Court Opinion

ID: 9628717
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:30:24.861835+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:07:10.423057
License: Public Domain

CROCKETT, Chief Justice:
(concurring).
It is after considerable doubt and with some reluctance that I have concluded to concur in remanding this case for a new trial, in accordance with the desires of my colleagues, Justices Tuckett and Callister, who indicate a firm conviction that this should be done. I am quite aware that inso.far as the effect on the particular case is concerned it is but futile to express doubt when the vote is cast. Nevertheless, in this instance I desire to make the following observations.
If the statement in the instruction in question to the effect that the natural accumulation of ice or snow does not constitute negligence on the part of the defendant is considered alone and in the precise sense of its wording, it may not be in error. But it does fail to deal with the fact that there may have been negligence in permitting the accumulation of ice under the snow, or in failing to use reasonable care in treating or removing the condition. As the opinion of Justice Tuckett indicates, there is a definite possibility that the jury would take the instruction to mean that if the injury resulted from a natural accumulation of ice and snow, the defendant should not be held responsible. Whereas the true issue is whether the defendant knew or should have known of such a condition and whether under all of the circumstances he did exercise reasonable care for the safety of others. It is the fact that this instruction neither says anything about that issue, nor ties itself into other instructions which do explain the duties of the parties, which appears to have convinced my colleagues that there is reasonable likelihood that the jury misunderstood the issues involved. This instruction has thus proven to be another monument to the folly of attempting to argue one’s case in the instructions, rather than to confine them to a statement of the issues and the law applicable thereto, as should be done. See Taylor v. Johnson, 15 Utah 2d 342, 393 P.2d 382, 389; Ivie v. Richardson, 9 Utah 2d 5, 336 P.2d 781.
There is a further important consideration which has led me to resolve my. doubts about the matter just discussed and to concur in the remand: This order is not a final disposition of the case which turns either party out of court, but gives them both an opportunity for another trial. Though the time, trouble and expense of doing so should be avoided where that can properly be done, where doubt exists, that alternative *329should Be favored over doing a final injustice to either party. For these reasons I have concluded to join in the order remanding the case for another trial.
HENRIOD, J., dissents.