Court Opinion

ID: 9738364
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:51:14.89593+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:05.590280
License: Public Domain

COLER, Justice
(dissenting).
I would affirm the judgment based on the jury verdict. While I agree that, having submitted the case to the jury, the trial court erred in failing to give the requested jury instruction on concurrent negligence, I do not find from a review of the record that the appellants have met the burden of proof required to show that *311the error was prejudicial. The jury was adequately instructed as to the duty of the defendant rancher, proximate cause and contributory negligence.
It is uncontroverted that George A. Landrum II, the driver of the Volkswagen of an unidentified vintage, proceeding from the Keystone Wye, on a downhill grade of a four-lane highway, pushed the vehicle to its top speed for a distance of three-quarters of a mile to one mile. Although young Landrum testified that the top speed was 60 miles an hour, the jury, weighing that testimony, was not bound by his opinion as to the speed obtained, as no witness looked at the speedometer. This court, in Dwyer v. Christensen, 1958, 77 S.D. 381, 92 N.W.2d 199, summarized our rules relative to prejudicial error and stated:
“Error may not be presumed on an appeal. Hardman v. Lasell, 55 S.D. 176, 225 N.W. 301. Plaintiff having alleged error must affirmatively establish the existence of such by the record. Kent v. Dakota Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 2 S.D. 300, 50 N.W. 85. It is incumbent upon appellant to show not only error but error prejudicial to him. To show such prejudicial error an appellant must establish affirmatively from the record that under the evidence the jury might and probably would have returned a different verdict if the alleged error had not occurred.” Dwyer v. Christensen, supra, at 385, 92 N.W.2d at 201.
Not every error in the failure to give instructions constitutes prejudicial and, therefore, reversible error. It is only when the instruction is on a legal question of such importance as applied to the facts in the individual case that it can be held to be prejudicial. Miller v. Baken Park, Inc., 1970, 84 S.D. 624, 175 N.W.2d 605.
Considering the admitted contributory negligence which was more than slight, I do not see the record establishing the possibility that “the jury might and probably would have returned a different verdict if the alleged error had not occurred.” Dwyer v. Christensen, supra.