Court Opinion

ID: 9613527
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 04:17:50.422684+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:07:18.136200
License: Public Domain

JonNsoN, J.,
dissenting: It seems to me the majority opinion weighs this plaintiff’s conduct too heavily against him.
The plaintiff was experienced in the business of trucking and delivering freight. For some twelve years he had been hauling foodstuffs for the Statesville Flour Mills. The A & P store in Southern Pines was one of its customers of long standing. He was thoroughly familiar with the *733platform and tbe back door of tbe store and witb tbe floor inside tbe door where tbe injury occurred. He bad been making deliveries at tbis store for some ten years. Always before tbe floor bad been in a safe condition. Customarily there bad been sawdust or sand on tbe floor. On tbe day of tbe injury, tbe plaintiff backed up to tbe loading platform behind tbe store and let down tbe “tail gate” about even witb tbe platform and proceeded to unload in tbe usual manner by taking tbe two-wbeel upright band truck off tbe platform and pushing it onto tbe body of tbe motor truck and loading it. Tbe natural movement then was to back tbe band truck off tbe motor truck body onto and across tbe platform and through tbe door. Tbe platform was only five feet wide. Thus, to have tried to turn around on such narrow space would have been an awkward movement. Resides, tbe loaded truck bad to be taken over tbe door-stop. As to tbis, tbe plaintiff testified: “I bad to back in tbe door, couldn’t push tbe truck in; I backed in tbe door, pushed it open witb my back and backed in. . . . Tbe door was partly open. I bad to push it open to go in.”
Tbis was but a shorthand explanation of tbe method usually followed by experienced truckers in getting a loaded band truck over an obstruction like a door-stop. Tbe procedure is to pull tbe truck, rather than push it, over tbe obstruction. It is a criss-cross movement — first one wheel is pulled up and over, and then tbe other.
It is readily inferable from tbe whole of tbe plaintiff’s testimony that tbis was tbe usual method which be bad followed through the years in unloading at tbe defendant’s store.
Tbe rule is firmly established witb us that nonsuit on tbe ground of contributory negligence may be allowed only when plaintiff’s own evidence establishes contributory negligence so clearly that no other reasonable inference is deducible therefrom. Ervin v. Mills Co., 233 N.C. 415, 64 S.E. 2d 431; Grimm v. Watson, 233 N.C. 65, 62 S.E. 2d 538; Bundy v. Powell, 229 N.C. 707, 51 S.E. 2d 307; Hobbs v. Drewer, 226 N.C. 146, 37 S.E. 2d 121. If more than one inference may reasonably be drawn from tbe evidence, tbe question of contributory negligence must be submitted to tbe jury. Bundy v. Powell, supra; Cole v. Koonce, 214 N.C. 188, 198 S.E. 637. The plaintiff is entitled to tbe benefit of tbe rule that tbe evidence must be considered in the light most favorable to him. Cox v. Freight Lines, 236 N.C. 72, 72 S.E. 2d 25. And be is entitled to every reasonable inference and intendment which may logically and reasonably be drawn from tbe evidence in support of bis claim. James v. Railroad, 236 N.C. 290, 72 S.E. 2d 682; Maddox v. Brown, 232 N.C. 244, 59 S.E. 2d 791; Graham v. Gas Co., 231 N.C. 680, 58 S.E. 2d 757.
Judging tbe plaintiff’s conduct by tbe rule of tbe reasonably prudent man, I do not see bow it can be said that tbe only reasonable inference *734to be drawn therefrom is that he negligently contributed to his injury. It seems to me that the other inference is clearly deducible, and this makes it a case for the jury.
Clearly the testimony made out a prima, facie case of actionable negligence against the defendant. As to this, the plaintiff testified: “The water on the floor caused me to slip down; it was slick. Two men helped me up. The (defendant’s) Assistant Manager said . . .: 'Boys, I told you to clean that water up.’ ” See Bowden v. Kress, 198 N.C. 559, 152 S.E. 625; Parker v. Tea Co., 201 N.C. 691, 161 S.E. 209; Brown v. Montgomery Ward & Co., 217 N.C. 368, 8 S.E. 2d 199; Harris v. Montgomery Ward & Co., 230 N.C. 485, 53 S.E. 2d 536; Lee v. Green & Co., 236 N.C. 83, 72 S.E. 2d 33.
My vote is to reverse.
EbviN and Parker, JJ.; concur in dissent.