Case Name: APALACHICOLA NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Laws of the State of Florida, Appellant, v. Doris TYUS, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1959-06-02
Citations: 114 So. 2d 33
Docket Number: No. A-303
Parties: APALACHICOLA NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Laws of the State of Florida, Appellant, v. Doris TYUS, Appellee.
Judges: THORNAL, Associate Judge, concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 114
Pages: 33–39

Head Matter:
APALACHICOLA NORTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Laws of the State of Florida, Appellant, v. Doris TYUS, Appellee.
No. A-303.
District Court of Appeal of Florida. First District.
June 2, 1959.
Rehearing Denied Aug. 3, 1959.
Hall, Hartwell & Douglass, Tallahassee, for appellant.
Clyde W. Atkinson, Tallahassee, for ap-pellee.

Opinion:
STURGIS, Chief Judge.
This is an appeal from a railroad crossing accident case in which the jury returned a verdict of $53,230 in favor of the widow of the driver of a truck which collided with one of the defendant company's trains. The defendant, appellant here, contends : (1) That the evidence showed that the negligence of the plaintiff's decedent was the sole proximate cause of the accident; (2) that plaintiff's attorney was guilty of making improper and prejudicial remarks during closing argument which denied to defendant a fair and impartial trial.
The evidence shows that the plaintiff's decedent was driving an eight-ton cabin type truck and trailer loaded with fourteen tons of bricks in an easterly direction on a highway near a small unincorporated community about 8:00 o'clock on a clear winter morning. Decedent was familiar with the crossing, having passed over it frequently as part of his job route. On the morning of the unfortunate accident he approached the crossing at a speed of between 35 to 50 miles an hour. Although there were signs indicating a crossing posted at 400 feet and 200 feet from the crossing, there is no evidence that plaintiff's decedent slowed up, accelerated his speed or applied his brakes as he approached the tracks.
The engineer's testimony, which was corroborated by the fireman, brakeman, flagman, and conductor, was to the effect that the train was proceeding from the north in a southerly direction on a slight downgrade at between 15 and 20 miles an hour, that the whistle was blown at the customary distance of about 600 feet from the crossing and the bell was rung at the same time. The engineer testified that he caught a glimpse of the truck which the decedent was driving between some trees and a house located alongside the track when the train was about 100 feet from the crossing, and that in "just a matter of a couple of seconds, it popped up" in front of him, whereupon he turned the whistle cord loose, shut off the throttle, and braced himself behind the control stand but not before it was too late to avoid the collision.
Since this is an accident involving a railroad company, F.S. Section 768.-05, F.S.A. applies. Under the statute the plaintiff need only introduce evidence showing injury or death caused by the defendant, whereupon a presumption of negligence on the part of the company arises. However, this rebuttal presumption disappears in the face of evidence showing that the railroad's agents exercised all ordinary and reasonable care and diligence and it then becomes plaintiff's burden to establish that the railroad company was guilty of negligence in failing to observe some duty it owed the public or person injured. Powell v. Gary, 146 Fla. 334, 200 So. 854; Seaboard Air Line Ry. Co. v. Myrick, 91 Fla. 918, 109 So. 193. In attempting to forestall proof that defendant's agents exercised the proper degree of care, plaintiff produced evidence in opening to the effect that the engineer did not blow his whistle, that he was running the train too fast for the environment, and as to the latter, that the plaintiff's line of vision was obscured by a tree, house, and undergrowth in the defendant's right of way. As to whether a proper warning was given, all of the defendant's and most of the plaintiff's witnesses testified that the whistle was blown at least a few seconds before the accident. The witnesses who attempted to establish that the whistle was not blown testified merely that they "didn't hear it blow." Our supreme court has consistently held that negative testimony will not make an issue in the face of positive testimony that the signals were given. Powell v. Gary, 146 Fla. 334, 336, 200 So. 854.
The evidence is uncontradicted that the speed of the train was between 15 and 20 miles an hour. Although it is not argued that this was excessive per se, appellee contends that the train was operated too fast for a downhill load of 3,000 tons of' pulpwood, basing this on a statement of the engineer that he drove past the crossing "not expecting to stop." As the train was proceeding at a lawful rate of speed, that fact does not constitute actionable negligence. F.S. Section 320.47, F.S.A. imposes the duty on the engineer to blow the train's whistle when approaching a crossing in an unincorporated community. It is well established that a train has the right of way and is not required to be retarded until it becomes apparent that one approaching the track is not going to stop. McAllister v. Tucker, Fla., 88 So. 2d 526. The evidence is clear that the engineer met this duty by applying his brakes the moment he saw the truck was not going to stop.
