Court Opinion

ID: 9447678
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 22:41:01.169311+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:31:08.487126
License: Public Domain

VAN OOSTERHOUT,
Circuit Judge (specially concurring).
I agree with Judge Register’s conclusion that sufficient evidence of defendant’s failure to comply with the statute requiring the sounding of the whistle and the ringing of the bell is present to make a jury question on defendant’s negligence.
The contributory negligence issue causes me considerable difficulty. If the plaintiff’s decedent had actual knowledge of the presence of the railroad crossing, or was chargeable with such knowledge, by reason of the presence of warning signs complying with the requirements of the statute and the regulations of the Public Service Commission of Ohio, I am convinced that under the facts here established the motorist was guilty of negligence as a matter of law. See Detroit, T. & I. R. Co. v. Yeley, 6 Cir., 165 F.2d 375; New York Central Railroad Co. v. Delich, 6 Cir., 252 F.2d 522, particularly the dissenting opinion of Judge Stewart, now Mr. Justice Stewart, at page 527 and the cases therein cited.
There is no evidence that decedent was familiar with the crossing. A motorist is at least charged with the obligation of using reasonable care to observe the various safety signs on and adjoining the highway, such as speed restriction signs, danger signs, no-passing signs, and railroad crossing signs. I believe that the large railroad crossing sign painted on the roadway and the “target” sign on the side of the road, both located some 440 feet distant from the crossing, were sufficiently clear and conspicuous to be observed in the exercise of ordinary care by an approaching motorist for a considerable distance and in sufficient time to permit him to avoid danger. The fact that my colleagues think otherwise persuades me that this may be a question upon which minds might reasonably differ, and hence I shall not dissent.