Opinion ID: 1318727
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: propriety of submitting the doctrine by jury instruction

Text: After oral argument in this case, we addressed questions to counsel for the respective parties and asked that they submit supplemental briefs. One of the questions we addressed to counsel was whether the inference permitted by res ipsa loquitur should be the subject of a separate instruction. This question was prompted by our attention to the function that the doctrine serves as discussed in Watzig v. Tobin, supra , where we pointed out that res ipsa loquitur is merely a rule of circumstantial evidence. We drew the attention of counsel to Powell v. Moore, 228 Or. 255, 269, 364 P.2d 1094 (1961), in which this court held that it is permissible to instruct the jury on res ipsa loquitur. We there said: Defendant reminds us that in Ritchie v. Thomas et al., 190 Or 95, 113, 224 P2d 543 (1950), a question was raised as to whether it is ever permissible to instruct the jury on res ipsa loquitur. In that case it was said: `    Since the effect of the rule is merely to take the plaintiff's case to the jury, we see no more reason for requiring the court to comment on this type of circumstantial evidence than upon any other type. Whether it would be reversible error for a trial court to instruct on the inference which arises in this type of case is a matter which need not now be decided.' We believe that it is proper for the court to instruct the jury with respect to the permissibility of drawing the inference of defendant's negligence from the facts of the occurrence in appropriate cases. It is true, as the quotation from the Ritchie case indicates, that res ipsa loquitur is simply a rule relating to a particular kind of circumstantial evidence. However, res ipsa permits the drawing of an inference which rests upon no specific causative circumstance in the case; and it is quite possible that without an instruction the jury would not realize that it is permissible to draw the inference of defendant's negligence from the fact that in common experience the accident in question would not ordinarily occur in the absence of negligence on the part of the defendant. `[T]he jury cannot pass intelligently upon the question whether the inference of negligence should be drawn, unless, in language which it can understand, it receives an explanation of why the evidence would permit an inference of negligence, and why the jury may reject such inference if it sees fit.' Foltis, Inc. v. City of New York, 287 NY 108, 124, 38 NE2d 455, 464, 153 ALR 1122 (1951). 228 Or. at 269-70, 364 P.2d 1094. We have not uniformly held that rules of circumstantial evidence are proper subjects of jury instructions. In State v. McCormick, 280 Or. 417, 571 P.2d 499 (1977), in dealing with a permissible inference of consciousness of guilt arising from flight from the scene of a crime, we stated that the inference should not ordinarily be the subject of instruction; rather, the significance of flight is better addressed in argument to the jury. Should there be a different rule with respect to the permissible inference where res ipsa loquitur is applicable? Our sister state of Washington is apparently convinced that there should not. Res ipsa is properly treated the same as other circumstantial evidence in instructions to the jury. The remaining question is whether, instead of or in addition to these instructions, the so-called `res ipsa instruction' should be given. We are of the opinion that such instructions should not be given. To do so is to emphasize one particular inference over others which may be, and usually are, in the case. When added to other, general instructions which inform the jury of what they may or should do with the evidence before them, such particularized instructions are unnecessary and redundant. We agree with the statement that `in keeping with the modern thinking on the subject, giving slanted or formula instructions should be avoided wherever possible. They should be given only where a general instruction would clearly be inadequate or would confuse or mislead the jury.'    `Proposed instructions advising the jury that it may or should consider certain specific evidence in arriving at certain conclusions or findings or in arriving at a verdict should ordinarily be rejected. They are often proposed in negligence cases where one party wish [sic] to call attention to certain facts in evidence as indicative of distance or speed. While such instructions may be legally correct and, if worded properly, may not technically be a comment on the evidence, they approach `comment' since they intimate to the jury that the judge thinks that particular evidence commands special attention or has more weight than the other evidence. They tend to `highlight' or `pinpoint' certain evidence to the detriment of other evidence in the case. In that way they do constitute `comment.' Such instructions are ordinarily needless since the jury will consider all evidence not stricken by the court, and it is the attorneys' function to (and they undoubtedly will) call attention to such evidence in their argument. The only time they should be given is when some other instruction or some special quirk in the case may lead the jury to believe that it should ignore such evidence, even though not specifically told to do so.' Zukowsky v. Brown, 79 Wash.2d 586, 488 P.2d 269, 279 (1971). See also Mobile Chemical Company v. Bell, 517 S.W.2d 245, 252-53 (Tex.1974), for a similar discussion and holding. On the other hand, as recently as 1971 this court addressed this question with respect to res ipsa loquitur in Dacus v. Miller, 257 Or. 337, 341, 479 P.2d 229 (1971). Footnote 4, 257 Or. at 341-42, says: In a line of cases beginning in 1950 we took the position that the trial court is not required to instruct on res ipsa, Ritchie v. Thomas et al, 190 Or 95, 224 P2d 543 (1950), but that such an instruction may be given, Powell v. Moore, 228 Or 255, 364 P2d 1094 (1961), and that it is `preferable' to instruct on the doctrine in a case in which it applies. Centennial Mills, Inc. v. Benson, 234 Or 512, 383 P2d 103 (1963). Without citing these cases, however, we said in Waterway Terminals v. P.S. Lord, 242 Or 1, 53, 406 P2d 556, 13 ALR3d 1 (1965), that in a res ipsa case an instruction on the doctrine should be given if requested. It appears that the position taken in the Waterway Terminals case is in accord with the modern decisions in other states. See, e.g., Ryan v. George L. Lilley Co., 121 Conn 26, 183 A 2 (1936); Merriman v. Kraft, [144 Ind.App. 33] 242 NE2d 526 (Ind App 1968) (dictum); Vespe v. DiMarco, 43 NJ 430, 204 A2d 874 (1964); Tuso v. Markey, 61 NM 77, 294 P2d 1102 (1956); George Foltis, Inc. v. City of New York, 287 NY 108, 38 NE2d 455 (1941); Fink v. New York Cent. R. Co., 144 Ohio St 1, 56 NE2d 456 (1944); Turk v. H.C. Prange Co., 18 Wisc 2d 547, 119 NW2d 365 (1963); North Central Gas Company v. Bloem, 376 P2d 382 (Wyo 1962) (dictum). Contra, Chase v. Beard, 55 Wash 2d 58, 346 P2d 315 (1959). We have come to the conclusion that in the case at bar we should not attempt a final answer to the question of the propriety of ever instructing on res ipsa loquitur, for the issue was not presented in the trial court or on appeal. Anything we might say would be only dictum. The decision of the Court of Appeals is affirmed.