Opinion ID: 3180361
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Roger Gentry’s Trial Testimony

Text: Mr. Gentry testified that, on the day of the accident, Mr. Ford arrived at his farm with a delivery of chickens from O.K. Farms. Five of Mr. Gentry’s friends and relatives were present to assist with the delivery, including Jimmy, Mr. Gentry’s wife’s uncle. All of them had experience unloading chickens. He further testified as follows: Q. Now, you were in the front telling him where to stop though, right? A. Yes, sir. .... Q. Where were you when Uncle Jimmy Hill was hurt or injured? Where were you standing? A. I was standing in front of the Moffett to the driver’s left, my right. App. at 853, 859. The court then admitted the following demonstrative exhibit. - 13 - Id. at 1305. Mr. Gentry testified that he, Mr. Ford, and Mr. Mize were standing in positions reflected in the exhibit. His testimony continued: Q: Is there any question in your mind that he was pulling forward and not backing out when Uncle Jimmy was hurt? A. Yes, sir. .... Q. All right. Did you ask the driver Troy Ford — he came to a stop; is that correct? A. Yes, sir. Q. And did you ask him to pull forward a little further, a little bit more? A. Yes, I did. Q. Approximately how short was he? How much more did he need to pull in? A. I just wanted him to pull forward maybe three or four feet. Q. All right. Did he stop on his own without you telling him to stop when he originally stopped and then you told him he has got to come forward more? A. He stopped on his own. .... Q. And then you said to come forward some more, right? A. Yes, sir. Q. All right. Where Troy Ford was sitting, was he able to see to his front and to the right, front right, from where he was sitting? A. No, sir. Q. It was blind, right? A. Yes, sir. Q. He was driving blind in pulling forward to his front right; correct? A. Yes, sir. .... Q. Tell us what happens as Troy Ford pulls forward. A. I heard someone yell back up, back up, and I believe it was that Aaron, Aaron Mize. Q. Yes, sir. .... Q All right. When you heard back up, back up, was Troy Ford still pulling forward? A. Yes, sir. Q. He stopped pretty quick though, didn’t he? A. He stopped very quick, yes, sir. - 14 - ..... Q. Did Aaron Mize do his job as a spotter and get that Moffett stopped before it ran into Uncle Jimmy? A. No, sir. .... Q. Could Troy Ford from where he was sitting, could he see Jimmy Hill before he ran into him? A. I don’t believe so, no, sir. Id. at 862-66. On cross-examination, O.K. Farms’ counsel inquired further about Mr. Ford’s initial stop: Q: . . . . Would it be fair to say, sir, that when the forklift pulls in and stops, that’s generally the signal for all of the helpers or you, if you are in someone else’s house, to move back in and start getting the chickens off to do the dumping? A: Yes, sir. Q: So it would certainly be reasonable to assume perhaps that [Jimmy] once this forklift stopped might have thought it is time to start throwing chickens and step forward to do that from wherever he was? A: Yes, sir. Id. at 920.