Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/318/318mass231.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 01:56:20+00:00

Document:
RUTH S. PASSLER vs. VALERIA R. MOWBRAY (and three companion cases [Note 1]).
Present: FIELD, C.J., DOLAN, RONAN, WILKINS, & SPALDING, JJ.
The mere fact that, in circumstances not of unusual hazard, an operator of an automobile momentarily turned his head to reprimand a child in the rear seat, whereupon the automobile crossed the road and crashed into a pole, would not have warranted a finding of gross negligence on his part.
FOUR ACTIONS OF TORT. Writs in the Municipal Court of the City of Boston dated January 10, 1941.
On removal to the Superior Court, the cases were tried before Cabot, J.
G. J. Ganer, (E. E. Mackiernan with him,) for the plaintiffs.
S. P. Sears, (J. W. Lobdell with him,) for the defendant.
Superior Court counsel for the plaintiffs made an opening to the jury. The defendant moved for directed verdicts upon the opening. After counsel for the plaintiffs had stated, in reply to a question by the judge, that he had made a complete opening and "had nothing to add," the judge granted the defendant's motion and accordingly directed a verdict for the defendant in each case. The plaintiffs excepted.
It was proper for the judge to direct verdicts for the defendant if, assuming the facts stated in the opening to be true, these facts would not warrant verdicts for the plaintiffs respectively. Mulvaney v. Worcester, 293 Mass. 32, 33. Cahalane v. Dennery, 298 Mass. 34, 36.
fact that the defendant turned her head to reprimand a child or children, without more, falls short of warranting a finding that she was guilty of gross negligence, that is, that there was on her part "an utter disregard of the dictates of prudence amounting to complete neglect of the safety of the guest, which would constitute gross negligence." Manning v. Simpson, 261 Mass. 494, 496.
These cases fall in the class of cases illustrated by Beaton v. Dawson, 303 Mass. 429 (see also Curley v. Mahan, 288 Mass. 369, 374; Adamian v. Messerlian, 292 Mass. 275, 276-277; Folan v. Price, 293 Mass. 76, 78-79), rather than in the class of cases illustrated by Rog v. Eltis, 269 Mass. 466, 467-468, Kirby v. Keating, 271 Mass. 390, 392-393, Picarello v. Rodakis, 299 Mass. 33, 34-35, and McGaffigan v. Kennedy, 302 Mass. 12, 15, relied on by the plaintiffs.
In recognition of, and in thankfulness for, the victory in the war in Europe, and in appreciation of the services and sacrifices of those who brought it to pass, we will stand for a moment, and then go forward with the work of the court as a symbol that more remains to be done.
[Note 1] The companion cases are by Ruth Ann Passler, Mary Elizabeth Passler, and Harry B. Passler against the same defendant.

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