Opinion ID: 2083899
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Testimony as to Decedent's Blood Alcohol Content

Text: As previously pointed out, defendant Triumph pleaded contributory negligence. On this issue, over objection, it presented expert testimony as to decedent's blood alcohol content, and also as to a high carbon monoxide content in his blood. Both lines of testimony were subsequently stricken and removed from jury consideration by the trial court. The reason expressed by the court was a lack of any evidence of causal connection between the condition and the accident. The case against defendant Triumph was submitted to the jury on the theory of strict products liability, an action which we affirm, infra. And, although some parts of the charge seem to be inconsistent, appellant could well urge that taken as a whole, it instructed the jury that contributory negligence was not a defense to a case based on such liability. On this point there is considerable divergence of authority. Cf. Maiorino v. Weco Products Co., 45 N.J. 570, 214 A.2d 18 (1965); Hagenbuch v. Snap-On-Tools Corp., 339 F.Supp. 676 (D.N.H.1973); and W. Prosser, Torts § 95, at 656-57 (3d ed. 1964). The point is not briefed by any of the parties. This fact, plus our concurrence with the trial court's evidentiary ruling, precludes our ruling on this point before it is squarely presented. And, for similar reasons, we are not called upon to rule upon the applicability of then 23 V.S.A. § 1189 (now repealed) in civil actions when by its terms it created statutory presumptions applicable in any criminal prosecution for the operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. As appellant points out, it is generally accepted in this state that breach of a safety statute makes a prima facie case of negligence. Campbell v. Beede, 124 Vt. 434, 207 A.2d 236 (1965). But it is also true, as Campbell points out, that such negligence must be a proximate cause of the accident which followed. We are pointed to no evidence, and we have discovered none, tending to establish a causal connection between intoxication or carbon monoxide blood content, if such there was, on the part of the cyclist, and the welding of gear to layshift and rear wheel stoppage with loss of control which expert testimony assigned as the cause of the accident. Certainly the average mind can see no such connection. Expert testimony assigned this fault to the defendant Triumph; there was no evidence that the manner of operation in any way effected the resultant product failure. In fact, the uncontradicted evidence was that there was nothing unusual in decedent's manner of operation. The flaw in defendant's argument, and the very point on which we affirm the ruling of the trial court, is well set out in one of the cases it cites for reversal. In Foy v. Ed Taussig, Inc., 220 So.2d 229 (La. App.1969), the court, after viewing photographs of the accident scene, held that the plaintiff could and would have avoided a collision with one of the very few trees which were there, even though the accelerator did stick. Id. at 235. This is an express recognition that negligence and causation must coincide to bar recovery. Granting evidence of negligence, evidence of causation was not present. In its absence, the admitted evidence could operate only to prejudice the plaintiff, and it was properly withdrawn from the jury's consideration. See also, for proof of proximate cause as a requirement, Bolduc v. Coffin, 133 Vt. ___, ___, 329 A.2d 655.