Court Opinion

ID: 9546625
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 17:33:05.129111+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:16:41.791567
License: Public Domain

On Petition for Rehearing.
TAYLOR, Justice.
As basis for a rehearing appellant contends that the majority opinion “overlooks and abrogates the decisions of Idaho and the universal rule” that “a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict admits the truth of adversary’s evidence and every inference of fact which may be legitimately drawn therefrom.” Hendrix v. City of Twin Falls, 54 Idaho 130, 29 P.2d 352; Hobson v. Security State Bank, 56 Idaho 601, 57 P.2d-685. Trial “court should not take the case from the jury unless, as a matter of law, no recovery could be had upon any view which properly could be taken of the evidence.” Evans v. Davidson, 58 Idaho 600, 77 P.2d 661, 667. “Where the evidence on material facts is conflicting, or where on undisputed facts reasonable and fair-minded men may differ as to the inferences and conclusions to be drawn, or where different conclusions might reasonably be reached by different minds, the question of negligence is one of fact to be submitted to the jury.” Call v. City of Burley, 57 Idaho 58, 62 P.2d 101, 105; Byington v. Horton, 61 Idaho 389, 102 P.2d 652. Other earlier cases are also cited by petitioner. The rule, variously worded, has been repeatedly reaffirmed in more recent decisions. It was neither overlooked nor abrogated herein.
 A study of those cases reveals that where the negligence alleged rested upon circumstantial evidence, the circumstances relied upon were established by direct evidence, and were not themselves left to presumption or inference. It must be born in mind that this is not a case for the application of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. The city had no control over the maintenance or operation of either the tank, or any of the fittings or appliances in the building. The weakness of appellant’s case is the want of evidence to establish a causal connection between the location of the tank and the explosion otherwise than by speculation and conjecture. The law requires some substantial evidence that the negligence alleged was the proximate cause of the injury. Clark v. Chrisop, 72 Idaho 340, 241 P.2d 171.
Rehearing denied.
THOMAS and KEETON, JJ., concur.
PORTER, C. J., and GIVENS, J., dissent.