Opinion ID: 1374889
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: W. Jacobs and Murray, Ford, West & Wilkinson, for the plaintiff in error.

Text: Taylor, Hall & Martin and Robert Lewis Young, for the defendant in error. Present, Hudgins, C.J., and Eggleston, Spratley, Miller, Smith and Whittle, 1. For a litigant to be barred from recovery because his testimony is irreconcilable or at variance with physical facts or other certain proof, it must have been unequivocal and upon matter within his knowledge and so conclusively in conflict with other proved facts as to leave no room for difference of opinion between reasonable men. 2. It is primarily the province of the jury to measure and evaluate the factual meaning of the testimony of all witnesses, and unless it clearly appears that they have erred by abusing or transcending the wide scope of their authority as reasonable men, their findings of fact should not be disturbed. 3. Appellee was awarded a jury verdict and judgment for damages sustained when his vehicle was struck by appellant's as he entered into an intersection. Appellee testified that as he entered the intersection at a slow rate of speed he saw appellant's automobile about one block away. He further testified that appellant was also traveling at a slow rate of speed. Appellant argued that appellee's testimony was irreconcilable with the physical facts, unbelievable and incredible, thus precluding any recovery by him. That contention was without merit. The testimony merely intended to give a rough estimate of the location and distance and not the precise location of the car. The questions of negligence and contributory negligence were properly questions for the jury. 4. Under the facts of headnote 3, an eye witness to the collision was asked whether appellant had time to stop at the rate of speed he was going. The trial court overruled an objection to the question and appellant contended it constituted reversible error. Although the question was improper because it called for an answer which to some degree expressed the opinion of the witness, yet it did not constitute reversible error. Appellant testified concerning the manner in which he brought his car to a stop, which offset any harm that was done. Error to a judgment of the Circuit Court of the city of Newport News. Hon. F. A. Kearney, judge presiding. The opinion states the case. MILLER