Opinion ID: 2216530
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Contributory Negligence as a Matter of Law.

Text: North Western argues that decedent Kuper was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law in driving his equipment into a standing railroad car and that the trial court should have directed a verdict on that ground. Again there is strong evidence of negligence on Kuper's part. A resolution of this question, however, depends to some extent upon the same testimony we have set out in Division I. If the jury found that the crossing was extra hazardous and that visibility was virtually nonexistent and that the North Western should have had some additional warnings or signals, then it could also find that Kuper was not guilty of contributory negligence. Contributory negligence is ordinarily an issue for the jury. North Western argues this is one of the exceptional cases justifying a departure from that rule. Without again analyzing the evidence, we hold that the issue was properly for the jury. See Paulsen v. Des Moines Union Railway Company, 262 N.W.2d 592, 596 (Iowa 1978); Maier v. Illinois Central Railroad Company, 234 N.W.2d at 393; Iowa R.App.P. 14(f)(10).