Case Name: In re BOYER'S ESTATE. CLAIM OF DePAGTER
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1937-11-10
Citations: 281 Mich. 618
Docket Number: Docket No. 1, Calendar No. 39,323
Parties: In re BOYER’S ESTATE. CLAIM OF DePAGTER.
Judges: North, Wiest, Butzel, Bushnell, Sharpe, Pot-tee, and Chandler, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 281
Pages: 618–620

Head Matter:
In re BOYER’S ESTATE. CLAIM OF DePAGTER.
1. Witnesses — Matters Equally Within Knowledge of Deceased —Knowledge of Position on Highway.
In aetion by passenger for hire against estate of deceased driver whose car collided with that of another motorist going in opposite direction, exclusion of evidence by plaintiff: as to which, side of highway ho was when injured because equally within knowledge of deceased held, reversible error since drivers do not always know or realize their precise position on the highway, especially at night (3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 14219).
2. Same — Evidence—Matters Equally Within Knowledge of Deceased — Not to be Inferred — Question for Jury — Instructions.
That the fact sought to be shown was equally within the knowledge of deceased cannot be inferred but must affirmatively appear .from testimony or circumstances, or the evidence should be received and submitted to the jury with instructions to disregard it if found to have been equally within the knowledge of deceased (3 Comp. Laws 1929, §14219).
3. Same — Evidence—'Matters Equally Within Knowledge of Deceased — Automobiles—Location on Road.
In trial of personal injury case by passenger for hire against estate of driver who died the next day, where claim of negli-. genee was that driver was on wrong side of road when car collided with a ear going in opposite direction, the driver of such other ear had testified defendant’s car was on wrong side and three witnesses had testified plaintiff had told them decedent was not to blame and had done all he could to turn out of road, exclusion of testimony by plaintiff as to position of defendant’s car because equally within knowledge of deceased held, reversible error (3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 14219).
Appeal from Wayne; Toms (Robert M.), J.
Submitted September 29, 1937.
(Docket No. 1, Calendar No. 39,323.)
Decided November 10, 1937.
In tbe matter of tbe estate of Charles Henry Boyer, deceased. Leonard DePagter presented his claim for personal injuries sustained in an automobile accident. From report of commissioners on claims, plaintiff appealed to circuit court. Verdict and judgment for defendant. Plaintiff appeals.
Reversed with new trial.
Leonard H. Muller and Marry J. Lippman (Leslie D. Bloom, of counsel), for plaintiff.
Stewart A. Bicard, for defendant.

Opinion:
Fijad, C. J.
About 3 o'clock a. m. of July 22,1934, on a curve, a car, driven by Frank Gardner, 15 years old, collided with a car, owned and driven by Dr. C. H. Boyer and in which plaintiff was riding as a passenger for hire. Boyer died the next day.
Plaintiff and Gardner each filed claim for $50,000 damages against Boyer's estate. The claim of negligence is that Boyer was driving on the left, or wrong, side of the road and caused the collision. Defendant had verdict of a jury and judgment.
Plaintiff was asked the question: "What side of ITS-112 were you when injured?" On objection the court excluded an answer as a matter equally within the knowledge of the deceased.
The exclusion was error. Drivers do not always know or realize their precise position on the highway, especially at night. There was no evidence that Boyer had knowledge of his position with reference to the center of the road at the time of the collision. The test is stated in Noonan v. Volek, 246 Mich. 377. That the fact sought to he shown was known to the deceased cannot be inferred. It must affirmatively appear from testimony or circumstances, or the evidence should be received and submitted to the jury with instructions to disregard it if found to have been equally within the knowledge of the deceased.
Defendant contends the error is not reversible because Gardner had testified positively that Boyer was on the wrong side of the road and his testimony was undisputed, Chamberlain v. Eddy, 154 Mich. 593. The verdict demonstrates that the jury did not credit Gardner's testimony and this left the plaintiff wholly without a case. Perhaps plaintiff's corroboration of Gardner would have resulted in a different verdict. Moreover, there was testimony of three witnesses that plaintiff had told them in substance that Boyer was not to blame for the collision but he had done all he could to turn out of the road and Gardner had crashed into his car. In view of the testimony and the narrow character of the issue it cannot be said affirmatively that the exclusion was not prejudicial.
The other points have little merit and need no discussion.
Reversed, with new trial and costs.
North, Wiest, Butzel, Bushnell, Sharpe, Pot-tee, and Chandler, JJ., concurred.
See 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 14219.—Reporter.