Court Opinion

ID: 9657966
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 20:42:35.537853+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:50.086120
License: Public Domain

Hallows, C. J.
(concurring in part). This case is another example of why this court, instead of reversing in the interest of justice under sec. 251.09, Stats., when it finds the apportionment of causal negligence grossly disproportionate, should find error on the part of the jury on the ground the determination is contrary to the evidence. If error were found, this court could determine the apportionment of negligence and grant an option under the Powers rule and thus possibly avoid a new trial on the apportionment issue. This court with increasing frequency is setting aside apportionments of negligence in the interest of justice and it is time to extend the Powers rule to apportionment. At least the rule could apply to those situations in which the court could not find as a matter of law that the negligence of the plaintiff equaled that of the defendant. But even in those situations I would abolish the outmoded and arbitrary rule which prevents a plaintiff from recovering when his *378negligence equals or exceeds that of a person against whom recovery is sought. See Lawver v. Parks Falls (1967), 35 Wis. 2d 308, 151 N. W. 2d 68; Pruss v. Strube (1968), 37 Wis. 2d 539, 155 N. W. 2d 650.