Court Opinion

ID: 9858431
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 16:23:24.440505+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:54:19.062812
License: Public Domain

Paul Ward, Justice, dissenting. For reasons set out below, I do not agree with the majority opinion. (a) Marion Lee Clemons testified he was injured by a long metal strip attached to appellant’s car. There is no direct testimony to the contrary. (b) The undisputed testimony is that such strips are used in the regular.course of appellant’s business, and that they sometimes hang loose. (c) There is no direct testimony that this particular car was inspected on this occasion and found in a safe condition. (d) It cannot with reason be argued that such loose hanging strips would not constitute a serious hazard to a person on the right-of-way. (e) It is not contended that this hazard was the result of the condition of appellant’s premises, i. e. the right-of-way. (f) It is only reasonable to- assume that people do frequently walk on a railroad right-of-way, and that appellant is aware' of this fact. In view ■ of the above factual situation, which is a matter for the jury only to consider, it is my conclusion that the case should be affirmed if the jury was justified in finding appellant was guilty of ordinary (not wanton and willful) negligence. This is in accord with our recent holding in the case of George Lee Tatum v. Rester, 241 Ark. 1059, 412 S. W. 2d 293. Bykd, J., joins in this dissent.