Court Opinion

ID: 9811521
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:23:17.033829+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:15:48.520581
License: Public Domain

Allen, J.,
dissenting: The plaintiff delivered bis automobile to the defendant to be repaired in its garage, and it was destroyed by fire. There is no evidence as to the origin of the fire or of negligence on the part of the defendant. I think the rule applicable to these facts is correctly stated by Associate Justice Walker in Hanes v. Shapiro, 168 N. C., 31, as follows: “But the better opinion, supported by the weight of authority, bolds that while the burden of proving negligence rests upon the plaintiff, and does not shift throughout the trial, the burden of proceeding does shift, and that where the plaintiff has shown that the bailee received the property in good condition and failed to return it, or returned it injured, be has made out a prima facie case of negligence. ‘When be has shown a situation which could not have been produced except by the operation of abnormal causes, the onus rests upon the defendant to prove tbat the injury was caused without bis fault.’ Bes ipsa loquitur. Unless the bailee overcomes this prima facie case by satisfying the jury that the loss or damage was consistent with the absence or fault on bis part, the plaintiff may prevail. Where the bailee makes such showing, however, as where it appears that the property was stolen or injured by vis major, the burden of proceeding shifts back to the plaintiff, and be must show that the bailee was negligent in exposing the property to risk of harm, or in failing to avoid the danger after it was known. In other words, the weight of the evidence may be *237in favor first of one party and then the other, but the burden of establishing the issue in his favor rests on plaintiff throughout. Hale on Bailments, pp. 31 and 32.”
It is not disputed that the automobile was destroyed by fire — ms major —and, if so, the prima facie case made by showing delivery and failure to return was destroyed, and he could not recover without furnishing evidence of negligence, which he has failed to do.
As it appears to me, the judgment of nonsuit ought to be sustained.