Opinion ID: 1824584
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Whether Kuzel Is Barred From Attacking the Expert Testimony On Appeal.

Text: The following motions were made by Kuzel: (1) For judgment on the verdict in favor of the plaintiff; (2) for a change in the percentage of negligence, and (3) for a new trial on the grounds that the trial court erred in not finding Janz negligent as a matter of law, or, in the alternative, for a new trial in the interest of justice. Kuzel's primary contention on this appeal is that the testimony of the expert witness must fall because it is not supported by adequate evidence. Neither the record nor the motions after verdict disclose any such assertion by the plaintiff in the court below. This brings the instant case squarely under the rule of Wells v. Dairyland Mut. Ins. Co. (1957), 274 Wis. 505, 518, 80 N. W. (2d) 380, wherein this court stated: We deem the correct rule to be that no error of the court should be reviewable as a matter of right on appeal without first moving in the trial court for a new trial bottomed on such error, if the error is of a category that a trial court could correct by granting a new trial. It should be noted that under the Wells rule a party is barred only as a matter of right in such situations; nothing is said concerning this court's discretionary power to consider matters raised for the first time on appeal. This court, in its discretion, may hear and decide questions not presented in the lower court in considering whether or not to grant a  new trial. General Electric Co. v. Wisconsin E. R. Board (1958), 3 Wis. (2d) 227, 246, 88 N. W. (2d) 691; Foellmi v. Smith (1961), 15 Wis. (2d) 274, 280, 112 N. W. (2d) 712; Holytz v. Milwaukee (1962), 17 Wis. (2d) 26, 30, 115 N. W. (2d) 618. We are of the opinion that the facts of the instant case are such as to warrant exercise of this discretionary power. The physical facts as testified to by the investigating officer were that the Dewey automobile left 57 feet of skid marks, all in Janz's lane, which ran straight and in a right arc to the point of impact. The skid marks, as well as dirt and debris on the highway, established that the collision occurred in Janz's lane. The Janz automobile left no skid marks. Dewey and Kuzel gave identical versions of how the accident occurred. According to their testimony, the Janz car was angling into their lane, and Dewey swerved to the left in an attempt to avoid a collision. They both testified that Janz then turned abruptly back into his own lane, where the collision occurred. While the law presumes that a person killed in an accident exercised due care for his own protection, this presumption drops out of the case when evidence sufficient to support a contrary finding comes in. McCarty v. Weber (1953), 265 Wis. 70, 60 N. W. (2d) 716; Atkinson v. Huber (1955), 268 Wis. 615, 68 N. W. (2d) 447; Evjen v. Packer City Transit Line (1960), 9 Wis. (2d) 153, 100 N. W. (2d) 580. The presumption may also be overcome by inferences drawn from other evidence. Prunty v. Vandenberg (1950), 257 Wis. 469, 44 N. W. (2d) 246; Callahan v. Van Galder (1958), 3 Wis. (2d) 654, 89 N. W. (2d) 210. The testimony of Kuzel and Dewey, the only surviving eyewitnesses, is sufficient to overcome the presumption that Janz exercised due care for his own safety.  The only evidence submitted by the defendant to contradict the testimony of Kuzel and Dewey as to the movement of the two cars just prior to the collision was the opinion of the traffic expert, Professor Easton. He testified that, in his opinion, both automobiles had been traveling in straight lines for some time prior to the collision. This opinion was based solely upon the absence of little scuff marks which he stated would be left on the highway by any violent maneuvering of the automobiles. Professor Easton's first contact with the case came some three and one-half years after the accident. The only materials he had to work with were the photographs taken by the investigating officer shortly after the collision, the officer's accident report, and a brief visit to the scene three and one-half years later. Easton testified that he was assuming there were no scuff marks because he could see none on the single photograph showing the highway, and because the written report of the officer did not mention any such marks. He finally conceded that the scuff marks would not necessarily be visible in a photograph. Aside from Professor Easton's testimony, the record is barren of any mention of either the presence or absence of scuff marks on the highway. The investigating officer was called to the stand by Kuzel at the outset of the case. He was examined by counsel for both parties and no questions were asked concerning any marks on the highway other than the skid marks left by the Dewey automobile. At one point he testified that these were the only marks, but this was in response to the question: The only skid marks, therefore were those . . . from the Dewey car? The officer also testified later in the case, this time as a witness for the defendant insurance carrier, and again no questions were asked pertaining to the presence or absence of any scuff marks on the highway. The only direct testimony as to the movement of the two cars just prior to the collision was that given by Dewey and  Kuzel. This testimony was in no way contradictory to the physical facts as testified to by the police officer and as shown by the exhibits. A jury has the right to disbelieve the uncontradicted testimony of a witness if it is against reasonable probabilities. Pagel v. Holewinski (1960), 11 Wis. (2d) 634, 641, 106 N. W. (2d) 425; Foellmi v. Smith, supra, page 283. However, it cannot be said that the testimony of Dewey and Kuzel to the effect that Dewey swerved to the left and applied the brakes to avoid the Janz car, which was angling into his lane, is unreasonable.