Court Opinion

ID: 9790287
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 01:50:04.83741+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:37:27.954146
License: Public Domain

HERNANDEZ, Chief Judge (dissenting). I respectfully dissent. In my opinion, there is not sufficient evidence of causation to support the jury’s verdict. Plaintiff, to establish the elements of his cause of action, should have shown negligence on the municipality’s part in keeping its streets in a reasonably safe condition, and that this negligence caused an injury to plaintiff. See Gallagher v. Albuquerque Metro., 90 N.M. 309, 563 P.2d 103 (Ct.App.1977). The mere fact that an unexplained accident occurs, or an accident is sustained, is not sufficient from which to infer negligence. Waterman v. Ciesilski, 87 N.M. 25, 528 P.2d 884 (1974). The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to plaintiff, shows that only Dr. Zimmerman advanced a theory explaining the City’s possible negligence and how that negligence might have caused plaintiff’s injury. Dr. Zimmerman, from photographs taken by plaintiff, calculated that the gap between the manhole cover and the rim was three-quarters of an inch. He then concluded that the cover and rim were broken or worn to account for the gap, and that a gap of this size might cause the cover to rotate and pop out when the car drove over it. This theory was entirely based on Dr. Zimmerman’s calculation of at least a three-quarter inch gap between the cover and rim, as he testified: I’m drawing my conclusions, based upon the physical situation that exists in those photographs * * * * So I took the measurements on the photograph and I estimated this to be three-quarters of an inch [the gap between the rim and manhole cover] * * * * Q. If you are incorrect in that, being able to do that to that fine a degree, then all the rest of your discussions about dimensions, they all rise and fall on that one dimension, don’t they? A. That’s right. Q. And the rest of what you said becomes totally irrelevant information, if you’re wrong about what the gap was? A. I said that my main assumption was the gap * * * * Plaintiff then testified that he had actually measured the gap between the cover and rim after the accident, and that the gap by his measurement was three-eighths of an inch and not three-quarters of an inch, as Dr. Zimmerman calculated. With this testimony, the factual basis of Dr. Zimmerman’s opinion disappeared, and his opinion and conclusions became mere speculation which will not support a judgment. A jury may infer the existence of facts reasonably and logically resulting from facts proved, Samora v. Bradford, 81 N.M. 205, 465 P.2d 88 (Ct.App.1970); I see no reasonable inference which may be drawn from the facts as proven that would support a finding that the City’s negligence caused plaintiff’s injuries. Accordingly, I would remand with instructions to the trial court to vacate the judgment and enter a judgment in favor of defendant.