f r ont of M

s . W i l l i a m s ' ve hi c l e , w

hi c h w a s pr oc e e di ng nor t h on J one s C

ove R oa d a nd ha d pul l e d i nt o t he i nt e r s e c t i on i nt e ndi ng t o t ur n l e f t , or w e s t , on O

l d N e w por t H i ghw a y.

M r . D e s ki ns ' s ve hi c l e l e f t s ki d m a r ks of 130 f e e t pr i or t os t r i ki n gM

s . W illia m s ' v e hi c l e . A c c or di ng t o M

s . W i l l i a m s , s he s t oppe d a t t he s t op s i gn f a c i ng he r on J one s C ove R oa d, dr ove up t o a w hi t e l i ne s om

e f e w f e e t nor t h of t he s t op s i gn, s t oppe d a ga i n, t he n pr oc e e de d i nt o t he i nt e r s e c t i on a f t e r l ooki ng bot h w a ys a nd obs e r vi ng no t r a f f i c . Sh e t e s t i f i e dt h a t af t e r t h e i m p act h e r v e hi c l e w a s knoc ke d ba c kw

a r d a nd, upon t r a ve l i ng i n ha l f

- c i r c l e c our s e , u ltim a t e l yc a m

e tor e s t a g a i n s t the o ut s i de w a ll o f H

o w a r d ' s G r oc e r y, w

hi c h w a s l oc a t e d i n t he s out hw e s t qua dr a nt of t he i nt e r s e c t i on. ( Se e A ppe ndi x. )4 A di s i nt e r e s t e dw

itne s s te s tif i e dth a t M s . W illia m s , upon obs e r vi ng M

r . D e s ki ns be a r i ng dow n upon he r , s t oppe d, put t h e v e hi c l e i nr e v e r s e , an d , af t e r i m p act , b acke di t ag a i n s t t h e H ow a r d G r oc e r y St or e Bui l di ng.

The pr oof w

a s a l s o i n s ha r p di s put e a s t o w he t he r t he c a r w a s indr i v e a t the tim e it hit the b u ildi n g , a s M s . W illia m s t e s tif i e d , o r w

a s inr e v e r s e , a s te s tif i e db ythe di s i nt e r e s t e d w i t n e s s , w

h oal s ot e s t i f i e dt h a t af t e r t h e acci de nt h e p l acedt h e ge a r i n pa r k a nd r e m ove d t he ke ys . A l t hough m

uc h of t he t e s t i m ony, a s a bove not e d, i s i n di s put e , t he e vi de nc e i s a l m os t una ni m

ous t ha t a t t he t i m e M s . W illia m s s t a r t e dp u llingint othe int e r s e c tio n , M r . D e s ki n s ve hi c l e w

a s not i n s i ght . A pr opos of t he f i r s t i s s ue , t he D e s ki ns e s c ont e nd t he Tr i a l C

our t w a s i n e r r or i n c ha r gi ng t he j ur y t ha t t he a r e a i n que s t i on w

a s s ubj e c t t o a 45- m i l e s pe e d l i m

i t a nd t ha t i f M

r . D e s ki ns w

a s t r a ve l i ng i n e xc e s s of 45 m i l e s pe r hour he w a s gui l t y of ne gl i ge nc e pe r s e . The y ba s e t he i r c ont e nt i on on t he pr oof de ve l ope d i n t he i r m ot i on i n lim

i n e w hi c h s how

e d t ha t i n s o f a r as t h e r ecor d s w e r e av a i l a b l e n oact i o nw a s t a ke nb yt h e pr ope r c ount y or s t a t e of f i c i a l s t o r e duc e t he ge ne r a l s t a t e - w i de s p e e dlim

it w hi c h , a t the tim

e o f the a c c i de nt, w a s 5 5 m

ile s p e r hour .5 Bo t hp a r t i e s ci t e t h e case of Thom a s v. H

a r pe r , 5 3 Te nn. A pp. 549, 564, 385 S . W . 2d 130, 138 ( 1964) , w hi c h, a s p e r tine nt tothi s a pp e a l s t a t e dthe f o llo w i n g :

T. C. A . § 59- 853 [ now

55- 8- 153] , a m

ong ot he r t hi ngs a ut hor i z e s t he l e gi s l a t i ve a ut hor i t y of t ow ns a nd c itie s topr e s c r i b e s p e e dlim its w ithi nc e r t a i na r e a s or z one s or on de s i gna t e d hi ghw a ys , a ve nue s , s t r e e t s i n t he i r r e s p e c tiv e jur i s di c tio n s , a n dtoe r e c t a ppr opr i a t e s i gns a nd t r a f f i c s i gna l s . W he r e t he pr oof i s t he r e w

a s a s pe e d s i gn, a nd no que s t i on m a de w i t h r e s pe c t t o i t s r e gul a r i t y, t he pr e s um pt i on of r e gul a r i t y a nd c om pl i a nc e w

i t h l a w

w hi c h a ppe r t a i ns unt i l t he c ont r a r y i s s how n w oul d m a ke t he f a c t of i t s pr e s e n ce adm

i s s i b l e .

