Opinion ID: 2105341
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: April 24, 1991 (Toolbox)

Text: Regarding the last incident, the trial judge submitted as a specification of contributory negligence that Gustafson failed to utilize reasonable precautions for his own safety by loading 8 sections of pipe on top of the tool box, and then pulling the tool box. The trial court had submitted the issue of Burlington's negligence upon the specification that Burlington was negligent in furnishing the [p]laintiff with a tool box which was unstable and unsteady. It would have been erroneous to submit Gustafson's mere use of the toolbox as contributory negligence. That usage, standing alone, would constitute an impermissible assumption of risk defense. However, Burlington theorized that Gustafson added to the danger by stacking eight sections of pipe upon the toolbox and by pulling with only one hand upon the device thus loaded. This defense does not require expert testimony. Burlington's contention rests upon a commonsense approach within the knowledge and understanding of a layperson. It is also supported, to some degree, by the testimony of Knippel. Although by no means compelling, Gustafson's testimony reasonably may be viewed in a light consistent with Burlington's theory of contributory negligence and was therefore sufficient to support the submission of the contributory negligence defense to the jury. The law assigns the determination of such questions to the jury. In addition, as noted above, instruction No. 15 submitted by the trial court directed the jury that merely doing assigned work with knowledge of the dangerous conditions then existing could not form the basis of a finding that Gustafson was negligent. In evaluating a claim of an improper jury instruction, the jury instructions must be read together as a whole. State v. Brunzo, 248 Neb. 176, 532 N.W.2d 296 (1995). When read together, the instructions adequately instructed the jury regarding the additional danger necessary to support a finding of contributory negligence regarding the toolbox incident.