Appellee contends that the proofs are susceptible of the conclusion that the railroad was negligent in failing to exercise due care in view .of the condition of the crossing. The railroad right of way extended some 60 feet on either side of the railroad track. A house and some trees were located about 30 feet from the right of way in an area over which the defendant had no control. The testimony regarding the height of the underbrush along the railroad right of way ranged in estimation from 2 to 5 feet. There is uncontra-dicted testimony that the right of way had been cleared by the defendant some 10 or 12 days before the accident. Assuming the underbrush had grown up or was not properly cleared, the testimony is that the height of the engine and cars of the train was approximately 15 feet, and while there is no direct testimony as to the height of the truck's cabin except that it was of standard size, the clear inference — assuming the underbrush had the testified maximum height of 5 feet — is that there was a difference of several feet between the level of the truck operator's eyes and the top of the train. This evidence, coupled with the fact that the decedent was sitting in the cabin of a high trailer-truck, necessarily precluded a finding that the train was obscured by the underbrush. Upon careful analysis of these factors we are compelled to the conclusion that the jury could not under the evidence find that the driver's view was obstructed by the underbrush as he approached the crossing. Conversely, it is apparent that the only conclusion available from the evidence is that he had an unobstructed view in the direction of the oncoming train and that he could and would have seen it had he exercised the caution required of him in approaching the crossing. The railroad has a right to assume that one crossing its tracks will at least look to see if there is an approaching train and that he' will not plunge into its pathway. Atlantic Coast Line Ry. Co. v. Timmons, 160 Fla. 754, 36 So.2d 430. It is held that it is as much the driver's duty to ascertain if a train is approaching as it is the duty of the railroad company to give warning of an approaching train. Powell v. Gary, 146 Fla. 334, 200 So. 854; Coving- ton v. Seaboard Air Line Ry. Co., 99 Fla. 1102, 128 So. 426.
But assuming, per argumenti, that plaintiff's view was obstructed, the Florida Supreme Court holds that when one attempts to drive an automobile over a railroad crossing 'with which he is familiar and his view of the railroad track is so obstructed that an approaching train cannot be seen, and he fails to stop and look and listen or take such precautions for his safety as are reasonably required by the existing conditions and circumstances, those circumstances and acts constitute such negligence as will preclude recovery for his death unless some appreciable negligence of the railroad company's agents proximately contributed to his death, in which case the comparative negligence statute would apply. Florida East Coast Ry. Co. v. Townsend, 104 Fla. 362, 140 So. 196, 143 So. 445. We have carefully reviewed the record but fail to find proof of any "appreciable negligence" on the part of the defendant company.
It is with reluctance that an appellate court reverses a jury verdict. But the verdict must have a rational predicate in the evidence and cannot rest on mere probability, guess, or arbitrary action. Golden v. Morris, Fla., 55 So.2d 714. The facts show that the operators of the train were exercising every precaution imposed on them by law, while decedent exercised no precaution whatever for his safety. Decedent knew he was approaching the railroad crossing; it was broad daylight; he was confronted with warning signs; and he, had traveled the road frequently. Yet it is clear that he failed to observe the most elementary duty imposed on him for his safety, to look and listen and, if need be, stop in order to avoid the accident. When the negative, speculative and inconclusive evidence is disregarded it is clear that this unfortunate mishap was the sole result of the decedent's own negligence. For that reason a directed verdict should have been entered for the defendant at the close of all the evidence.
In view of our conclusions it is unnecessary to labor at length the second ground of appeal relating to prejudicial remarks of counsel made during closing argument. We feel obliged, however, in the interest of a full review to observe that many statements made by plaintiff's counsel during summation were improper, highly prejudicial, and altogether unwarranted. Among these was his reference to the defendant as a corporation which has snuffed out another life in the pursuit of the almighty dollar, that defendant was investigating the case before decedent's body was cold, that it had no respect for life, and that a human being was unimportant, dead or alive, unless he contributed something to the fortune and future of the railroad. These remarks are but a few of those of a prejudicial nature shown by the record. Although a great leeway is permitted in the arguments, counsel may not indulge in abuse or resort to a patently inflammatory appeal to prejudice. Standing alone, the stated remarks constitute grounds for reversal, notwithstanding the effort of the trial court to remove their effect by instructing the jury to disregard them. Seaboard Air Line Ry. Co. v. Strickland, Fla., 88 So.2d 519; Tampa Transit Lines, Inc. v. Corbin, Fla., 62 So. 2d 10; 53 Am.Jur. 501-03.
For the reasons stated, the judgment appealed from is reversed and the cause remanded with directions to enter judgment for the defendant.
THORNAL, Associate Judge, concurs.
CARROLL, DONALD K., J., concurring specially.