Opinion ID: 884504
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: ¶ 7 This accident occurred on March 17, 1993, at approximately 10:00 p.m. Anderson was driving a loaded semi-truck northbound on Highway 191, a two-lane road, a few miles north of West Yellowstone, Montana. Bennett was driving her car southbound on Highway 191. Behind Bennett was Freeman, also driving a loaded semi-truck. The particular stretch of road on which the three drivers were traveling was extremely icy. ¶ 8 Bennett was rounding a curve and approaching the incline of Horseshoe Hill when she lost control of her car, skidded into the snowbank on the side of the road, and began spinning. At this same time, Anderson had just reached the crest of Horseshoe Hill and was on the decline when he spotted Bennett's car spinning on the road. Anderson was approximately one half mile from Bennett when he spotted her on the road. Anderson managed to avoid a collision by driving his truck off the road into the snowbank without jackknifing or losing control. Bennett's car slid past Anderson's truck. Meanwhile, Freeman, traveling approximately 700 feet behind Bennett, rounded the curve and saw Bennett's car spinning in the road and Anderson's oncoming truck. He applied his brakes but could not stop in time to avoid a collision. Freeman's truck jackknifed and began spinning. On the third revolution, the rear end of Freeman's trailer collided with the front end of Anderson's truck. Before the impact, Anderson's truck was still slowly moving, but the impact immediately stopped Anderson's truck in its tracks. Bennett's car came to rest at a point 170 feet from where Freeman's and Anderson's trucks collided. ¶ 9 As a result of the accident, Anderson suffered a fractured, dislocated hip. On July 28, 1995, Anderson filed suit against Freeman and Freeman's employer, Werner, because Freeman was in the course of employment at the time of the accident. In the same complaint, Anderson named Bennett as a co-defendant. Anderson alleged that Werner/Freeman and Bennett were negligent in causing the accident, and sought damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity, and loss of established course of life. Werner/Freeman and Bennett filed cross-claims against each other for contribution and indemnity. On May 9, 1997, Anderson settled his claim against Bennett. On May 27, 1997, the District Court dismissed Anderson's claim against Bennett and, over the objection of Werner/Freeman, dismissed Bennett's and Werner/Freeman's cross-claims against each other. Anderson's claim against Werner/Freeman proceeded to trial which was held June 2 through June 6, 1997. ¶ 10 At trial, Werner/Freeman admitted that Freeman was negligent for driving too fast for the conditions. However, Werner/Freeman alleged that Anderson was comparatively negligent for also driving too fast for the conditions and for failing to slow or stop when he had time to do so. At the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, Anderson moved for judgment as a matter of law on the issue of liability, leaving for the jury only the issue of damages. The District Court granted the motion, concluding that there existed no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to have found that Anderson was comparatively negligent. ¶ 11 At the conclusion of the trial, the jury awarded Anderson $690,800 in damages from which the court subtracted $25,000, the amount of Bennett's settlement. Werner/Freeman renewed its motion for judgment as a matter of law and moved for a new trial. The court denied the motions. More facts will be provided as necessary to dispose of the issues presented.