Opinion ID: 1788913
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Inclusion of a Finding as to Speed in Jury's Answer to Comparative-negligence Question.

Text: Appellants Richard Dombeck and Integrity Mutual contend they are entitled to a judgment against the Railroad Company on their cross complaint for contribution. Although no question with respect to the train's speed was included in the verdict, the trial court did instruct the jury with respect thereto. Because of the latter, appellants ask this court to hold that the jury's apportionment of 50 percent of the aggregate causal negligence to the Railroad Company can be sustained on the ground that the jury found that the Railroad Company was causally negligent with respect to speed. We find no merit to the contention that it must be assumed that the jury in answering the comparative-negligence question must have found that the train was being operated at an excessive speed and that such speed was causal. No such assumption can be made. Moreover, our determination that any negligence as to the train's speed could not be causal would in any event prevent these appellants from prevailing on their cross complaint with respect to contribution.