Court Opinion

ID: 9581990
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:21:07.404264+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:22.469790
License: Public Domain

TOAL, Chief Justice:
I respectfully dissent. I agree with the majority that Thomasko properly preserved the directed verdict motion for appellate review. However, I would hold that the trial judge erred in denying Thomasko’s motion for directed verdict and that Thomasko was prejudiced by the error.
In deciding a motion for directed verdict, the trial judge must consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Wintersteen v. Food Lion, Inc., 344 S.C. 32, 542 S.E.2d 728 (2001). If multiple inferences can be drawn from the evidence, this Court is required to affirm the trial court’s denial of the motion. In re Matthews, 345 S.C. 638, 550 S.E.2d 311 (2001); Swinton Creek Nursery v. Edisto Farm Credit, 334 S.C. 469, 514 S.E.2d 126 (1999). Inversely, if there is no evidence to support a material element of the plaintiffs cause of action, the issue should have never gone to the jury, and this Court is required to reverse the trial *15court’s denial of the motion. Young v. Tide Craft, Inc., 270 S.C. 453, 242 S.E.2d 671 (1978). Here, I cannot find any evidence in the record to support the trial court’s ruling.
The record reflects that Poole looked in the direction of oncoming traffic before exiting the Wal-Mart parking lot. He stated that he saw two cars approaching his position both approximately 150-200 feet away. He then pulled out of the parking lot and proceeded to switch lanes at a speed of 8-10 miles/hour until he reached the third lane and struck Thomasko’s vehicle.
In my opinion, the evidence favoring Poole’s defense of comparative negligence, even in the light most favorable to him, is insufficient to present a jury question. Poole claims the following facts support his position that Thomasko was comparatively negligent:
1. Poole testified that when he exited the Wal-Mart parking lot, there were only two vehicles approaching his position. Each of the two vehicles were at least 150 feet from Poole’s position.
2. Poole testified that he began to cross three lanes at a speed of 8-10 miles/hour. Upon reaching the third lane, Poole testified that he felt his vehicle impact with Thomasko’s vehicle.
3. Poole testified that he never saw Thomasko’s vehicle until after impact.
4. Thomasko testified that she did not see Poole’s vehicle until the moment before impact.
Based on these facts, the trial judge allowed the issue of plaintiffs comparative negligence to go to the jury stating that the jury could have found Thomasko was negligent in failing to avoid the accident because it was not a “bad accident.”
First, I disagree that there was any evidence presented to the jury which even suggested Thomasko was negligent. The defense failed to produce evidence of speeding, violation of traffic laws, driver impairment, vehicle impairment, or any other type evidence which could support a reasonable inference of negligence on the part of Thomasko. The fact that Thomasko does not remember seeing Poole prior to the mo*16ment of impact creates, at most, mere speculation as to Thomasko’s negligence.
I agree with the Respondent and the majority that Thomasko has a duty to keep a reasonable lookout and adjust her speed to conditions pursuant to S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-1520 (Supp.2000). However, mere accusation or speculation Thomasko may have failed to keep a proper lookout, without more, cannot rise to the level of negligence as a matter of law. To hold otherwise, as the majority’s has done, will require the trial court to submit the issue of comparative negligence to the jury in every car accident case even without any evidence of negligence on the part of the plaintiff.
In addition, Thomasko wás the favored driver because she was driving within the lane that Poole was entering. S.C.Code Ann. § 56-5-1900 (Supp.2000) states that “[a] vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety.” Therefore, it was Poole’s duty to yield to all southbound traffic before switching lanes. It strains logic to impose a duty on Thomasko to avoid being blind-sided by Poole as the result of his negligence without some evidence of Thomasko’s own negligence.
Second, I do not agree that the severity of the accident alone should allow an inference of negligence. To entertain this argument would make the decision of whether to grant a directed verdict dependant on the trial judge’s judgment as to the severity of the accident. This is not a precedent I am willing to create.
Poole argues that even if the denial of the Motion for Directed Verdict was in error, Thomasko suffered no prejudice. Poole argues that the jury’s question to the bench, combined with the timing of the verdict suggests that the jury found Thomasko did not sustain damages in the accident. I disagree.
When deliberating, the jury foreman came back with the following question: “If we find fault by the defendant and neglect by the defendant but do not feel that injuries were sustained by the accident, who do we rule for?” There is no indication as to whether this was a question by the entire jury *17or just the foreman. In response to this question, the trial judge charged the jury that damages were an essential element in a cause of action for negligence; therefore, if the Plaintiff failed to prove damages, then she failed to prove her case. Three minutes later, the jury returned with a general verdict for Poole.
It is well established that an appellant seeking reversal of a decision by the trial court must show both error and prejudice. McKissick v. J.F. Cleckley & Co., 325 S.C. 327, 479 S.E.2d 67 (1996). An alleged error does not prejudice the Appellant if the appellate court determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the alleged error did not contribute to the verdict. Wells v. Halyard, 341 S.C. 234, 533 S.E.2d 341(2000); Visual Graphics Leasing Corp., Inc., v. Lucia, 311 S.C. 484, 429 S.E.2d 839 (1993).
The jury returned a general verdict for Poole. Therefore, either the jury found (1) Thomasko was at least 51% at fault for the accident, or (2) Thomasko failed to prove damages. Because the verdict was a general verdict, drawing any conclusion from the jury’s question would be nothing more than speculation.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing reasons, I would REVERSE and order a new trial.
WESTBROOK, A.J., concurs.