Court Opinion

ID: 9673771
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:18:20.899608+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:24.056727
License: Public Domain

Quinn, J.
(dissenting). I am unable to agree with the majority opinion.
"The law is well settled that a case should not be submitted to the jury where a verdict must rest upon a conjecture or guess”, In re Potts’ Estate, *87304 Mich 47, 53; 7 NW2d 217, 219 (1942). The majority opinion properly holds that the admission, over objection, of Wilcox’s hearsay testimony relating Ramaci’s statements was error. It fails to note that the only basis for the trial court’s overruling of that objection was plaintiffs’ assurance that Wilcox’s hearsay testimony would be corroborated by the testimony of Ramaci. This never occurred.
Without this hearsay testimony of Wilcox, I find nothing in this record to support the jury verdict as to the Ford Motor Company’s ownership of the vehicle involved at the time of the accident. The jury could only find the requisite ownership of Ford by guess and conjecture. It was reversible error to admit Wilcox’s hearsay testimony.
I vote to reverse and remand for entry of an order granting Ford Motor Company’s motion for directed verdict.