A l a t e r c a s e , a ut hor e d by J udge Fr a nks , J ohns on v. Ca l f e e , a n unr e por t e d opi ni on of t hi s C our t , f i l e d i n K

noxvi l l e on A pr i l 21, 1988, a l s o i nvol ve d a T- i nt e r s e c t i on a nd t he a ppl i c a bi l i t y of a s pe e d z one s i gn. The pr oof i n t ha t c a s e s h o w e dt h a t a s i g nw

a s er ect e ds o m

e m i l e or m

i l e anda h a l f f r o m t he s c e ne of t he a c c i de nt , but t he H i ghw a y Pa t r ol m

a n w ho i nv e s tig a t e dthe a c c i de nt c o u l dn o t te s tif yth a t it w a s v a lidl y pos t e d or w

he t he r i t a ppl i e d t o t he s e c t i on of t he r oa d w he r e t he a c c i de nt oc c ur r e d. A ddi t i ona l l y, t he r e w a s t e s t i m

ony f r om

t he Br a dl e y C

ount y C

l e r k, w

ho ha d he l d t hi s pos i t i on f or 25 ye a r s , t h a t h e s ear c he dt h e m i nut e s o f t h e l e g i s l a t i v e en act m e nt s o f Br a dl e y C

ount y a nd f ound no l e gi s l a t i ve e na c t m e nt a ut hor i z i ng t he r e duc t i on of t he s pe e d l i m i t .6 U n de r t h e s e ci r c um s t a nces w

e he l dt h e Tr i a l C o ur t h a d not s uf f i c i e nt l y c ha r ge d t he j ur y r e ga r di ng t he di s put e d que s t i on of s pe e d l i m

i t , a nd i n doi ng s o s t a t e d t he f ol l ow i ng:

W he r e t he vi ol a t i on of t he s t a t ut or y r ul e s of t he r oa d i s a t i s s ue a nd t he r e i s e vi de nc e f r om w hi c h t he j ur y c oul d f i nd a vi ol a t i on of one or m or e s t a t ut or y r ul e s t he s ubm

i s s i on of e a c h of t he s t a nda r ds s houl d be m a de w i t ha cl ear an dco n c i s e exp l a n a t i o n . M or e o v e r , it is w

e ll- s e ttle dth a t a p a r t yis e ntitle dtoh a v e hi s t he or y of t he c a s e a nd t he a ppl i c a bl e l a w s ubm i t t e d t o t he j ur y. M

c C l a r dv . R

e i d , 190 Te nn. 337, 229 S . W . 2d 505 ( 1950) . W h e r e t h e r e i s evi de nce o f a p o s t e ds p eedl i m i t a nd no que s t i on i s m a de a s t o i t s r e gul a r i t y or va l i di t y t he r e i s a pr e s um pt i on t ha t t he pos t e d s pe e d i s inc o m

p l i a n c e w

i t hthe la w

. Thom a s v. H

a r pe r , 5 5 Te nn. A pp. 594, 385 S . W

. 2d 130 ( 1964) . H ow e ve r , i f t he pos t e d s pe e d s i gn w a s pl a c e d w

i t hout s t a t ut or y a ut h or ity , th e f a ilur e o f a m o t or i s t toh e e dits r e s t r i c t i ons c oul d be ne gl i ge nc e but he s houl d not be pe na l i z e d w

i t h t he c ons e que nc e s of t he r ul e of ne gl i ge nc e pe r s e of vi ol a t i ng a s t a t ut e , s e e W oodf i n, e t a l . v. I ns e l , e t a l . , 13 Te nn. A pp. 493 ( 1931) , s i nc e a s t a t ut or ilye s t a b lis h e ds p e e dlim it pr e v a ils o v e r s pe e d s i gns e r e c t e d w i t hout s t a t ut or y a ut hor i t y. H or ne v. Pa l m

e r , 38 Te nn. A

pp. 354, 274 S . W

. 2d 372 ( 1954) . Th e s p eedo f p l a i nt i f f ' s v e hi c l e as i t r e l a t e dt o t he la w

f u l s p e e dlim

it w a s c r u c i a l tothe de t e r m i n a tio n b ythe tr i e r o f f a c t a s tow h e t he r p l a i ntif f w a s ne gl i ge nt . A

c c or di ngl y, t he t r i a l c our t s houl d ha ve i ns t r uc t e d t he j ur y on t he s t a t ut e s pe r t a i ni ng t o e s t a b lis hi n gs p e e dlim its a n dthe p l a i ntif f ' s dutie s t he r e unde r , l e a vi ng t o t he j ur y t he de t e r m i na t i on of t h e l a w

