Opinion ID: 1824365
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Third Element

Text: Weber contends that even if Roberts satisfied the first two elements of res ipsa loquitur, Weber still must prevail because Roberts failed to prove the third element of the doctrine the absence of an explanation by Weber as to how the cattle escaped. Weber argues that it offered direct evidence that the cattle escaped from pen # 7 when the top hinge on gate # 1 broke, allowing the cattle to crawl over gate # 1. However, Roberts presented evidence regarding the condition of the gate, the bottom hinge, and the chain securing gate # 1 from which the jury could have concluded that Weber's explanation was not credible. The credibility of Weber's explanation regarding how the cattle escaped from pen # 7 constituted a question of fact for the jury. It is obvious from the verdict that the jury did not believe Weber's explanation. Where the evidence is conflicting, an appellate court will not ordinarily interfere with the verdict of the jury unless it is clearly wrong. Lincoln Branch, Inc. v. City of Lincoln, 245 Neb. 272, 512 N.W.2d 379 (1994). From our review of the record, we cannot say that the jury was clearly wrong in its determination.