Court Opinion

ID: 9746685
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-27 14:33:34.844296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:25:15.893671
License: Public Domain

CAVANAUGH, Judge,
dissenting:
I disagree with the Majority’s extension of Kuhns v. Brugger, 390 Pa. 331, 135 A.2d 395 (1957), to the facts of this case. When determining whether a child is capable of acting negligently, the standard to be applied is that of a reasonable person of like age, intelligence and experience under the circumstances. Restatement of Torts (Second) § 283A. This standard, unlike the Majority’s conclusive presumption, adequately takes into account the differing capacities of children of the same age to appreciate and cope with the dangers of a given situation.
Although a conclusive presumption of inability to act negligently may be appropriate where the defendant is a child of three or four years, such a presumption is not appropriate here. The child in this case is five years and seven months old. The complaint alleged that the defendant-child caused an injury to the plaintiff by swinging a wooden stick. Considering this, a jury should be given the *406opportunity to determine whether such an action, taking into account the child’s age, intelligence and experience, was negligent.
Because the issue of negligence should have been submitted to the jury with instructions as to the child’s appropriate standard of care, I dissent.