f u l s p eedw

h e r e t h e acci de nt o ccur r e das de t e r m i ne d f r om

t he l a w

a s gi ve n by t he c our t a nd t he e vi de nc e of f e r e d by t he pa r t i e s . I n t he c a s e a t ba r t he onl y pr oof a s t o of f i c i a l a c t i on t a ke n t o r e duc e t he s pe e d l i m i t w a s t ha t of s t a t e a nd c ount y o f f i c i a l s w

h os a yt h a t , i n s o f a r as t h e i r r ecor d s ar e av a i l a b l e , no f or m

a l a c t i on ha d be e n t a ke n t o r e duc e t he s pe e d l i m i t a s t o7

t hi s a r e a . H

ow e ve r , t he pr oof i s undi s put e d t ha t a 45- m i l e s pe e d z one s i gn ha d be e n i n pl a c e s i nc e a t l e a s t 1974, a nd ha d be e n m a i nt a i ne da n dr e p l a c e df r o m ti m e toti m

e b ys t a t e o f f i c i a l s . G i ve n t hi s pr oof a nd t he f ur t he r f a c t t ha t t he s pe e d l i m i t s i gn w a s a " s t a nda r d" one , w e c onc l ude t ha t t he pr e s um pt i on m

a nda t e d i n Thom

a s ha s not be e n ove r c om e a nd t ha t t he Tr i a l J udge w a s not i n e r r or i n hi s c ha r ge t o t he j ur y.

W i t h r e ga r d t o t he s e c ond i s s ue , onl y t hr e e w i t ne s s e s t e s tif i e da s tothe s p e e do f M r . D e s ki n s ' v e hi c l e inm ile s p e r hour , a l t hough M

s . W i l l i a m s ' m ot he r , w

ho w a s s i t t i ng on t he pa s s e nge r s i de of t he f r ont s e a t , di d s t a t e t ha t w he n t he D

e s ki ns c ar cam

e ov er t h e hi l l i t "l o o ke dl i ke i t w as a i r b or n e . " Tw oo f t h e t hr ee w

i t n e s s e s w

h o s e t e s t i m

o nyar e as s a i l e dar e St a t e Tr oope r s w

ho t e s t i f i e d t ha t upon c onduc t i ng w ha t i s know

n a s a dr a g t e s t t he ne xt da y a f t e r t he a c c i de nt , t he y c onc l ude d t he s pe e d of M

r . D e s ki ns ' ve hi c l e e xc e e de d 45 m i l e s pe r hour . The de vi c e t ha t w

a s us e d t o c onduc t t he t e s t i s a por t i on of a c a r t i r e ( a ppr oxi m

a t e l y one - f our t h) , w hi c h w a s a t t a c he d t o a s e t of s c a l e s a nd pul l e d a l ong t he pa ve m e nt a t t he s c e ne of t he acci de nt . Byt h e u s e o f t hi s de vi ce t h e yw e r e ab l e t ocal c ul a t e t he c oe f f e c i e nt of f r i c t i on be t w e e n t he r oa d a nd t he t i r e . U pon c or r e l a t i ng t he c oe f f e c i e nt of f r i c t i on, t he l e ngt h of t he s ki d m a r ks a nd a f or m

ul a de vi s e d by t he Tr a f f i c I ns t i t ut e of N or t hw e s t e r n U

ni ve r s i t y, t he y w e r e a bl e t o a r r i ve a t t he s pe e d of t h e v e hi c l e .8 O n e o f the obj e c tio n s tothe i r te s tim o nyis th a t the y w e r e not s uf f i c i e nt l y t r a i ne d t o c onduc t s uc h a t e s t . I n t hi s r e ga r d, one of t he t r oope r s ha d a 10- w e e k ba s i c t r a i ni ng c our s e , c ons i s t i ng of t w

o w e e ks of a c c i de nt i nve s t i ga t i on s c hool . A ddi t i ona l l y, he ha d a t t e nde d a t w o- w e e k s c hool on a dva nc e d a c c i de nt i nve s t i ga t i on. H e ha d i nve s t i ga t e d ove r 100 a ut om obi l e a c c i de nt s a nd ha d be e n t r a i ne d i n t he us e of t he dr a g t e s t t o de t e r m i n e s p eed . The ot he r t r oope r ha d be e n a m e m be r of t he H

i ghw a y Pa t r ol f or 18 a nd one

- ha l f ye a r s . H e ha d a t t e nde d t he N or t hw e s t e r n I ns t i t ut e U ni ve r s i t y of N

or t h Fl or i da . H

e ha d a ba s i c t r a i ni ng f or t hr e e w e e ks a nd a dva nc e d t r a i ni ng f or a n a ddi t i ona l t hr e e w e e ks a nd, s t i l l f ur t he r , r e c ons t r uc t i on s t udi e s f or a n a ddi t i ona l t w o w e e ks . H

e ha d i nve s t i ga t e d ove r 200 a c c i de nt s a nd ha d be e n t r a i ne d i n t he us e of t he dr a g t e s t .

