Court Opinion

ID: 9726397
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 12:47:37.429844+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:26.798770
License: Public Domain

Connor T. Hansen, J.
(dissenting). The writer respectfully dissents from the decision of the majority of the court. As I read the majority opinion, the conclusion is reached that, although each and every one of the errors therein referred to are not individually prejudicial, the totality of the several errors so infected the proceedings as to prejudicially affect the rights of the plaintiff. Hence, a new trial is granted in the interest of justice pursuant to the provisions of sec. 251.09, Stats. *723It is my understanding that the rule is as follows: “It is well settled that this court will not exercise its discretion under sec. 251.09, Stats., to order a new trial in the interest of justice unless it has been convinced that there has been a probable miscarriage of justice, viewing the case as a whole.” Willenkamp v. Keeshin Transport System, Inc. (1964), 23 Wis. 2d 523, 531, 127 N. W. 2d 804.
It is not a question of whether the plaintiff has been prejudiced, and it is not necessary to again review the facts of the accident. Unfortunately, individuals and families are sometimes subjected to tragic accidents for which they receive little or no monetary compensation. I would concur with the dissent of Mr. Justice Robert W. Hansen and conclude that under the facts of this case there has not been a probable miscarriage of justice.
Also, I consider the provisions of sec. 274.37, Stats., to be of significance:
“274.37 Judgments; application to reverse or set aside; new trial; reversible errors. No judgment shall be reversed or set aside or new trial granted in any action or proceeding, civil or criminal, on the ground of misdirection of the jury, or the improper admission of evidence, or for error as to any matter of pleading or procedure, unless in the opinion of the court to which the application is made, after an examination of the entire action or proceeding, it shall appear that the error complained of has affected the substantial rights of the party seeking to reverse or set aside the judgment, or to secure the new trial.” 1
It is my judgment that none of the errors referred to in the majority opinion, either individually or collective*724ly, has affected a substantial right of the plaintiff. Considering the facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, in the writer’s judgment, a jury verdict finding the plaintiff less negligent than either the city or the bus driver could not be sustained. I would affirm the judgment of the trial court in case number 139 and concur with the majority opinion in case number 237.

 “Interpretive commentary
“This section was created by Laws 1909, c. 192. Its form has never been changed.
“This section should be considered in connection with Stats., sections 251.09 as to discretionary reversal by the supreme court and 269.43 as to judgments not being reversed or affected by errors or defects not affecting substantial rights of the adverse party.” West’s, Wis. Stats. Annot., sec. 274.37, p. 514.