Court Opinion

ID: 8904163
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-27 01:37:15.48535+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:08:03.290942
License: Public Domain

HILL, Judge.
The question raised by a directed verdict motion is whether the evidence is sufficient to go to the jury. The trial court must make this determination by considering the evidence in the light *362most favorable to the non-movant. Rappaport v. Days Inn of America, Inc., 296 N.C. 382, 250 S.E. 2d 245 (1979); Kelly v. Harvester Co., 278 N.C. 153, 179 S.E. 2d 396 (1971). “It is only when the evidence is insufficient to support a verdict in the non-movant’s favor that the motion should be granted.” Rappaport v. Days Inn of America, Inc., supra at 384, 250 S.E. 2d at 247.
Plaintiffs evidence tended to show that plaintiff and his wife were traveling east on Cabarrus Street. Plaintiff approached the intersection of Cabarrus Street and West South Street and, he testified, “when I looked up, Mrs. Denning was out on Cabarrus Street. Her whole front end was out there right into me, the whole street. She had come out and I had collided with her.” Plaintiff’s wife saw defendant’s automobile entering the intersection from West South Street. She testified that “[t]he car came right into the intersection . . . without stopping.”
J. W. Witherspoon, then a uniformed police officer, testified that the intersection was controlled by a stop sign on West South Street. Anyone entering the intersection from West South Street had to stop and see traffic clear on Cabarrus Street before proceeding. He measured tire marks at 32 feet in length from where plaintiff’s automobile stopped. Witherspoon observed no marks on the street leading to defendant’s automobile.
The above evidence is sufficient to show defendant’s failure to stop at the stop sign and yield the right-of-way to plaintiff’s automobile traveling on the “through highway,” Cabarrus Street. See G.S. 20-158(b)(l). Even though such failure to stop may not be considered negligence per se, G.S. 20-158(d), these facts are sufficient for a jury to determine the issue of defendant’s negligence. In addition, we find no evidence of contributory negligence as a matter of law on the part of plaintiff. See Rappaport v. Days Inn of America, Inc., supra.
For these reasons, we
Reverse and remand for a new trial.
Judges VAUGHN and Whichard concur.