Court Opinion

ID: 9768178
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:46:01.471352+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:37.292878
License: Public Domain

MONTGOMERY, Judge
(dissenting).
I respectfully dissent because I am in accord with the principles stated in Johnson v. Gaines, Ky., 313 S.W.2d 408, and Clayton v. Gray, Ky., 348 S.W.2d 938, holding the driver free of negligence under factual situations which are not distinguishable from the facts of the instant case. Further, under the doctrine of Whitesides v. Reed, Ky., 306 S.W.2d 249, the giving of a “last clear chance” instruction cannot be justified here. There are other cases that sustain the principles of the cases cited.
If the court is going to change the law it should, in all fairness, point out to the losing litigants and the profession generally the basis for distinguishing the cases, or else overrule them, so that the law may have some certainty and that some guide be established by which advice may be given and litigation may be conducted. The old saying “the devil can cite Scripture for his own purposes” will become equally applicable to the law, and that is bad.
Accordingly, I disagree with the majority opinion.
STEWART, J., joins in this dissent.