Opinion ID: 1182070
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Res ipsa loquitur loss of earning capacity.

Text: Plaintiff also assigns as error the refusal of the court to give a requested instruction on res ipsa loquitur and contends that defendants had complete management and control of equipment used to hoist and tow plaintiff's truck, citing Powell v. Moore, 228 Or. 255, 269, 364 P.2d 1094 (1961). Defendants contend, in response, that such an instruction on res ipsa loquitur would have been improper because plaintiff pleaded specific allegations of negligence and did not plead general negligence, citing Dacus v. Miller, 257 Or. 337, 343, 479 P.2d 229 (1971), and Thorp v. Corwin, 260 Or. 23, 26, 488 P.2d 413 (1971). In Thorp we said, at p. 26; 488 P.2d at p. 415:    When the complaint alleges both specific allegations of negligence and general allegations of negligence, the plaintiff may, where applicable, invoke res ipsa loquitur as to either or both. Waterway Terminals v. P.S. Lord, 91 Or.Adv.Sh. 7 [256 Or. 361], 474 P.2d 309 (1970). However, where only specific acts of negligence are charged, res ipsa loquitur can be used only to establish the particular acts alleged. Dacus v. Miller, supra; Brannon v. Wood, 251 Or. 349, 444 P.2d 558 (1958). The reason for such a rule is that, as a matter of fairness, a defendant should not be required to litigate other issues or contentions, advanced for the first time on trial. Prosser, Torts (4th ed.) 233, § 40. As also stated in 2 Harper and James, The Law of Torts 1096-1097, § 19.10 (1956):    [T]he proof in a res ipsa loquitur case seldom points to a single specific act or omission. Typically, it points to several alternative explanations involving negligence (e.g., negligence in construction, maintenance, or operation) without indicating which of them is more probable than the other. In such a case the pleadings may well be required to cover the alternative explanations, so as to give fair notice to the adversary of the scope of the case he has to meet. In practice this usually is not a very onerous requirement and can be met either by broad generality of allegations, or by listing all the specific acts or omissions to which the proof may point, or by combining general with specific allegations.    This complaint alleged that defendants were negligent (1) In using defective hoisting equipment to raise the front of the Mack truck, which did not hold the Mack truck in a raised position. (2) In failing to operate the hoisting equipment carefully, so that the hoisting equipment would not slip or fail to hold in the raised position. (3) In failing to use proper or any care in operating the tow truck while the Mack truck was being towed to prevent the Mack truck from being dropped, jolted and bounced. These specifications not only cover(ed) the alternative explanations, so as to give [defendants] fair notice of the case he has to meet, but when taken together they are about as broad as a general allegation of negligence could be in such a case. It also appears to be clear that the equipment used in the hoisting and towing of plaintiff's truck was under the exclusive control of the defendants to the same extent as were the activities involved in Powell v. Moore, supra . Accordingly, we hold that this was a proper case for the giving of an instruction on res ipsa loquitur. [3] Because this case must be remanded for a new trial for other reasons we need not decide whether it would have been reversible error to give the instruction on res ipsa in the form requested by plaintiff. We do not agree that the requested instruction would compel a finding for the plaintiff, as contended by defendants. We believe, however, that an instruction in more moderate terms, as approved in Powell v. Moore, supra 228 Or. at 265, 364 P.2d 1094, should be given on the retrial of this case. Plaintiff also assigns as error the instruction of the trial court on loss of earning capacity and the refusal of the trial court to give requested instructions on that subject. When the case was tried this court had not yet decided the case of Conachan v. Williams, 97 Or.Adv.Sh. 505, 511 P.2d 392 (1973). In view of our discussion of this problem in that case there should be no difficulty in framing proper instructions to the jury on this subject on the retrial of this case. Reversed and remanded.