Court Opinion

ID: 9605739
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:41:19.516295+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:20:31.263373
License: Public Domain

LOPEZ, Judge (specially concurring). I fully concur in Judge Hendley’s opinion. I wish to note briefly my disagreement with the rule set down nearly 60 years ago in Thayer v. D. & G.R.R. Co., supra, by which we are bound. I believe New Mexico should adopt the rule whereby last clear chance is a defense to contributory negligence and not a separate claim, as Thayer holds. This would eliminate the necessity of pleading the theory. I do not feel that overturning a verdict supported by substantial evidence because of mere inadvertence to plead the theory is consistent with modern rules of pleading. The only consideration which can possibly support the Thayer rule is notice. Adequate notice, however, can be obtained by the use of modern discovery and pre-trial techniques.