Court Opinion

ID: 9775082
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 18:43:11.732743+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:20.113144
License: Public Domain

DUNCAN, Justice
(dissenting).
I am not in accord with the majority opinion of the Court. I am not convinced that the placing of foreign objects in bottled soft drinks, by pranksters or evildoers, is a matter of such common occurrence as to justify the conclusion that the possibility of that happening must be disproved before the presumption of negligence of the bottler may be applied.
It is my opinion that the better rule is followed in the substantial line of authorities which apply the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur without qualification. See Patargias v. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Chicago, 332 Ill.App. 117, 74 N.E.2d 162; Mayerhefer v. Louisiana Coca-Cola Bottling Co., La.App., 45 So.2d 442; Norman v. Jefferson City Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Mo.App., 211 S.W.2d 552; Beaumont Coca Cola Bottling Co. v. Guillot, Tex.Civ.App., 222 S.W.2d 141; Norfolk Coca-Cola Bottling Works v. Land, 189 Va. 35, 52 S.E.2d 85.
I am authorized to state that Judge MIL-LIKEN joins me in this dissent.