Court Opinion

ID: 9621866
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 06:08:19.507453+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:10.624549
License: Public Domain

McINTYRE, Justice
(dissenting).
The court’s opinion points out that the district court held plaintiffs barred from recovery because of the contributory negligence of plaintiff Murphy.
There is no conflict in the evidence with respect to Murphy’s negligence. Therefore, with a given set of facts, the question of whether Murphy’s acts or omissions can be said to constitute negligence becomes one of law and not of fact. As such, the trial court’s opinion in the matter is subject to review.
All of the facts bearing on this issue are clearly and fully set forth in the court’s opinion. I am inclined to agree with the trial judge that Murphy’s acts constituted negligence as a matter of law. I believe if Murphy had merely stopped the flow of fuel into the pilot line, by turning the control cock to its “off” position, he would have had success in suppressing the flame before it got out of control. Instead, he tried to blow the flame out, with fuel all the while feeding unrestrained into the pilot line. It was of course he who started the fuel into this line when he turned the control cock to its “pilot” position.
ORDER
Appellees Petrolane-Wyoming Gas Service and McCulloch Gas Transmission Company having filed their petition for rehearing herein accompanied by a joint brief covering the points and authorities relied upon in support of said petition, and it appearing that the petition and arguments of appellees present no matter not considered and dealt with in the disposition heretofore made by this court :
It is ordered that said petition for. rehearing be and the same is hereby denied.
McINTYRE, J., for the reasons stated in his dissent, would grant the rehearing.