Opinion ID: 2366408
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the directed verdict and the motion for a new trial

Text: In passing on a defendant's motion for a directed verdict, a trial justice must view the evidence and the reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and without regard to its weight or the credibility of the witnesses, and he should not direct a verdict unless the only reasonable conclusion on the evidence so viewed is that the plaintiff is not entitled to recover. Cutroneo v. F.W. Woolworth Co., R.I., 315 A.2d 56, 57 (1974); Molinari v. Sinclair Refining Co., 111 R.I. 490, 494, 304 A.2d 651, 654 (1973). In this case, as we have already indicated, one of the investigating police officers quoted Greg as saying that his automobile swerved from the road and hit the telephone pole, not by reason of a car cutting in ahead of him, but because he lost control of the vehicle. The defendants seek to belittle both the probative value and the inferential potential of that testimony. But it seems to us that when considered in the required light, that testimony standing alone was more than sufficient to warrant a finding of negligence. Its sufficiency to get the case to the jury is considerably enhanced, moreover, by evidence that (1) the police searched for and were unable to locate the eyeglasses Greg was required to wear while operating an automobile; (2) there were no skid marks on the highway at the point where Greg said he had been forced off the road; and (3) the front end of the MacIntosh vehicle was severely damaged. It was, therefore, not error for the trial justice to refuse to direct a verdict in defendants' favor. Redding v. Picard Motor Sales, Inc., 102 R.I. 239, 248, 229 A.2d 762, 768 (1967); see State v. Kingman, 104 R.I. 635, 247 A.2d 858 (1968). With respect to the related ruling denying their motion for a new trial, defendants do not contend that the trial justice failed to perform the obligation imposed upon him by Barbato v. Epstein, 97 R.I. 191, 196 A.2d 836 (1964). Instead, they argue initially that the evidence in the case does not support an inference that Greg was negligent. That argument has already been rejected in our discussion of the directed verdict issue. They further argue, however, that an inference of negligence, even if permitted by the evidence, should give way to what they say is the more probable contrary inference. That argument, while appropriate for the trier of fact to whom it was undoubtedly addressed, has no place in an appellate proceeding. Fournier v. Ward, 111 R.I. 467, 306 A.2d 802 (1973); Marstan Corp. v. Centreville Realty Co., 106 R.I. 36, 256 A.2d 26 (1969).