Court Opinion

ID: 9714589
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 05:40:48.404183+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:27.215616
License: Public Domain

Concurring Opinion
Buchanan, J.
I now vote to deny rehearing in this case because of the opinions expressed by our Supreme Court in Hendrix v. Harbelis (1967), 248 Ind. 619, 230 N. E. 2d 315, and Perry v. Goss (1970), 253 Ind. 603, 255 N. E. 2d 923, and by this court is Shelby National Bank v. Miller (1970), 147 Ind. App. 203, 259 N. E. 2d 450. A rereading of the Instructions in the instant case and those contained in Pierce v. Horvath (1968), 142 Ind. App. 278, 233 N. E. 2d 811, convinces me that there is a difference in degree necessary to distinguish the two cases. In Hendrix v. Harbelis, supra, Judge Arterburn discusses instructions:
“Instructing a jury is a most difficult and complex process. It is generally conceded that there has been an overemphasis placed upon the wording and refined meaning of instructions which far exceed their actual effect upon the jury. When an instruction has to be read and reread by a legally trained mind to catch a slight variation or error in its meaning, it is difficult to believe that a jury of laymen could have been misled.”
To the same effect is Perry v. Goss, supra.
Judge Sharp, speaking for this court in Shelby National *266Bank v. Miller, supra, cites and follows these two cases and goes on to say:
“Except as to mandatory instructions, ambiguity, inaccuracy, or incompleteness of one instruction may be cured by another instruction which is not inconsistent with the other.”
It does not appear that the instructions in either Pierce v. Horvath or in this case are mandatory in character.
Also, the language of Instruction 9 has a tendency to cure the erroneous effect of Instruction 7.
In view of the recent liberal judicial climate for nonmandatory instructions as indicated by these cases, the unfortunate wording of Instruction No. 7 would appear to be harmless error.
Note. — Reported in 269 N. E. 2d 765.