Court Opinion

ID: 9674177
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:24:17.354218+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:25.933141
License: Public Domain

EAGER, Presiding Judge.
I concur solely because the state courts seem to be bound by the views of the federal courts upon the question involved. Chesapeake & Ohio R. R. Co. v. Kuhn, 284 U.S. 44, 52 S.Ct. 45, 76 L.Ed. 157. To me, this decision emasculates one of the basic elements upon which the res ipsa doctrine is generally stated to be founded, namely, that the instrumentality in question should be strictly under the control (or right of control) of the defendant. 38 Am.Jur., Negligence, § 300, pp. 996-997; 65 C.J.S., Negligence, § 220 (5) ; Cruce v. Gulf, Mobile & Ohio R. R., 358 Mo. 589, 216 S.W.2d 78; Maybach v. Falstaff Brewing Corp., 359 Mo. 446, 222 S.W.2d 87; Kees v. Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Mo.App., 225 S.W.2d 169; Pandjiris v. Oliver Cadillac Co., 339 Mo. 711, 98 S.W.2d 969. I cannot find here that on the facts alleged, and as a matter of law, the only “ ‘ “fair and reasonable conclusion is that the accident was due to some omission of defendant’s duty.” ’ ” Cantley v. Missouri, K. T. R. Co., 353 Mo. 605, 183 S.W.2d 123, 127. The result here is that the jury is permitted to determine whether the res ipsa doctrine applies, by first deciding whether any act of the plaintiff caused the injury or accident; and if it determines that plaintiff was blameless, then it proceeds to decide whether defendant is liable, with the res ipsa presumption operating against it. I cannot reconcile myself to the view that the jury should determine the applicability of this doctrine by any finding which it may make. That would seem to be a pure matter of law on the facts, either as pleaded or as shown by the evidence. This brief opinion is written in the hope that no one may be misled by the result here achieved, at least as to any future case which is or may be governed by Missouri law and decisions.