Court Opinion

ID: 9445703
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:36:56.857827+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:23.279194
License: Public Domain

DUFFY, Chief Judge, joined by Dis•trict Judge GRUBB,
concurring.
I agree that the order of Judge .Barnes dated August 17, 1956, dismissing the suit with prejudice-at plaintiff’s •costs, must be reversed.
Judge Barnes’ order refers to “plaintiff’s failure to comply with an order of this Court.” It is apparent to me the judge refers to the order which he entered on June 19, 1956. At the time that order was entered, plaintiff had sold her automobile and that fact had been reported to the Court. There is no suggestion that the sale was not in good faith. Judge Barnes’ order authorized defendant to make tests of an automobile not in the possession of plaintiff or her agents, and which was not within the jurisdiction of the Court. Obviously, the order could not be carried out. In my view, there was no sufficient basis to dismiss the suit because defendant was unable to make the tests authorized by the order.
I do not agree with the limited scope given to the word “inspection” as suggested in Judge SCHNACKENBERG’S opinion. In a case of this kind I think the trial court could insist that a motor vehicle, damages to which is the subject of the suit, could be inspected and reasonable tests be made in order to ascertain the true condition of the vehicle. Of course, the Court could impose reasonable conditions, such as making those conducting the tests liable for any additional or further damage to the vehicle which damage was caused by the tests.
It is apparent that Judge Barnes did not have a kindly feeling toward Thomas Hart Fisher, the husband-attorney for plaintiff. However, Fisher himself was as least partly responsible for the feeling of exasperation on the part of the Judge. There was no reasonable probability that competent mechanics, in making the inspection and tests, would have further damaged the wrecked automobile. Yet, Fisher stubbornly refused to permit the •representatives of the Insurance Company to do other than look at the wreck and to take some pictures. It is not difficult to understand why a “tense emotional situation” was created.