Court Opinion

ID: 9610502
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:42:25.987588+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:03:00.450813
License: Public Domain

LUSK, J.,
specially concurring.
The evidence shows that no employee of the defendant engaged in loading the truck knew (until it was too late to do anything about it) that the plaintiff had placed himself in a position where he was likely to be injured should the log fall. And, notwithstanding the plaintiff may have been an invitee, it cannot be said that the defendant should have anticipated that the plaintiff would use his invitation to put himself in a place of danger from which he could participate as a volunteer in the loading operation. Hence, it makes no difference, so far as the plaintiff’s right to recover is concerned, whether the defendant used a wrong method in the loading operation or whether any other negligence charged against it has been shown either directly or by inference through an attempted application of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. Not having the knowledge which would give rise to a duty toward the plaintiff, the defendant, of course, violated no duty which it owed him, and the question whether it was otherwise or generally negligent becomes immaterial. To say this is also to say that res ipsa is not involved. To that extent I agree with the specially concurring opinion of the Chief Justice. This conclusion, if correct, as I think it is, suffices to dispose of the petition for a rehearing against the petitioner. I concur in its denial.