Court Opinion

ID: 9730226
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:06:04.838405+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:05.140837
License: Public Domain

Proctor, J.
(dissenting). I would affirm the judgment of the Appellate Division for the reasons stated therein by Judge Ereund. Writing for the majority, he said that res ipsa loquitur was improperly applied by the trial judge and that it was harmful error to charge the jury respecting the doctrine. Judge Foley, who dissented on the ground that there was no evidence of Washburn’s negligence, agreed with the majority that the court committed harmful error in charging on the doctrine.
*31There may be motor vehicle collision cases where a charge of the res ipsa loquitur doctrine although improper would not be prejudicial. However, in my view this is not such a case. Here nine vehicles were involved on an extremely foggy day; Washburn’s vehicle was fifth. The trial judge charged: “There is an additional rule of evidence which you must consider in this case, due to the circumstances under which this accident happened. That is known as res ipsa loquitur- — the thing, or affair, speaks for itself.” (Emphasis supplied.) Washburn was the only defendant left in the case when it was submitted to the jury. While he had exclusive control of his vehicle, he had no control of the other circumstances which may have caused plaintiffs’ injuries. This charge permitted the jury to find the defendant negligent from the mere happening of the accident where the evidence did not indicate that all of the circumstances essential to the occurrence were within his exclusive control. I would not permit the trial judge to instruct the jury that a nine-car pile-up in a dense fog bespeaks negligence on the part of the driver of the middle car. The fact that the trial judge told the jury that the plaintiffs had the burden of proof in no way dilutes the harm. Even where the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur applies a plaintiff has that burden. Lorenc v. Chemirad Corp., 37 N. J. 56, 71 (1962). In addition, the charge was contradictory since it put the issue of negligence to the jury in the usual manner along with the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur and, as a whole, was bound to confuse and mislead rather than enlighten the jury. Further, I agree with the Appellate Division that there was sufficient evidence of negligence on the part of Buffalo, McGraw, and the Kohs to be submitted to the jury.
Justice Hall joins in this opinion.
For modification — Chief Justice Weintraub, and Justices Jacobs, Francis, Schettino and Haneman — 5.
For affirmance — Justices Proctor and TTat/l — 2.