Opinion ID: 1153415
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the contributory negligence issue

Text: Mrs. Ramsey retained an attorney, other than the firm which represents her in this case, to handle the sale of the property to Mr. Hartman and Mr. Summers. The Title Company contends that if it were negligent in failing to advise Mrs. Ramsey that the power of attorney had been revoked, that the attorney was likewise negligent in failing to check on the validity of the power of attorney. It argues that the negligence of the attorney is imputable to Mrs. Ramsey, thus constituting contributory negligence on her part and barring recovery. In view of the fact that the lawyer was informed by Mrs. Ramsey that she had presented the power of attorney to the Title Company which had failed to indicate any revocation, we have grave doubts as to whether a jury issue was presented as to negligence of the attorney. In any event contributory negligence was not pleaded as a defense as required by Alaska Civil Rule 8(c) [16] and the record fails to indicate that the issue was tried by consent of Mrs. Ramsey. [17] The trial court did not err in refusing to give a requested instruction on this issue, which had not been raised by the pleadings.