Court Opinion

ID: 6259632
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-17 21:58:30.85246+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:59:40.236732
License: Public Domain

Dissenting Opinion by
Mr. Justice Eagen :
The lower court entered judgment for the defendants notwithstanding the jury’s verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The court felt that the evidence established that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. In my view, this disposition was erroneous.
It is fundamental that contributory negligence exists as a matter of law only where there is no reasonable basis for holding otherwise under the facts of the case. Cushey v. Plunkard, 413 Pa. 116, 196 A. 2d 295 (1964). I am not convinced that under all of the circumstances disclosed by the evidence in the instant case that there is no room for “fair and reasonable disagreement” as to the plaintiff’s negligence.
I dissent, and would reverse the judgment of the lower court and would enter judgment on the verdict returned by the jury.
Mr. Justice O’Brien and Mr. Justice Roberts join in this dissent.