Court Opinion

ID: 9573488
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:55:57.053885+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:41:22.349406
License: Public Domain

Lindemer, J.
(dissenting). The trial court instructed the jury on subsequent negligence using standard jury instruction 14.01 over the objection of defendants. The jury returned a verdict as follows:
"We the jury find the defendant guilty of subsequent negligence. We rule in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of $30,000.00.”
The jury therefore must have found that Mrs. Zeni *159herself was negligent. There is absolutely no evidence in this case upon which reasonable minds could conclude that the negligence of Mrs. Zeni had terminated so that the negligence of the defendants could be subsequent. In light of this fact, the doctrine of last clear chance is not present in this lawsuit. This case is an inappropriate vehicle for the adoption of the approach of the American Law Institute found in the Restatement of Torts, 2d. If that approach is to be adopted in this state, it should be adopted by the Legislature.
I agree with the dissent in the Court of Appeals and would remand for entry of judgment non obstante veredicto.
Coleman, J.
(to affirm). In Armstrong v LeBlanc, 395 Mich 526; 236 NW2d 419 (1975), we examined "the troublesome concept of subsequent negligence” and expressed "our dissatisfaction with the dogmatic application of the * * * doctrine” when the facts would demonstrate that plaintiff "in a dangerous position may not have exercised reasonable care for his own protection”. We emphasized that such questions "are matters more appropriately determined by the triers of fact” and reversed the directed verdict against the defendant.1
This case also presents matters which are for the jury to determine. However, it is the trial judge’s responsibility to instruct the jury correctly on the law as it is at the time of trial. As Judge Holbrook demonstrated in his majority opinion2 for the Court of Appeals, the instruction in this *160case "was insufficient as the elements of subsequent negligence were not fully explained”.3
The trial court’s instructions included these statements on subsequent negligence:
"Now, even though you find that Mrs. Zeni by her own negligence placed herself in a position of danger, that will not defeat her claim for damages if defendant Karen failed to use ordinary care with the means at hand after defendant knew or should have known of Mrs. Zeni’s danger.
"If you find that the plaintiff, Mrs. Zeni, was contributorily negligent, as just stated in this instructions [sic], the plaintiff has the burden of proof on her claim that the defendant Karen was subsequently negligent * * * that is, that the defendant Karen failed to use ordinary care with the means at hand after she knew or should have known of the danger in which the plaintiff, Mrs. Zeni, was placed by her own contributory negligence.
"If the plaintiff herself was negligent and süch negligence proximately contributed to her injuries, your verdict will be for the plaintiff only if the defendant was subsequently negligent as previously explained in these instructions and such subsequent negligence proximately caused the plaintiff’s injuries.
"Your verdict will be for the defendants if the plaintiff, Mrs. Zeni, was not injured; or if the defendant Karen was not negligent; or if negligent, such negligence was not a proximate cause of the injuries; or if the plaintiff herself was negligent and such negligence was a proximate contributing cause of her injuries, and *161the defendant Karen was not subsequently negligent as previously explained in these instructions.”
The Court of Appeals’ review of the case law demonstrated that "for the triers of fact to properly consider this problem, they should be instructed on the question of whether plaintiff’s negligence had ceased to be a proximate cause of her injury”. The jury was not specifically instructed on this point. They were not told that the doctrine of subsequent negligence "does not apply where the negligence of both parties is concurrent and proximately causes plaintiffs injury”.
I agreed with the statement in Armstrong that the distinctions are accompanied by "metaphysical vagaries”. The doctrine of subsequent negligence is a "troublesome concept”. However, the instructions on this theory (admittedly difficult to administer) did not accurately state the law. Defendant preserved the issue by objection.
Justice Williams would reverse the Court of Appeals and affirm the verdict because he believes the trial judge "in effect * * * guided the jury as the Court of Appeals wished him to”. I do not find that same "effect” and believe the jury was not fully instructed "as to the relevant factors to be considered” under the law as it existed at the time of trial.
I also believe that if we are to adopt the standards projected by Justice Williams, we should do so only after asking for comments from the bench and bar. I am satisfied that our decision in Armstrong provides adequate direction in this area, doing so in the context of previous decisions. Adoption of the Restatement sections would mark a departure and the use of some interestingly vague language. It should not be taken hastily. I would *162seek the advice of those who must work with and apply such standards. The gloss on the traditional doctrine should be viewed with care and the merits and demerits weighed prior to adoption in this or another form (e.g., standard jury instructions).
I am not opposed to the "last clear chance” doctrine. However, I would not superimpose it upon this case which was tried according to the doctrine of subsequent negligence. I also do not agree with all of the language in the new instruction. As Standard Jury Instruction 14.01 is to be abolished and the "last clear chance” doctrine substituted, it would be courteous and enlightening to receive comments prior to its official adoption.
I would affirm the Court of Appeals.

 Justice Lindemer would remand for entry of a judgment n.o.v. I feel the Court of Appeals was correct in holding that the issue involved “is one of fact; therefore, we may not say that defendants are entitled to a judgment non obstante veredicto as a matter of law”.

 56 Mich App 283; 224 NW2d 310 (1974).

 Compare my opinion in Javis v Ypsilanti Board of Education, 393 Mich 689; 227 NW2d 543 (1975), which found no error "when the charge actually given states correctly the law applicable to the case and covers the points which were proper”.