Th e t hi r dw

i t n e s s w

a s a s e ni or v e hi c l e acci de nt r e c ons t r uc t i oni s t . A l t hough he di d not c onduc t t he t e s t s , he us e d t he r e s ul t s t he r e of t o f or m a n opi ni on a s t o t he s pe e d of t he D e s ki ns ve hi c l e . G i ve n t he w

i de di s c r e t i on a c c or de d a t r i a l j udge i n a dm i t t i n gor r ej e c t i n ge xp e r t t e s t i m o ny , O t i s v. Ca m

br i dge M

ut ua l Fi r e In s . C

o . , 850 S . W

. 2d 439 ( Te nn. 1992) ; Buc ha na n v. H a r r i s , 902 S . W

. 2d 941 ( Te nn. A

pp. 1995) , w

e c onc l ude he di d not a bus e hi s9

di s c r e tio nina dm ittingte s tim

o nyo f the thr e e e xp e r t s a s s a ile d by i s s ue t w

o.

I n r e a c hi ng our de c i s i on w e a r e not unm

i ndf ul t ha t t he t e s t em

p l o y e dw

a s t h e l eas t accur a t e o f t h o s e t h a t m i g ht b e u s e d ( a ve hi c l e of t he s a m e m ode l or a r ubbe r t i r e d s l e d) , or t ha t i n t he i r initia l te s tim o nythe w

itne s s e s w

e r e n o t de du c tin gthe 1 0

- f oot w he e l ba s e of M

r . D e s ki ns ' ve hi c l e f r om t he l e ngt h of s ki d m a r k s . H

o w e v e r , al l t hr ee w i t n e s s e s w

e r e s ubj ect t or i g or o u s c r os s - e xa m

i na t i on w

hi c h poi nt e d out t o t he j ur y t he de f i c i e nc i e s of t he i r t e s t i m

ony a nd t he t e s t e m pl oye d. Fi na l l y, w e obs e r ve t ha t t he D

e s ki ns ve hi c l e onl y s t oppe d a f t e r c r a s hi ng i nt o t he W i l l i a m s ve hi c l e , a nd undoubt e dl y t he s ki d m a r ks w oul d ha ve be e n l onge r ha d t he c ol l i s i on not oc c ur r e d.

A s t o i s s ue s t hr e e a nd f our , w e f i nd t he r e i s s ub s t a ntia l m

a t e r i a l e v i de n c e th a t M s . W illia m s s t opp e da t the s t op s i gn, pr oc e e de d f ur t he r , s t oppe d a ga i n, a nd t ha t t he D e s ki ns ' ve hi c l e w a s not i n s i ght w he n s he e nt e r e d t he i nt e r s e c tio n . W

h e t he r h e r a c tio n s ina tte m p tin gtoe xt r i c a t e he r s e l f f r om

a n e m e r ge nc y s i t ua t i on c ons t i t ut e d ne gl i ge nc e w a s a n i s s ue f or t he j ur y, w hi c h r e s ol ve d t he que s t i on i n he r f a vor . A s t o t he f i na l i s s ue , t he pr oof s how s t ha t M

s . W i l l i a m s i nc ur r e d m

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a s c r yi ng a nd he t ol d m e , don' t w or r y a bout i t , i t w oul d be a l l r i ght .11 Q. W a s t h e r e any t hi n gel s e t h a t w a s s a i d ? A. No . Q. A nd w e r e you bot h s om

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s . W illia m s , b a s i c a llya f t e r th a t di d you ge t oka y? A. Ye s . Q. A r e you be a r i ng a ny r e pe r c us s i ons t oda y f r om t h e acci de nt at al l ? A. No .12 Q. W i t hi n a pe r i od of j us t da ys or w e e ks a f t e r t h e acci de nt h a dy o ur eco v e r e df r o m t h e acci de nt ? A. Ye s . Q. A f t e r t ha t s e c ond t i m e w he n you w

e nt ba c k t o t he hos pi t a l t o c he c k a bout be i ng bl a c k a r ound your e ye s a nd a l l , a nd t he y' r e t a ki ng t hos e x- r a ys , di d you ha ve t o s e e k a ny ot he r m e di c a l a t t e nt i on? A. No . U nde r T. C. A

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- ha l f a ga i ns t M s . W illia m s .13 _______________________________ H ous t on M

. G odda r d, P. J . CONC UR:

________________________________ C h a r l e s D

. Su s a n o , J r ., J .

________________________________ W i l l i a m H . I nm a n , Sr . J .