Court Opinion

ID: 9756925
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 22:09:39.609161+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:33.073359
License: Public Domain

*580CLIFFORD, Justice,
with whom COLLINS, Justice, joins, dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. I do not disagree with the legal principles as stated by the Court. In my view, however, the court applies those principles improperly to the facts in this case, facts that are largely undisputed. This case does not involve the use of a complex piece of machinery or an injury to a child. Fournier, an intelligent adult, who had worked in the Rochambeau Club’s kitchen for two years, was given the task of separating frozen hamburger patties. He chose to use a common kitchen knife. He was familiar with the techniques for using such a knife safely and knew of the risks involved. He cut his own hand. When compared to what was found to be the negligent conduct of Roger Lajeunesse, vicariously attributed to the Rochambeau Club, the negligent conduct of Fournier is, as a matter of law, and of common sense, clearly equal to or greater than that of Lajeunesse. I would vacate the judgment.