Opinion ID: 2064648
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Toro's Appeal

Text: Toro argues that the jury's findings of negligence and strict liability are without foundation and should be set aside, because the two engineering experts testified that it would have been physically impossible for the accident to have occurred in the way plaintiff testified. On a careful reading of the entire transcript, we hold that the verdict in favor of plaintiff is adequately supported by the evidence. The snowthrower mechanism included a rotating pulley and drive belt which were only partially guarded by a fender-like piece of metal. Plaintiff's injury occurred when his right cotton glove became caught between the pulley and drive belt, pulling his hand into the assembly. The pulley and drive belt were located on the western side of the snowthrower (assuming the front to be pointing north) and rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Plaintiff testified that as he reached for the clutch lever, his hand always remained on the south side of the pulley. Toro's expert, however, testified that plaintiff could have injured his hand only if he had placed it north of the pulley, due to the pulley's counterclockwise movement. Toro, therefore, argues that it would have been physically impossible for the accident to have occurred as plaintiff described it. Toro, however, misconstrues the testimony of plaintiff's engineering expert, Mr. Peterson, and ignores other critical testimony. Toro's counsel asked Mr. Peterson a hypothetical question based on testimony elicited from plaintiff on cross-examination that plaintiff's hand was on the clutch lever 2 inches from the pulley/drive belt assembly at the time of the accident. Mr. Peterson answered that, to a reasonable engineering certainty, the accident could not have occurred if plaintiff had continuously kept his hand 2 inches from the pulley/drive belt. Toro ignores Mr. Peterson's testimony that plaintiff's hand could have been caught in the pulley/drive belt assembly on the south side of the pulley, simply because the pulley was unguarded and a loose finger on a glove could have caught between the belt and the pulley and pulled the hand into the pulley/drive belt mechanism. Furthermore, plaintiff related that he was not certain whether his hand had even reached the clutch lever before his glove and hand were pulled into the pulley and that the incident happened real fast. Plaintiff gave his estimate that his hand was 2 inches from the pulley, only upon being prodded on cross-examination by Toro's counsel to demonstrate precisely where his hand was at the time of the accident. Plaintiff was only 13 years old when this very traumatic accident occurred, some 2½ years before trial. Where the entire incident happened so rapidly, the jury was justified in believing that plaintiff had no precise recollection of the location of his hand immediately before the accident. Since the jury heard the testimony and viewed the demonstrations dealing with the snowthrower, its verdict must be sustained unless the evidence is conclusive against the verdict. Busch v. Busch Const., Inc., 262 N.W.2d 377 (Minn.1977); Trovatten v. Hanson, 171 Minn. 130, 213 N.W. 536 (1927). Conflicts in expert testimony are to be resolved by the jury. Gardner v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 267 Minn. 505, 510, 127 N.W.2d 557, 561 (1964). The jury was justified in crediting the testimony of plaintiff and Mr. Peterson as to how the accident occurred. Its findings support Toro's liability and should not be disturbed. Toro's additional contention that plaintiff was negligent as a matter of law is without merit. The jury's special finding that plaintiff was not negligent is adequately sustained by the evidence. A child is not held to the standard of care of an adult. See, e. g., Aldes v. St. Paul Ball Club, Inc., 251 Minn. 440, 88 N.W.2d 94 (1958). None of plaintiff's acts appear clearly unreasonable under the circumstances, given his father's permission to operate the auger clutch lever by hand. Toro also argues that the $28,000 verdict awarded to plaintiff was excessive. Taking into consideration the severe and permanent injuries suffered by plaintiff to his right hand, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ruling that the award of damages was not excessive. See, Stenzel v. Bach, 295 Minn. 257, 261, 203 N.W.2d 819, 822 (1973). Finally, Toro's argument that the order denying Gerald Romanik's motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for indemnity against Toro is not appealable is without merit. Upon an appeal from the judgment, Rule 103.04(2), Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, permits this court to review any order involving the merits or affecting the judgment. (Italics supplied.)